The Data Game

The purpose of this resource is to learn how to estimate data results in order to minimize errors in reading or recording data. Students participate in a game in which they collect data using various instruments and calculations and then try to fool other data collection teams by exaggerating some of the data numbers. They do this activity first with data describing objects in the classroom, then with soil moisture measurements, and then with other GLOBE data. Educational levels: Primary elementary, Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school

Water Transparency Protocol

The purpose of this resource is to determine the transparency of water. Students measure water transparency at their undisturbed study site using a transparency tube or Secchi disk. Educational levels: Primary elementary, Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school

Getting to Know Your Satellite Imagery and Study Site

The purpose of the resource is to introduce students to Landsat images and how to identify the land cover types within those images. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school

What Are Some Factors That Affect Seasonal Patterns?

The purpose of this resource is to have students use GLOBE data and graphing tools to compare the influence of latitude, elevation, and geography on seasonal patterns. Students analyze the graph of the past year's maximum and minimum temperatures at their site. They compare this graph to similar graphs for two other sites and list which factors that might cause the patterns to be different and investigate one in depth. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Diagramming the Study Site for Others

The purpose of this resource is to develop the best possible representation of the study site as a system. Students visit a study site, where they observe and recall their existing knowledge of air, water, soil, and living things to make a list of interconnections among the four Earth system components. They make predictions about the effects of a change in a system, inferring ways these changes affect the characteristics of other related components. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Soil Particle Size Distribution Protocol

The purpose of this resource is to sure the distribution of different sizes of soil particles in each horizon of a soil profile. Using dry, sieved soil from a horizon, students mix the soil with water and a dispersing solution to completely separate the particles from each other. Students shake the mixture to fully suspend the soil in the water. The soil particles are then allowed to settle out of suspension, and the specific gravity and temperature of the suspension are measured using a hydrometer and thermometer. These measurements are taken after 2 minutes and 24 hours. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Using GLOBE Data to Analyze Land Cover

The purpose of the resource is to develop hypotheses about which environmental factors are most important to plants. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Bird Beak Accuracy Assessment

The purpose of this resource is to quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of a classification system. Students sort birds into three possible classes based on each bird's beak: carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Students compare their answers with a given set of validation data. Educational levels: Middle school, High school

Electrical Conductivity Protocol

The purpose of this resource is to measure the conductivity of water at a freshwater hydrology site. Students calibrate and take electrical conductivity measurements using an electrical conductivity meter. Students estimate the total dissolved solids from the electrical conductivity measurements. Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school, High school, Primary elementary

GLOBE Cave Protocol Field Guide: Comparing Surface and Subterranean Environments

The GLOBE Cave Protocol Field Guide utilizes existing GLOBE protocols to explore an extreme environment. Caves provide an opportunity to utilize GLOBE protocols to investigate underground environments and compare them to surface environments. Outside the cave, students record elevation, MUC, latitude and longitude, air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure. Inside the cave, students record air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure as well as observe and describe cave features in each room. Students also note evidence of biological activity and human impact. If water is present inside the cave, students record water temperature and pH. Follow up questions are included in the Field Guide. Educational levels: Middle school, High school, Intermediate elementary