Photograph by Kelly Thayer, MyShot
Did you know snapping mountain-top photos of smog and listening for frog calls can help scientists? Get ideas for how you can participate in citizen science—projects in which volunteers and scientists work together to answer real-world questions and gather data.
More Ideas Like This
Survey Monarch Populations
Help the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project collect long-term data on larval monarch populations and milkweed. Volunteer to conduct surveys in your local area.
Observe Appalachian Flowers
Monitor the timing of plant flowering in the Appalachian Mountains as you hike trails. The Appalachian Mountain Club will use the data as part of a study to understand how changes in climate are affecting mountain flora.
The Horsehoe Count
Join The Horseshoe Count, a survey that gets volunteers to count horseshoe crabs during spawning season at beaches in Delaware and New Jersey.
Learn About Local Plants
Join the National Phenology Network's plant monitoring program. Learn about plant species in your area and record your observations about observable phases in the annual life cycle of plants.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Love the water and being outside? Get in touch with your state’s local water resource office to find out how your class can volunteer for various projects like tree-planting or oyster-growing. Even if your class cannot do something hands-on, they can promise to take action signing the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint pledge, or something similar for your area.
Observe Plant Life Cycles
Join Project BudBurst to gather environmental and climate change information in your local area. Observe the life cycles of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses to see when they have their first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening.
Classify Galaxies
Do what a computer can't! Join the Galaxy Zoo project to help scientists classify galaxies according to their shapes.
Butterfly Census
Contribute to a census of the butterflies of North America—in the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico. Participate in a one-day butterfly count in your area for the North American Butterfly Association.
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Citizen Science
Around the world ordinary people of all ages engage in citizen science—participating in projects in which volunteers and scientists work together to answer real-world questions. Much of this work is conducted close to home, sometimes in our own backyards or even in our living rooms and kitchens, with guidance from professional scientists and using established science protocols and tools. Regardless of the location and process, citizen science brings everyone into the important work of learning more about and protecting our planet.
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Freshwater Ecosystem
Freshwater is a precious resource on the Earth's surface. It is also home to many diverse fish, plant, and crustacean species. The habitats that freshwater ecosystems provide consist of lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, streams, and springs. Use these classroom resources to help students explore and learn about these places.
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Learn at Home: Grades K-2
A curated collection for curious learners in grades K-2. With minimal supplies needed, these activities will keep young learners’ minds engaged in social studies, geography, science, and more.
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Learn at Home: Grades 3-5
Being at home is a great time to learn. This curated collection for learners in grades 3-5 can be implemented at home with minimal supplies and includes engaging, fun, and skill-building lessons in social studies, geography, science, and more.
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Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
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Learn through Play
Experts agree, play helps us understand our world, develop key social skills, build self-confidence, and mature emotionally as we grow. Play allows children and youth to be creative and encourages them to be curious, a key attitude in the National Geographic Learning Framework, which, we believe, will build the next generation of empowered explorers.
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Get Outside with Citizen Science Projects
National Geographic Education promotes citizen science projects to get everyday people outside to collect information and share it with the scientific community.
-
citizen science
Encyclopedic entry. Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people share and contribute to data monitoring and collection programs.
-
Unlocking the Educational Potential of Citizen Science
Article. Community geography, inquiry-based learning, and breaking down the boundaries between school and the real world.
-
Citizen Science
Around the world ordinary people of all ages engage in citizen science—participating in projects in which volunteers and scientists work together to answer real-world questions. Much of this work is conducted close to home, sometimes in our own backyards or even in our living rooms and kitchens, with guidance from professional scientists and using established science protocols and tools. Regardless of the location and process, citizen science brings everyone into the important work of learning more about and protecting our planet.
-
Freshwater Ecosystem
Freshwater is a precious resource on the Earth's surface. It is also home to many diverse fish, plant, and crustacean species. The habitats that freshwater ecosystems provide consist of lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, streams, and springs. Use these classroom resources to help students explore and learn about these places.
-
Learn at Home: Grades K-2
A curated collection for curious learners in grades K-2. With minimal supplies needed, these activities will keep young learners’ minds engaged in social studies, geography, science, and more.
-
Learn at Home: Grades 3-5
Being at home is a great time to learn. This curated collection for learners in grades 3-5 can be implemented at home with minimal supplies and includes engaging, fun, and skill-building lessons in social studies, geography, science, and more.
-
Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
-
Learn through Play
Experts agree, play helps us understand our world, develop key social skills, build self-confidence, and mature emotionally as we grow. Play allows children and youth to be creative and encourages them to be curious, a key attitude in the National Geographic Learning Framework, which, we believe, will build the next generation of empowered explorers.
-
Get Outside with Citizen Science Projects
National Geographic Education promotes citizen science projects to get everyday people outside to collect information and share it with the scientific community.
-
citizen science
Encyclopedic entry. Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people share and contribute to data monitoring and collection programs.
-
Unlocking the Educational Potential of Citizen Science
Article. Community geography, inquiry-based learning, and breaking down the boundaries between school and the real world.