Share it! Science

What is citizen science? Citizen science is the collaboration between the general public and scientists in the collection or analysis of data. Science is for everyone and citizen science projects are wonderful because they allow anyone to be part of the process. There is so much to explore in the world, that by crowdsourcing we can collect so much more information than would otherwise be possible.

Read on to learn about some great projects that you can take part in, and a giveaway to help you get started!

This post contains affiliate links, please see disclosures for more information.

Citizen Science Day (or days) is a celebration of citizen science through a series of events. This year, 2017, Citizen Science Day events will happen from April 14th-20th. You can look to see if there is an event near you by visiting this site. To learn more, watch the video series below from Citizen Science Day 2016.

You may have read about various citizen science projects here on Share it! Science already. I've been fortunate enough to partner with one of my favorite citizen science projects, Project BudBurst for the past 3 years to offer a giveaway to inspire you to try citizen science, and get kids involved in these great projects too.

Sense of Place

Not only does citizen science offer an opportunity at authentic science for kids, families, school groups, etc. but also can help kids develop a sense of place. When they begin to study their surroundings carefully they develop an intimate knowledge and appreciation of the natural world.

Project BudBurst is one of those projects that gets kids looking more deeply at the world around them. Formerly part of NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network), and recently moved to the Chicago Botanic Garden, Project BudBurst collects phenology data. Phenology is the study of seasonal phenomena, particularly in relation to climate, plants and animal behavior. Spring is a very busy time for the project, as citizen science volunteers are submitting data on when leaf and flower buds are opening.

You can learn more about Project BudBurst and how to use it with your children or students by visiting one of my previous posts, "Project BudBurst, Easy, Authentic Plant Science".

Virtual Field Trips

Many digital citizen science projects can provide an opportunity to visit or study a place that is far away. There are a wide variety of online citizen science projects through Zooniverse and SciStarter. You can help count penguins or help monitor the life cycle of Amazonian rainforest trees.

Through the WildCam Gorongosa project, you can travel to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, Africa and help identify wildlife from photos taken by trail cams throughout the park. These are excellent projects to set up in your classroom and have students participate in a little at a time. They help hone observation skills and allow students a chance to contribute to actual field science.

Looking for a Project?

Learn more about these citizen science projects:

You can also search for projects on SciStarter here.

Citizen Science Giveaway!

Now for some fun! This year we are giving away citizen science goodies to 3 winners. One prize will be a hardcover copy of Citizen Scientists: Be Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard by Loree Griffin Burns, a cool Chicago Botanic Garden cap, and a Project BudBurst tape measure. Two additional winners will receive a Chicago Botanic Garden cap, and a Project BudBurst tape measure.

Citizen Scientists: Be Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard is written for kids and takes a close look at four citizen science projects and resources for several more that kids can take part in throughout the year. The photography is engaging and the background and descriptions of the projects including images of kids taking part in them makes you want to get right out there and try it. Click the book image below to learn more.

This giveaway begins on April 14th, 2017 and ends April 20th, 2017 at midnight EST. You must be a US resident to enter. Follow the directions carefully in the Rafflecopter box below, some entry options can be completed daily. We'll contact the winners via e-mail and announce them here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Giveaway prizes were provided by the Chicago Botanic Garden, Project BudBurst and Share it! Science. All opinions and recommendations are my own, I was not otherwise compensated for this post.

A is for Aster and B is for Basil. Can you grow an alphabet in your garden? Here are some ideas for a themed children's garden for school or home.

Why not incorporate some literacy into your garden planning this year? Gardening already has so much potential for science and life lessons. This will be the third year we've shared an idea for a themed children's garden along with a seed giveaway. We're so excited to be able to do it again. No matter how you get gardening with kids, we believe it will be a rewarding experience.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission from purchases made from these links at no additional cost to you. Please see disclosures for more information.

Plan and grow an alphabet themed kid's garden! Literacy and science

Grow An Alphabet Themed Garden

For those of you with lots of space, you might be ambitious enough to try a garden with every letter of the alphabet. If you are starting seeds in the classroom, you could have each student take on a different letter. Or you could pick and choose from a few letters of the alphabet.

Here are some fruit/vegetable and flower ideas to get you started (please note: depending on where you live these may or may not be good choices for your garden, do your homework!):

A- Arugula, Aster
B- Beans, Bee Balm (Monarda)
C- Carrots, Cosmos
D- Dill, Daisy
E- Eggplant, Echinacea
F- Fennel, Forget-me-not
G- Gourds, Geranium
H- Honeydew melon, Hollyhock
I- Iceberg lettuce, Impatiens
J- Jerusalem artichoke, Johnny Jump Up
K- Kale
L- Lettuce, Lupine
M- Musk melon, Marigold
N- Napa cabbage, Nasturtium
O- Okra, Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)
P- Peas, Petunias
Q- Quince, Queen Anne's Lace
R- Radish, Rose
S- Spinach, Sunflower
T- Tomato, Tulips
U- Upland Cress, Ursinia
V- Verbena, Viola
W- Watermelon, Wallflower
X- Xeranthemum
Y- Yarrow
Z- Zucchini, Zinnia (find out how to win some Zinnia seeds below!)

Grow a Kid's Name Garden

Spell out a name with garden plants. If I did mine I might plant Spinach, Artichokes, Radishes, Arugula, and Honeydew to spell out SARAH. You could certainly get creative and use the common names or specific variety names to spell out just about anything you wanted. Make some cute garden markers to go along with your name garden.

Looking for other themed garden ideas? Grow a butterfly or rainbow garden. Try growing a taco or pizza garden!

Seed Giveaway!

Now for some fun. We are very excited to have Renee's Garden provide us with seeds for our third annual garden seed giveaway. I love to use Renee's Garden seeds as they are certified organic and you can find interesting varieties of heirloom plants and unique seeds that can be grown on trellises or in containers. You're sure to find plants you don't see elsewhere when you shop their seeds!

We'll get you started on your alphabet garden adventure with some heirloom "State Fair Gold Medal" and "Cut and Come Again" Zinnia seeds from Renee's Garden seed company. 8 winners will receive two packets each of these zinnia varieties (for a total of 4 seed packets per winner). Enter in the Rafflecopter box below. We'll notify winners by e-mail, so be sure the one you've given Rafflecopter is the best way to reach you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Renee's Garden seeds donated all prizes for this giveaway, and I am a member of their affiliate program, but I was not otherwise compensated by Renee's Garden to write this post.