Citizen Science – Vol. 19 No. 1
People across the world are helping scientists collect data to answer important research questions. Learn how citizens are getting involved in science, from counting birds and lionfish to reporting earthquakes.
$0.00
Out of Stock, Download PDF below
Highlights
- 4 Articles
- 9 Activities
- Lesson Plan
- Woodsy Owl's Citizen Science Resources
- Spotlights on Citizen Science Projects
-
Before the introduction of personal computers, tablets, cell phones, and other mobile devices, scientific findings were more difficult to share widely. People read about some scientific advances in magazines and...Device-ive Science: How Electronic Devices Encourage Involvement With Environmental Research
Before the introduction of personal computers, tablets, cell phones, and other mobile devices, scientific findings were more difficult to share widely. People read about some scientific advances in magazines and... -
The Did You Feel It? (DYFI) system allows Internet users to report earthquake data when they feel an earthquake. The data submitted are put into computer programs that create “Did...All Over the Map: Investigating the Did You Feel It? Citizen Science System
The Did You Feel It? (DYFI) system allows Internet users to report earthquake data when they feel an earthquake. The data submitted are put into computer programs that create “Did... -
Over the past decade, humans have introduced two species of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) into the Atlantic Ocean. These fishes have been seen in a wide range...Lion In Wait: How Citizens Helped Scientists Identify a Rapid Invasion of Lionfish
Over the past decade, humans have introduced two species of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) into the Atlantic Ocean. These fishes have been seen in a wide range... -
Invasive species such as spotted knapweed can have an effect on a habitat and animals in that habitat. In this study, the scientists wanted to determine how spotted knapweed affects...Invasion of the Song Snatcher! The Influence of Invasive Spotted Knapweed on Chipping Sparrow Song Diversity
Invasive species such as spotted knapweed can have an effect on a habitat and animals in that habitat. In this study, the scientists wanted to determine how spotted knapweed affects...
-
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: What are the advantages and disadvantages of having citizen scientists perform data collection and reporting for the community? Would you vote...FACTivity – Device-ive Science
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: What are the advantages and disadvantages of having citizen scientists perform data collection and reporting for the community? Would you vote... -
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How do the number of earthquakes from the 1990s compare to the number of earthquakes in the 2000s? How do the...FACTivity – All Over the Map
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How do the number of earthquakes from the 1990s compare to the number of earthquakes in the 2000s? How do the... -
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How does the seismic data compare between different States? What is the seismic activity like in your State? What does the...Alternate FACTivity – All Over the Map
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How does the seismic data compare between different States? What is the seismic activity like in your State? What does the... -
In this FACTivity, you will try different methods of collecting data about types of shoes worn at your school. The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How does...FACTivity – Lion in Wait
In this FACTivity, you will try different methods of collecting data about types of shoes worn at your school. The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How does... -
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How many birds do I notice in my schoolyard habitat? Materials: Bird Observation Tally Sheet (included) Pencil Clip board Binoculars (optional)...FACTivity – Invasion of the Song Snatcher
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: How many birds do I notice in my schoolyard habitat? Materials: Bird Observation Tally Sheet (included) Pencil Clip board Binoculars (optional)... -
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: What similarities and differences do you notice between bird songs? How does the way a song sounds have an effect on...Alternate FACTivity – Invasion of the Song Catcher
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: What similarities and differences do you notice between bird songs? How does the way a song sounds have an effect on... -
In this FACTivity, you will become a citizen scientist by collecting phenology data from your school, town, or home using Nature’s Notebook. Materials (for each student or group of students):...FACTivity – Nature’s Notebook
In this FACTivity, you will become a citizen scientist by collecting phenology data from your school, town, or home using Nature’s Notebook. Materials (for each student or group of students):... -
After reading the Citizen Science edition of Natural Inquirer, test your knowledge with a crossword puzzle.Crossword – Citizen Science
After reading the Citizen Science edition of Natural Inquirer, test your knowledge with a crossword puzzle. -
Test your understanding after reading the Citizen Science edition of Natural Inquirer. Each image is taken from an article in the journal. Explain what each of the images represents. You...eyeChallenge – Citizen Science
Test your understanding after reading the Citizen Science edition of Natural Inquirer. Each image is taken from an article in the journal. Explain what each of the images represents. You...
-
Woodsy Owl wants you to Lend a Hand, Care for the Land! Help him out by engaging in a citizen science project. This resource provides a list of ongoing citizen...Spotlight – Citizen Science Resources
Woodsy Owl wants you to Lend a Hand, Care for the Land! Help him out by engaging in a citizen science project. This resource provides a list of ongoing citizen... -
This spotlight outlines some ways to incorporate citizen science in the classroom, including advice from Victoria Houser, a Forest Service Recreation Staff Officer: “I have worked to develop citizen science...Spotlight – Citizen Science in the Classroom
This spotlight outlines some ways to incorporate citizen science in the classroom, including advice from Victoria Houser, a Forest Service Recreation Staff Officer: “I have worked to develop citizen science... -
The Youth Forest Monitoring Program (YFMP) is a summer internship program for students in grades 9 12. Participants learn about forest ecology, explore their local forest lands, engage in forest...Spotlight – Youth Forest Monitoring Program
The Youth Forest Monitoring Program (YFMP) is a summer internship program for students in grades 9 12. Participants learn about forest ecology, explore their local forest lands, engage in forest... -
Can you imagine observing, recording, and reporting the weather every single day? That is what Richard G. Hendrickson did—for 85 years! Read more about his work with the National Weather...Spotlight – Citizen Science for Life
Can you imagine observing, recording, and reporting the weather every single day? That is what Richard G. Hendrickson did—for 85 years! Read more about his work with the National Weather... -
This spotlight explores how data collected by non-scientists can be used by scientists. The USA National Phenology Network is an organization that creates a database of non-scientists’ data about plants...Spotlight – Nature’s Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet
This spotlight explores how data collected by non-scientists can be used by scientists. The USA National Phenology Network is an organization that creates a database of non-scientists’ data about plants... -
This spotlight features one of the citizen science projects people can join, the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. In the 1990s, researchers at the University of Minnesota decided to use citizen...Spotlight – The Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Citizen Scientists Monitor Monarch Butterflies
This spotlight features one of the citizen science projects people can join, the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project. In the 1990s, researchers at the University of Minnesota decided to use citizen...
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Ms. Hagengruber’s 7th Grade Science Classes
- Anderson Middle School
Editorial Review Board Comments
-
David Wald
My favorite science experience is coming up with new (or even obvious) ways for solving tough problems while doing something unrelated: running, hiking, daydreaming. When an idea or solution pops...View Profile -
Bruce Worden
I enjoy bringing data together with theory. Sometimes the data tell you that your idea could be right, and other times you discover that you are wrong. Either way, you’ve...View Profile
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
-
Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
-
What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
-
Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
-
Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
-
Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
-
Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
-
Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
-
Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
-
Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
-
Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
-
Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
-
FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
-
Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Lessons
-
In this lesson, students will use graphic organizers to help guide their reading of an article. Materials: Graphic organizers (included) Writing utensil This lesson plan can be used with any...Lesson Plan – Reading Graphic Organizers
In this lesson, students will use graphic organizers to help guide their reading of an article. Materials: Graphic organizers (included) Writing utensil This lesson plan can be used with any...