Community Science Opportunities

Articles/Websites

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APBiology

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

Open Resource

What it is

This resource shares six ongoing community science research projects with Connecticut chapters that students can volunteer with.
The projects include making nature observations, helping monitor species populations, and tracking species mortalities.

Teaching tips

Positives

Students can get involved in their community while supporting scientific research.
These challenges give students an authentic sense of purpose as they explore nature!

Additional Prerequisites

There is a link to complete a form to volunteer as a community scientist.
Click on each project to read more about it and find information about upcoming training sessions.
Some projects may have age requirements. For example, the Terrapin Tracking Team requires volunteers to be 18 years old, but children can accompany a trained adult, and the City Nature Challenge is for Fairfield and Westchester counties.

Differentiation

Students can choose a volunteer project to participate in from this list and report back about their experience with the class.
Many of the projects are best suited for older students. For younger students, the best options are the City Nature Challenge, where volunteers observe and document wildlife in their area, or the Great Backyard Bird Count, where participants observe and count birds.
Students can research other volunteer opportunities similar to these in their community.

From the scientist review

This resource includes a link to apply to become a community science member at the Maritime Aquarium. Citizen science groups can be a vital part of data collection. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Biology
Language: English
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > Connecticut
Provider: The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Authors: The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Published: April 4, 2024
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Geo.5.9-12 + 4 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Geo.5.9-12Evaluate how political and economic decisions throughout time have influenced cultural and environmental characteristics of various places and regions.
D2.Geo.9.9-12Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales.
D4.7.9-12Assess options for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

HS-LS4-5.Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.
HS-LS4-D.2.Humans depend on the living world for the resources and other benefits provided by biodiversity. But human activity is also having adverse impacts on biodiversity through overpopulation, overexploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Thus sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. Sustaining biodiversity also aids humanity by preserving landscapes of recreational or inspirational value. (secondary to HS-LS2-7), (HS-LS4-6)

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