Science Links
"Treat people as if
they were what they ought to be, and you help them to become what they
are capable of being."
~~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) German poet, novelist, playwright,
and philosopher
The Roof is Growing!: http://www.asla.org/greenroofeducation/
The American Society of Landscape Architects has developed The Roof is Growing!, an educational resource for middle-level students and teachers about green roofs and their environmental benefits. This free resource includes a lesson plan, workbook and online interactive program designed to engage students in learning how green roofs cool cities, clean the air, create habitates and control stormwater.
Classroom Earth: http://classroomearth.org/
This Web site by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with The Weather Channel, is a one-stop resource and networking tool created by and for high school teachers to ensure teachers nationwide have the necessary tools to enhance environmental education.
ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/
news articles on science, technology, health, and the environment
NewCROP: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html
The Center for New Crops & Plant Products at Purdue University provides
profiles of new and specialty crops, a search engine to access crop information,
a mapped nation-wide crop information system, a bibliography, a Guide
to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, links to related web sites, external
data-bases, and libraries, and more.
Natural Worlds: http://www.naturalworlds.org/
"Natural Worlds is a completely non-profit, educational online series
which provides information on a variety of natural history topics."
Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception: http://www.exploratorium.edu/
North American Mammals (Smithsonian): http://web4.si.edu/mna
North American Mammals contains over 425 mammal
species and thousands of photographs, watercolors, scientific illustrations,
range maps, weights and measures, descriptive text, references, links,
and the conservation status of each species. The site is a virtual encyclopedia
on North America's furred inhabitants. Searches and navigation are available
for every knowledge level. There is even a family tree that cleverly unfurls
genetic relationships. The site also contains vignettes on adaptations,
and QuickTime movies. Using a GIS map of North America, explorers can
click on any location and find out which species of mammals can be found
at that location.
The Weather Classroom: http://www.weatherclassroom.com/index.php
The Weather Channel has a list of online resources to make the science
of meteorology come alive for students in grades K-10. There are such
interactive multimedia as "Forecast Earth," which investigates
global climate changes and their effects on daily lives: "Look Up!",
an exploration of the sky with cross-curricular ties to math, visual arts,
music and language arts: and "SameSide," a collection of weather-related
safety and preparedness materials.
The Quest for Life: http://www.pbs.org/exploringspace/
This interactive site discusses the idea of finding life in space. Read
about planets that might have life, or projects to colonize Mars. T the
space simulator tests your ability to manage your life on your way to
Mars.
AP Physics B: http://apphysicsb.homestead.com/
This website that contains resources for students
and teachers of Advanced Placement (AP) Physics. While a section of the
site is dedicated to the designer's students, there is other content for
those wishing to prepare for AP Physics exams. Tutorials, conceptual facts,
interactive problem solving, and simulations and virtual labs are provided
for students. The site also provides links to the College Board AP site,
textbook publishers, simulations and virtual labs, PhysicsQuests, and
other AP Physics homepages for teachers.
Inside Einstein's Universe: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/seuforum/einstein/
Albert Einstein published four revolutionary papers with predictions about
space and time so extraordinary that even Einstein himself refused to
believe they could be true - a time when time itself could not exist,
a space that could generate yet more space, and a bizarre intersection
of space and time at the center of a black hole. Now, 100 years later,
the study of these once-wild ideas - the Big Bang, "Dark Energy"
and Black Holes - is at the cutting edge of science in the 21st century.
This site explores three big questions: 1) Did the universe have a beginning?
2) What happens at the edge of a black hole? and 3) Will space expand
forever?
My Universe: K-12 Space Science and Physics
Educational Resources: http://cosmos.colorado.edu/~urquhart/
This nicely organized aggregation site provides a plethora of materials
related to space science and physics. Dr. Mary Urquhart, the site's creator,
is a Postdoctoral Associate at the NASA Ames Research Center, and has
created some of the material available on the site including a teacher's
guide titled Possibilities for Life on other Worlds: Our Solar System
and Beyond, which is also available through PBS Online. Materials on the
site include curriculum, lesson plans, experiments and much more.
PSIgate: Physical Sciences Information Gateway:
http://www.psigate.ac.uk/newsite/
Link to the physical sciences hub of the Resource Discovery Network (RDN).
PSIgate provides free access to high quality Internet resources for students,
researchers and practitioners in the physical sciences, specifically in:
astronomy, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, and science history and
policy. Each resource in the main PSIgate Catalogue has been selected
by information professionals and subject specialists (mainly PSIgate staff
and research postgraduates) to ensure relevance and quality. A
full description of each resource is provided, together with a range of
other information and direct access to the resource itself.
QuarkNet: http://quarknet.fnal.gov
QuarkNet brings high school students and teachers to the frontier of 21st
century research that seeks to understand some of the mysteries about
the structure of matter and the fundamental forces of nature. Physicists
mentor and collaborate with high school teachers. Students learn fundamental
physics as they analyze live online data and participate in inquiry-oriented
investigations. Teachers join research teams with physicists at a local
university or laboratory. Don't miss the FOR TEACHERS area. /
Fairy tales and folklore have given the wolf
a bad rap. But their modern-day tale has a happy ending. After years of
extinction in the continental United States, wolves were successfully
reintroduced into Yellowstone Park and central Idaho in 1995 and 1996.
*Carl Cook Photography: Wolves: http://www.clcookphoto.com/wolves.htm
Carl Cook served on the Board of Directors at Wolf Haven, a nonprofit
wildlife sanctuary near Tenino, Washington, for three years. As a photojournalist
and naturalist, he studied the wolves and documented their behavior. "Over
time, many of the wolves came to know me, and in a few cases, relationships
of mutual trust developed. The photographs presented here are samples
from my study, The Wolves At Your Door, an exhibit last shown at Seattle's
Pacific Science Center in 1988."
*International Wolf Center: Just for Kids: http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/justkids/kids.asp
The International Wolf Center advocates for wolf survival "by teaching
about wolves, their relationship to wild lands and the human role in their
future." The kids pages contain wolf factoids, a few articles, and
a handful of games and coloring pages. Additional educational resources
can be found in the grown-up site by mousing over to Learn. Also, there
are Wolf Basics (especially the Wolf Quiz) or Educators (highlight is
the Gray Wolves, Gray Matter interactive curriculum.)
* National Geographic Wolves: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/education/geoguide/wolves/
"A wolf's community its pack, its prey, and its competitors is dynamic
and delicate. The survival of these controversial predators hinges on
both natural and human forces. Explore these forces and see how they touch
wolves, elk, cattle, and coyotes." The story is told through the
use of amazing photographs and powerful words. It includes a K-12 activity
guide for both families and classrooms.
Learning Sciences and Brain Research: http://www.teach-the-brain.org
This interactive teacher forum
has been created by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Centre
for Educational Research and Innovation (OECD/CERI). This web site is
for teachers of all levels to join a discussion with scientists on new
challenges in teaching and learning. H
ow much do emotions influence learning? Can adults
learn to learn? Which teaching methods could help children with dyslexia
and
dyscalculia? When should students start learning a second language? Can
neuroscientific discoveries improve teaching methods? These are a few
of the questions discussed in the forum.
The site also includes extensive resources for teachers,
such as brain primers and a section debunking the myths about the brain
and learning.
BioEd Online: http://www.bioedonline.org/
BioEd Online was produced by Baylor's Center for Educational Outreach,
and provides middle and high school science teachers with a wide array
of free instructional resources, such as slide sets, streaming video presentations,
and laboratory activities. The site assists biology teacherswho are trying
to balance hectic schedules and numerous responsibilities by offering
accurate, current information, reinforced by lessons and web-based materials
that address important and timely issues like nutrition and obesity,
biodiversity, and mad cow disease.
A Walk Through the Woods: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/index.html
This website is designed for children in grades 3 through 5 who have little
or no opportunity to visit the woods. It is divided into several parts,
including a virtual walk in the woods that features narration. Students
also can click on various icons and learn about the animals and plants
they might see. Another part contains tips on getting ready for a walk
in the woods, including precautions and trail etiquette. A teachers' guide
is included on the site to enhance classroom use.
A Sightseer's Guide to Engineering: http://www.engineeringsights.org/
Visit a nuclear power plant in Idaho or Maryland at the this site. Help
yourself to a virtual tour of sites across the United States where civil
engineers have been at work. Search by engineering disciplines for "civil/environmental"
and visit one of the sites that are listed on the next screen. The pumping
station on the Alaska Pipeline, the Hoover Dam, and San Francisco's Goldent
Gate Bridge all can be visited virtually .
Building Websites for Science Literacy: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/istl/00-winter/article2.html
This article seeks to simplify the process of building a webliography
on a science topic "by suggesting straightforward guidelines for
evaluating and organizing websites."
This Week in the History of Chemistry: http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/week.html
Day by day descriptions of events, with links to further information.
Advances in Neurology: http://www.advancesinneurology.com
Advances in Neurology was created by a group of
neurologists with the help of a grant from the Novartis Neuroscience company.
Epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are the focus of
this web site. The extensive use of videos is what sets "Advances
in Neurology" apart from other web sites. The videos show neurologists,
patients andcaregivers sharing their experiences treating or living with
a neurological disorder. An example of these videos is one titled "Portrait
of a Child with Epilepsy" that describes the life of a 17-year-old
girl with epilepsy. Complete transcripts of the videos are also available.Although
"Advances in Neurology" is sponsored by a company, there are
no advertisements for any products.
Zoo's computing project bears notice: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=4732
"School field trips could get a whole lot more exciting, if a program
being launched by the Brookfield Zoo proves successful. The Chicago-based
zoo is creating a Tablet PC program in conjunction with the Chicago Public
Schools to provide a more accessible educational experience for students
with disabilities." Brookfield (Illinois) Zoo: http://www.brookfieldzoo.org
Plate tectonics theory, formulated in the
1960s and 70s, states that the Earth's outer crust is composed of moving
plates. For example, two hundred million years ago there was only one
super continent named Pangaea. Plate tectonics also explains how mountains,
volcanos and earthquakes are created as a by-product of continental drift.
Earth Floor: Plate Tectonics: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/plates1.html
Developed in partnership with NASA Classroom of the Future, this two-story
virtual museum for elementary and middle school students has an Earth
Floor, and one dedicated to dinosaurs. This four-page exhibit explains
plate tectonics theory and three kinds of plate movement: converging,
diverging and transforming. Keep in mind that continental movement is
very, very slow: "from two centimeters to ten centimeters per year
about the speed at which your fingernails grow."
Enchanted Learning: Plate Tectonics:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
With lots of colorful illustrations, Enchanting Learning introduces continental
drift and the Earth's plates to both elementary and middle-school students.
The Continental Drift animation, which can be run both forward and backwards,
shows how the continents have moved over the last 800 million years. Also
there is a paragraph on the father of plate tectonics, Alfred Wegener,
plus quizzes and printable activity sheets.
PBS: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/
"Take a hard-boiled egg and crack its shell. Does the egg remind
you of anything? The Earth, perhaps? The egg could be seen as a tiny model
of the Earth. The thin shell represents the Earth's crust, divided into
plates; within the shell is the firm but slippery mantle." Visit
this PBS Science Odyssey for the Shockwave Plate Tectonics activity illustrating
what happens when Earth's plates push and pull against each other and
browse the thirteen related articles, also available in printable versions
with white backgrounds.
National Image Library, US Fish and Wildlife
Service: http://images.fws.gov/
"the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's online collection of public
domain still photographs." Searchable by keyword, title or subject.
The Brain From Top to Bottom: http://www.thebrain.mcgill.ca
The Brain From Top to Bottom was developed by the
Douglas Hospital Research Centre and the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research to teach the general public about the nervous system. The site
focuses on four topics: neuroanatomy, memory, reward systems and emotions.
The complexity of the information about each topic is divided into three
levels of difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and five levels
of organization (social, psychological, neurological, cellular, molecular).
So, depending on your background, you can read simple or more difficult
material about each subject. Drawings and photographs
throughout the site help illustrate concepts and multiple links on each
page will connect you to other Internet resources.
SIAM-Servir: http://servir.nsstc.nasa.gov/home.html
NASA-supported researchers have developed software anyone can use to fly,
video game-style, over Central America and survey its current environmental
conditions.
Related story "Keeping an Eye on Central America" at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/23apr_biocorr2.htm?list559372
Science News for Kids at: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/
Science News for Kids delivers science articles
written for children between the ages of 9 and 13. The web site is published
by "Science Service," the same company that publishes the weekly
science
newsmagazine "Science News." Start your
exploration of Science News for Kids by reading some stories in the article
archives. If you get tired of reading, click over to the PuzzleZone, GameZone
or LabZone to solve a problem, play a game or do an experiment. The SciFairZone
has suggestions and ideas for science fair projects and the TeacherZone
has resource materials for teachers and
parents.
ReviseWise - Science: Physical Process -
Magnets: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revisewise/science/physical/12_act.shtml
This is an interactive site for primary grades.
Lunar Odyssey: http://www.craigmont.org/skymedia/LO.pdf
Make Your Own Alien: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/cool_stuff/alien/make_alien.html
What is Photosynthesis?: http://photoscience.la.asu.edu/photosyn/education/learn.html
The Energy Cycle: http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habact4.html
The Micropolitan Museum of Microscopic Art
Forms:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/index.html
Aerospaceweb.org: http://www.aerospaceweb.org/
Provides "information regarding a wide range of aerospace-related
fields, including aircraft design, spacecraft design, aerodynamics, and
aerospace history." Includes pics from the Aircraft Museum, articles
on aircraft design issues, an "ask the rocket scientist" feature
(with an archive of previous answers), and more.
Your Weight on Other Worlds: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/index.html
How Much Would You Weigh on Another Planet?: http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Puzzles/Weight.asp
Ball Drop
(video): http://216.116.237.32/VideoClips/BallDrop.wmv
Weight and Motion: http://nsc10.nscdiscovery.org/Adobe/WeightandMotion.pdf
Simple machines:
http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/sm-launcher.htm
http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm
http://media.nasaexplores.com/lessons/03-003/k-4_2.pdf
http://www.thewest.com.au/nie/pictures/machineans.pdf
http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/Summer_Training/KaeAvenueES/SIMPLE_MACHINES
Simple Machines Interactive Crossword: http://personal.rockbridge.net/higs/sm/cross-p/cross-3.htm
Leonardo da Vinci's Mysterious Machines: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/LeosMysteriousMachinery.html
What's So Simple About Machines? - an Internet Sampler on Simple Machines:
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/samsimplemst.html
Meet Yorick the Bionic Skeleton: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/html/yorick_no.1.htm
Ask Dr. Universe: http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/Contents.html
"Science questions and answers for kids of all ages." The anonymous
Dr. Universe plies her trade at Washngton State University and "tackles
all questions, not just science. She has a whole campus of experts to
call on, experts in just about everything." Browsable and keyword-searchable.
Forestry Images: http://www.forestryimages.org/
A joint project of The Bugwood Network and USDA Forest Service. Browse
by categories (wildlife, forest plants, trees and stand types, etc.) or
search.
Advanced Biological Psychology Tutorials:
http://psych.athabascau.ca/html/Psych402/Biotutorials/
This is a detailed, online
review of the nervous system. The site was developed by Dr. Sandra Nagel
in the Centre for Psychology at Athabasca University. Dr. Nagel has constructed
38 separate tutorials
about a variety of neuroscience topics. Each tutorial has three sections:
A) Image-Mapped Tutorial: basic information about
a topic illustrated with pictures. Each tutorial lists references, suggested
readings and web sites for further information. The tutorials can also
be viewed in a "printable" version if you want to print a copy
of the material.
