Apologia Science: GLOBE

Update: The frost tube is another diy GLOBE instrument to study soil as part of Pedosphere or soil unit.  Here is an entire curriculum for GLOBE Weather.

I’ve been obsessed recently with locating low cost equipment.  Have you heard of GLOBE?  In the United States, GLOBE is sponsored by NASA.  GLOBE is an international program providing protocols for collecting environmental data.  The program is free; even the training is free and online.    Here’s the rub; the protocols, data sheets, e-training can be hard to navigate owing to the sheer volume.

Start here with the teacher’s guide.  Now, chose Atmosphere and then select Clouds.  GLOBE has a comprehensive program to study clouds, precipitation, etc.  There are instructions for many pieces of equipment: GLOBE has designed the program for any audience.  For example, here are the instructions for making a Secchi disc and transparency tube.  (They are used to measure turbidity or water transparency.). This instrument, a densiometer, measures canopy cover in a forest.  A clinometer is used to measure angles to determine tree height.  (Here is a printable measuring tape.)

After you browse GLOBE and start to tear out your hair, try GLOBE for Elementary school-aged students.  Look at this sensory weather bar for young children.  This protocol for aerosols is a good example of how GLOBE integrates science with simple tools.  Don’t be daunted by the volume of resources!  Start with Elementary GLOBE and shift to Atmosphere for older students.  Again, start with Clouds.  Before you know it, you’ll be moving on to Hydrosphere.