CITIZEN SCIENCE ON THE FARM:
a resource for students, teachers and caregivers
Modules at a Glance
Begin Here- Intro to the Program- Introduction to the project and resources- In this module, you will experience an over-view of the CitSci on the Farm program. Please keep in mind that while these teacher and student resources were designed in conjunction with the UC Davis Student Farm focusing on a bird biodiversity monitoring program, the resources can be easily modified to support any biodiversity citizen science project.
Module 1- What is Youth Focused Community and Citizen Science? Pedagogy and Practices- In this module you will learn more about what Youth Focused Community and Citizen Science is, the research based framework for youth engagement in YCCS projects, and best practices associated with engaging students in CCS projects. Students will reflect on how they perceive science and scientists as they are introduced to researchers at the UC Davis Student Farm.
Module 2- Asking Questions- In this module, you will learn more about how to facilitate students in learning how to make observations and generate questions. Students will then dig deeper into their questions as your class focuses on determining your driving question. They will also learn more about how researchers at the student farm generate their own scientific questions and determine the best ways to investigate.
Module 3- Connecting to the Standards with a focus on Skill Building- In this module, you will learn how to lead students in outdoor observations that connect to content standards as they focus on skill building. Students will dig deeper into building their observation and data collection skills as they learn more about the ecosystem of their school campus. Students will also learn more about ways in which researchers at the student farm conduct their investigations.
Module 4- Data Literacy and Accuracy- In this module, you will explore exemplars that showcase best practices in leading Youth Focused Community and Citizen Science projects, as you reflect on connections to content standards through a UDL lens. Students will learn more about the importance of collecting accurate data ask the explore how to analyze and interpret data. They will also hear from the UC Davis student farm researchers about methods on the farm for collecting and analyzing accurate data.
Module 5- Taking Action and Making Change- In this module, you will learn more about how to support students development of environmental science agency as you lead class discussions around taking action and making change on campus and beyond. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their new expertise as they begin to advocate for change. They will also look at examples of when youth took action and made change within their community.
What is Citizen Science On The Farm?
Citizen Science on the Farm is a professional development course that trains teachers to use agriculture-based community and citizen science in their school gardens, on their school campuses or in their own backyard. These modules can be used as part of a larger professional development program, or in isolation to support student engagement of citizen science based inquiry on school campuses. The resources found in these modules support K-5 teachers in leading students in identifying research questions, designing quality control procedures, collecting data, conducting data analyses, and presenting findings to a variety of audiences. By using real science practices, students can take ownership of their work and apply the investigative process to their own lives and communities. Throughout these modules, students will also be introduced to researchers at the UC Davis Student Farm, learning about a variety of fields and ways in which research questions are developed and tested on the student farm.
While California produces over one-third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts for the United States, more and more children grow up in urban and suburban environments without opportunities to explore agriculture, the environment, or related careers. These modules are designed to be able to support students in understanding and engaging with a variety of biodiversity monitoring programs that can be conducted on school campuses as they encounter ways in which the UC Davis Student farm conducts their own biodiversity monitoring research. Note: All student and caregiver facing materials have been translated by a native Spanish speaker.
Outdoor spaces, like school gardens, can help fill this gap by providing experiential learning opportunities and access to nature. Yet, without adequate programming and support, it can be challenging for teachers to incorporate school gardens into their teaching. Through community and citizen science, teachers can engage students in authentic agricultural research experiences, which can deepen their understanding of agriculture and the environment. These experiences can also provide a framework to ask and investigate questions within students’ communities.
Overall, the Citizen Science on the Farm project will provide teachers with the training and materials they need to connect students with their school’s garden or green spaces through youth-focused community and citizen science. We hope you will find these resources easy to access and navigate! To access the full range of editable materials and support (including collaborative, ongoing support), we invite you to join our CitSci on the Farm Canvas page. To view the resources for CitSci on the Farm, simply log in to https://k12.instructure.com/ and search for CitSci on the Farm.
Our Team
Dr. Heidi Ballard
Founder and Faculty Director of the Center for Community and Citizen Science
hballard@ucdavis.edu
Ryan Meyer
Executive Director, Center for Community and Citizen Science
rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu
Kaitlyn Murray
Graduate Student Researcher
UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science
kamurray@ucdavis.edu
Julia Schreiber
Manager and Educator- UC Davis Student Farm
Ecological Garden
jaschreiber@ucdavis.edu
Peggy Harte, M.Ed.
Youth Education Program Manager
UC Davis Center for Community and Citizen Science
mharte@ucdavis.edu
Carol Hillhouse
Student Farm Associate Director, retired
UC Davis Student Farm
Let us know if you are interested in participating in a workshop for educators on youth-focused community and citizen science (YCCS) by completing this form, and we will keep you updated as new opportunities arise. Responses help us to develop new opportunities that meet educator needs and interests.