• This video from the National Park Service describes a research study about Pika, an important climate indicator species present in Rocky Mountain National Park. 
• The video explains how scientists monitor the species, track their health, and collect data with the help of citizen science volunteers. 

Positives

• This video provides an example of how volunteers can support climate change research. 
• Pika are cute mammals that students will likely enjoy learning about.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should have some understanding of the ways that climate change affects ecosystems.

Differentiation

• This video could be used in a lesson about migrations of animals and plants due to climate change, citizen science, habitat loss, or ecosystem dynamics.
• Science and math classes could discuss the steps that scientists must take when they design a research project and tie it into lessons about the scientific method, data collection, and data analysis.
  
• Teachers could pair this resource with this video about how climate change is impacting wildlife, or learn more about your region using these interactive map resources: Global Forest Watch, Maps of Precipitation, and NASA Climate Time Machine.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.