Want to integrate novel technology into your classroom? At no charge?
The Education Division has partnered with Google Earth on several initiatives, and we encourage teachers to check out the wealth of ready-made educational maps produced for the classroom.
What types of rocks are found in California? How were they formed, and how do people use them in everyday life? Fly from the coast to the Sierras and back, exploring the unique geology of the state!
What are some characteristics that make a building “green”? Where do we find exemplary buildings, and how can we view their 3D structure using Google-developed graphics?
Steps to get things started:
1. Download Google Earth for FREE. Just click “Agree and Download.”
(The Google Chrome browser is optional — if you don’t want to try it out, just uncheck this box before your download.)
2. Go make a snack while the program installs. If you experience errors, Google has a wonderful Help section.
3. When you download the “Google Earth Tours” from our lessons plans (files with extension .kmz), they should launch automatically in Google Earth.
4. Familiarize yourself with the control panel at left, and the tools in the upper right which zoom in and out, adjust the angle of view, etc. The best way to learn how to use the software is to play around!
If you have a favorite resource that integrates Google Earth (or if you’ve produced you own), be sure to share it with us!
If you’ve visited the Islands of Evolution exhibit at the Academy, you’ve no doubt walked by a split-screen video highlighting current science projects being conducted both locally and abroad. This exhibit is one of the core components of Science in Action. Originally produced as a science television program at the California Academy of Sciences in the 1950s, Science in Action now encompasses media screens on the museum floor, a website, podcasts, guest lecture programs, and Thursday night science mixers. By gathering and disseminating content, the Science in Action production team aims to “increase public interest in and understanding of contemporary and everyday science issues leading to greater scientific awareness and literacy.”
And better yet, the team uploads their videos for free streaming! High school teachers will be particularly interested in Science in Action content.
Let’s highlight the video from July 17th, which addresses the artificial selection of dog breeds. Not only can this short clip serve as an extension to our “Artificial Selection: Dog Breeds” lesson in the Evolution Kit, but it also introduces you to Brian Simison, the Director and Curator of the Center of Comparative Genomics here at the Academy, who will act as moderator for the upcoming BioForum event on October 3rd.
There are dozens (possibly hundreds) of active citizen science projects out there. This short list provides a small sample of the diversity of projects available for you to involve your students in. Many of these projects also make the collected data available on their website so that anyone (including your students) can study it.
When and where: Any time in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What do the citizens do? Collect ants, record data on where they were found, and send them to the California Academy of Sciences.
What do the scientists do? Your ant will be entered into the AntWeb database, which aims to document ant species worldwide. The Bay Area information is used to track the spread of an invasive ant species as well as the distributions of native species.
Other Info: Free ant collecting kits can be picked up in the Naturalist Center at the California Academy of Sciences. Teaching kits, which include additional tools for collection as well as a microscope and a dichotomous key for your students to identify their own ants, can be rented from our Classroom Kit Program.
Project Focus: Marine invertebrates and algae. Acronym stands for “Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students.”
When and where: Any time at certain coastal sites in California.
What do the citizens do? Monitor the distribution and abundance of key species in rocky intertidal or sandy beach habitats. Students gain valuable experience with data collection methods including vertical transects and random quadrats.
What do the scientists do? Regular monitoring helps scientists understand how key species are distributed around the Bay Area, and to track impacts of human activity and natural events (such as large storms).
Other Info: Teachers must attend a training to participate in this project. Special equipment is required and can be purchased, built, or borrowed from LiMPETS.
What do the citizens do? Become part of a global network of earthquake sensors. The accelerometer in your laptop can act as an earthquake sensor. If you have a desktop computer, a sensor can be attached via a USB port.
What do the scientists do? A dense global network of sensors will provide scientists with more detailed information about earthquakes and could allow for more effective rapid detection and early warning.
Other Info: K-12 educators can purchase USB sensors from the program for only $5. Lesson plans and activities are available on the website. Faculty and students at Stanford University and UC Riverside are involved in the project.
What do the citizens do? Grow a sunflower (seeds provided) and observe bees as they visit the flower.
What do the scientists do? You may have heard about declines in wild populations of bees, but what about urban populations? This project will build data about urban bee populations and how they interact with green areas.
Other Info: This project was started by a professor at San Francisco State University. The website includes a teacher page with lesson plans, ideas, and other resources.
When and where: Any time, anywhere in North America.
What do the citizens do? Monitor birds’ nests that you find in your area. Use resources on the website to read up on identifying nests and eggs and what information to record.
What do the scientists do? The reproductive success of many bird species can monitored using the submitted data. Records submitted on paper over the past 40 years are being added to the database, creating a long-term picture of bird breeding and distribution.
Other Info: Be sure to read up on how to monitor nests without disrupting or endangering their occupants before you get started.
