CSS Defined

A partnership between students and professional scientists to conduct large-scale research.

• Guided by scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, students collect meaningful data according to easy protocols.

• Scientists use that data to understand how bird populations are changing across the continent.
  

An opportunity for teachers to promote scientific inquiry, interdisciplinary learning, and environmental awareness.

Through participation in Citizen Science projects, students

• design and develop their own research projects.

• experience interdisciplinary learning through research, data analysis, artwork, poetry, and more.

• become concerned stewards of the environment, starting at their schools and at their homes.

A mechanism (vehicle?) for teaching about the natural world while incorporating teaching standards.

According to NSES:

• Students should engage in extended inquiry
• Teachers should model the skills of scientific inquiry
• "Real" research should occur in the classroom

Citizen Science in the Schoolyard projects are designed to achieve these goals.  Click here to see how one CSS project, Classroom FeederWatch, correlates with NSES. And Citizen Science projects are easy for classroom teachers to merge with their existing science curricula.   Informal educators also use Citizen Science curricula with a variety of groups.

This web site seeks to provide resources and support for educators wishing to implement citizen science in an educational setting.   If you are not familiar with the Citizen Science program at CLO, click here for an introduction and link to our Citizen Science web site.

Introduction to Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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How Does It Work?

Students from Kindergarten through 12th grade participate in Citizen Science projects in their schoolyards, in parks, at home, or with a club.

As young citizen scientists they:

• Study real animals (birds) in their own schoolyards and backyards, and soon become experts on the birds they see.
• Pose questions about birds, then generate original research questions and design and conduct their own research projects to answer those questions.
• Analyze  and graph data.
• Write up and share their results in the classroom and through Classroom Birdscope, the national CSS student journal.

Citizen Science projects span the entire school year -- whatever the season, students can conduct bird research and learn more about the world around them.

Take a look at CSS in Action!

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To determine which Citizen Science in the Schoolyard project(s) best fit your needs, go to Which program is for me?

For a chart summarizing the goals and methods of the Lab's various Citizen Science in the Schoolyard projects, go to Goals and Methods of our Projects