Kachemak Bay CoastWalk
A community-based program in Kachemak Bay that can be adapted for other coastal communities or for RiverWalks. Students join or organize other citizen volunteers to adopt a section of a shoreline and walk it annually, surveying changes, collecting data on marine life and human impacts, and cleaning up beach litter and marine debris. The beach…
Read MoreGLOBE Arctic Bird Migration Protocol
Students select a common and easily identifiable bird species in their region and observe when the bird species first arrives. Students use binoculars or telescopes to scan a study site and count how many they see. They continue to observe every other day until few or none of the selected species can be seen. More…
Read MoreGLOBE Macroinvertebrate Protocol
Students will collect, sort, identify, and count macroinvertebrates from a variety of habitats. More information about training opportunities at https://www.globe.gov/get-trained. More information about the GLOBE Program and training opportunities on the GLOBE website.
Read MoreGLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper
Students identify potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, sample and count mosquito larvae, and use optional equipment to examine, photograph and identify the genus of your specimens, you will be enabling scientists to verify predictive models of mosquito population dynamics. Data can be recorded using the free GLOBE Observer app. Find out how to get the…
Read MorePracticing Protocols for Beach Sampling (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)
Lesson plan for introducing and practicing methods used in beach sampling/monitoring activities. Could be used for terrestrial ecosystems as well.
Read MoreLegend and Science of the Bidarki
Lesson plan for classroom and field-trip based activities that introduce students to the community-based research on Bidarki chitons (Katharina tunicata) and the different factors that impact Bidarki abundance, distribution, and size. Includes a field trip for collecting data about Bidarki size and abundance.
Read MorePlankton Studies (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)
Lesson plan for a lab and field trip activity where students collect plankton and observe under the microscope. If you cannot collect plankton, CACS can ship you some.
Read MoreIntertidal Discovery Hike (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)
Field trip activity to introduce studnets to beach ecosystems and engage them in basic surveys of the biodiversity.
Read MoreIntertidal Sampling (CACS CoastWatch Curriculum)
Lesson plan for a field trip activity for beach monitoring focused on sampling of various intertidal organisms. Includes directions for multiple different sampling protocols.
Read MoreMeasuring Beach Profiles
Students learn how to measure a beach profile and calculate the slope of the beach. With repeated measurements, they calcuate the rates of erosion. Recommendations are provided for building needed equipment out of inexpensive materials that are available in Alaska rural communities.
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