Phenology and Climate
Provided by: Chicago Botanic Garden|Published on: April 25, 2025
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Chicago Botanic Garden Regenstein School, BudBurst
Region: United States, Illinois
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This webpage is a collaboration between the Chicago Botanic Garden Regenstein School, defining phenology and giving students an opportunity to be immersed in the process of phenology observations and participate in a global community to analyze data of phenological events.
- The data collected through the webpage and downloadable app allows students to analyze how changes in climate affect phenological events.
- The webpage also gives information about the now-closed Chicago EcoFlora project.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Students are able to search the Budburst data for phenology observations recorded in their local state.
- The phenology observation forms (Word documents that may be filled out using an online edit tool such as Kami) are student-friendly and provide phenophase definitions.
- The webpage gives opportunities for students to participate in different interactive phenology observations and provides students and teachers with a focus question.
Prerequisites
- In order for students to utilize the Budburst app, they need access to their own mobile device or tablet that allows downloading of apps Teachers may want to check with their school technology department if using a school issued tablet.
- Students and teachers need to create their own Budburst account to upload their own phenology observations.
- Teachers should guide students through the "What is Phenology" resource linked to the webpage so that students build their background knowledge of phenology before trying any of the activities listed.
- As part of the data recording sheets for the phenology observations, students need to be able to report the longitude and latitude of the area in which the observation took place.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can create a calendar of phenological events in the fall that they expect to see as the seasons progress throughout the school year. In the spring, students can analyze whether their predictions were correct or not, and make a hypothesis on why some of their predictions may not have come true. Students can answer the big question: How do the changes in phenological events indicate global climate change?
- Students can create a food chain with plants at the bottom of the chain. They can analyze what would happen if plants became scarce or disappeared altogether. Through analysis, students can explore the relationship between phenology and the overall health of the environment.
- Students can use this video to compare and contrast the climate-related phenological changes to trees in the Northeast with the phenological changes to trees at the local level.
- There are links to related curricula for teachers from pre-kindergarten through higher education that teachers may choose to incorporate into their own classrooms.
- The EcoFlora toolkit PDF gives teachers ideas on how to connect their students to plant life and plant science through public green spaces.
This resource from Budburst introduces students to phenology. The website (and downloadable app) provides brief details about how plants are affected by climate change. Interactive infographics about phenology and plants native to Chicago provide additional detail. Plenty of observation sheets are provided to help students identify different types of plants within a botanical garden. A link provides lesson plans for teachers, and data can be uploaded to Budburst to help climate scientists further their research. The resource does not provide tangible data, but it does include a lot of instructional materials.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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