What Is Community Science?
Community science is science performed by members of the general public. This work is usually done in collaboration with professional scientists or organizations that use this information for research. Community science is a powerful tool because people just like you and me can observe right where we live and provide data to scientists and scientific institutions they would not otherwise have.
The Great Pollinator Count, Bioblitz! Counting Critters, and Bird Count all feature characters engaging in community science.
In The Great Pollinator Count, Mellie works with classmate Jason to count and categorize insect pollinators with the school science club. As they tally insects in the school garden, they also learn about the importance of healthy habitat for pollinators everywhere.
In Bioblitz! Gabriel and his dad collaborate with their city to learn about the animals in their municipal park. This information will help the city better manage the park to protect all of its wildlife.
In Bird Count, Ava and her team collaborate in the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, a real international effort. The data they collect about the birds in their town will be shared with professionals dedicated to protecting birds everywhere.
Biodiversity counts, or other types of species counts, take place worldwide in settings from city parks to National Parks, from neighborhoods to entire states or regions. Community science events like the ones portrayed in these picture books, not only provide valuable information to help protect living things, but also bring communities together in shared appreciation of their local environments.
To find Community Science projects in your own area, SciStarter is a great resource!
Enhance Your Habitat for Learning!
The Great Pollinator Count, Bioblitz!, and Bird Count offer fun and engaging introductions to wildlife and habitats for children in preschool through fifth grade. Because many of the animals featured are visible in multiple habitats, they are a perfect focus for nature study in your classroom and beyond.
Literacy Create a cozy habitat in a corner of your classroom with pillows, scarves, and bean bag chairs. Provide wildlife stories, field guides, posters, and survey tally cards (available on educator resource pages), plush and plastic animals, and games such as bird bingo in inviting groupings.
Art Set up an art table with animal images and drawing and collage materials. If you have a window bird feeder, provide clipboards with paper and drawing implements for sketching your bird visitors.
Music Play CDs or smart speakers with nature sounds, including insect, bird, and frog calls or provide a listening corner with headphones. Display books or cards with audio for children to practice animal song or call identification.
Science and Technology Have children design and create a pollinator garden outside their classroom or bird feeders to hang in areas adjacent to school Or make feeders out of pine cones by tying yarn at the top, spreading peanut or soy butter over the surface, then rolling in bird seed to attract squirrels, birds, and other wildlife.
Mathematics Display a bird tally sheet near a viewing window or window feeder, and encourage children to make a mark in the appropriate box whenever they see a bird. Create tally sheets with images of local wildlife to use on nature walks around the school. Tally sheets for all three books are available under Book-Specific Resources.
Dance Retell the story of The Great Pollinator Count, Bioblitz! or Bird Count through movement. Show the illustrations of insects, birds, and other animals and give movement prompts, allowing children to add their own ideas. Play lively music and have children dance freely. (Activity provided by Connie Bergstein Dow.)
