How do you use iNaturalist data with students?

Educators
14

I’ve done this with students from Liberal Studies in college down to fifth grade. Usually in groups of three.

  1. Collect annual precipitation data from a state or national database.
  2. Plot the data on a map by hand. I used to just get automobile maps from AAA and staple tracing paper onto the maps. In my case it was the state of California.
  3. Draw contour lines connecting the precipitation data by hand.
  4. Pick some interesting plants from iNat found in your state. This will be something best done by the instructor in advance. Douglas Fir, Joshua Tree, Barrel Cactus, Coast Redwood would be useful examples in California.
  5. Have students plot the research grade iNat observations in the state of those plants onto their precipitation maps.