Join the City Nature Challenge to spot and identify plants, animals and bugs in your town, then compete with other cities around the world!

• From April 30 to May 3, take pictures of wild plants and animals
• From May 4 to May 9, help confirm the identity of the species that you and other observers found

In a previous Education At Home activity, you learned how to be a good observer. Now it’s time to put your skills to the test!

Participants in the City Nature Challenge use an app called iNaturalist to record and share information about the plants and animals they’ve found. You can use iNaturalist on a smartphone or from the Web.

Learn more about using iNaturalist by watching the video and following the instructions below.

If you can’t access the video, here is an easy step-by-step guide for using iNaturalist:

1. Tap “observe”
2. Add photographs as evidence
3. Select the plant, animal or fungus that you saw
4. Make sure the entry states when and where you saw it
5. Make sure to mark if the plant or animal you saw is cultivated (is someone growing it on purpose?)
6. Save your observation to upload and share with the community!

Now you’re ready to take part in the City Nature Challenge 2021. Share your observations with us by email at education@tudorplace.org

Second of a two-part City Nature Challenge series

Find more Education at Home posts.

Join the City Nature Challenge to spot and identify plants, animals, and bugs in your town and compete with other cities around the world! Learn more about the City Nature Challenge in Washington, DC.

• In the first part of the Challenge, from April 30 to May 3, take pictures of wild plants and animals, using the helpful tips below.
• Then, from May 4 to May 9, identify the species that were found.

If you’re participating in the City Nature Challenge, or just enjoying the nature around you, it is important to be a good observer.

When observers see something they want to share with other people, they take detailed notes! These notes are observations, or a record of everything you noticed.

When you make an observation you should record:

1. Who you are! What is your name?
2. Where are you? Are you in a park? In a garden?
3. When did you see this plant or animal? What time is it?
4. What you saw! Describe what you’re looking at! For example, if it’s a plant, does it have lots of leaves? Are they big or small? What color are they? What shape are they? Do they look soft or spiky? Does it have flowers? What color are they? What shape are they? What do they smell like?
5. Take lots of photographs from different angles and different distances. This will help you and other people identify what you’re looking at!
6. Practice!

You can use an observation sheet like this printable one to keep track of everything:

 

Now you are ready to be an observer! What can you discover? Share your observations with us by email education@tudorplace.org.

Second of a two-part City Nature Challenge series

Find more Education at Home posts.