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What is a Citizen Scientist? According to the National Geograhic website:
Citizen science is the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge. Through citizen science, people share and contribute to data monitoring and collection programs.
Before you begin, you will need to know the requirements for a TAP-Take Action Project. This is different from a service project as it has a sustainability component.
It is also important that this be Girl-led, so the troop has ownership of what they have accomplished.
Steps for a Take Action Project
1. Identify a problem
2. Come up with a sustainable solution.
3. Develop a team plan
4. Put the plan into action
5. Reflect on what they have learned
Terms the girls should know:
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Citizen Scientist (definition mentioned previously)
Observation-the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.
Scientific Method-a method of procedure consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
Brainstorm ideas with your girls. Write them down on large posterboard or large writing paper so you can remember them and the girls (who can read) can see them.
Practice Observing
You can play a game of I Spy with the girls.
Materials
Brown bag
Items to go inside the bag
You can do this as one large group or a few smaller groups. If you are doing smaller groups, you will need a bag for each one.
Sit in front of the girls and remove the items from the bag. Give them 15 seconds to look at them and place them back in the bag. Ask what was inside the bag.
Another observation activity to do is show one large item to the girls for 15 seconds and then have your co-leader remove it from the area. What did they see?
Step 2 -Do Hands on Activities and Make Observations While Doing Science Experiments
One way to learn about the Scientific Method is to do some actual science experiements.
There are literally hundreds of science experiemebts for kids ideas on Pinterest. Find three that you can have the girls do in rotating stations.
10 Pack
While doing the science experiments, have girls jot things down in a notebook. This notebook can also be used for observing for the Take Action part of earning this badge.
Stickers to decorate observation notebooks
Resources for the Daisy Think Like a Citizen Scientist Badge
Step 3 Identify the Problem
Brainstorm ideas with your girls. Write them down on large posterboard or large writing paper so you can remember them and the girls (who can read) can see them.
There are many online resources to help your troop select their TAP. As the leader, you should prescreen these to make sure they are something that your girls can actually do. TAPs need not take weeks or months, you can do them in 1-2 meetings. You can even do one while camping or doing a hike.
SciStarter Sign up as a Girl Scout leader with this link and you can search the different Girl Scout projects that are already there.
Daisy leaders have shared positive experiences with the projects that involved Squirrels, Clouds, Stream Selfie and Ant Picnic.
Scientific American
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