When and where: This is an annual event; the next one takes place February 12 - 14, 2010. You can participate anywhere in North America.
What do the citizens do? Spend 15 minutes (or more) counting birds. Record the numbers and species that you see and submit the data.
What do the scientists do? This annual snapshot of bird populations and distribution allows scientists to track changes in distribution, declines in populations, and shifts in the timing of migration.
Other Info: Tips for involving students and suggested classroom activities are available on the website. Photo galleries showcase pictures taken by participants.
When and where: Any time, any urban area in North America.
What do the citizens do? Learn about 16 types of birds often found in urban areas. Then choose an area to observe for ten minutes and record the birds that you see.
What do the scientists do? The project is focused on urban green spaces and their effects on certain types of birds. Data collected helps determine how birds use different types of green spaces.
Other Info: Starter kits and other resources can be ordered or downloaded and are available in both English and Spanish. Art activities, gardening tips, and community-building ideas are also featured on the website.
When and where: Any time, anywhere in North America.
What do the citizens do? Learn about phenology, the timing of life-cycle events. Select a plant to monitor and record the date of events such as the first leaf, the end of flowering, or the first ripe fruit.
What do the scientists do? Data collected through this and other projects helps scientists understand how climate change is affecting phenology and how changes in phenology can affect ecosystems.
Other Info: Supplemental resources for educators, including lesson plans for classroom activities, will be available on the website.
When and where: Any time, anywhere in the United States.
What do the citizens do? Use resources on the website to learn about the frogs and toads in your area and train yourself to recognize their calls. Choose a site to monitor and record the species that you hear there.
What do the scientists do? The data collected by this project can be used to monitor frog and toad populations, species diversity, and other information that can help inform conservation efforts.
Other Info: Amphibians are very sensitive to climate change and are suffering remarkable rates of population decline, making the information generated by this project especially valuable.
When and where: This is an annual event taking place in March. You can participate anywhere of the 110 participating countries (including the United States).
What do the citizens do? Observe the constellation Orion. Record which stars you can actually see. Dimmer stars may be obscured by light pollution.
What do the scientists do? Observations reported from around the globe can be used to study light pollution and population patterns.
Other Info: Family activity packets and teacher activity packets can be downloaded in several languages. 2009 has been named the International Year of Astronomy, so this would be a great time to participate.
What do the citizens do? Look at pictures of galaxies on the GalaxyZoo website and classify them based on characteristics such as smooth vs. rounded, spiral vs. not spiral, and so forth.
What do the scientists do? The database of volunteer-generated classifications of galaxy characteristics has been used to answer (and raise) questions such as whether more spiral galaxies tend to rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise. New objects spotted in the photos by citizen scientists have been the subject of follow-up investigations, including a mysterious object first noticed by a teacher.
Other Info: With millions of images of galaxies collected by robotic telescopes, professional astronomers certainly needed a little help from citizen scientists. The user-friendly (and surprisingly addictive!) GalaxyZoo website guides participants through simple steps to classify the images. While this project doesn’t meet the goal of getting your students outside, it’s still a fun and rewarding way to supplement your astronomy curriculum.
If you’re not satisfied with only eleven suggestions, visit Citizen Science Central to find more. They have an extensive database of active projects, as well as a “toolkit” of resources for developing and supporting new citizen science projects.
Speaking of new projects, keep your eyes open for new citizen science projects coming soon from the California Academy of Sciences, including one focusing on spiders!
The Morrison Planetarium is proud to present the 2009 Pocket Almanac! Anxiously awaiting meteor showers? Hoping to view an eclipse? Scouting planets in the night sky?
Stop by the Naturalist Center to pick up a hard copy, or download it here. This guide folds to fits nicely in your back pocket!
The Planetarium provides materials for sky watchers through several other outlets. You can call 415.379.8000 to hear monthly skywatching tips, or download a quarterly SkyGuide by downloading our most recent Membership Newsletter. Or, tune in regularly to the “StarDate” radio program on KCBS 740 AM!
Interested in attending an astronomy-themed lecture for your own professional development? The Benjamin Dean Lecture Series presents monthly talks for the general public by noted scientists in the fields of astronomy and space science. Upcoming speakers include planet-hunter Geoffrey Marcy, SETI scientist Jill Tarter, astrobiologist David Morrison, and principal investigators from NASA’s explorations of other planets and deep space. For more information, check out our Events+Lectures calendar.
Confused about science content or equipment? Curious about our exhibits or collections? Submit your questions to
We'll respond to your thoughtful inquiries here in the Teachers' Lounge.
Want to integrate novel technology into your classroom? At no charge?
If you’ve visited the Islands of Evolution exhibit at the Academy, you’ve no doubt walked by a split-screen video highlighting current science projects being conducted both locally and abroad. This exhibit is one of the core components of 
The 