B) Matching Self-Test: a brief test to match items
in a picture with the correct answers.
C) Multiple Choice Self-Test: a brief multiple choice
quiz to test your knowledge about the material in the tutorial.
The tutorials are written in textbook fashion for
university students. Some people may find the text difficult to read.
However, students of all ages may benefit from this site if they want
to explore the nervous system in detail.
Inventor of the Week: http://web.mit.edu/invent/i-main.html
The Center for Insect Science Education Outreach
(CISEO): http://insected.arizona.edu/home.htm
CISEO was established 13 years ago at the University
of Arizona to develop lessons for teachers and scientists about using
live insects in the classroom. These lessons teach health and science
concepts and are available on the CISEO web site in English and Spanish.
The web site is divided into two main sections.
The section titled "Using Live Insects in Elementary Classrooms for
Early Lessons in Life" contains
A) 20 lesson plans to teach kindergarten through third grade students
about science, health and math, B) 17 information sheets with facts about
insects
C) 17 rearing sheets with information about maintaining insects
D) an extensive bibliography about different insects.
Several experiments deal directly with neuroscience. For example, "Getting
to Know You" uses mealworms to teach about mental health, "Using
My Senses" uses crickets to teach about the senses and "Bug
Eyes" uses praying mantid to teach about the eye.
The second section, titled "Acres of Insects,"
is intended for teachers of high school classrooms. This section has two
hands-on, inquiry-based experiments about human ecology.
CISEO also has a list of companies that sell insects.
AMUSEMENT PARK PHYSICS:
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/
How do physics laws affect amusement park ride design? In this exhibit,
you'll have a chance to find out by designing your own roller coaster.
Plan it carefully--it has to pass a safety inspection.You can also experiment
with bumper car collisions.
FIELD TRIP EARTH: http://www.fieldtripearth.org/index.xml
Focuses on ongoing field-based wildlife conservation research projects
around the world. All projects are similar in that they provide classrooms
and others the opportunity to interact meaningfully with wildlife researchers
and other conservation experts. Students and other users can read researchers’
field diary entries, direct questions to the researchers (and read their
responses), listen to recorded satellite telephone calls and other communications,
see video taken in the field, and discuss conservation issues with them.
In a sense, students can use the interactive resources of Field Trip Earth
to become part of the research team itself.
STRANGE MATTER: http://www.StrangeMatterExhibit.com
Explores the world of materials science. What's materials science? You
could call it the study of stuff! Just about everything you use every
day - the shoes you wear, the dishes you eat from, the CDs you listen
to, the bike or skateboard you ride - it's all made of different kinds
of stuff. Understanding how that stuff is put together, how it can be
used, how it can be changed and made better to do more amazing things
- even creating completely new kinds of stuff: that's what materials science
is all about.
States of Matter
What are the three states of matter?
http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/k2/three_states_of_matter_mov.html
http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/states_of_matter.html
Video and lesson plans for K-2 students
What makes popcorn pop? 3-5, Video
http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/beta/videos.cfm?unit=popcorn
Video for 3-5 students
What is the coolest gas in the universe?: http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/beta/videos.cfm?unit=coolgas
States of Matter: http://harcourtschool.com/activity/states_of_matter/
Matter: http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html
BEC (Bose-Einstein Condensation) Homepage: http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/bec/
"Bose-Einstein Condensation in a gas: a new form of matter at the
coldest temperatures in the universe... "
A New Form of Matter: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/20mar_newmatter.htm
Demonstrations about space
Meteors can be simulated by putting flour in the bottom of a box or cake
pan (9x13) and dropping marbles into the flour to make craters.
Comets can be simulated through putting dry ice
in a bowl, add dirt, rocks and a little bit of water so the rocks and
dirt can make the "dirty snowball". Using gloves take out of
the bowl. Raise it up in the air and walk with it, if you walk fast enough
it will cause a tail to be visible.
Biodiversity and Conservation: The Web of
Life: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/biodiversity/
Thousands of species may be vanishing each year
as a result of pollution, over-harvesting, habitat degradation, and other
human actions. We depend upon biodiversity in our everyday lives to supply
us with a healthy environment and many natural materials that are sources
for food, medicine, and other economically important products. On this
site you can investigate biodiversity; find out about events and workshops;
meet scientists; explore global diversity; learn how to Take Action! as
well as take a look at The Field Museum’s many educational programs,
workshops, and downloadable teacher’s guides. Contains an interactive
map of researchers studying biodiversity around the world.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School,
Adult/Professional
Content Area: Science (Environmental Studies), Vocational
Education (Careers)
100th Anniv. of Kitty Hawk - Part I: http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1382674
Milestones of Flight: http://www.nasm.edu/galleries/gal100/gal100.html
The Octave Chanute Pages: http://spicerweb.org/chanute/chan_ind.html
Air Force Celebrates the Centennial of Flight: http://www.centennialofflight.af.mil/
Federal Aviation Administration - Education
and Training: http://www1.faa.gov/education/index.cfm
Flights of Inspirations: http://sln.fi.edu/flights/index.html
Build Your Own Wright Models: http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlnasa/units/LearningtoFly/04.pdf
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics: http://www.flight100.org/index.cfm
The Wright Brothers Information Packet: http://www.libraries.wright.edu/special/wright_brothers/packet/secondary.html
Wright Experience: http://www.wrightexperience.com/
The Wright Brothers - Wilbur and Orville: http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/wrightbros.htm
Wright Flight: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kids/flight/feature_wright.html
Researching Medical Literature on the Internet:
http://www.llrx.com/features/medical2003.htm
Alex's Paper Airplanes: http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/
From Alex's gallery of two dozen paper airplane designs, visitors have
selected the Dragon Plane and Paper Helicopter as their favorites. The
Dragon, an original design, flies "true and fast" and is "the
best plane to hit your teacher with." The Helicopter is popular because
it is both simple to make and
simple to fly. You can peruse the rest of the planes by difficulty of
construction (easy, medium, hard) or jump right to the fastest, longest
flying, or most unusual designs.
Best Paper Airplane: http://www.zurqui.com/crinfocus/paper/airplane.html
During the summer of 1950, eight-year-old Michael O'Reilly watched in
amazement as his sister's boyfriend made the best paper airplane in the
whole world. "When he started folding the paper, I knew this was
something different, something special. He never explained how he did
it but every move,
every fold, every detail was burned into my memory." Today, Michael
shares the secrets of the DC-3 paper airplane: how to build it and how
to fly it.
Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplane: http://www.josephpalmer.com/planes/Airplane.shtml
Joseph Palmer's planes are "designed to fly," not look like
real airplanes. As a paper airplane purist, none of his designs require
cutting, taping or weights: just a single sheet of 8.5" by 11' paper
and your fingers. There are only four designs here, but the illustrated
instructions are excellent, and judging by visitor feedback, all of them
are great flyers.
Earth as Art: http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/earthasart/
"view our planet through the beautiful images taken by the Landsat-7
satellite." Click on a continent, view thumbnails, and click on the
images for a printable, higher resolution version with scale (8.5"
x 8.5", 144 ppi). You can also download printable poster TIFF files.
Actionbioscience.org: http://www.actionbioscience.org/
This site presents peer-reviewed articles and links on bioscience issues
including biodiversity, environment, genomics, biotechnology, etc. Chosen
by Scientific American in 2003 as one of the best biology sites.
The Thylacine Museum: http://www.naturalworlds.org/thylacine/index.htm
A thylacine is an Australian marsupial.
Science Fun With Airplanes: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~flight/
Windows Into Wonderland
Windows Innto Wonderland: http://windowsintowonderland.org
Yellowstone National Park has developed an online series of electronic
field trips and associated curricula. the curricula have been written
to meet the National Science Education Standards and are offered free
of charge. There are also archived electronic field trips for history,
art and other science subjects on the site. The Park Servic anticipates
bringing new field trips on line every five or six months.
The Dinosauria: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/dinosaur.html
Dinorama: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/dinorama/index.html
Dinosaur Floor: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/dinosaur.html
The Dinosaur Interplanetary Gazette: http://www.dinosaur.org/frontpage.html
Zoom Dinosaurs: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
Paper Dinosaurs, 1824-1969: http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/pubserv/hos/dino/welcome.htm
Paul Sereno's Dinosaur Web Site: http://dinosaur.uchicago.edu/
Frogland: http://www.allaboutfrogs.org/froglnd.shtml
National Geographic Creature Feature - Hippopotamuses: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0009/index.html
ImplosionWorld.com: http://www.implosionworld.com/
KingDome Implosion: http://www.martinidesign.com/kingdome/implode.htm
International Rhino Foundation: http://www.rhinos-irf.org/
American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association: http://www.afrma.org/
Fun Stuff - A new "spin" on agriculture: http://www.usda.gov/nass/nasskids/games/games2.htm
Araneae, Spiders of North-West Europe: http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm
Tarantulas: http://www.desertusa.com/july96/du_taran.html
B-Eye - The World Through the Eyes of a Bee: http://cvs.anu.edu.au/andy/beye/beyehome.html
The Bear Den - All About Bears: http://www.bearden.org/
North American Bear Center: http://www.bear.org/homepage.html
Bear Facts - Traveling in Bear Country: http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/wildlife/geninfo/game/bearfax.htm
Bubblesphere: http://www.bubbles.org/
Insects on the Web: http://insects.org/index.html
Dennis Kunkel Microscopy: http://www.denniskunkel.com/
Build-A-Prarie: http://www.bellmuseum.org/mnideals/prairie/build/index.html
CarlSagan.com: http://www.carlsagan.com/
Cells Alive: http://www.cellsalive.com/
The Cephalopod Page: http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/
In Search of the Giant Squid: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/squid.html
Understanding Plate Motion: http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/understanding.html
Coaster Quest: http://www.coasterquest.com/
PSIgate - Science Timelines: http://www.psigate.ac.uk/newsite/
"A selection of notable events in the scientific world from prehistoric
times to the present, broken down into separate subject areas. Each timeline
contains dozens of key events which have shaped the world as we know it,
together with suggested PSIgate searches for further information."
Searchable by keyword and date range.
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/yvo/
"Monitoring the Largest Volcanic System in North America." Includes
the volcanic history of the region, current monitoring data, an FAQ file,
and a photo gallery.
The Reconstructors: http://reconstructors.rice.edu/
Two great science related educational video games
EdHeads Simple Machines: http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
Amazing Space Web-Based Activities: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
All Info-About Science for Families: http://scienceforfamilies.allinfo-about.com/subjects/biology.html
Mysteries of Apo Island: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/sea/interactive_module.cfm?id=9
A fun video-game type interactivity for middle school students
The Great Plant Escape: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/index.html
An interactive game for upper elementary age students
NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html
NASA provides lesson plans, interactive lessons, movies and TV shows over
the internet and by satellite, printable worksheets and more for kindergarteners
through adults.
Hurricane Hunters: http://www.hurricanehunters.com/
The Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve are a one-of-a-kind Department
of Defense
organization that flies into tropical storms and hurricanes. Through the
magic of cyber-flight, you are invited to join their flight into the eye
of Hurricane Opal. "Attention to storm briefing, crew. Things are
about to get busy, so please minimize chatter. The navigator will be directing
the aircraft until we
get close to the eye, then Weather will take us in from there, with the
Nav backing him up. Copilot, guard the autopilot, and kick it off if we
get into severe turbulence."
Hurricanes: Facts, Photos, Videos: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0308/hurricane/
National Geographic Kids brings you into the eye of Hurricane Mitch in
October of 1998. The hurricane hunters of the National Hurricane Center
in Miami take off in two planes (nicknamed Kermit and Miss Piggy) to collect
data that will tell meteorologists where Mitch is headed. Colorfully illustrated
with videos and photos, the site also a section on hurricane survival
tips.
Miami Museum: Hurricane Storm Science: http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/hurricane0.html
"The worst part of the hurricane was not being able to find food.
Everything blew away. We spent almost two days without any food."
Meet the Benitez family of Homestead, Florida who survived Hurricane Andrew
in 1992 by huddling together in a small closet. Have you ever experienced
a natural disaster such as a hurricane, fire, flood or earthquake? You
can add your story to the Healing Quilt. Also on display are instructions
on building your own weather station, and an introduction to hurricane
tracking.
Biological Psychology Newslink: http://www.biopsychology.comThe
Biological Psychology Newslink web site was created by Dr. S. Marc
Breedlove at Michigan State University to supplement the textbook "Biological
Psychology." This textbook was written by Dr. Breedlove and his colleages
Dr. Mark R. Rosenzweig and Dr. Arnold L. Leiman. The web site offers links
to recent neuroscience articles on the Internet. Most of these articles
are written for the general public (or are press releases intended for
science reporters) and are therefore easy to understand.
Virtual Solar System: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/solarsystem/index.html
CyberCenter - Explore the Universe: http://cybercenter.si.edu/universe/media/cybercenter.htm
Fossil Horse Cyber Museum: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/firstCM.htm
Ask USGS: http://ask.usgs.gov/
The Adventures of Herman: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/
Herman is a worm and you find out about worms in English or Spanish at
this site.
GAKKEN'S PHOTO ENCYCLOPEDIA "ANTS":
http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/INTRODUCTION/Gakken79E/title.html
Beetle Science: http://explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?scene=Beetle%20Science
Planetary PhotoJournal: NASA's Image Access
Home Page: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/
Choose your planet and enjoy the images captured by our spacecraft in
their voyages through the universe.
Rotten Truth About Garbage: http://www.astc.org/exhibitions/rotten/rthome.htm
This site takes an in-depth look at the complex
issues surrounding municipal solid waste. This on-line exhibition is organized
into four major sections: What Is Garbage?, There's No 'Away', Nature
Recycles, and Making Choices.
American Forest and Paper Association Kids
& Educator Site:
http://www.afandpa.org/Template.cfm?Section=Tools_for_Educators&Template
This website provides information on paper reuse,
recycling, and sustainable forestry for classroom use by K-6 teachers.
There are many activities that can be used for Earth Day as well as throughout
the year.
Free Medical Journals: http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/
Links to over 1300 free medical journals, by discipline, title, language,
and the period of time after which the material becomes free, with information
on each journal's impact factor as measured by citations.
A Walk Through Time: The Evolution of Time
Measurement through the Ages:
http://physics.nist.gov/GenInt/Time/time.html
Find out about ancient calendars, early clocks, world time scales and
time zones, and more.
Mountain Adventures: Exploring the Himalayas,
Andes, and Appalachians: http://www.kidsgardening.com/TMI/teachers/introduction.htm
"This curriculum is designed to introduce students (grades 5-8) to
the role and importance of native plants in the United States and abroad.
As students conduct situational simulated expeditions in the tallest (Himalayas),
longest (Andes), and oldest (Appalachians) mountain ranges in the world,
they explore different themes related to native plants, such as biodiversity
and ethnobotany. Throughout the five modules comprising the curriculum
students also conduct related local activities, enabling them to learn
about their surroundings and to consider local/global commonalities."
Guide to North American Bird Songs and Sounds:
http://sirismm.si.edu/testperl/nasongkey.pl
This site allows you to search by how the bird song sounds -- single note,
double note, or complex song -- and then listen to the audio files.
