Citizen Science - What is Citizen Science?

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Science:

• Science knowledge can develop through collaboration across the disciplines of science and the contributions of people from a range of cultures (ACSHE223)

Year 8 Science:

• Science knowledge can develop through collaboration across the disciplines of science and the contributions of people from a range of cultures (ACSHE226)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-17CW.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.6.

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students describe situations where scientific knowledge from different science disciplines and diverse cultures has been used to solve a real-world problem.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Science achievement standards: Students describe situations in which scientists collaborated to generate solutions to contemporary problems.
Topic: Biodiversity, Climate Change.

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

Time needed: 60 mins.

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

• Tablets with ClimateWatch app installed
• Internet access
• Student Worksheet – print one copy per student
• One printed Prior Knowledge Questions per 12 students in the class
• Workbook 

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

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Digital literacy

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.