Fireflies Information for Kids: Parent Tips

Tips for engaging kids in science
Tips for engaging kids in firefly observation
Firefly watching supplies
Tips for collecting firefly data
Fun ideas to do after collecting firefly data
Firefly experiments

What is Citizen Science?
The MOS Firefly Watch is a great example of citizen science -- a term used to describe partnerships between trained volunteers and scientific researchers to answer real-world questions. Whether children are counting frogs in Project Frogwatch, nests in Neighborhood Nestwatch, or ladybugs in the Lost Ladybug Project, citizen science projects help children make science a part of their daily lives.

Why Should I Do Citizen Science Projects like Firefly Watch with My Child?
Children are little scientists!
Hands-on science can help children think critically and gain confidence in their own ability to solve problems. Citizen science empowers kids to feel like they can be scientists, and that the data they collect makes a difference. When they know their data means something, children take it seriously. The most important point is to engage them in inquiry-based learning and stewardship of the environment.

Tips for engaging kids in science:

Ask Questions! Being a scientist involves being curious, observing, asking questions, and learning how to find the answers. Children are natural “scientists” and when we encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, and explore in a safe environment, we give them the support that they need to become good scientific thinkers. It's also important to ask your child questions that will get him talking about his ideas and to listen carefully to his answers. Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but that’s a great question. Let’s find out the answer together!”
Parents Count! As a parent, you don't have to be a scientist or naturalist to help your child learn science. What's more important is your willingness to nurture your child's natural curiosity by taking the time to observe and learn together.
Science as a hobby. Opportunities to involve your child in science everyday are all around us. Whether you watch birds, collect rocks, or identify shells at the beach, your child is learning that doing science is lots of fun.
Learning to observe carefully and keep accurate records. These are important steps in learning about the scientific process. Encourage your child to keep a science notebook to record her observations, and emphasize how important it is to take the time to record data accurately.
Mistakes are what science is made of! Encourage your child by letting him know that it's okay to make mistakes or admit he doesn't know something. Rather than telling him that’s wrong, try saying, “Well, that‘s interesting, but what about thinking about it this way…” and follow with questions that will lead your child to the right answer, or look it up together. Knowing that you are willing to listen will help your child gain confidence in his own thinking and encourage his interest in science.
Have Fun! Enjoyment is a very important motivator for learning. Remember that doing science and learning together are great ways to share special fun times!

Tips for engaging kids in firefly observation:

Make the process of collecting the data a game, “Firefly, firefly in the night, who will spot the first firefly tonight?” Whoever spots the first firefly gets a special sticker or prize.
Start a “Firefly Friends Club” and invite some of the neighborhood children to come over at the same time every week to join in a group firefly watch. Make some membership cards and serve a few snacks after you’re done watching. Have each child make their own special “glow in the dark” shirt to wear to club meetings.
Use an extra calendar and let your child put a fun sticker on every day that you’ve collected firefly data. Record the dates that you saw the first and last fireflies of the season in your area. Then each year you can compare these statistics to look for any changes.
Let each child decorate a special “firefly notebook” to record any observations about fireflies.

Firefly watching supplies:

Firefly Watcher’s Backpack Supplies:

To save paper and be green, use an erasable “write-on” to record firefly data (Use a permanent marker to write the format from the Firefly Watch Project data sheet on the write on board-then you only need to erase the numbers each time).
Flashlight (turn your flashlight blue by taping a piece of blue acetate, or blue clear wrapping film, over your flashlight), bug spray, firefly notebook, data sheet, clipboard, and a pencil.

Tips for collecting firefly data:

Bring a blanket and use that as a “home base” for all your equipment.
Have every child go out and pick a special “spot” and ask them to watch for 10 seconds and count the number of fireflies they see.
Everyone then comes back to the “blanket” and agrees on the average number of fireflies seen in 10 seconds. Record that number on your data sheet/board.
Every child then picks a firefly to watch for a few minutes. Have them watch carefully to determine the color and count the number of flashes.
Everyone comes back to the blanket and records their data on the sheet/board.
Using flashlights, give the children 5 -10 minutes to record anything special in their notebooks that they observed that night.
Play “Firefly Hide and Seek” (see instructions below).
Go to the Museum of Science Boston Firefly Watch web site and input your data.

Fun ideas to do after collecting firefly data:

Firefly Hide and Seek. Played either in the dark or at twilight. You need three or more players and a flashlight. One player is the “Firefly” leaving the group with the flashlight in hand while counting silently to 50. The rest of the players count to 100 and then start out to find the "Firefly." As the “Firefly” hides and runs from the rest of the players, she must flash her light every time she counts to 50. Once tagged, another “Firefly” is chosen.
Bring a star chart and do some night sky watching. See what planets and constellations you can identify.
Sit quietly for 5 minutes and listen for the sounds of the night. What sounds can you or your child identify?
Study and watch the phases of the moon.
Put a flashlight on the ground and watch what insects are attracted to the light.
Have a “moonlight picnic” after your firefly watching session. Bring a few fun snacks and drinks to enjoy while you watch the stars.

Firefly experiments:

Experiment with Artificial Fireflies:

When you break a light stick, the chemicals inside the stick combine and give you energy as glowing light, the same kind of “cool light” that fireflies make.
Do you think temperature might affect a firefly’s brightness or flash rate? Put ice cubes in one pitcher and very warm (not too hot!) water in the other. Activate the light sticks and hold one stick in the warm water and one in the cold water. Wait 2-4 minutes.
What happens? The light stick in the warm water becomes brighter and the one in the ice becomes dimmer. The chemical reaction in the hot stick releases more light energy faster than the cold one.

Talking to Fireflies:

Find a female firefly sitting on the ground or a low bush.
Watch her for a few minutes and see if you can figure out how many times she flashes. Is the flash long or slow? Then count the seconds between flashes.
Sit in the grass and hold your flashlight so it’s pointing in the grass. Turn on the flashlight, shine it on the grass, and try to imitate the female firefly’s code. Turn off the flashlight and wait the same number of seconds that you counted between the real firefly’s flashes. Repeat the code.
If you are lucky, the males will be fooled and will start talking to you by flashing back and flying closer.