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April is Citizen Science Month

As April comes to an end, take some time to celebrate the valuable contributions everyday people make to advancing scientific research and discovery. Citizen science empowers students to actively participate in real-world investigations, nurturing their critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Dive into this collection of lesson plans, interactive web tools, and hands-on investigations to celebrate Citizen Science Month and empower your students to make meaningful contributions to advancing human knowledge throughout the year.

Grades K-12

Citizen Science Month

The Citizen Science Month website provides a robust foundation for newcomers and seasoned participants. You don’t need to register to access the site's wealth of information, but creating a free account unlocks the complete project database.

Grades K-12

Crowdsourcing Science - Using Citizen Science in the Classroom

Read this professional learning article to learn more about citizen science, including its history, several activities and extensions (like viewing bat cameras, counting birds, and helping sea turtles), and correlation to standards!

Grades K-12

Citizen Science Platforms & Organizations

Are you ready to join the citizen science community but don't know where to start? Browse this curated list of citizen science platforms and organizations to find your perfect match. In addition to resources, each item on the list includes a summary.

Grades 7-12

Zooniverse

Zooniverse is one of the largest and most popular citizen science platforms. Click on categories like the arts, biology, climate, history, literature, nature, and medicine to read about various projects and how to participate.

Grades 6-12

Citizen Science for Educators

Citizen Science for Educators offers many low- or no-cost ideas for collecting and interpreting data as a citizen scientist. These ideas include transcribing historic ship logs, measuring magnetic data, and tracking weather conditions.

Grades K-12

20 Citizen Science Projects for Students of All Ages

Engage students in hands-on projects across disciplines. Discover citizen science activities for all ages, like tracking birds or studying light pollution. Each project includes a materials list and instructions for how to participate.

Grades K-12

Citizen Community Science for Bees

Advance bee research as a citizen scientist! Use this free app to photograph pollinators and share images with researchers. Download the app, create accounts with iNaturalist and The Bee Conservancy, and upload your photos to begin!

Grades 5-12

SciStarter

Explore diverse citizen science projects for students of all ages. Videos, instructions, and resources span topics like weather, birds, medicine, and more. Rather than just teaching content, these activities connect students with scientific communities.

Grades 3-12

Journey North

Journey North tracks the migrations of animals and insects. Contribute sightings and view others' observations of whales, worms, and more through maps and images. Find animal information, webcams, and educator resources.

Grades 6-12

Invasive Mosquito Project

Join the Invasive Mosquito Project! Students, teachers, and community members can collect and share data on mosquito populations nationwide. Resources include lessons on mosquito identification, data collection, and mosquito facts.

Grades K-12

Project Budburst

Collect plant data, learn about climate change, and participate by posting your findings on Project Budburst. Activities are divided into five levels (PreK–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12, and higher education) and include helpful teaching guides.

Grades K-12

Community Science Opportunities

Check out several projects, including City Nature Challenge, Frog Watch USA, and The Great Backyard Bird Count. Most activities are open to anyone in the international community; view the information to learn about dates and ways to get involved.

This Week at TeachersFirst

We cordially invite you to attend our free virtual workshop this Tuesday and our next Twitter (X) chat this Thursday. We're also sharing a related blog post from our Infusing Technology Blog and a newly created special topic curation of citizen science resources.