Skip to main content
Natural Inquirer - Homepage

Free Science Materials for K-12 Students

  • Bookmarks
  • Cart0
  • Account
  • Find Outdoors
  • USDA
  • USDA Forest Service logo.
Natural Inquirer - Homepage
  • About
    • About Natural Inquirer
    • Team
    • Partners
    • Press & Past Events
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • View All Resources
    • Grade Levels
      • PreK - 2nd Grade
      • Upper Elementary
      • Middle School
      • High School
      • All Grade Levels
    • Resource Types
      • Articles
      • Activities
      • Collector Cards
      • Coloring Pages
      • Videos
      • Lesson Plans
      • Scientists & Collaborators
      • Spotlights
      • Virtual Learning Adventures
      • All Types
    • Resource Topics
      • Wilderness
      • Wildlife
      • Water
      • Active Forest Management
      • Social Science
      • Fire
      • Agriculture
      • Recreation
      • Carbon
      • Insects
      • All Topics
    • Special Collections
      • Artemis Moon Trees
      • Experimental Forests & Ranges
      • Project Learning Tree Connections
      • Globe Connections
      • Designing Your Own Study
      • Smokey Bear
      • Spanish Editions
      • Woodsy Owl
      • World's Forests
      • All Special Collections
  • Order Materials
    • View All Products
    • Journals & Monographs
    • Readers
    • Collector Card Packs
    • Coloring Books
  • Educators
    • For Educators
      • Note to Educators
      • Educator Blog
      • Newsletter
    • Classroom Ready Resources
      • Lesson Plans
      • Activities
      • Learning Modules
      • GLOBE Connections
      • Project Learning Tree
    • Get Involved
      • Volunteer Your Classroom
  • Virtual Learning Adventures
  • Bookmarks
  • Cart
  • Account
  • About
    • About Natural Inquirer
    • Team
    • Partners
    • Press & Past Events
    • Contact
  • Resources
        • View All Resources
        • By Grade
          • PreK - 2nd
          • Upper Elementary
          • Middle School
          • High School
        • By Type
          • Articles
          • Activities
          • Collector Cards
          • Coloring Pages
          • Videos
          • Lesson Plans
          • Learning Modules
          • Journals
          • Monographs
          • Readers
          • Scientists & Collaborators
          • Spotlights
          • Virtual Learning Adventures
          • All Types
        • By Topic
          • Agriculture
          • Active Forest Management
          • Carbon
          • Fire
          • Insects
          • Recreation
          • Social Science
          • Water
          • Wilderness
          • Wildlife
          • All Topics
        • Special Collections
          • Artemis Moon Trees
          • Experimental Forests and Ranges
          • GLOBE Connections
          • Project Learning Tree Connections
          • Designing Your Own Study
          • Smokey Bear
          • Spanish Editions
          • Woodsy Owl
          • World's Forests
          • All Special Collections
  • Order Materials
        • Download all resources - FREE!

          *Due to recent government funding changes, we currently are only able to process bulk orders of 20 or more. We hope that we will be able to resolve this issue in the near future. In the meantime, please feel free to download our resources and explore the website for many great lesson plans and activities.

          View All Products
        • Journals & Monographs

          Journals focus on a group of related articles, while monographs focus on one research article.

          Journals & Monographs
        • Collector Cards

          Learn about possible career opportunities in science!

          View All Card Packs
        • Readers

          For a PreK-2nd grade audience, each Reader focuses on one Forest Service scientist and their research.

          View All Readers
        • Coloring and Activity Books

          Learn more about science through our coloring and outdoor activity books!

          View All Coloring and Activity Books
  • Educators
        • Overview
          • Educator Guide
        • Classroom Ready Resources
          • Learning Modules
          • Lesson Plans
          • Explore All
        • Order Materials
          • View All Free Products
          • Contact Us
        • For Educators
          • Educator Blog
          • Newsletter
          • Project Learning Tree
        • Get Involved
          • Volunteer Your Classroom
  • Virtual Learning Adventures

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Resources
  • Spotlight – Nature’s Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet
PDF preview of Nature's Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet.
Bookmark
Please login to bookmark Close

Please login to bookmark


Lost your password?

No account yet? Register

Spotlight – Nature’s Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet

  • Spotlight
  • Middle School
  • Less than 30 minutes
  • Citizen Science
  • Data Collection
  • Invasive Species
  • Phenology
PDF preview of Nature's Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet.
SHARE
  • Copy Link
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Google Classroom

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 and animals. Nature’s Notebook staff collects the data from citizen scientists, organizes the databases, and distributes data to scientists. Keeping these records is important. Scientists can analyze the information to learn about trends, or changes over time, in climate and phenology.

Spotlight – Nature’s Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet

The cover for Citizen Science Journal. The main image is a collage of photos of two different group of students. The top image the group are in a forest and all looking through binoculars, and the bottom image the group is wearing green shirts.

Part Of

Citizen Science - Vol. 19 No. 1

Explore Full Journal
SHARE
  • Copy Link
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Google Classroom
Download PDF
  • PDF preview of FACTivity for 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):...

    FACTivity – Nature’s Notebook

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • 2 Weeks+
    • Citizen Science
    • Animals
    • Data Collection
    • Field Guide
    • Observation
    • Outdoor Activity
    • Phenology
    • Plants
    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):...
    • Explore Activity
    • Download FACTivity (PDF)
    • Explore Activity
    • Download FACTivity (PDF)

    Part Of

    Spotlight - Nature's Notebook: Taking a Pulse of Our Planet

Glossary

View All Glossary
  • accurate

    (a kyə rət): (1) Free from error especially as the result of care; (2) conforming exactly to truth or to a standard.

  • adapt

    (ǝ dapt): To change so as to fit a new or specific use or situation.

  • database

    (dā tə bās): A usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval (as by a computer).

  • invasive species

    (in vā siv spē sēz): An organism that is not native to the place where it is found and tends to grow and spread easily usually to the detriment (harm) of native species and ecosystems.

  • migrate

    (mī grāt): To pass, usually periodically, from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding.

  • protocol

    (prō tə kȯl): A detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure.

  • reliable

    (ri lī ə bəl): Dependable.

  • trend

    (trend): The general movement over time of a statistically detectable change.

Standards addressed in this Spotlight:

Social Studies Standards are educational guidelines outlining the essential knowledge, skills, and concepts students should learn in subjects such as history, geography, civics, and economics, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of societal structures, historical events, and global perspectives.
  • Civic Ideals and Practices
  • Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
  • People, Places, and Environments
  • Time, Continuity, and Change
Back to Top
  • Natural Inquirer - Homepage
  • Find Outdoors
  • USDA
  • USDA Forest Service logo.

The Natural Inquirer program produces a variety of science education materials for PreK through grade 12. Natural Inquirer products are produced by the USDA Forest Service, FIND Outdoors, and other cooperators and partners.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
* denotes mandatory fields
Loading
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X, formerly Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About Natural Inquirer
  • Team
  • Partners
  • Press & Past Events
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Policy
© 2026 - Natural Inquirer | Website Credit