Youth Speaks- Water is Life: http://awards.schools.nsw.edu.au/entry49/
Pitter and Patter, two young raindrops, explain the difficulty and problems
of growing up in the year 2003. We follow these two mates as they travel
through their watercycle tapping into their experiences. Sometimes it's
smooth sailing and other times they swim in stormy waters. They are not
all pleasant experiences but they seem to miraculously make it and turn
up on cloud 9 ready to do it all over again. This was an entry into Youth
Speaks 2003 by Kempsey West Public School.
Diversity of Life-7-12 Teacher's Guide-A
Sea World Education Department Publication:
http://www.seaworld.org/teacher-resources/guides/diversity-of-life/introduction.html
DNA from the Beginning: http://www.dnaftb.org/
Recycle City: http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
EPA: Drinking Water Kids Stuff: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/
The EPA offers a combination of online lessons, games, and three printable
curriculum guides for grades K through 12. "Games and Online Activities"
has educational, illustrated articles on the
water cycle, water treatment, conservation tips, water trivia and two
word games. For fun projects for home, scout troop, or classroom (such
as "Build Your Own Water Cycle" and "Build Your
Own Watershed.") visit "Classroom Activities & Experiments."
KidZone The Water Cycle: http://www.kidzone.ws/water/
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection: this single-page
explains it all for lower-elementary students. There are the five printable
activity sheets, available in both color or color-it-yourself black-and-white.
The first printable illustrates the entire cycle, and each individual
process has its own sheet. You'll find them at the very bottom of the
page. For more "Super Simple Science,"
explore the topics in the horizontal menu at the top of the page.
USGS Water Cycle: Follow a Drip: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/followdrip.html
The U.S.Geological Survey follows a water drip from ocean to cloud and
back down again in this site for middle and high-school students. Their
hydrologic (water) cycle diagram is available in English, Spanish, and
a bigger version just for printing. Additional water science topics can
be found
under the rainbow; just click on a cloud! The glossary of water science
terms, however, isn't on the rainbow menu. You'll find its link in the
lower right-hand corner of each page.
The Florida Aquarium: http://www.flaquarium.net/
Click on Habitat to follow a drop of water from a spring to the ocean
depths and learn about the animals that live along the way. Go to the
Hands On area to find activities and information about featured creatures.
Read FAQs or jump into the Play Pond.
Mystic Aquarium: http://www.mysticaquarium.org
Use the interactive map to tour the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Click
on Animals to get Aquafacts about a number of marine animals. Click on
Research to learn about studies under way at the aquarium.
National Aquarium In Baltimore: http://www.aqua.org/home.html
Visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore's Web site to find great information
about their animals, exhibits, and conservation efforts.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Online: http://www.mbayaq.org/
Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Web site to view some of their exhibits,
tour marine habitats, and see many of the creatures living in the sea.
The Seattle Aquarium: http://www.seattleaquarium.org
Learn about the aquarium that is Loota's home. In the Just for Kids section
of this site you'll find an Ask-the-Biologist feature.
NASA's Center for Distance Learning: http://dlcenter.larc.nasa.gov/
Frank Potter's Science Gems-Great links to Great Science Resources: http://www.sciencegems.com/
St. Croix Country Day School Earth Science: http://stxcountryday.com/kbaker/earthsciweb/index.htm
Edheads-Simple Machine Activities: http://edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/
voice+speech/Journey of the Voice/Framework: http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/armstrong/journey/framework.html
Speech and Language: Developmental Milestones: http://www.comeunity.com/disability/speech/milestones.html
The Online Tornado FAQ: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/
SeaWeb: http://www.seaweb.org/home.shtml
Cloud Forest Alive Home Page: http://www.cloudforestalive.org/
"This website was developed to enhance global understanding
of the unique and important cloud forests of Central America." Includes
live webcam's a, lesson plans and more.
Life of Mammals: www.lifeofmammals.com
Free lesson plans, online/offline activities and worksheets, developed
in conjunction with members of the faculty at Teachers College, Columbia
University. You need to complete the free registration.
Virtual solution: Technology slices into knowledge - without the knife: http://www.dailypress.com/news/yahoo/dp-97427sy0apr30.story
Tox Town-Your Health, Toxic Substances and
the Environment: http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
The Physics Classroom: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/1DKin/U1L1d.html
The Genetics Home Reference: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
Living with Drought: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/livedrought.shtml
"Australia is the driest inhabited continent even though some areas
have annual rainfall of over 1200 millimetres. Our climate is highly variable
- across the continent generally, as well as from year-to-year."
sciLINK-Natural Resources: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=9263569910441033
SciLinks is an interactive, web-based service from NSTA that connects
your lesson and/or course materials (certain textbooks, NSTA books, and
journal articles) with online content chosen just for your selected topics.
The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center: http://trc.dfrc.nasa.gov/Education/index.html
This sitea was created to celebrate the Wright Brothers 100th anniversary.
Instructions for obtaining two free videos are included.
Arthropod.Net: http://www.arthropod.net/arthropod_home_page.htm
ENC (Eisenhower National Clearinghouse):
http://www.enc.org/
"ENC is a K-12 math and science teacher center." There are resources
that can be mailed to you in print and on disc.They have a resource bank
of web links, and professional development resources, as well as curriculum
resources. There are education topics which they explore for the education
of
teachers, plus access to journal articles and more.
The Big Picture Book of Viruses: http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/Big_Virology/BVHomePage.html
The New Millenium Observatory-Education:
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/nemo/education.html
The Case of the Missing Rumbleometer-A Deep-Ocean mystery from the New
Millennium Observatory at Axial Volcano. Includes Lesson plans, PowerPoint
Presentations, PDF Files, HTMLs plus Movies and Animations.
Arizona State's Mars Education Program: http://marsed.asu.edu/
A page showing this project done by intermediate school
students: http://www.ssec.org/scituate/gates/lindgren/links/msip/msip.htm
Earth Science Lessons: http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/earthsciences.html
Digging into Science:
http://sciencespot.net/Pages/digmain.html
Students excavate a site to find bones and then reconstruct the bones
to form an ancient creature. All worksheets and directions are supplied.
Forever and a Day: http://www.microbeworld.org/mlc/gifs/activities/pgs7-10.pdf
Students create a geologic time scale.
Activities and lessons: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/activities.html
It's About Time (time scale analogies), Geologic Cookbook, Trilobite Masks,
Draw T. Rex, Can You Find...
A Pictorial History of Life on Earth: http://seaborg.nmu.edu/earth/Life.html
The Geological Time-Scale: http://www.palaeos.com/Timescale/default.htm
Major stages in the history of life on Earth.
Geologic Time Scales: http://www.geobop.com/paleozoo/Time/Scales/
Geologic Time: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/contents.html
USGS booklet discusses the relative time scale, fossil succession, rocks
and fossils, and radiometric time scale
Earth Science: http://www.athro.com/earth_science/esintro_fc.html
Interactive sites on rock types, geologic sections, geologic time, atolls,
uniformity, k-t boundary, and pleistocene
PaleoMap Project: http://www.scotese.com/
earth history, climate history, future maps; publications; teaching materials
including animations, software, flipbooks, arcview apps, and free stuff
Kids Only Game Time!: http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/games/
Word puzzles, drag 'n drop, earth trivia, pangaea map, tectonics quiz;
from nasa earth science enterprise
Mental Health 2: Bedlam: http://www.marcopolo-education.org/mg/lesson61.aspx
Students explore the early treatments for mental illness, including the
founding of the world's oldest mental health asylum, Bedlam, which reportedly
influenced the writings of Shakespeare. For grades 9-12.
Insects in the Classroom: Bugs as teaching tools for all ages: http://insects.tamu.edu/academic/ucourses/ento489/
Make a Pizza Box Solar Oven!: http://www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm
Simple Machines
Simple Machines Tools: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=60
Identify The Simple Machines:
http://www.science-tech.nmstc.ca/english/schoolzone/activities_mach3.cfm
Simple Machines: http://www.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html
Inventor's Toolbox: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html
Gadget Anatomy: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/GadgetAnatomy.html
How Batteries Work Just Turn It Off: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=23
Classification Lab: http://www.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/classification_lab.html
Mirror and Image: http://www.phy.ntnu.edu.tw/java/optics/mirror_e.html
Rabbits: http://cnet.windsor.ns.ca/Environment/Advocates/Anim/rabbit.html
Middle School Science Lesson Plans: http://www.middleschoolscience.com/
Science Netlinks: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/
Kenetic City: http://www.kineticcity.com/
Elementary Education Resources-Science:
http://www.pitt.edu/~poole/eledscience.html
Teacher's Guide to Craters of the Moon: http://www.nps.gov/crmo/intro.htm
provides lesson ideas for studying the geology, history, & ecology
of this national park near Arco, Idaho. A high school unit on "Managing
Critical Resources at Craters of the Moon" focuses on degradation
of geologic features, water & air quality, & the balance of life
of lava. Craters of the Moon National Park is one of the best examples
of basaltic volcanism in the world.
More Than Skin Deep: A Teacher's Guide to
Caves: http://www.nps.gov/ozar/skindeep.htm
looks at how caves & stalactites form, how bats & birds differ,
& more. It's designed for students planning to visit Round Spring
Caverns, one of more than 300 caves identified in the Ozark National Scenic
River ways of southeast Missouri.
The Biology Project: http://www.biology.arizona.edu/DEFAULT.HTML
An online interactive resource for learning biology
Charles Lindbergh
On May 20, 1927, twenty-five year old American aviator Charles Lindbergh
took off from Roosevelt Field (near New York City) in the Spirit of St.
Louis, a plane he helped design. Thirty-three and a half hours later he
landed in Paris a hero. Although other pilots had crossed the Atlantic
before him, Lindbergh was the first to do it nonstop. His achievement
brought him international fame, and $25,000 in prize money.
The American Experience--Lindbergh: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/lindbergh/
Created as a companion to the PBS documentary "Lindbergh," this
site offers a transcript of the film plus so much more. There are six
articles found in Special Features, which include The Spirit of St. Louis
(the story behind the plane that Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic),
The Kidnapping (a look at the abduction of Lindbergh's son, and the trial
that followed) and a piece about Lindbergh's controversial relationship
with Germany's Nazis and his unpopular anti-war sentiments.
Charles Lindbergh: http://www.charleslindbergh.com/
This fan site was created by Pat Ranfranz, a web developer and pilot.
It is well-organized, nicely illustrated, and sprinkled with hyperlinks
to related onsite and offsite resources. There are links to Charles and
Anne Lindbergh bios, the timeline, the lesson plans in PDF format, and
a May 21, 1927 radio broadcast reporting Lindbergh's arrival in Paris
(on the Audio Clips page.)
Chasing the Sun: http://www.pbs.org/kcet/chasingthesun/innovators/clindbergh.html
Based on the PBS television series of the same name, Chasing the Sun
showcases the innovators of commercial aviation. The Lindbergh page summarizes
his historic transatlantic flight, subsequent rise to fame, and role in
the creation of TWA and PamAm. The silent newsreel of Lindbergh's triumphant
1927 U.S. welcome, replete with ticker tape parade is available. Other
sections are the aviation timeline and the history of planes from the
Wright Flyer to the jumbo Airbus.
NY Times: Charles A. Lindbergh: http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/09/27/specials/lindbergh.html
This collection of articles from the archives
of The New York Times is a resource for report writing or research. There
is a photo gallery and the Fresh Air audio interview with Lindbergh biographer
A. Scott Berg. "This was really the first moment in which a single
human being left the earth. . . . Lindbergh was out there alone . . .
for about fifteen hours he was flying into black night . . . in that one
moment he was suddenly elevated to godlike status." The NY Times
website requires free registration.
World Book: Two Legends of Aviation: http://www2.worldbook.com/features/features.asp?feature=aviators&page=html/index.htm
World Book honors the accomplishments of two
aviation pioneers (Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart) with a special online
report that includes their biographies, a look at history of flight, and
links to related Web sites. Unique features include entries from the 1927,
1928 and 1937 World Books that were written when Lindbergh and Earhart
were front-page news, and a link to live, audio transmission from Chicago
O'Hare air traffic control.
NASA Connect: http://connect.larc.nasa.gov helps educators present mathematics, science, and technology concepts to students. NASA's Center for Distance Learning offers free instructional distance learning programs to educators. These programs use NASA research information to develop activities that promote a real-world awareness for math, science, and technology. You can register to receive, via email, a PDF of the educator guides for upcoming programs, the latest updates, and program reminders.
Sounds
Explore Science: Wave Motion: http://www.explorescience.com/activities/activity_list.cfm?categoryID=3
These eight interactive wave motion demonstrations are for middle-school
and high-school students. The first activity, Sound Beats, allows you
to experiment with sounds that are very similar in frequency. Based on
what you learn, can you determine the frequency of the mystery sounds?
In Doppler Effect 1, you can watch sound waves originating from a moving
source. You'll learn why a train whistle changes in pitch as it passes
you and how sonic booms are created.
Physics Classroom: Waves, Sound and Light: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/mmedia/waves/wavesTOC.html
This collection of animations will help first-year physics students visualize
and better understand the science of sound and light waves. You can step
through the animations, following the menu on the left, or you can jump
to the Physics Tutorials on "Waves" or "Sound Waves and
Color." The tutorials are divided into lessons that include self-scoring
quizzes. Can't find the answer to your homework problem? Questions can
be posted in the homework help forum; look for the link on the About page.
School for Champions: Sound: http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/sound.htm
"Sound is a compression waveform that moves through air or other
materials. Sound waves are created by the vibration of some object and
are detected by causing a sensor to vibrate. Sound
has the standard characteristics of any waveform." This one-page
middle-school lesson introduces the concepts and vocabulary of sound (such
as amplitude and wavelength) and concludes with a three-question quiz.
Sound Site: http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sound/
Click on the bouncing ball (you'll hear it boing, boing, boing if you
have QuickTime installed) to enter this site for elementary students.
Created by the Science Museum of Minnesota, Sound Site is divided into
four sections. Visit Activities for ten offline experiments, such as Making
a Model Eardrum or Designing a Reed Instrument. Discussions is a collection
of audio interviews about the art of composing music. Performance takes
you behind the scenes of a Minnesota Orchestra premier. Soundcards are
noise snippets you can share with friends via e-postcards.
The Soundry: The Physics of Sound: http://library.thinkquest.org/19537/Physics2.html
The Soundry is an award-winning ThinkQuest Internet Challenge entry from
1998, created by three high-school students. To get the most from The
Soundry, you'll need to familiarize yourself with their menu abbreviations
used at the bottom of each page. Clicking on A will take you to page discussing
Applications of the topic. P is for the Physics behind the topic. Interactive
explorations are found at I.
The Science Spot: http://www.sciencespot.net/
Good for teachers, parents, and students. Lots of ideas and links.
Solar Ovens
Preplanning
You will be building a solar oven out of two pizza boxes. We will use
them to cook s'mores. It is your job to decide what material to use to
insulate your oven. You are responsible for bring the insulation for your
solar oven. Since insulation used in houses has fiberglass in it, you
will want to avoid using it because the fibers may contaminate your food.
Choose a natural substance that is easy to find.
You will also need to decide how to get heat to
your oven if a solar source isn't available.
