LoriAnne Barnett Education Coordinator, USA-NPN Using Nature's Notebook to teach science and climate change

Objectives of today’s discussion:  Define phenology and explain its applicability to understanding changes in habitats.  Understand the mission and objectives of the USA National Phenology Network.  Understand how to implement an inquiry-based long-term phenology monitoring program that can improve science and climate literacy in students.  Participate in a challenge!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology, climate, & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology, climate, & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Using nature as a guide Tradition and Lore “Tribes kept track of seasons by giving distinct names to each recurring full moon.” November -Beaver Moon February – Full Worm Moon May – Full Flower Moon Photo credit: B. Powell Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons unless otherwise notedPhoto credit: L. Barnett September – Harvest Moon

Using nature as a guide Jefferson Powell Thoreau

Using nature as a guide Garden re-created

Using nature as a guide Acer rubrum (red maple); Photo credit: D. Hartel Observing the same individual through the seasons.

Using nature as a guide Reproduction Development Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect Flowers Fruits Leaves PLANT Observable life stages Occur at certain times

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology, climate, & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

phRenology – a pseudoscience focused on measurements of the human skull and size of the brain

Just to be clear… phRenology – a pseudoscience focused on measurements of the human skull and size of the brain phOnology – a branch of linguistics concerned with the organization of sounds in language

Phenology & ecosystems What is phenology? The science of the seasons Blooms and buds Hibernation, migration, emergence Easy to observe Photo credit: L. Barnett …it is the study of the timing of recurring plant and animal life- cycle stages, or phenophases, and their relationship to environmental conditions.

Phenology & ecosystems Who observes phenology? Scientists Gardeners/Agriculturists Land managers Educators Youth Photo credit: C. Enquist Photo credit: P. Warren Photo credit: S. Schaffer

Weather Day-to-day changes in the Earth’s atmosphere. Phenology and ecosystems -Mark Twain Climate Long-term average of daily weather in a given area. It is about… …time

Life Zones

Invasions Allergies Pests & Diseases Wildfires Flu season Agriculture Festivals Ecotourism Slide courtesy of S. Mazer

USA National Phenology Network Primack, R. B, Miller-Rushing, A.J 7 day average 61 years 2-3 week average Bradley, N.L., Leopold, C.A., Ross, J., Huffacker, W. Sandhill crane and geese

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Nature’s Notebook for scientists, naturalists, volunteers, land managers, park rangers, and YOU! Photo credit: L. Romano

U NDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Primary goal Create a standardized dataset for use in multiple types of research. Mission Make phenology data, models and related information available. Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record phenology. USA National Phenology Network Photo credit: C. Enquist

USA National Phenology Network Plant and animal species = 943 total 3205 observers reporting (10,026 total) making 494,331 observations 1 1 As of ,766 sites

USA National Phenology Network Reproduction Development Method Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect Active individuals Feeding Male combat Mating Young individuals Dead individuals Individuals at a feeding station Flowers Fruits Leaves Young leaves Leaves Colored leaves Flowers or flower buds Open flowers Ripe fruits Recent seed or fruit drop PLANT PHENOPHASES

USA National Phenology Network Leaves Flowers Fruits Gambel Oak

USA National Phenology Network Acorn Woodpecker Photo from All About Birds

USA National Phenology Network Enter Observations Online

You MUST have your account completely set up online first to use the mobile apps!

