GLOBE Mini-Grants Awards 2023-2025 by Jennifer Bourgeault

NASA ERC Partnership, Fairmont, WV

usglobecc — 2023-09-14 15:48:19 UTC

The NASA ERC Partnership in Fairmont, WV will provide a two-day GLOBE: Atmosphere Summit to prepare 12 mentors who will recruit WV students to enter GLOBE data science projects into local science fairs and GLOBE’s International Virtual Science Symposium. The summit will prepare educators to utilize NASA IV&V ERC’s loanable GLOBE kits and to facilitate site definitions, learning activities, protocol implementation, data entry, and data visualization and analysis with their students. Mentors and students will participate in WV GLOBE’s Atmosphere Focus Group and share celebratory moments as well as lessons learned, seek guidance with obstacles, and receive feedback with their GLOBE projects.

Berks Nature, Reading, PA

usglobecc — 2023-09-18 17:31:02 UTC

All students in Pennsylvania will be required to learn the standards set forth in the newly adopted Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards. Berks Nature will create a crosswalk between the STEELS standards and the objectives of the GLOBE protocols. This project will assist Berks Nature educators as they not only market the GLOBE Program to potential participants but will also allow for a more targeted and innovative approach to teaching and learning. In addition, on-site tablets will allow students to work in groups to gather and report real-time data rather than seeing this activity modeled by the instructor.

Expanding GLOBE in NC through a STEM Education Leadership PLC, Charlotte, NC

usglobecc — 2023-10-04 13:45:37 UTC

This project will expand the reach and impact of GLOBE through ongoing work of the STEM Education Leadership Professional Learning Community (STEM PLC). The STEM PLC engages STEM curriculum leaders from North Carolina’s southwest school districts and supports PK-12 education leaders in providing effective STEM teaching and learning. The STEM PLC members have a history of collaborative work and building capacity across the region in many areas of STEM including computational thinking, project-based learning, and STEM instruction. The STEM PLC will provide an opportunity to build and sustain a GLOBE community engaged in earth systems science focused on climate change. In turn, this community of educators will implement GLOBE activities and use GLOBE data and resources at their local schools throughout the greater Charlotte region. At this time in NC, there is an opportunity to explore earth systems science focused on climate change with a fresh perspective given the passing of new science standards slated to take effect in 2024. The new standards emphasize science and engineering practices and this includes the ability to analyze scientific data using models and computer simulations to explore scenarios and examine complex issues like our changing climate. It is especially important for NC K-12 educators and students to learn about earth systems science through a program such as the reliable and critically reviewed GLOBE program with its protocols, activities, and representative data. Participants will learn about local climate through GLOBE protocols including, air temperature, soil temperature, surface temperature, precipitation, cloud cover/type, contrails, green–up and green-down.

Re-establishing GLOBE in Alabama through AMSTI, Alabama

usglobecc — 2023-11-03 18:26:09 UTC

This project will re-establish GLOBE in Alabama through AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative). AMSTI’s motto is “Learning by Doing.” AMSTI is the Alabama Department of Education’s Initiative to improve STEM teaching statewide, including improvements in individual and integrated STEM subjects. Its mission is to support Alabama educators and students in learning STEM through doing STEM. After completing the GLOBE Teacher Training workshops, five newly formed AMSTI GLOBE workgroup specialists will become certified GLOBE trainers. This project aims to establish and expand the reach and impact of GLOBE through the ongoing work of the AMSTI GLOBE workgroup. The workgroup comprises 11 regional science specialists who serve as the GLOBE contact for each site. The five GLOBE trainer candidates will develop and deliver the new AMSTI GLOBE Teacher Training offered via the AMSTI Science Menu of Services. Upon completion of the workshops, the five AMSTI GLOBE workgroup science specialists will be certified as GLOBE trainers and qualified to provide professional learning to other specialists and K-12 teachers.