Materials
Materials for students to bring:
2 different sized pizza boxes
Materials for the teacher will provide:
a box cutter
colored construction paper
insulation
strapping tape
tinfoil
a pencil
plastic wrap
makings for s'mores
a heat source if there is not sun shine
Instructions
1. Use two different sized pizza boxes. Center the smaller one on top
of the large one and trace around the smaller box. Have your teacher cut
the square piece of cardboard from the large pizza box.
2. Open the lid of the large box and place the smaller box inside. Surround
the small box with insulation.
3. Close the lid of the large box so that the small box fits inside the
hole that was cut in the lid. Use strapping tape to tape the lid of the
large box closed.
4. Tape along the edges of the small box to hold the small box in place.
5. Use a ruler and measure an 8 by 8 inch square
on the top of the small box. Have your teacher cut this to make an opening
in the lid. You may need to score the inside of this edge so it will open
like a door. This is where the solar energy will enter your oven and where
you look to see your food cooking..
6. Tape the plastic wrap to the inside of the small boxes lid. Your window
is made of plastic wrap.
7. Cover the inside edges of the lid with tinfoil to reflect the solar
energy.
8. Place colored paper inside the small box to protect your s'mores from
any pizza leftovers.
9. Prepare your s'more and place it in the oven to cook.
10. Place a thermometer and the s'mores inside the oven.
11. Place your oven in a place to collect solar energy and allow your
food to cook. The longer it cooks, the more melted the marshmallow and
chocolate will be.
12. Report to your teacher the temperature of your oven.
contributed by Wendy Busenbark
Rocks and Minerals
Rock Cycle Experiments: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/rocks/rockcycle.shtml
Great Experiments from BBC
The Rock Cycle: http://www.rocksandminerals.com/rockcycle.htm
from SciLinks
Lesson Plans and Activities on Rocks
http://www.rocksforkids.com/teachers.html
Ontario Science Curriculum
For Real: http://www.forreal.org/
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, a division of the U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services, publishes this magazine-style site to
educate teens about the "the real deal behind marijuana." It
has articles ("Coming Clean: How to Talk to Your Parents About Your
Drug Use"), research data (such as a state-by-state penalties for
possession of marijuana), and links
to additional sites. The interactive time line of marijuana laws, starting
in 1900, is chock-full of dates you might need for a school report.
FreeVibe: http://www.freevibe.com/
The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has games, e-cards, discussion
forums and the straight scoop on drugs. To learn about drugs in general
("Why People Take Drugs") or specifically (alphabetically from
alcohol to tranquilizers) jump to Heads Up. To voice your opinions, visit
the bulletin board. What are your own reasons for not doing drugs? Do
they include your desire to do your best in sports, be creative in music
or honor your family? Discover, develop and share your own
reasons in the interactive Your Anti-Drug section.
MADD Online: Under 21: http://www.madd.org/under21/
Mothers Against Drunk Driving are also against underage drinking. Their
extensive site includes sections for various age groups (elementary, junior/senior
high school, college, and parents); and a vast collection of scary statistics
("The median age at which children begin drinking is 13. Young people
who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop
alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.") Truth
& Consequences debunks many popular myths about alcohol.
Red Ribbon Works: http://www.redribbonworks.org/
In 1985, Special Agent Enrique 'Kiki" Camarena of the Drug Enforcement
Agency was kidnapped and killed by Mexican drug traffickers. Each October,
thousands of schools and communities demonstrate their commitment to a
drug-free life by celebrating Red Ribbon Week in his honor. Red Ribbon
Works offers ideas for implementing Red Ribbon Week, informative anti-drug
articles for parents and teachers, and a catalog of products (such as
stickers and ribbons) to purchase for Red Ribbon Week.
Sara's Quest: http://www.sarasquest.org/
"Hi! My name is Sara Bellum. Welcome to my website exploring the
brain's response to drugs." Sara's Quest, created by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, teaches middle-schoolers the effects of drug
abuse on the body and the brain. It includes background information on
brain anatomy, and chapters on marijuana, opiates, inhalants, hallucinogens,
steroids, stimulants, nicotine and methamphetamine. After perusing the
materials, take the animated Sara's Quest Challenge to test your
knowledge.
The International Space Station: A Unique
Resource for Learning: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Educator.Focus/Articles/011_ISS_Information/
helps students learn about the largest international scientific &
technological endeavor ever undertaken: the creation of a laboratory in
Earth's orbit, where gravity, temperature, & pressure can be manipulated
for scientific pursuits impossible in ground-based labs. Learning activities
focus on rockets, space food, space suits, water filtering, robots, space
walking tools, assembly of the space station, & more.
The Space Science Group: http://www.spacesciencegroup.org/
This is a comprehensive site for middle-school science students. With
over 1,000 science and space
related content pages, streaming audio and video, this award-winning site
has lab activities, quizzes, self-paced in-service, links to resource
sites, and tech support.
An Astronomy Course For Middle/High School
Students: http://darkskyinstitute.org/astronomy.html
An online course on astronomy using the Internet:
"It is adaptable to most age and interest levels. Each of the units
in the course are listed in the Table of Contents, and each unit has its
own separate
'page.'"
Apples
abcteach: Apple Theme Unit: http://www.abcteach.com/MonthtoMonth/September/applesTOC.htm
Johnny Appleseed Hunt: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/huntjohnnyamr.html
Apple Theme- ChildFun's Food and Nutrition: http://www.childfun.com/themes/apple.shtml
Michigan Apple Educational Resources: http://www.michiganapples.com/educational.html
Amusement Park science
Amuse Me: Theme Park Physics: http://library.thinkquest.org/C005075F/
This ThinkQuest 2000 entry was created by a team of middle-school students
from Virginia Beach. Point your mouse either directly above or below each
menu title, and not directly on the menu item itself. Sections include
Rides (where you'll learn a bit about the physics of seven different amusement
park rides) and Other (which includes a Glossary and a page on the Applications
of Physics.) Amusement Park Physics: http://curie.uncg.edu/~mturner/title.html
There are six science experiments to perform on amusement park rides,
and two experiments for your local playground. Before embarking on this
fun adventure, however, you will need a few tools: a stopwatch, and a
vertical and horizontal accelerometer to measure acceleration. Luckily,
simple instructions are provided on how to make your own accelerometers.
Funderstanding Roller Coasters: http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/
This Java-based roller coaster simulation lets you design a ride to
"achieve maximum thrills and chills without crashing or flying off
the track (unless that's how you like your coaster to work!)" You
can vary the height of the hills, the size of the loop, the initial speed
of the coaster, and its mass. Scroll down the page for explanations of
the science behind the thrill. If you have any trouble with the applet,
try reloading another copy into memory by hitting browser refresh.
Internet Fairground: http://library.thinkquest.org/C002926/
Internet Fairground is another ThinkQuest entry (a 2000 silver-medal
winner) created by three geographically disperse high-school students.
It is a fun potpourri of amusement park tidbits, including the history
of the Ferris wheel, roller coaster and carousel; ride reviews; and safety
considerations. You'll find high-school level physics and math lessons
listed under Science, with a section on using the Lego programmable brick,
and Interactive Math Problems (listed under the Physics Lab.) "While
screaming at the top of the first loop of a roller coaster, your gum falls
out of your mouth. Which direction does it fall?"
Physics of Amusement Parks: http://s-kurukuru.jst.go.jp/room/05/rikigaku/english/0_top.htm
Study the physics of falling, floating, and
turning with animated lessons at this site from the Japan Virtual Science
Center. Although all the sections are fabulous, including Thrills &
Safety where you can learn about clothoid curves in roller coasters and
everyday life. Coney Island build the first circular loop-the-loop coaster
in 1895. It's since been discovered that the elliptical shape of the clothoid
curve causes fewer whiplash injuries because the increase in gravitational
force is not as sudden. Complete your visit by taking the Physics Challenge
Quiz.
HOW'S THE WEATHER TODAY?: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/
Local and regional weather patterns are first explored,
and then students will branch out to discover weather patterns in different
regions of the United States. They will be recording high temperatures
and comparing them for different cities, discussing how people are affected
by climate, and practicing map skills as they journey across the United
States.
CLOUD WATCHING: http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/earthspace3.html
Perfect for summer learning, this activity has students
going outdoors to sketch the clouds they see, and then comparing them
to teacher's notes back inside the classroom to help them identify their
own clouds.
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A TREE: http://www.domtar.com/arbre/english/start.htm
Explore this interactive site on the seasons with
your students. You will click on the tree to learn about its changing
forms, or click on seeds, cones, and leaves in the corresponding frame
to learn how they function.
UNDERSTANDING CLOUDS: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcloud0.htm
Clouds and fog--they both affect the Earth in very
similar ways. Students will explore different classifications of clouds,
compare them to fog, and use online resources to learn more about the
sky and space.
THE SEASONS: http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/w_unit/LESSONS/seasons.html
Styrofoam balls, flashlights, and paper cutouts
effectively demonstrate how we can have seasons here on Earth. Writing
exercises follow the experiment.
A REASON FOR THE SEASONS: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/season.html
This National Geographic Xpedition--for both younger
and older students--includes activities to gain understanding of the changing
seasons and how they affect human lives.
ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR: http://www.efn.org/~jack_v/AstronomicalCalendar.html
Students will trace the sun's shadows throughout
the year to make four poles for the seasons. Accordingly, four activities
accompany this general lesson plan. Use it to follow or lead in to your
unit on seasons, space, the sun, etc.
TRACK THE WEATHER: http://www.ILoveThatTeachingIdea.com/ideas/010530_tracking_the_weather.htm
This simple idea only takes a few moments a day,
but allows students to participate in scientific data
gathering and recording.
STORMY STORIES: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/stormy.html
Students will role-play, through writing exercises,
the part of a child caught in a major storm. They will
also have the chance to build a diorama of a storm scene, or create a
disaster response booklet.
DESIGN A LIGHTNING CALCULATOR: http://www.mos.org/learn_more/ed_res/cheapbook/lightcalc/index.html
With printable templates, this lesson plan effectively
demonstrates to students why light travels faster
than sound does. Simple materials also help students to predict the distance
of lightning from their vic-
inity. A final project suggestion is for students to create their own
electrical storm safety booklets--
share these with younger classes.
CREATIVE CLIMATES: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/08/climates.html
As heads of the world Climate Observation Post,
your students have to become familiar with all six major climate zones
on Earth. They will be creating a climate map of four of those zones,
with further extension activities geared to different age groups.
SIMULATING A THUNDERSTORM DOWNDRAFT: http://www.mos.org/learn_more/ed_res/cheapbook/downdraft/index.html
You'll need a small aquarium and some cold milk
in order to create this thunderstorm simulation. Students will learn about
convection updrafts, condensation of clouds, latent heat, and downdrafts
with this lesson plan.
YOU HAVE A HURRICANE: http://weathereye.kgan.com/expert/hurricane/index.html
Your students have just been elected mayor of a
town in Florida, just in time to deal with an oncoming full force hurricane.
How best to proceed? It's up to your students to learn more about this
tremendous force of nature in order to know when to give warnings and
when to evacuate.
HOW TO MAKE A PLANISPHERE: http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/starclock/skywheel.html
Students can make their own star wheels to locate
constellations in the night sky. Three downloads can be printed out and
assembled following the instructions here.
THUNDERSTORMS -- A RECIPE: http://weathereye.kgan.com/expert/tstorms/index.html
Hmmm, what kind of thunderstorm do your students
feel like cooking up today? How about a major rumble, complete with hailstones
and wind gales... Students will learn the "recipes" of what
goes into the makings of an full-blown thunderstorm in this lesson plan.
Science Books
Walk Two Moons--life science
Ms. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh--earth and space science
Island of the Blue Dolphins-life science
Spider Boy- nature of Science
Danger Along the Ohio -- life science
Stranded--life science and the nature of science
The chocolate Touch--physical science
Water Sky-- nature of science
The Sign of the Beaver--life science and nature of science
BIRD BINOCULARS: http://kinderart.com/crafts/birdbinoculars.shtml
Learn how to spot and graph the birds you find at
your school or in your neighborhood. With this simple craft, students
can take their binoculars home for more practice.
STONES, PENDANTS, AND ROCKHOUNDS: http://kinderart.com/corner/071799.shtml
Ask students to collect a few of their favorite
pebbles , or better yet, go on a nature walk and select your own specimens.
Then follow these directions to make pendant jewelry with rocks.
MAKE YOUR OWN FOSSIL: http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_26.html
A recipe for clay dough is included with this imprint
activity. Try several objects to see which ones make the most authentic-looking
"fossils".
SUN PRINTS: http://www.makingfriends.com/sunprints.htm
Construction paper and any items you choose
will make these easy sun prints--with the assistance of a high afternoon
full sun for an hour or so too, of course.
HAIRY HEADS: http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_36.html
Younger students will enjoy watching their old socks
sprout grass hair, with this recycled learning activity.
BUILD A KITE: http://www.looklearnanddo.com/documents/projects_kites3.html
Here is the classic newspaper kite, complete with
instructions that even smaller hands can manage.
These kites make a great autographing memento.
BUILD A PRAIRIE: http://www1.umn.edu/bellmuse/mnideals/prairie/build/
Discover which flora and fauna are important elements
in prairie ecosystems with this interactive Build a Prairie game. Students
will choose between a tall grass or short grass prairie, and then, if
they choose the correct animals and plants, they will be able to animate
their ecosystem.
TIC-TAC-TOE WITH ANIMALS: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceAnimalTicTacToeGameIdeaK2.htm
In order to reinforce animal groups (reptiles, mammals,
insects, etc.), this activity uses magazine cutout representations on
a tic-tac-toe template for the opponents.
CITYBUGS: http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/citybugs/
Bugs, bugs, and more bugs--that's what's on the
menu here at Citybugs, a research and exploration site for elementary
students. Cool Trivia, Top Bug News, All About Bugs pages--or ask the
expert--fill out this fascinating tour through insect land.
INSECTS IN THE CLASSROOM: http://entowww.tamu.edu/academic/ucourses/ento489/index.html
How can you use bugs as teaching tools in your classroom?
This site offers a compendium of related lesson plans, for ages 3 through
18.
BrainScience on the Move: Cool Stuff:
http://www2.neuroscience.umn.edu/brainscience/cool_stuff.htm
Dr. Jan Dubinsky in the Department of Neuroscience
at the University of Minnesota has created this animated Flash program
to describe how an action potential is produced. Action potentials are
the
all-or-none electrical signals that travel down the axon of a neuron.
Some students find it difficult to understand how these signals are produced.
That's where the "Cool Stuff" program can help!
Dr. Dubinsky uses cartoon characters to describe the parts
of the neuron and the ions (electrically charged molecules) that are responsible
for setting up the potential difference across the neuron membrane. You
can also learn about ion channels and about how the membrane potential
changes
when ions flow through these channels. A narrator will help you through
the program by reading the text on the screen.
If you have extra time, explore the rest of the
BrainScience on the Move site. For example, click on the "Resources"
neuron at the top of the "Cool Stuff" page to download student
and teacher guides for some great neuroscience activities.
Mars Academy: http://www.marsacademy.com/
Grades: 9 - 12
Find out all you need to know about planning a manned mission to the red
planet, including orbital mechanics, propulsion, trajectory, and artificial
gravity.
Oceanography: http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/
Grades: 6 - Post-secondary
Dive in to this online exploration of all areas of the ocean , including--to
name just a few--waves and tides, oceanic habitats, and marine mammals.
