Science and Journey North
Carefully About Methods
Journey North is a "citizen science" project. As the name implies,
citizen science involves regular people in a scientific study. Journey
North involves the public in the data-collection step.
As the monarch butterfly migration takes place, thousands of observers
across the continent collect data about the migration. When you interpret
the results keep questions such as the following in mind.
Watching for Butterflies?
is a map showing where Journey North participants are located.
what you notice about the distribution of Journey North observers.
- Why is
this map important to keep in mind when you interpret migration sightings?
From Real-life Examples
The following cases have occurred while tracking the monarch migration:
the real-life examples above with the following questions in mind:
- How are
field observers one of the variables in this experiment? Explain.
how this human variable could be "controlled" to make Journey
North's experiment more valid.
- Read about
as described by biologist Andrew Davis. Can you add to your responses
to the questions above?
the concept of citizen science at the beginning of the season. Have students
watch for examples as the season progresses, and include them in their journals.
Watch how class discussions and journal entries increase in sophistication.
Science Education Standards
- It is
part of scientific inquiry to evaluate the results of scientific investigations,
experiments, observations, theoretical models, and the explanations
proposed by other scientists.