Ever wanted to be a biologist? Through this lesson we will be part of a citizen science project through which you will observe, record, and document specimens. In the lesson, students will become a part of an online citizen science project called Notes from Nature. Notes from Nature is a collaboration between a diverse collection of scientists, collaborators, developers, and institutions around the United States and abroad. Through this lesson students will have access to a variety of specimens through the use of technology. You will be introducing the topic and history of Notes from Nature and then allowing students to work individually or partner up to transcribe specimens via www.notesfromnature.org. Then, students will establish an interdisciplinary connection between art and science using the diverse and thorough gallery of iNaturalist as well as science observation, they will recreate a sketch of birds in a science notebook.

“One of the most fascinating aspects of life is its diversity. Some 1.8 million species have been identified and given scientific names, and biologists, scientists who study life, estimate that the true number of species could be 10 million or more. ”

-Excerpt From: Edward O. Wilson, Morgan Ryan & Gaël McGill. “E. O. Wilson’s Life on Earth Unit 1.” Wilson Digital, Inc, 2014. iBooks.

Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grade

• The Student will investigate the citizen science project Notes from Nature.
• The student will use and select appropriate technology tools to organize data and information (e.g. database, online collaboration tools).
• The student will discuss the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
• The student will apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.)
• The student will help to document attributes of various specimens on the collaborative crowd sourced project Notes from Nature.

Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grade

• The Student will investigate the citizen science project iNaturalist.
• The student will use and select appropriate technology tools to organize data and information (e.g. database, online collaboration tools).
• The student will discuss the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
• The student will apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.)
• The student will observe, record and document specimens into iNaturalist.org.

Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grade

• The Student will investigate the citizen science project iNaturalist.
• The student will use and select appropriate technology tools to organize data and information (e.g. database, online collaboration tools).
• The student will apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.)
• (6th, 7th,) The student will use their observation skills of the environment and personal experiences to create original imagery.
• (7th)The student will interpret visual images from media sources and the immediate environment through the context of art.
• (8th) The student will analyze skills and information needed from visual arts to solve problems in art and other disciplines.

Sixth, Seventh, & Eighth Grade

• The Student will search the citizen science project iNaturalist for an insect or animal.
• (6th,7th,)The student will use their observation skills of the environment and personal experiences to create original imagery.
• (7th)The student will interpret visual images from media sources and the immediate environment through the context of art.
• (8th) The student will analyze skills and information needed from visual arts to solve problems in art and other disciplines.

• notesfromnature.org

• inaturalist.org

• Available for free via Apple iBooks

NC Essential Standards

Sixth Grade

• 6.TT.1.2 Select appropriate technology tools to organize data and information (e.g., word processor, database, spreadsheet, graphic organizer, audio and visual recording, online collaboration tools, etc.).
• 6.TT.1.3 Select appropriate technology tools to present data and information effectively (multimedia, audio and visual recording, online collaboration tools, etc.).
• 6.SE.1.2 Apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.).
• 6.V .2.2 Use observation skills of the immediate environment to create original imagery.
• 6.CX.2.2 Understand the connections between art and other disciplines.

Seventh Grade

• 7.TT.1.1 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to access information.
• 7.TT.1.2 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to organize information (e.g. graphic organizers, databases, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing).
• 7.TT.1.3 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to design products to share information with others (e.g. multimedia presentations, Web 2.0 tools, graphics, podcasts, and audio files).
• 7.SE.1.2 Apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.).
• 7.V .2.2 Use observation skills of the environment and personal experiences to create original imagery.
• 7.CX.2.4 Interpret visual images from media sources and the immediate environment through the context of art.

Eighth Grade

• 8.TT.1.1 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to access information.
• 8.TT.1.2 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to organize information (e.g. graphic organizers, databases, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing).
• 8.TT.1.3 Use appropriate technology tools and other resources to design products to share information with others (e.g. multimedia presentations, Web 2.0 tools, graphics, podcasts, and audio files).
• 8.SE.1.2 Apply the safety precautions necessary when using online resources (personal information, passwords, etc.).
• 8.CX.2.2 Analyze skills and information needed from visual arts to solve problems in art and other disciplines.

Next Generation Science Standards

Science and Engineering Practices:

3. Planning and carrying out investigations
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information