Interactive quizzes provide immediate feedback,
and the Navy's CyberScientist is just a click away to help answer any
additional questions.
Science fun with airplanes: http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~flight/
Grades: 6 - 12
Let the learning take flight at this site devoted to the science of aeronautics
and airplane design. Fly a virtual airplane or design your own glider.
Links to other flight-related sites are provided.
The noon day project: http://www.k12science.org/noonday/
Grades: 5 - 10
Eratosthenes is alive and kicking--or at least his theory on the circumference
of the Earth is! In this collaborative data sharing project, students
around the world measure the length of a noon shadow
at the Vernal Equinox. They then share their data via the Internet and
use this shared information to calculate the circumference of the Earth.
Lesson plans and links to other participating schools are
provided, along with archives of results from past Noon Projects.
The penguin page: http://users.capu.net/~kwelch/penguins/
Grades: 5 - 12
Did you know there are 16 different species of penguins in the world--and
not all of them look like they're wearing tuxedoes! Here you'll find info,
photos, references, and interesting facts about
all known species of penguins.
For kids only: http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/
Grades: Kindergarten - 8
Kids can find out how NASA studies Earth's land, air, water, and people,
natural hazards at this Earth science portal. Interactive activities include
quizzes and online maps that visitors can color to
represent views of the Earth available to NASA.
Fun facts about Fungi: http://www.herb.lsa.umich.edu/kidpage/factindx.htm
Grades: 5 - 12
There's a fungus among us--on our pizzas, in our bread, even in our medicine
cabinet! Come explore the hidden kingdom of fungi like mushrooms, yeast,
and the miraculous mold that gave us penicillin.
EXPLORING NATURE THEMES: http://www.preschoolbystormie.com/nature.htm
From going on a walk through the woods to visiting
the beach, explore nature themes with your preschool classroom. This site
offers related art activities centered around sea, sand, and parks.
NATURE CRAFTS: http://www.guidezone.skl.com/nature.htm
Here is a large and varied selection of nature craft
activities for classroom or camps. Some activities
are suitable for older children, but many can be completed by or adapted
for preschoolers.
REALLY RIDICULOUS ROCKS: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/rocks/animals/
You will need to do any of the hot gluing of googly
eyes or attaching smaller to larger rocks--or you can simply forget any
attachment parts at all and let students decorate any interestingly shaped
rock any way they wish.
TWIG RATTLE: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/na/rattle/
Practice refining fine motor skills with this craft,
modeling a Native American rattle. Students will wind
different colored yarn around collected twigs, add beads, feathers, buttons,
etc. and make their own version of colorful rattles.
VIRTUAL SPIDER: http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/spidermania/tour/tour.html
Animal planet has created an interactive tour of
spider anatomy. Click on each section to identify the body part and to
learn its function. Be sure to also choose the side link to view a spider
image gallery. Use the computer research card printables, above, to practice
tracking information as students view this site.
SOMETHING FROGGY: http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow9/jun99/
Choose your grade level, and then travel through
an interactive frog land to learn about frog anatomy
and habitat.
CELLS ALIVE!: http://www.cellsalive.com/
Explore the world at cellular level with the animations,
videos, activities, and resources available at this
site. Fascinating fare for anyone interested in microbiology, bacterial
growth, immunology... Be sure to
check the Anatomy of a Splinter for white blood cells in action, or find
the critters responsible for dust
allergies in the Allergies and Mites presentation.
Science Knows No Boundaries: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/globalscitech/index.html
This new site from the United States Department of Agriculture gives students
a chance to explore the use of science throughout the world. It enables
kids to hunt for bugs in Australia, check in on some of the latest environmental
studies in India or Nepal, research bio-control efforts in France, and
drop in on many other projects currently underway around the globe. The
site includes interactive slide shows designed to explain how the scientists
come about their findings. It also includes a section where young scientists
can quiz themselves on what they know and research information about different
scientific careers.
True Scientific Literacy for All Students by Stewart E. Brekke: http://teachers.net/gazette/JUN02/brekke.html
FEMP Energy Cost Calculators: http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/procurement/calc-index.html
Let your students do a little research, combining
environmental studies, mathematics, and business. The Energy Cost Calculators
Web site allows visitors to calculate lifetime energy cost savings for
products at various efficiency levels and hours of operation. Easy to
use once you have all the information; by allowing students to gather
the information from the local community (their parents, school staff,
local utility companies) they can learn about recouping the costs of energy
efficient
upgrades.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School,
College, Adult/Professional
Content Area: Science (Environmental Studies), Mathematics (General),
Community Interest (General)
Virtual Hospital's "The Human Brain:
Dissections of the Real Brain" at: http://www.vh.org/Providers/Textbooks/BrainAnatomy/BrainAnatomy.html
The Virtual Hospital is a digital library of medical information
developed at the University of Iowa. The nervous system is represented
in the library by "The Human Brain: Dissections of the Real Brain."
Click on the "Enter" button to start your
visit. The nervous system is divided into five chapters: 1) the spinal
cord, 2) the meninges and blood vessels, 3) the cerebellum, 4) the brainstem
and 5) the cerebral
hemispheres. Each chapter has many photographs of the brain taken at different
angles and planes of section. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief
description and a labeled line drawing to indicate specific structures
and features. "The Human Brain: Dissections of the Real Brain"
can be used to review your neuroanatomy knowledge or just to marvel at
the complexity and beauty of the brain.
NOAA Photo Library: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/
Not a lot to explain here, there are over 20,000
public domain photographs you can use in most any way you like as long
as credit it given to NOAA, unless otherwise noted. Click the "About
the Images" link for full details. There are
all kinds of image categories, from coral and underwater
images, to shorelines, severe storms, space, animals and more.
Anatomia - Do you know about anatomy?: http://www.anatomia.learningtogether.net/
Interactive activities labeling the human skeleton, eye, skull, digestive
system, respiratory system, skin are the core of this website. A collaborative
team of 15 teachers from European countries created this
website in 9 different languages, including English.
Grade Level: Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Life Science)
SWITCHEROO ZOO: http://www.switchzoo.com/
Get young students online with this fun interactive
game. They will create their own zoo animals--you've never seen creatures
such as this before... Visit the accompanying educator's resources for
lesson plans to extend the activities here.
MY FIRST GARDEN: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/index.html
There's plenty to tie into a summer unit of gardening,
including health, nutrition, and plant basics and anatomy. For a beginner's
guide to setting up a garden with elementary-aged children, try this site,
with a teacher's guide, planning resources, and more.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES -- PLANT THEME: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/clas_act/summer/
Find plant-based lessons and activities to explore
as your summer school theme, for grades two through six. Topics include
plant growth, gravity, and transpiration.
POETRY PEBBLES: http://www.kinderart.com/across/poetry.shtml
If you cannot create your own real soil and plant
garden, then try a pebble garden--a poetry pebble garden. Find instructions
here for making word pebbles, and then follow up with individual and class
exercises in poetry creations.
WISH STICKS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING: http://www.kinderart.com/corner/061999.shtml
This summer craft starts with a nature walk. Students
will collect an ideal walking stick or twig, and then return to the classroom
to paint and decorate it. You can follow native American traditions to
select a talking stick, whereby each child in circle time must be holding
the stick to have their say. Let students practice by each taking a turn
with your class talking stick and relating something special or a specific
observance about your nature walk.
LAB REPORT GUIDELINES: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/projects/yep/report.html
A set of guidelines and templates, page by page,
takes students through the basics of submitting a solid lab report. Samples
and rubrics are included.
A LOOK INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY: http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/amcgann/body/
Designed specifically for elementary students, this
site presents anatomy diagrams and illustrations in an easy to understand
format. All body systems are covered, with options for larger images and
links to more detailed text.
ALL ABOUT ME: http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Body_Systems_and_Senses/BSS0001.html
The focus of this lesson plan for K-2 students is
largely on the human senses. Several activities will help students to
learn how our senses help us to interpret our world.
HUMAN BODY PRINTOUT: http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/anatomy/body/label/
Print out copies of the human body to let students
label basic anatomy. Great for kindergarten through
grade one.
ANATOMY FOR KINDERGARTEN: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/kanatomy.htm
Kindergarten students will learn about their five
senses, the basic body parts and how they work, and good health habits.
MY BODY -- THE INSIDE STORY: http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/cur/mybody/content.htm#instructional
As students visit body systems, they will also participate
in numerous enrichment activities and add drawings to their own paper
human body models to correlate with the systems learned.
LUNG CAPACITY: http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/lungs.shtml
This student worksheet guides students through experiments
to test lung capacity. Data analysis and conclusions are also included.
BODY QUEST: http://library.thinkquest.org/10348/
Explore the systems of the human body with the interactive
exercises at this Thinkquest site. Activities include games, quizzes,
and tours, with all major systems covered, for upper elementary through
middle school.
THE HUMAN BODY -- EXPERIMENTS: http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/
Experiments and excellent printable student worksheets
comprise these hands-on learning exercises about human anatomy. Bones,
skeleton, muscles, cells, nerves, and digestion are all covered.
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9515.html
Using models and demonstrations, students will learn
the workings of the respiratory system. They will be able to understand
the concept of lung capacity, how the diaphragm works, how we take in
oxygen and release carbon dioxide--all with readily-available materials.
Test questions are also included.
DIGESTION EXPERIMENT: http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/digest.shtml
Acids and bases are explored with these hands-on
activities, modeling the human stomach and using antacids to see how they
operate within an acid model. A student worksheet is included.
HUMAN ANATOMY ONLINE: http://www.innerbody.com/
Learn about body systems through animations, interactive
exercises, images, and text with this excel-
lent anatomy site.
THE VISIBLE HUMAN PROJECT: http://madsci.wustl.edu/~lynn/VH/
For in-depth exploration and coverage of human anatomy
online, you can't beat this site. Cross-sectional human anatomy, animated
plane sections, and annotated interactive tours of the human body are
all included here.
THEMATIC UNITS ON GENETICS: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/thematic/index.html
Find several lesson plans on genetics, including
understanding chromosome maps and mutations. Activities are hands-on and
include virtual lab tours, experiments, and debates on public policy for
genetic testing.
THE HUMAN BODY ADVENTURE: http://vilenski.org/science/humanbody/hb_intro.html
Students will take a complete tour through the inner
workings of the human body, learning about all the
systems and interacting through quizzes and trivia. This site provides
high interest reading and interactivity.
AN ONLINE EXPLORATION OF THE HUMAN HEART: http://sln2.fi.edu/biosci/heart.html
Take a journey through the human heart, in this
fascinating online visit through one of the body's most
amazing organs. Also find resource materials, a glossary, and several
related enrichment activities.
MEDICAL RECONSTRUCTIONS: http://www.crd.ge.com/esl/cgsp/projects/medical/
The modern wonders of medical technologies assisted
in constructing these 3-D models, the very same which physicians and researchers
would use to track medical anomalies and diseases. Now your students can
see and interpret data as physicians might, with a skull flythrough, a
brain tour, a path through a patient's colon, and a scan of a single breath
through human lungs.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?: http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/matter/
Here is a site to introduce chemistry to your upper
elementary classes; each topic--of which there are several--comes complete
with a printable student lab worksheet.
EdiFun: Thomas Edison & His Inventions: http://www.nps.gov/edis/edifunpage.htm looks at Thomas Edison's life & the impact of his work. The site describes individuals at Menlo Park who turned his ideas into reality & provides a database of all 1,093 of his patents.
Ocean sites
A Day On A Whale Watch: http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/whalewatchsmyth.html
Nautical Flag Activity: Grid Sheet And Alphabet
Flags
http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/piggybacks_comet_Nflagactgri.htm
http://birch.palni.edu/~rmcatee/flags.htm
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/flags.htm
Nipper's Nook: http://www.palacenet.net/home/gr8fish/kids.htm
Ocean Unit: http://www.teacherfeatures.com/units/ocean.html
Octopus Tag: http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/chasing_games/octopus_tag.htm
Sailor's Bracelets: http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/making_sailors_bracelets_comet.htm
Sharks And Minnows: http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/sensing_games/sharks_minnows.htm
Adventures of Lilo the Green Sea Turtle: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/6067/
Ocean Animals: http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/animals/index.htm
Introduction To Sharks: http://www.oceanofk.org/sharks/sharks.html
Secrets@Sea: http://www.secretsatsea.org/
Secrets of the Ocean Realm: http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/index.html
Under The Sea: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/underthesea.htm
UNDER THE SEA: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/fishy/under.html
Transform your classroom into an undersea environment this summer, with
crepe paper, yarn, crayons, and these instructions.
PAPER PLATE FISH: http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/crafts/animals/fish/
Very cute craft for preschool through early elementary, with easy to use,
common materials. Hang student versions of this ocean craft along your
classroom walls or bulletin board for a summer ocean unit.
SEA SKILLS: http://www.osr.state.ga.us/bestprac/art/a-3b.htm
Find creative ways to explore an ocean theme with pipe cleaner shells,
cellophane waves, and underwater life murals.
EDIBLE AQUARIUMS: http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/crafts/Cupofish.shtml
These jello-based aquariums are sure to be a big hit with your elementary
classes.
ARTQUARIUM: http://www.kinderart.com/sculpture/artquarium.shtml
Build an artquarium--perfect for integrating a unit on ocean or sea life
as well.
TECHNOAQUARIUM: http://www.mcps.org/ces/TechnoProjects/TechnoAq/index.html
The challenge: upper elementary students must design
and construct ocean environments for different marine communities. Choices
can include intertidal zones, kelp forsts, or coral reefs, for example.
Student teams must also find some creative way of making specific animal
models to stock their chosen environments.
OCEAN ANIMALS: http://www.everythingpreschool.com/lessonplans/seaanimals/index.htm
There is a whole week's worth of ocean explorations involved in this thematic
unit for preschoolers. They will create paper plate aquariums, learn the
Fish Hokey Pokey, make waves in a bottle, understand the length of a whale,
and explore ocean animals during circle time.
Boats Afloat: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/zoom/sci/boatsafloat.html
Explore The Sea: http://ms.mathscience.k12.va.us/lessons/ocean/explore.HTML
Fish Facts: http://www.wh.whoi.edu/faq/index.html
Free Ocean Stuff: http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/foryou.htm
Ocean Links: http://www.yoto98.noaa.gov/kids.htm
Save The Manatee: http://www.savethemanatee.org/
Beach In A Bottle Project: http://scout18.cs.wisc.edu/NH/99-01/99-01-07/0026.html
Sea Life: http://www.angelfire.com/fl/preschoolfunzone/sealife.html
Sea Life Math: http://members.tripod.com/archjrc/activity/sea.html
Under The Sea: http://www.angelfire.com/ma/1stGrade/pageocean.html
Under The Sea Activity: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/fishy/under.html
What Causes Waves: http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/ocean/Waves.shtml
Whales A Thematic Unit: http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/Whales/
Ocean Art Activities: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/oarts.html
Ocean Games And Activities: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/gocean.html
Ocean Math Unit: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/oceanmath.html
Ocean Science Activities: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/oscience.html
Ocean Songs and Fingerplays: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/ofingerplays.html
Treasure At Sea: http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow8/dec98/main.html
Go With The Flow: http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/goflow.html
Let's Go To The Ocean: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6459/ocean.html
Ocean Animals Label Me: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/animals/label/ocean/
Ocean: A Watery World: http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/6/97.06.07.x.html
Ocean Link: http://oceanlink.island.net/
Splash Into An Aquarium: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/aquarium/index.html
Under The Sea Adventure: http://www.angelfire.com/mn/cozycottage/sealife.html
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS:
http://www.mothers-home.com/activities/scicrafts.htm
Nurture curious minds with investigations and observations
with these simple yet beguiling science activities. Preschoolers can have
a race to the top with bean seeds, make some crystal gardens, or test
materials with dissolving experiments in the exercises listed here.
