Education Toolkit
Welcome to the City Nature Challenge Education Toolkit! This Toolkit includes lesson plans designed to help educators with nature-based curriculum. Short classroom and field activities are available for all ages and levels of experience.
Many of the activities are designed for groups. Most of them can be adapted for use at home and for online learning.
Lesson Plans for Every Age Group
Introduce the concept of biodiversity and build observation and other field skills through outdoor activities and field components. See standards for how these activities connect to Next Generation Science Standards (U.S.).
Ages 5-8
Observe living things in the school yard. Compare observations among different spots in the school yard. Design investigations to answer student or teacher created questions.
Ages 8-11
Classify and differentiate major groups of plants and animals. Compare observations of species among different areas in the school yard or outdoor space. Design investigations to explore student- and instructor- driven questions.
Ages 11-14
Identify the characteristics of major groups of organisms on earth and discuss global biodiversity. Build observation, identification, and classification skills. Apply these skills by creating a field guide. Explore CNC results through data analysis.
Ages 14-18
Students will explore how the public can participate in the scientific process through citizen science. Students will explore the features of iNat and identify local taxa. Students will address misconceptions about science and who can “do” science.
Higher Education
Prompt students to explore why it is important to measure biodiversity in cities and how all can contribute to this effort. Use iNat to observe and identify, gearing toward research grade data. Practice data analysis and visualization skills.
General Public
Participants will become aware that biodiversity exists and matters, not only in the wild but also in cities. Help equip them with necessary skills to conduct a BioBlitz using iNat. Reinforce discoveries with the creation of a physical, communicative output.