Change over Time

Investigation Question 3: How does my place change over different time scales?

Research statement: Change occurs at varying levels of time scales. The researcher will document changes on a daily basis over a week as well as changes over a day.

Citizen Science Project: GLOBE

Field Study: Teachers will collect soil, surface and air temperature data over the course of a week. During this same time period, teachers will make multiple observations in a field journal of the flora and fauna of this place including close observation of one organism. At least one of the intervals of observations should be every two hours from just before sunrise to just after sunset.

Length of Study: Five days One day requires intensive observation from early morning to late evening every two hours.

Geo-spatial scale: Small. The study site can range from a square meter to several hundred square feet.

Training requirements: GLOBE trained in soil and surface temperature. Read John Muir Laws How to Teach Nature Journaling: Change Over Time Activity (pdf)

Equipment provided: Participating teachers will receive a GLOBE soil thermometer, infrared thermometer, and a GLOBE air and water thermometer. Note the air and water thermometer is for the purposes of providing temperature data at the time of making field observations and is not compliant with GLOBE’s specifications for reporting daily temperature data.