WEEKLY WHAT'S DIFFERENT?: http://www.billybear4kids.com/worksheets/WeeklyDifferent.html
Hone student observation skills by visiting this
site each week to find new pictures to compare and contrast. In a now
classic exercise, students must examine the two pictures to find a given
amount of errors between the two versions.
CLOUD BOUTIQUE: http://vortex.plymouth.edu/clouds.html
A 30 minute time lapse video loop shows students how quickly cloud coverage
can change in an area. They can then proceed to learn detailed information
about cloud classification, with excellent pictures and descriptions.
THE ART OF CRIME DETECTION:
http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/play/crimedetection/index.html
If you haven't tried Artedventures before, you're
in for a treat. These interactive art mystery tours pro-
vide an alternative learning approach to lecture lesson plans. After background
on left and right brain
interpretations of the world, police artist sketching is introduced. Students
will then choose a mode (left, right, or full-brain) and help create a
composite for a given crime investigation. Observation and full brain
skills will be employed.
Brain Explorer: http://www.luinst.org/brainexplorer/index.html
Brain Explorer was developed by the Lundbeck
Institute in Skodsborg, Denmark, with help from several neuroscientists.
The web site provides an interactive overview of the structure of the
brain and a discussion of neurological and mental disorders. Start
your visit to the Brain Explorer with "The Brain" where each
part of the brain is described, along with links to a glossary. Continue
your
journey by reading about neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke,
Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. The site features
an excellent animation describing neurotransmission. To view the animation,
you must have the free Flash 5 plug-in for your browser. The site also
contains an image gallery listing all the illustrations used on the pages.
However, many of the terms listed in the gallery were not linked to the
appropriate images. Finally, Brain Explorer recommends several books to
readers who want more information about neurological disorders.
Dinosaurs
DINOSAUR COLORING BOOK: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/books/dinobook/
What could be more fun for preschoolers than learning
about the fascinating world of dinosaurs? For one, assembling and coloring
their very own dinosaur book to take home. Find cover pages and contents
for all the magnificent prehistoric giants at this site.
TRIASSIC TRACKS:
http://www.earlychildhood.com/community/act/act_school_age.asp?actId=339&
artId=102190&grpId=3&themeDt=4/1/02
Get ready for some hands-on--and fingers-on--painting.
This fun activity lets preschool students use their fists and fingerprints
to make some dino tracks across their pages.
DINOSAUR DIORAMA: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/activities/diorama/
Crayons, markers, a shoebox, and print-and-paste
characters will make your dinosaur learning come alive with this hands-on
learning project. Download and print the dinosaurs; students will color
and paste them into the shoebox dioramas. Add real leaves or flowers for
special effects.
LEARN ABOUT THE DINOSAURS:
http://www.marshall-es.marshall.k12.tn.us/jobe/Read-Write/dinosaur/dinosaurs.html
Several book suggestions accompany the learning
activities listed at this site. Students will make measuring tapes with
yarn to learn how long some of their favorite prehistoric creatures actually
were, or become paleontologists--with chocolate chips and toothpicks.
Gallery Of Obscure Patents: http://www.delphion.com/gallery
If gadgets of all kinds fascinate you, check out this Web site presented
by Delphion. You won't believe some of the items receiving patents, such
as the Flushable Vehicle Spittoon. Clicking on the individual item takes
you to the patent page, which thoroughly details the item. The patent
page also details the other patents referenced by the one you are viewing.
From a disc-shaped submersible aircraft to a self-containing enclosure
for protection from killer bees, you can bet that someone has thought
it up and received a patent for it.
Woodland Network: http://www.skolweb.vaxjo.se/biowindows/default.htm
Students all over the world are encouraged to gather environmental data
and share it through this web site. Based in Sweden, the Woodland Network
supports projects for students of different ages. Projects for younger
students are available in English and Swedish. A more complex project
for older students is available in several other languages as well.
Ask the Answer Worm: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/education/squirm/skworm.html
No one knows the ins and outs of soil better than Skworm the answer worm.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has created this web site for elementary
students to get the dirt on soil and soil conservation.
Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study: http://www.hubbardbrook.org/education/
Imagine an entire forest set aside for scientific research, where researchers
investigate the effects of acid rain, explore how trees and wildlife have
changed over the past 50 years, and impact our
country's laws. Now visit the web site of that real-life project, with
student and teacher resources for in-depth ecosystem study!
Science Lessons: http://www.eecs.umich.edu/mathscience/funexperiments/agesubject/subject.html
What do Jello, mummies, and phases of the moon have in common? It's that
they're part of this comprehensive collection of lesson plans. Search
through hundreds of hands-on science lessons, or browse through different
categories or grade levels.
KRBC 9 News: Does It Work? Archive: http://www.krbctv.com/diw_archive/
You've all seen those commercials for nifty products
you can't live without. Each week, Channel 9 staffers in Abilene, TX,
put the products to the test and answer the question "Does It Work?"
This site is great when you are talking about media literacy, consumer
culture, or even inventions.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School,
Adult/Professional Content Area: Science (General), Business (Marketing),
Community Interest (General)
Whale sites
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/gwhale/MigrationRoute_Map.html
http://whale.wheelock.edu/Welcome.html
http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/4397/?tqskip=1
http://www.ocregister.com/science/features/seaview/whales/migration/new_migration_shock.shtml
Sites about composting
Adventures of Herman: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/
Herman is a red worm that lives in a bin and eats his weight in garbage
every day. Of course not just any garbage, but specifically fruit, vegetables,
tea bags, egg shells, newspapers and coffee grounds. And as he eats, he
leaves behind valuable castings that can be used as fertilizer in your
garden. Learn all about him and his cousin the earthworm, and how to build
a worm bin at home or your in your classroom.
Composting for Kids: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/kid1.html
Kids (and parents too!) can learn composting basics in this simple slide
presentation. Although the slide show completely skips over what kind
of container to use, it excels at explaining how your compost recipe must
include both brown stuff (dead leaves or newspapers for carbon) and green
stuff (grass clippings or food scraps for nitrogen.) It shows which commonly
composted items contain the highest amounts of carbon and nitrogen.
Composting in Schools: http://cfe.cornell.edu/Compost/schools.html
Composting offers something for all ages. Elementary students will
be fascinated by tactile experience, and teens can research the biology,
chemistry, and physics of composting. There are pages related to the science
of composting: ideas for research projects, composting experiments and
background information on microbes and invertebrates. This site offers
plenty to those interested in composting no matter where they do it. Got
a problem with an existing compost? Take a look at the Troubleshooting
Guide listed under Composting Outdoors.
How to Make Compost: http://www.hdra.org.uk/gh_comp.htm
How to Make Compost delivers exactly what it promises:
two illustrated recipes for making hot and cool compost piles, as well
as fact sheets on building or buying a compost bin. Hot composting will
produce compost faster than cold composting, but does require more attention.
Choose between them based on how much time you have to devote to your
pile, and how soon you want results.
Yucky Worm World: http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/worm/
Wendell the Worm is the host for "yuckiest
site on the Internet." In Worm World he explains the worm's role
in recycling dead plants. There are instructions on constructing a worm
bin from plywood and an interview with Mary the Worm Woman. Mary is not
a cartoon figure (like Wendell) but the author of "Worms Eat My Garbage."
You can read the transcript, listen to an audio snippet, and view a video
of Mary in her worm bin.
Farm sites
Animals: Coloring: http://www.kinderart.com/coloring_animals.shtml
Barn Yard: http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Tower/9730/Barn.htm
Farm: http://www.childfun.com/themes/farm.shtml
Farm Animal Graphics: http://rats2u.com/clipart/alphabet/clipart_afarm.htm
Farm Unit: http://viking.stark.k12.oh.us/~greentown/farmunit.htm
Pig:
http://abcteach.com/Animals/pig.htm
http://abcteach.com/Animals/pig2.htm
Turkey: http://abcteach.com/Animals/turkey.htm
Farm Animal Postcards:
http://blackdog.net/postcards/cardrack7.html
http://www.krittercards.com/
Ducks: http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/ducks.html
Farm: http://www.angelfire.com/fl/preschoolfunzone/farm.html
Farmer In the Dell: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/farmer.htm
Make A Farm: http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/makeafarm.html
Make Way For Ducklings: http://www.angelfire.com/ma/makewayforducklings/nataliethomas.html
Mary Had A Little Lamb: http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/1481.html
Old MacDonald Had A Farm: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/mcdonald.htm
Down On the Farm Coloring Book: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/markets/kidstuff/dotf/colbook.htm
Farms Around The World: http://www.benicia.k12.ca.us/henderson/fawproject.htm
Farm Scavenger Hunt: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/farmhunt.html
Farm Snacks: http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/farm/farm_snacks.html
Fun At The Farm: http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/1481.html
Animal Lesson Plan: http://www.monroe.k12.la.us/~nhodges/lessons/animal_lesson.html
Animals On the Farm: http://mason.gmu.edu/~cregier/farmanim/farmanim.htm
Barnyard Friends: http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq43/shannon.htm
Farm Animals: http://www.magickeys.com/books/farm/index.html
Farmer's Farmer's Everywhere: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/hawthorne/farm/
Wow It's A Cow: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/brooklyn/cows/
Adam's Animal Sounds: http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/9496/farm.html
Chocolate Farm Mouse: http://pbskids.org/zoom/cafe/farmmice.shtml
Farm Jokes: http://www.usda.gov/nass/nasskids/jokes/index.htm
Farm Animal Coloring Pages: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mfarmposter.html
Farm Picture: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/cyber/kidswrld/java/colorbig2.htm
Kids Farm: http://www.kidsfarm.com/
Race To the Barn: http://www.execpc.com/~byb/game.html
Flying Pig Mechanism: http://www.flying-pig.co.uk/Pages/piston.htm
Here is a web site that show animations of simple machines and has automata's
that you can download and have your students make.
Insect sites
www.ent.iastate.edu/misc/insectsasfood.html
http://www.eatbug.com/default.htm
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/misc/insectsasfood.html
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/insects/
http://www.field-trips.org/sci/minibeast/index.htm
http://www.ex.ac.uk/bugclub/welcome.html
http://www.vt.edu:10021/forestry/wildlife/stein/insects.html
http://www.insect-world.com
http://members.aol.com/YESedu/mainmenu.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lake/4482
INSECTS AND SPIDERS: http://www.alphabet-soup.net/mini/insect.html
WORMS AND SPIDERS: http://entowww.tamu.edu/academic/ucourses/ento489/lessons/worms.html
Explore critters that crawl through eleven inspiring
activities--with some styrofoam, oatmeal, gar-
den worms, chocolate, and chow mein noodles...
WATCHING SNAILS: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/science/watchingsnails.htm
Teach your students early observation skills by following the simple suggestions
at this web page, watching snails and discovering their tracks.
ENTER THE HIVE: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/alienempire/multimedia/hive.html
This interactive web video will fascinate your students
as they travel through the inner workings of
a honey bee hive. They will learn about the three different types of bees,
their social orders, how
hives are made, and how flowers are pollinated.
THE MICROBE ZOO: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/index.html
Here is an excellent resource to explore the fascinating
world of microbes. Students can take a look at microbe specimens, learn
how they affect our world, investigate microbe news-makers, and read profiles
of scientists who study the microbe world.
HUMAN ANATOMY ONLINE: http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
Human anatomy is explained with visuals and text
in this interactive online tour. Use it as a primer or a
good source for student reports. (Note that both female and male reproductive
systems are covered; please review for age-appropriate content first.)
FIRST GRADE ANATOMY: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/1stgrade.htm
Both kindergarten and first grade classes can use
this lesson plan to learn about their senses and how they use them everyday.
They will also be introduced to the major organs and systems and what
they do to help our bodies function.
ANATOMY: http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/5thgrade.htm
This site offers an overview on the major body systems,
their interrelationships, and how certain behaviors affect our bodies,
both to their benefit or detriment.
Your Genes, Your Health: A Multimedia Guide to Genetic
Disorders: http://yourgenesyourhealth.org/
This site has a wonderful animated explanation of
the causes of Sickle Cell Disease. For other disorders, such as Cystic
Fibrosis, Hemophelia, Neurofibromatosis, and Huntington Disease, there
are areas where patients talk about the consequences of having the disorder,
treatments and tests.
Grade Level: Middle School, High School, College,
Adult/Professional
Content Area: Science (Life Science), Health (Diseases), Community Interest
(Health)
THE COMMON COLD: http://fyi.cnn.com/2001/fyi/lesson.plans/04/02/cold.remedies.da/index.html
After identifying causes and types of colds and
flus, students will consider alternative medicines as an increasingly
popular method of treatment. They will investigate the kinds of studies
done on such "remedies" as zinc or echinacea, and decide whether
studies are conclusive or inconclusive, and what kind of elements are
needed to conduct laboratory tests and samplings with veracity and thoroughness.
"Mirror Molecules": http://americanhistory.si.edu/hosc/molecule/ helps students see the importance & uses of "stereoisomers" -- molecules that mirror of each other.
African Wildlife Foundation: Cheetah: http://www.awf.org/animals/cheetah.html
From aardvark to zebra, the African Wildlife Foundation has fact files
on forty-nine African animals. Included on the cheetah page is everything
needed for a school report (habitat, life span, predators) as well as
headline links to cheetah news stories. Other clicks from the front page
are the Heartland habitat sections, Computer Wallpaper Gallery, and the
Take a Listen! audio files.
Cheetah Outreach: http://www.cheetah.co.za/
"The oldest cat in the world is now the most threatened."
If you are a student in Cape Peninsula, South Africa, Cheetah Outreach
will bring a cheetah to your school. The rest of will have to make due
with the Photo Gallery and the Meet our Cheetahs page. Plight of the Cheetah
describes how the cheetah is losing habitat, and their conflict with livestock
farmers in Namibia, a south African country.
Cheetah Spot: http://www.cheetahspot.com/
Learn how cheetahs socialize with other animals, what they eat, their
evolution (starting 5.5 million years ago), and the amazing bird-like
chirp they make. Cheetahs, by the way, do not roar; only lions, tigers
jaguars and leopards roar. Cheetah Spot is a great resource for writing
reports because it has an extensive bibliography.
I'm a Cheetah: http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/africa/cheetah/
This two-page creature profile from PBS is just
one of dozens of animal entries in the Kratt's Creature's site organized
by continent. Perfect for lower elementary students, the cheetah article
is brief but colorful and full of facts. Click through to page two to
learn why the cheetah is so fast, and why they don't retract their claws
into their paws like other big cats. Be sure to explore the rest of Africa,
and the wacky Creature Crazy animal games linked from Kratt's front page.
PBS: Cheetahs in a Hot Spot: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/cheetahs/main.html
This PBS site is the Web companion to the television
program which originally aired in February, 2000. The site focuses on
three cheetah topics: Fast Cats ("how cheetahs are built for speed"),
Deadly Hunters ("the art of stalking, cheetah-style") and Finding
a Home ("efforts to protect and relocate these endangered animals").
