Classroom Happenings: Sixth Graders as Citizen Scientists

Shenandoah National Park is known for its vast hiking trails, breathtaking views, and picturesque waterfalls. It’s also teeming with wildlife, from bobcats to birds. Students taught by Sixth Grade Science Teacher Janell Kauffman recently trekked through a section of the park to collect and record data about the red-backed salamander and the Shenandoah salamander.

Salamanders serve several important ecological roles, explained Ms. Kauffman, including predation on insects and other invertebrates, and soil aeration and influence on soil dynamics. In addition, salamanders are a food source for other forest animals. 

“The red-backed and Shenandoah salamander are indicator species, meaning their population and health are early indicators of pollution, habitat degradation, or climate change,” said Ms. Kauffman. “They serve to help researchers monitor ecological changes.”

On a warm spring day, Ms. Kauffman’s students, clipboards in hand, started their field work by meeting with a Shenandoah park ranger, who explained the method for gathering information about the red-backed salamander. She explained how students would be using a transect (a straight line that cuts through a natural landscape) to collect population data. 

Using a GPS device, students decided on a direction for the transect line. Then they used a portable weather station to collect weather data, and a pH-reading device to look at soil conditions. They also discussed why their data numbers were so low compared to those collected by last year’s sixth graders. Ms. Kauffman explained, “This spring in Virginia has been very dry. Salamanders like cool, moist environments. When the weather is dry and warm, they descend underground and are harder to find. The park researchers use longitudinal data to draw conclusions about climate change based on weather patterns and salamander populations.”

Sadie Oliver ’32 was eager to participate in outdoor research. 

“We used special bags to pick up each salamander so that we wouldn’t dry out their skin,” she said excitedly. “Then we measured them and noted where they were found, whether under a rock or leaf litter, or in the ground.”

The data collected will be used by park rangers and biologists to track the populations of salamanders. Spartans’ knowledge and skills will also connect to a local citizen science project on the effect of global climate change on organisms in Shenandoah, and the data will be used with local weather data to inform the public about global climate change. 

“I am so happy that my students got to experience firsthand how important citizen science is,” said Ms. Kauffman. Sadie added, “It feels very good to be able to contribute to a project where we get to collaborate and share our ideas.”

Ms. Kauffman’s students have been studying ecology all year long, with a focus on human impact on the planet. Participating in a field trip that aligned with their studies allowed students to delve deeper into their learning, and their thoughtful exploration of the natural world also illustrates Steward’s core values of academic achievement, care & respect, and inspiration. 

The field trip and year-long lessons were also inspired by Steward’s 2025-26 schoolwide theme: connecting with nature. Sadie said, “I like being outside during the school day. It’s relaxing! Looking under rocks and leaves, trying to catch salamanders, was a new, fun experience.”