Reading and Reflecting on Reports from Citizen Scientists
How
to Use the Journal Page in Your Classroom
Take advantage of the field observations that other student and
adult citizen scientists report. Students can use the journal page (right)
to collect information from the reports and add their thoughts, discoveries,
calculations, predictions, and questions. Here are some core questions:
- What scientific data can we collect from each report?
- How can we tell facts from opinions?
- What did we discover about hummingbirds? About the progress of this spring's migration?
- What questions would we like to ask these citizen scientists?
1. Find
migration sightings in each week's hummingbird
migration news update. They'll be listed on a page that you can print
or display. All observations
are also stored in the sightings
database and on the rufous
and rubythroat migration
maps). Ask each student to select a favorite sighting.
NOTE: Most, but not all,
of our rubythroat reports come from Lanny Chambers. He maintains a Web
site on which people report rubythroat sightings. Unfortunately, these
come to us without any observer comments. Students may get frustrated
clicking on reports that say very little. That's why we pull reports that
do have comments to feature each week. That's also why we encourage
you to report your first sightings to Journey North!
2. Have each student use the journal page to record an excerpt and collect his or her thoughts about the sighting. Students should do this:
- Record the date, location of observation (town/state/province), and global address (latitude and longitude).
- Use the map to mark the location of the sighting.
- Revisit the observation report. Collect information and data to comment on; copy or paraphrase excerpts.
- Write about their discoveries, questions, predictions, personal connections, and opinions.
3. Share these reflections in small groups or as a class.
4. Build
a booklet throughout the season. Encourage students to add these
completed pages to their travel journals.
Assessment note: You and students can also use the journal pages
to assess their emerging understanding. Read student reflections together
and discuss their thinking. Or collect the booklet or pages periodically
and use Post-it Notes for your comments.
Journal Page
Reports
from Citizen Scientists:
My Thoughts