For those interested in learning more about Namibia, where most of the
world's remaining cheetahs now live, the Resource page has some good links.
Exploring Planets in the Classroom: http://www.spacegr
ant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/index.html
When Worlds Align: http://cfa-
www.harvard.edu/grandtour/
NSTA - National Science Teachers Association: http://www.nsta.org
Rainforest sites
http://www.panda.org/kids/wildlife/mndesert.htm
http://www.ran.org/ran/kids_action/index1.html
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/temp/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/edens/manu/index.html
http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq3/rain.htm
http://www.mmooney49.1hwy.com/rain.html
http://www.richmond.edu/academics/a&s/education/projects/webquests/rainforest/home.htm
http://www.richland.k12.wi.us/jefferson/BauerWeb/RFweb/AmazonRainforestWebquest.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/
http://chiron.latrobe.edu.au/www/botany/rainforests/index.html
http://www.lft.k12.la.us/eam/rain.htm
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/rainforest/
AccuWeather.com: http://www1.accuweather.com/adcbin/index.asp
Earth at Night: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg
The image is a panoramic view of the world from the new space station.
It is a night photo with the lights clearly indicating the populated areas.
You can scroll East-West and North-South. Note that Canada's population
is almost exclusively along the U.S. border. Moving east to Europe, there
is a high population concentration along the Mediterranean Coast. It's
easy to spot London, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna. Check out the development
of Israel compared to the rest of the Arab countries. Note the Nile River
and the rest of the "Dark Continent". After the Nile, the lights
don't come on again until Johannesburg. Look at the Australian Outback
and the TransSiberian Rail Route. Moving east, the most striking observation
is the difference between North and South Korea. Note the density of Japan.
It is a picture of the Earth taken from the Boeing built Space Station
last November on a perfect night with no obscuring atmospheric conditions.
VIRTUAL POND DIP: http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/pondexplorer/pond3.html
What lurks in the depths of your neighborhood (virtual)
pond? Try this virtual dip, and explore water mites, leeches, Mayfly Nymphs,
and more. Each information sheet includes the life cycle, food chain,
and scientific name of the creature under the microscope.
Butterflies
Butterflies: http://www.billybear4kids.com/butterfly/flutter-fun.html
Butterfly Centers: http://www.abcteach.com/Butterfly%20Centers/Tableofcontentsbfly.htm
Butterfly Dictionary: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/butterfly/
Butterfly Writing Paper: http://www.abcteach.com/paper/butterfly.htm
Native Butterfly Gardening: http://www.nsis.org/butterfly/butterfly.html
The Butterfly Guide: http://www.butterflies.com/guide.html
Butterfly Bookmarks: http://www.billybear4kids.com/butterfly/bookmarks/print.html
Butterfly Birthday Theme: http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/birthday/party/theme-butterfly.html
Butterfly Gardens: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/butterfly/
Butterfly In My Garden Font: http://www.billybear4kids.com/fonts/holiday-fonts3.html
Butterfly Life Cycle: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/butterfly/
Butterfly Math: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/butterfly/
Interactive Butterfly Puzzle: http://www.zoomdinosaurs.com/subjects/butterfly/
INTERACTIVE BUTTERFLY:
http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/butterflies/activities/radiobuttonquiz/Bflyquiz1.shtml
If you have recently been learning about the stages
of a butterfly's life with your preschoolers, then use
this site with them to review concepts learned. You will need to read
the questions--your students can
click on the "yes" or "no" buttons--and when you get
all the answers, your students will be rewarded with a beautiful butterfly.
BUTTERFLY LIFE CYCLE MOBILE:
http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/crafts/butterfly/lifecyclemobile/
You can collaboratively create one of these mobiles
to hang in your classroom, or let each student make one to take home.
The mobiles are fairly basic, but you may need to have supplies pre-cut,
dependent on the ability level of your students.
BUTTERFLY PUPPETS: http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/crafts/puppets/paperplatebfly/
Paper plates and a little ingenuity--and you will
have some butterfly puppets to create a little play
in your classroom. Ask your students what they would like their butterflies
to be doing or saying, and
write the script with them.
BUTTERFLY CENTERS: http://abcteach.com/Butterflycenters/Tableofcontentsbfly.htm
Extensive projects and printables explore the theme
of butterflies in the classroom, from center activities to coloring pages
and data collecting sheets. Concepts taught include symmetry, poetry,
life cycle, and graphing.
LIGHTNING JAR: http://www.caps.ou.edu/CAPS/teachwild.html
Hands-on time for this science activity... students
will build their own lightning jar and create light-
ning, realizing that it is a result of static electricity. Scroll down
for instructions on creating
tornados, as well as activities to make safety pamphlets for severe weather
events.
Sites about rain
April Showers Raindrop Painting: http://www.kinderart.com/painting/showers.htm
Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Art: http://www.kinderart.com/painting/raindrops.htm
Rain Rain Go Away: http://members.tripod.com/~ESL4Kids/chants/rain.html
Rainsticks: http://www.kinderart.com/sculpture/rain.htm
Rainy Day Activities: http://www.sdstatelibrary.com/forkids/rainyday.htm
Rainy Day Playhouse: http://www.pen-web.com/rainyday/
Amazing Rain Forest Adventure: http://www.dodson-es.davidson.k12.tn.us/QuiltIt/rainforest.html
April Showers Dot to Dot: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/actpag86.html
Rain Forest Activities: http://familyeducation.com/printables/package/0,2358,1-12895,00.html
Rain In A Bag: http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,3-5051,00.html
April Showers Bring May Flowers: http://www.angelfire.com/mn/cozycottage/april.html
Rain Forest Crafts: http://abcteach.com/RainforestFacts/crafts1.htm
Rain Forest Rap: http://abcteach.com/RainforestFacts/RainForestRap.htm
Rain Forest Museum and Menagerie: http://www.earthwatch.org/ed/pm/lessons/hornmuseum.html
The Rain Forest: http://www.angelfire.com/ma/1stGrade/rainforest.html
The Rain Game: http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/CLA/LESSONS/104.html
Tropical Rain Forest: http://www.earthwatch.org/ed/pm/lessons/entin.html
Why Save The Rain Forest: http://eduplace.com/science/sla/tg/5/rainforest_tg.html
ABC's Of Acid Rain: http://qlink.queensu.ca/~4lrm4/
Hey You Stole My Rain: http://faldo.atmos.uiuc.edu/CLA/LESSONS/78.html
Measuring Rainfall: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/weather/rain.html
Rain Forest Curriculum: http://www.rainbird.com/rainforest/k1.htm
Rainsticks: http://www.kinderart.com/corner/111399.htm
Soda Bottle Rain Gauge: http://www.kidskreate.com/article1045.html
Making A Rain Stick: http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/earthspace5.html
Man With Umbrella: http://abcteach.com/Activities/manumbrell.htm
Rain Activities: http://www.123child.com/easter/spring.html
Rain Catcher: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/8911/weather.html
Rainy Day Craft Ideas: http://home.att.net/~DLeddy/kids.html
Rainy Day Resource Page: http://www.cp.duluth.mn.us/~sarah/
Acid Rain & Plants: http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/earthspace17.html
Little Critter Rain Outfit: http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/littlecritter/index.htm
Rain Forest Writing Paper: http://abcteach.com/RainforestFacts/writpaper.htm
Rain Rain Go Away: http://www.niteowl.org/kids/rain.html
The Sound Of Rain: http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/earthspace13.html
The Water Cycle: http://www.kidzone.ws/water/
Weather Poems: http://www.track0.com/canteach/elementary/songspoems17.html
Songs about rain:
It Ain't Gonna Rain No More: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/i012.html
It's Raining It's Pouring: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/i028.html
Miss Rainy Day: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/m071.html
Rain: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/r039.html
Rain Rain Go Away: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/r003.html
Robin In The Rain: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/r027.html
Splash Fall The Raindrops: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/s103.html
The Rain: http://kididdles.com/mouseum/r043.html
Umbrella ABC's: http://www.bry-backmanor.org/actpag37.html
Air Waves
Just about everything in the universe gives off electromagnetic waves
in all directions. They are all around us. Humans and objects on Earth
and in the sky are natural sources of electromagnetic waves.
Through the years, scientists have discovered how we can make these invisible
electromagnetic waves work for us. Scientists found that waves of different
lengths do different things. Different wavelengths have different "frequencies."
If we make the wavelengths very close together with a very high frequency,
we can make X-rays that enable us to make pictures that doctors use to
see what's going on inside our bodies.
If we make a wavelength longer, we can make microwaves that we can use
to cook our food in our microwave ovens.
The longest waves of all are the radio waves. These special wavelengths
carry pictures and sound. While we call them "radio" waves,
they are also used for TV and cell phones and other ways to communicate.
These radio wavelengths are so important that the government has set up
a special group, or agency, called the "Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC, as it is called, sees that the billions of messages carried through
the air on waves don't get all mixed up. For example, each radio station
is assigned a special frequency, or wavelength, of radio waves. Stations
must be far enough apart in wavelength so that they don't interfere with
each other. A frequency of 1500 AM means these radio waves can move up
and down 1,500,000 times a second. AM is a special band, or group, of
frequencies. To pick up those waves on your radio, you have to set your
dial to 1500. Radio, TV and cable channels must get licenses before they
can operate. The FCC assigns them certain wavelengths, or frequencies.
The FCC also sets aside"bands" of radio waves for products such
as remote-control garage door openers, radio-controlled toys and cell
phones.
Scientists are using radio waves to find out what is in the universe.
Of all the different types of electromagnetic waves, radio waves are the
longest. They might be as long as a football field or as short as a football.
The radio waves that occur naturally in the universe are not manufactured.
They are silent. Scietntists don't listen to them; they study them.
In the mountains of West Virginia is the largest movable thing on land.
It's a radio telescope. There are other radio telescopes in other parts
of the world, but this is the largest one that moves. It is very tall,
almost as tall as the Washington Monument. Its dish is about 300 feet
across (about the length of a football field). The telescope is taller
than the Statue of Liberty. It is called the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank
Telescope and it collects radio waves. It can only receive them. It does
not send any. It takes a long time for some of the waves to reach Earth.
Some of them might be millions of years old before they do.
The telescopes job is to collect naturally occurring radio waves. By studying
them, scientists can find out what is going on way out in space. Space
is filled with radio wave energy. Planets, stars, galaxies and even clouds
of dust and gas give off radio waves that can be detected on Earth. Collecting
these waves is important to astronomers. By studying the data the telescope
gathers, they can find out information about space that they could get
no other way. With "optical" telescopes, astronomers can see
only what is actually visible. If clouds are in the way, or if the sun
is shining, they don't get a good picture. This is not the case with radio
telescopes.
Radio signals arriving on Earth from space are very weak. In fact, they
are millions of times weaker than the manufactured signals sent out by
the radios we listen to. Because these radio waves from space are so weak,
radio telescopes must be big and also far away from places where people
live. Such things as microwave ovens, radio and TV signals, and computers
can interfere with the reception. The big dish enables the astronomers
to focus the telescope on small areas.
Radio astronomers collect radio waves from a tiny part of the sky, measure
how strong they are, and then move on. As they move from point to point,
they slowly build an image of what they are studying. This is how they
work: Radio waves from space bounce off the main dish. They are reflected
to a smaller dish at the top of the telescope (this is called a sub-reflector).
The signals are then set to receivers (much like the radio receivers you
have in your home -- only they are much more sensitive). The faint signals
from space are amplified (made stronger) and sent to powerful computers
that analyze them, which allows experts to make images to study.
from The MiniPage by Betty Debnam, Saturday, April 13, 2002
Ants
THE ANTS GO MARCHING ONE BY ONE: http://www.cleverisland.com/calendar/ant_parade.asp
These colorful, printable pages support counting--with
ants... Students will fold and assemble their own mini-book to take home.
All About Ants: http://www.infowest.com/life/aants.htm
Ant Colonies: http://www.antcolony.org/
Ant Pictures: http://www.uio.no/~mostarke/antpictures.html
Ants: http://www.mprojects.wiu.edu/activities/ca_Ants.html
Food Fit for An Ant: http://www.themeunits.com/food_fit_for_an_ant.pdf
Parents Advice About Ants: http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/ants.html
Ant Craft Projects: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/antcrafts/
Ant Hill Maze: http://www.abcteach.com/Mazes/anthill.htm
Antics Page: http://www.ionet.net/~rdavis/antics.shtml
Ants: http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/ants/ants.htm
Ants In The Sand: http://www.melborponsti.com/kids/snack/snack026.shtml
Bug Go: http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/IPM/teachers/bug-go/bug-go.htm
Amazing Animals: Ants: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/2/4/maze.html
Ant Architecture: http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/antarchitecture/
Ants: http://www.mprojects.wiu.edu/activities/old/ca_Ants.shtml
Ants On A Log: http://www.kitchenlink.com/msgbrd/board_0/1998/MAR/15532.html
Steve's Ant Farm: http://www.atomicweb.com/antfarm.html
All About Ants: http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/ect/allants.htm
Ants, Ants, And More Ants: http://www.coe.uh.edu/archive/langarts/langarts_lessons/langles2/
Ant Cam: http://www.antcam.com/
Ant Coloring Sheet: http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/insects/ant/Antcoloringpage.shtml
Ants In Your Pants: http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/jamnbabe/danceants.html
JavaAntz: Boid Ant Simulator: http://www.drizzle.net/~goldbay/boid.html
Frank's Poems: Astronaut Ant: http://webhome.idirect.com/~paylors/ant.htm
Little Me In A Big World: http://insected.arizona.edu/lesson_08/default.htm
My Family And Me: http://insected.arizona.edu/lesson_19/default.htm
Ant Activities: http://www.123child.com/animals/ants.html
Ant Encyclopedia: http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/INTRODUCTION/Gakken79E/Page_02.html
Ants Go Marching: http://www.zoomwhales.com/rhymes/Ants.shtml
Ant Theme: http://www.geocities.com/~stepbystepcc/ants.html
Scientific Study Of Ants: http://www.myrmecology.org/javaindex.htm
Stranger Than Fiction: http://home.att.net/~B-P.TRUSCIO/STRANGER.htm
Ant Search: http://members.aol.com/ggallag958/wkdl/Ant.html
Acrobat Ants: http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/aacrobat.html
All About Ants: http://www.infowest.com/personal/l/life/aants.htm
Ants Go Marching: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/antsgo.htm
Ant Shape Book Pattern: http://www.abcteach.com/AnimalShapes/insectshape.htm
Food Fit For An Ant: http://www.themeunits.com/food_fit_for_an_ant.pdf
SDA's Ant Farm: http://www.hpwsys.com/antfarm.html
So Many Ants: http://www.eduplace.com/projects/ants.html
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
Did you know that a reptile's scales are dry -- and as hard as human fingernails?
That reptiles live on land and breathe through lungs? That some snakes
have more than 500 bones in their spinal column? Smithsonian National
Museum of Natural History Division of Amphibians and Reptiles: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/vert/reptiles/
The Smithsonian offers information about reptile species by taxonomy and
geography, current reptile research, historical reptile publications,
and links to additional reptile sites.
Reptile and Amphibian Photo Gallery: http://www.petcommunity.org/Sites/Mike/Pix/lobby.htm
The creator of this site offers free use of hundreds of images of reptiles
and amphibian for learning purposes. Photos are organized by species and
scientific name.
