Citizen Science - Understanding Climate Change and Phenology

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Science:

• Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS133)

Year 8 Science:

• Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS148)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-9WS.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.1, OI.2.

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students communicate their ideas using scientific language and appropriate representations.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Science achievement standards: Students use appropriate language and representations to communicate science ideas.

Unit of work: ClimateWatch: Citizen Science – Science – Years 7 & 8, ClimateWatch: Citizen Science – Geography and Science – Years 7 & 8.

Time needed: 60 minutes.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and lead students in discussion.

• Internet, laptops and earphones
• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Butcher’s paper (optional)

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Critical thinking
• Problem Solving

This lesson has been developed in partnership with Earthwatch. Earthwatch developed the ClimateWatch program with the Bureau of Meteorology and The University of Melbourne to understand how changes in temperature and rainfall are affecting the seasonal behaviour of Australia’s plants and animals.