GLOBE Goes to Camp in Nevada City, CA

usglobecc — 2023-11-21 17:39:30 UTC

GLOBE Goes to Camp, giving learners a sense of environmental stewardship, can be implemented in many ways. Last spring Tina Harte, NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp Project Manager and Amy Ellisor, NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp Outreach Coordinator, hosted a NASA Goes to Camp in-person conference in South Carolina. This spring’s conference will focus on trees and landcover protocols, with integration of surface temperature, and clouds for creating program implementation plans. We will be exhibiting how Shady Creek has incorporated NASA GLOBE within our Environmental Education goals. We will be fostering camp and classroom networking and helping participants craft their GLOBE plans tailored to their own unique programs. In-person conferences with camp staff participants from across the country, create outcomes that benefit students across the nation. Hosting a conference at a resident camp location not only reduces housing and dining cost but also highlights all the NASA GLOBE Goes to Camp materials, application, partnerships, and possibilities.

Texas STEM Coalition GLOBE Partnership Curriculum Development Projects

modell48 — 2024-01-20 18:50:00 UTC

This project is designed to align the GLOBE Teachers Guide and Elementary Teachers Guide to the new Science Standards in Texas. In addition, the Texas STEM Coalition will develop Project-based Learning Templates to facilitate teacher and student participation in the annual GLOBE Student Research Symposium (SRS). These template will provide sample research questions that students can explore utilizing GLOBE Data and NASA and NOAA datasets.

Science Action Club: Cloud Quest Expansion to Rural Ohio

2024-01-25 19:56:40 UTC

In partnership with the Ohio Afterschool Network, Science Action Club will provide Cloud Quest teaching kits to afterschool programs serving middle school youth in rural Ohio. Each kit includes 12 activity plans, tools and supplies for 20 youth, and training for informal science educators. Cloud Quest helps educators use GLOBE Observer to connect youth with nature, build STEM identity, and achieve STEM learning goals. Learn more at www.calacademy.org/sac

Westover, WV 26501, USA

2024-05-30 22:50:58 UTC

In collaboration with the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) at WVU, the GLOBE WVU Partnership will provide a week-long student camp in Morgantown, WV. One HSTA teacher and ten high school students from the State of WV have been randomly selected to participate in the camp.

The teacher will be GLOBE trained and the students will use GLOBE protocols in Hydrology, Surface Temperature, Trees and Land Cover to take measurements and work on mini projects. They will also have a session and writing exercise about the environment in literature, as part of the interdisciplinary approach that can enhance the students' overall learning experience. Students will explore Water Quality, Life on Land, and Sustainable Cities and Communities principles, as aligned to Sustainable Development Goals.

Subject Matter experts will interact with the students during the week, will do site visits with them to do field work, but also to talk about their professions and their work trajectories. The students will present on the last day of the camp, sharing their learning, work and experiences during the week.

Bothell, WA

usglobecc — 2025-06-05 18:40:15 UTC

This project will develop a unit about Ecosystems for neurodiverse preschoolers. We will enact the unit with two classes of preschoolers who attend an inclusive, neurodiverse school in an urban setting. This project addresses GLOBE’s Strategic Priority to improve students’ understanding of environmental and Earth Systems science. It will support understanding of how to foster an understanding and appreciation of the environment and Earth in early learners at the preschool level.

Texas STEM Coalition, University of Texas at Tyler, and All Saints Episcopal School, TX

usglobeoffice — 2025-06-25 12:59:22 UTC

The Texas STEM Coalition, in partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler and All Saints Episcopal School, proposes a one-day professional development (PD) initiative titled “Exploring Earth Systems through GLOBE: A 4DEE Experience.” This project aims to build teacher capacity in implementing GLOBE protocols across all four Earth system spheres—atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, and biosphere—while integrating the Ecological Society of America’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework. The workshop will engage 20 teachers in hands-on training, including the construction of low-cost scientific tools, real-time data collection and submission via GLOBE platforms, and curriculum design aligned with NGSS and place-based learning strategies. This blended PD model includes a virtual orientation webinar, a full-day in-person field-based workshop, and a virtual follow-up session to support classroom implementation and sustained engagement. Participants will gain GLOBE protocol certifications, develop classroom-ready lesson plans, and join the broader GLOBE educator network. By addressing gaps in teacher preparation and ecological integration, this project promotes scientific literacy, environmental stewardship, and long-term instructional impact.