Red maple (Acer rubrum) in 2013 collected via Nature’s Notebook USA National Phenology Network

How can a long-term program like Nature’s Notebook be used in an inquiry-based learning environment? 10 minute discussion

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Program planning Phenology Plant & People Connections Local Ecology & Biodiversity Habitats Climate & Weather Poll question 2…

Program planning Phenology English Community Engagement and Civics Math Social Studies Service Learning Art Poll question 3…

Life Science Middle School (6-8)High School (9-12) Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems Growth, Development and Reproductions of Organisms Natural Selection and Evolution Earth and Space Sciences Middle School (6-8)High School (9-12) Earth’s Systems Weather and Climate Human ImpactsHuman Sustainability Next Generation Science Standards and Nature’s Notebook

Grade 8 Strand 1Strand 2 Concept 1: Observations, questions, & hypotheses Concept 1: History of science as a human endeavor Concept 2: Scientific testingConcept 2: Nature of scientific knowledge Concept 3: Analysis & conclusions Concept 4: Communications Next Generation Science Standards and Nature’s Notebook

Program planning Develop your own scientific questions to answer, using Nature’s Notebook:  What questions do you have about seasonality in your backyard?  What evidence do we have that there are seasonal changes? Why?  Create a list of observations you’ve made, plan to record them in Nature’s Notebook as regularly as possible for at least a year Based upon inquiry lessons in science.education.nih.gov Photo credit: L. Barnett Photo credit: P. Warren Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Program planning When are mesquite beans ready for harvest? Volunteer Groups Local Partners

Program planning Science questions to answer: 1.Is the monsoon season correlated with the dropping of ripe mesquite beans? 2.When is the best time to harvest mesquite beans to get the most beans per effort? 3.How far into the monsoon season is it safe to collect beans for harvest? Photo credit: P. Guertin Photo credit: P. Warren

Program planning Short term (within a year)  Engage participants in collecting observations, year round, on mesquite trees  Develop activities for youth and adults at sites to encourage observations of mesquite trees Medium term (within 3-4 years)  Share data with participants, develop a phenology calendar for the mesquite tree  Encourage participants to recruit others to collect observations Long term (5+ years)  Make general recommendations for safe harvest times GOALS and OUTCOMES

Program planning Tucson Phenology Trail Biosphere 2 UA Campus (2 sites) Sam Hughes Neighborhood Rincon Heights Neighborhood Pima Extension Offices (2 sites) Tucson Botanical Garden Tucson Audubon Mason Center Oracle State Park Sweetwater wetlands – Project wet Agua Caliente Park Tortolita Middle School Borton Elementary Environmental Learning Lab Arizona Trail Santa Rita Experimental Range Total of 75 Miles, start to finish 3-10 species tagged at each

Photo credit: L. Barnett Design a Long-Term PHENOLOGY PROGRAM What is your science question? What outcomes do you want to achieve? What are the activities you can do? What are the resources you already have? Who would be potential partners? Long-term observations help the USA-NPN and can help local programs!

Photo credit: L. Barnett Design a PHENOLOGY PROGRAM What is your science question? What outcomes do you want to achieve? What are the activities you can do? What are the resources you already have? Who would be potential partners? Long-term observations help the USA-NPN and can help local programs!

How can a long-term program like Nature’s Notebook be used in an inquiry-based learning environment? Would you change anything you originally discussed? Make any additions? Subtractions?

Challenge! 1.Create an account for Nature’s Notebook 2.Think about how you might use phenology and/or Nature’s Notebook tie together concepts in your classroom 3.Cross-collaborate with educators in your region to develop a long-term phenology monitoring program. Utilize both formal and informal organizations.

Program planning Resources: Curriculum by audience: Start a local project: Planning worksheets Ways to connect Shared sites Phenology Data: Visualization tools Downloadable excel How can I help you? How to Observe: Handbook Online tutorials for everything Botany 101 guide and Phenophase primer coming soon!

Objectives of this workshop: Define phenology and explain its applicability to understanding changes in habitats. Understand the mission and objectives of the USA National Phenology Network. Understand how to implement an inquiry-based long-term phenology monitoring program that can improve science and climate literacy in students. Participate in a challenge!

Photo credit: L. Barnett QUESTIONS?

Thank you! LoriAnne Barnett You’re invited to connect with USA-NPN… Sign up for a phenology e-newsletter (quarterly) Join the Nature’s Notebook community and become an observer: Contribute to science while having fun! Discover new tools and resources for work or play LoriAnne