Educator Resources
Welcome Educators! The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a great way to explore life science concepts, apply science skills in the field, and connect students with a global community of biodiversity observers. Here you can access the international education toolkit and find free local resources to prepare your students to participate in the Boston Area CNC.
Observation Pocket Guide in English and Spanish
Follow the tips in these guides to take pictures of plants, animals and insects that have the best chance of being identified. Download to use the guide on your mobile device or print and take with you!
International Education Toolkit
Step 1: Get Ready to Bring Kids Outside
Read this educator guide for tips for facilitating, managing, and supporting student outdoor learning and exploration in schoolyards, nearby park, or other green space. View Guide
Take a tour through iNaturalist, the website we will use in the U.S. to document observations. Learn how to best use this technology with students. This can be used in any formal or informal education setting. View Guide
Field Training for Educators
View our introductory webinar video from 2018 (below) that explains the City Nature Challenge and shows you how to use our website and the iNaturalist app to record plants and wildlife in your own backyard! Download slides from this webinar here.
Local Resources
Compare and learn facts and figures about organisms with Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) Biodiversity Cards. Students can collect cards or play games to learn about classification and adaptations. Visit education.eol.org/species cards
for the full list of cards, a user guide, and links to lesson plans using cards. The following decks highlight the diversity of New England from forests to the ocean. Download and print them out!
Wright Farm (agricultural fields + woodland)