Citizen Science projects for middle and high school students

[Trishia Gill]

Hello everyone, 

I'm working with grades 6-8 on an elective Food Systems course and with 9-12 on an elective Horticultural Science course. The high school kids will also be in charge of a new school garden that K-12 will be able to utilize. 

I would like to incorporate some citizen science projects for my older students that connect them to the larger community of gardeners and environmental enthusiasts. 

Suggestions do not have to be specific to students, we'll be doing a Seed Savers citizen science trial that I signed up for under my own name (I've tested seeds for them in the past). I just chose the fall broccoli trials this year and will oversee the high school kids' growing and gathering data. Then I'll work through inputting the data on the projector with the kids helping me with the values from their notes. 

It got me thinking that there are probably other citizen science projects that we could adapt to fit the classroom model, especially with the small class sizes I have. Please do share if you know of any! 

[Danielle Russell]

Hi Trishia!

 

I’d recommend checking out Project BudBurst – it’s a program that collects phenological data to understand how plants are impacted by climate change: https://budburst.org/

 

Peace,

Danielle

 

Danielle Russell

School Garden Coordinator

Pronouns: She/her/hers

 

 

Openlands

T: 312.863.6259

F: 312.863.6251

drus...@openlands.org

openlands.org

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[Dana Scheffen]

Although our project was with grade schoolers, I think Journey North could work for older kids too. It monitors climate change as well. I read about it in The Field Guide to Citizen Science: How You Can Contribute to Scientific Research and Make a Difference.  There were a few others that could be done in a garden setting featured in this book. The book references the SciStarter website which is easy to search through for topic and age, but if I remember correctly some of the research projects featured on the website were no longer running.

Some folks here in Southwest WI have started a company called SeedLinked that may be worth looking into, although it's not technically citizen science. It's an online database that farmers and growers can use to review seeds based on certain crop traits and how well they do regionally. Another way to connect students to the larger growing community while they practice the skills to analyze what they are growing.

Also, I know you specifically asked about high school and middle school, but for other folks here who may be reading and doing citizen science projects with grade schoolers, the intro to the book Citizen Science: Be A Part Of Discovery In Your Own Backyard is great for teaching younger students which qualities they have that make them excellent scientists.

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Dana Scheffen

Doubly Good Flower Farm 

https://www.doublygoodflowers.com/

pronouns: she/ her

"Dandelion's impetuous blossoming is Nature's never-ending reminder that diversity is favored, and therefor rules."  -James Green

[Trishia Gill]

Thank you both for these great suggestions! 

Dana, the SeedLinked platform recently took on the Seed Savers Exchange trials and it's a great platform. I didn't even think to check there for other projects- sometimes we need someone else to point out what is right in front of us. Thank you. 

[John Fisher]

Hi,

https://budburst.org/ looks neat!

We have done pollinator observations with the Great Sunflower project. Might be less suitable for older students unless you took your data analysis to a higher level.

https://lifelab.org/2017/08/garden-stations/#pollinator

I also share these resources to find other Citizen Science projects

Find more Citizen Science ideas at the following sites:
scistarter.com/educators

pbskids.org/scigirls/citizen-science

www.commonsense.org/education/top-picks/best-citizen-science-apps-and-sites-for-students

This isn't garden related but it is environmental - app/photo based litter mapping.

https://litterati.org/trash-travels-across-america

John
831 325 1656

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[Carly Pierson]

Hi Trishia, 

Another program that I'm trying out that is similar to what Danielle suggested is Nature's Notebook. Nature's Notebook | USA National Phenology Network (usanpn.org)  It's a Nation-wide project that helps gather phenological data that scientists can use to track variations in phenological timing. Students choose several plants to monitor over time and they record the stage the plant is in phenologically. It's easy to do with students of all ages! 

Carly

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