Virtual Frog Dissection: http://george.lbl.gov/ITG.hm.pg.docs/dissect/info.html
This award-winning interactive program is part of the "Whole Frog"
project. You can interactively dissect a (digitized) frog named Fluffy,
make movies, and play the Virtual Frog Builder Game. The interactive Web
pages are available in a number of languages.
Lizards! A Live Expedition with the American Museum of Natural History:
http://www.discovery.com/exp/lizards/lizards.html
This site is an interactive journey exploring lizards. There are movies
and sounds using Flash technology. Learn about "Lizards of the World",
"Lizard Defenses", and "Today's Dispatch". While this
section is from 2000, it offers a wealth of daily 'dispatches' with interesting
excursions and photos.
Reptile and Amphibian Printouts from Enchanted Learning: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/reptiles/printouts.shtml
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/amphibians.shtml
Printable reptile and amphibian pictures accompany basic information about
many different kinds of creatures! This is a great resource for elementary
education.
Froguts: http://www.froguts.com/index.htm
Froguts is a true virtual online frog dissection,
so virtual it can gross you out. So, you're missing the smell of formaldehyde,
but this site was created from recycled classroom frogs. The intent is
to
get to the heart of the anatomy, so to speak. It uses of different tools
for the virtual dissection.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School,
College
Content Area: Science (Life Science)
Build the Virtual Frog: http://www-itg.lbl.gov/vfrog/builder.html
“Building a frog can be harder than it looks.”
Students can read the guide and take the hints that appear after a few
wrong moves.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Life Science)
IDEAS: http://www.asme.org/educate/k12/ideas/abser.htm
Grades: 5 - 8
Pennies from heaven--or launched from historical catapults that your middle
schoolers build all by themselves! These downloadable activities provide
low-cost, hands-on opportunities for investigation
and construction of projects ranging from the afore-mentioned catapults
to sewer systems, toothpick bridges, and wind machines.
Sites about inventors and inventions
Inventor's museum: http://www.inventorsmuseum.com/index.htm
Golden Retrievers everywhere hailed the invention of the Frisbee; Hula
Hoops made a breathtaking appearance on this year's Academy Awards; Abe
Lincoln invented a device for hoisting riverboats
over sandbars. Find out more about these inventions and others at the
Web portal for inventors everywhere.
PBS: Forgotten Inventors: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/
amex/telephone/sfeature/
Smithsonian Institution's Spotlight Biography: Inventors:
http://educate.si.edu/spotlight/inventors1.html
National Inventors Hall of Fame: http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/1_0_0_hall_of_fame.asp
The Invention Dimension: Inventor of the Week A-Z:
http://web.mit.edu/invent/www/archive.html
Leveraging learning: http://ll.terc.edu/
Grades: 2 - 8
Make the most of the Web's potential to maximize learning with these online
science units. Included with each unit are hands-on investigations that
provide links to related Internet resources.
Embedded assessments help track student progress.
Math and science television, MSTV: http://www.getsmarter.org/mstv/flash_index.cfm
Grades: 5 - 12
Who says there's nothing good on television? If you're tired of watching
reruns and commercials, tune in to MSTV and do the Cosmic Boogie, find
out about the Mathematics of Music, or learn how to put
your money where your mouth is. You can even take The Real Challenge and
test your knowledge against students from around the world at this site
from the Council on Competitiveness.
Virtual microscopy: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/virtual/virtual.html
Grades: 9 - Post-secondary
Turn your computer into a multifunctional microscope! This site offers
a variety of virtual microscopes that let you explore specimen focus,
illumination intensity, magnification, and translation.
Nobel e-Museum: http://www.nobel.se/index.html
Grades: 6 - Post-secondary
Astound your friends and neighbors at your next Trivial Pursuit game with
your impressive knowledge of all past and present Nobel Prize winners!
Here you'll find detailed information about award winners and their achievements,
as well as interactive games and other features based on past winners'
accomplishments.
Water discovery in preschool
PLAY WITH WATER: http://www.mothers-home.com/activities/scicrafts.htm
Find several hands-on early learning experiments
to discover the principles of water. Children will position mirrors around
bowls of water to find rainbows, explore ice cube movement over oil, find
out which objects will dissolve, and discover which items will sink and
which float.
BUBBLE, BUBBLE, POP: http://www.earlychildhood.com/Articles/index.cfm?FuseAction=Article&A=211
Several bubble activities are cataloged here, along
with tips on how preschool children can learn through bubble explorations.
RAINBOW WATER: http://www.kinderart.com/littles/rainbow.shtml
Students will investigate how colors become diluted
and paler in water as they dissolve and spread. Also play with mixing
different colors and predicting what will happen.
SUDS: http://www.sci.mus.mn.us/sln/tf/s/suds/suds.html
Food coloring is the magic ingredient for these
bubble magic art prints. Easy to make and and to clean
up.
BUBBLE FORMULAS: http://www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html
Three different recipes are offered here for bubble
making fun; try all three and see which one offers
the best results--have bubble competitions with student teams.
WATER TABLE ACTIVITIES: http://www.preschoolbystormie.com/science.htm
Scroll down to halfway through this page to find
various activities to support a water exploration table
in your preschool classroom.
Circle of Life Webquest: http://herrickses.org/searingtown/library/circleoflife/index.htm
Students work in pairs to complete 1 of 4 different
webquests. The roles (assigned or chosen) include Marine Biologists, Artist
Naturalists, Stranding Specialists and Public Awareness Specialists. Students
use Inspiration or a similar type of software to complete the assignments
as designed.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School
Content Area: Science (Life Science/Environmental Studies), Vocational
Education (Careers), Arts (Visual Arts)
Planet quest: http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/
Here's your chance to boldly go in search of life on other planets. Team
up with NASA to find out if Earth is one of a kind. You'll find articles
on the history of astronomy and space exploration, interactive movies
and activities, and multimedia galleries of interstellar imagery.
Butterfly sites
A Student's Guide To Butterflies: http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr/farmer/bfly1.htm
Butterflies And Moths: http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/discover/bfly.htm
Butterfly Coloring Page: http://www.abcteach.com/Butterflycenters/butterfly2.htm
Butterfly Gardening: http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/index.htm
Butterfly Photo Gallery: http://www.butterflyfarm.co.cr/gallery/
Monarch Watch Classrooms:
http://www.monarchwatch.org/gallery/class/long1.htm
http://www.monarchwatch.org/gallery/class/mckni1.htm
Butterflies: http://unitstudiesforkids.homestead.com/Butterflies.html
Butterfly Pavilion: Hide N Seek: http://www.butterflies.org/hidenseek.htm
Butterfly Pavilion: Match The Squares: http://www.butterflies.org/squares.cfm
Butterfly Pictures: http://photo.net/photo/butterflies/index.html
Butterfly Postcards: http://www.butterflies.org/postcard.cfm
Butterfly Theme: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8004/butterfly.html
The Gardens At Butterfly World: http://www.butterflyworld.com/walk.html
Sites about the moon
Teacher Notes: Moon and Tides Lesson Grades 6-9: http://can-do.com/uci/lessons99/moon-t.html
U.S. Naval Observatory: Virtual Reality Moon Phase Pictures: http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/vphase.
html
Moon Phases: http://www.moon-
phases.com
Moon Unit: http://www.teacherfeatures.com/units/moonunit.html
RECYCLING
It is estimated that for every person in the U.S., over 4 pounds of garbage
are created each day. The Earth is running out of landfill space. As the
human population increases, the dangers to our environment multiply.
Recycling and Beyond!: http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/index.htm
This environmental education site for kids provides games and activities
about recycling, and is geared toward the younger child. The site also
a lesson on how to be a "vermiculturist", building a vermiculture
box, and information about why worms are vital to our ecology!
Recycle City: http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm
Take your children on an electronic field trip to Recycle City and tour
this environmentally minded town. Your children can explore the city and
learn about recycling by clicking on locations in the town. Have your
children explore the fun learning opportunities under "Activities"
and play the "Dumptown Game" (requires the Shockwave plug-in
which can be downloaded from Macromedia.com).
Eco-Kids Recycling Activities: http://www.futuresolutionsinc.com/Kids/activities.html
This site has fun activities for children, and will help to keep them
ecologically informed! Activities include making paper from paper, growing
plants from trash, recycling water, and more!
National Recycling Coalition: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/
The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) is a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to the advancement and improvement of recycling. This is a great
site for older children to really get a head's-up on recycling. They will
find a calculator that calculates the benefits of recycling, and the results
of the economic benefits of recycling. Check out their "Recycling
Resources" for learning more.
Woodland Network: http://www.skolweb.vaxjo.se/biowindows/default.htm
These projects from Sweden allow students to observe
and hypothesize about the health of trees in their area. The first project
is for students 10 - 15 years old and is called Just a Tree (in both Swedish
and English languages). Older students (age 15+) can participate in the
more extensive Woodland Research Project (available in nine languages).
Data is sent to the project site, then posted for public use. When more
data is available, this will be a great site for mathematics/science/geography
integration.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Life Science/Environmental Studies), History &
Social Studies (Geography), Mathematics (General)
Beach erosion: http://whyfiles.org/091beach/index.html
Grades: 6 - 12
Beaches are disappearing. Find out why and how, and what can be done about
the problem.
Cytogenetics gallery: http://www.pathology.washington.edu/galleries/Cytogallery/
Grades: 9 - Post-secondary
Take a closer look at what makes you who you are: chromosomes. This gallery
contains images (some are large, so allow time for downloading) illustrating
some common chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down Syndrome. Click on
unfamiliar terms for fuller definitions.
Einstein revealed: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/
Grades: 9 - Post-secondary
Find out what made history's most beautiful mind tick. The materials at
this site complement a NOVA program that takes an in-depth look at the
man, his theories, and his enduring legacy.
Hands on illustrations, Teachers' corner: http://www.teacherscorner.org/popcuric/handson.html
Grades: 6 - 12
The world as we know it is changing, and we are facing global crises in
terms of population explosion, poverty, and resource depletion. The hands-on
demonstrations housed at this site are designed to make students aware
of these issues and to provoke thoughtful discussion about possible solutions.
Chem4Kids!: http://www.chem4kids.com/
Grades: 4 - 10
You'll find information, activities, and more about atoms, reactions,
biochemistry, careers in science, and specialties within chemistry.
Seeing, hearing, and smelling the world: http://www.hhmi.org/senses/start.htm
Grades: 9 - 12
Make sense of how we make sense of the world through our senses! In other
words, this site features articles, animations, and research about the
ways in which we perceive and interact with our
environment. Learn how our senses collaborate to enrich our lives.
Water science for schools: http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/
Grades: Kindergarten - 12
Take the plunge and find out how much you really know about water. Here
you'll learn all about our planet's water supply and cycle , the ways
in which we use water every day, and special areas of
concern such as acid rain, water quality in cities, and the presence of
pesticides in ground water. There are also activities, photos, and interesting
water facts to explore.
Walking with prehistoric beasts: http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/beasts/beasts.html
Grades: 4 - 12
Go on a jaunt with a "rhino/pig-thing" that roamed the earth
in those tumultuous days after the annihilation of the dinosaurs. Or try
your hand at recreating a prehistoric beast using the puzzle
pieces of their fossil record. Whichever path you choose, you're sure
to unearth some interesting information about the land before time.
The Physics Zone: http://www.sciencejoywagon.com/physicszone/
For those that get it when they see a simulation,
or when they are able to play a tutorial over and over, this site will
be a valuable aid. Lessons, review materials, and solutions to workbooks
created by this
company. But, this website is open to all, so take advantage of the materials
online.
Ocean.com: http://www.ocean.com/
This website was created by a multimedia company
from California and features quality streaming video of ocean life. The
Ask Us section touches on a lot of general ocean and water topics, such
as which fish on a menu might be endangered by over-fishing.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Life Science/Environmental Studies), Technology
(General)
Virtual Cave: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/index.html
Caves are cool! Learn about Solution Caves, Lava
Tube Caves, Sea Caves and Erosional Caves. Students can also investigate
caves near their homes with links in the U.S. Show Cave Directory.
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Content Area: Science (Earth Science), History & Social Studies(Geography)
Switcheroo Zoo: http://www.switcheroozoo.com/default.htm
Create new and exciting animals using Flash technology
and your browser. Learn some basic animal facts then let the fur fly.
Students can morph new pets, or use the legs, tail and head of animals
to generate discussions of genetic engineering. Lesson plans are available
for language arts and science.
Grade Level: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle
School
Content Area: Science (Life Science)[Dewey #570], Arts (Visual Arts),
English (Writing)
Bagheera: http://www.bagheera.com/inthewild/ is a site devoted to the various issues related to endangered species of wildlife. The site includes lesson plans and activities as well as lists of endangered and extinct species. Information on conservation, biology, and extinction of endangered species, as well as links to government resources are also provided.
Explorezone.com: http://explorezone.com/ offers current news pertaining to the weather, space, and earth. News articles introduce students to exciting natural phenomena around the world and galaxy. Students can learn about asteroids, comets and meteors, drought and fire, earthquakes, El Nino, global warming, and much more. This site includes a newsletter and a reference section.
The Glossary of Genetic Terms: http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/DIR/VIP/Glossary/
provides an online talking glossary, useful for middle and high school
students. Each entry has a definition, a pronunciation guide, a detailed
audio explanation, and links to definitions of related terms. Some sections
of this site require RealPlayer.
CHEMystery: http://library.thinkquest.org/3659/
is an online chemistry text book for high school students. Topics
such as atoms, molecules, states of matter, chemical reactions, atomic
structure, energy, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, and
nuclear reactions are covered here. Each section contains a brief description,
links to other related resources on
the Web, and images and diagrams where applicable.
Visit Disaster Relief: http://www.disasterrelief.org/
for up-to-date information on natural disasters around the world. Recent
stories of disasters are available here in a news magazine format. The
site also includes a discussion forum and quizzes about disaster preparedness.
Science Fair Project
on the Web
Steps of a Science Fair Project/ The Scientific Method/ Science Defined/Judging
Sheet Examples:
http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net
RHS Library's Science Fair Resources: http://www.tyler.net/ruskhslib/sci_fair.htm
Annotated links to sites which have suggestions related to successfully
participating in a science fair.
Practical Hints for Science Fair Projects: http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~dennisl/CMS/sf/sf_hints.html
Science fair projects should be fun and educational, with the emphasis
on FUN. Here are some helpful hints which will help you think of and carry
out a science fair project.
IPL Science Fair Guide: http://www.ipl.org/youth/projectguide
Internet Public Library has put together a useful resource for those trying
to participate in or run a science fair.
Discovery Channel: Science Fair Central: http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral
Separate science fair guides for students, teachers, and parents.
California State Science Fair: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF
The California State Science Fair is the final science fair of the academic
year for students throughout California in grades 6-12.
Ventura County Science Fair: http://www.west.net/~vcsf
Largest county science fair in California. Education resources and participant
instructions.
The Ultimate Science Fair Resource: http://www.scifair.org
Find ideas for projects, step-by-step project instructions, links to other
resources, and The Idea Board, where students can exchange ideas.
Massachusetts State Science Fair: http://www.scifair.com
Science Fair Central: http://www.neiu.edu/~pjdolan
Project ideas from NEIU, Chicago
Science Fair Ideas: http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/ideas.html
Includes a worksheet that poses fill-in-the-blank questions with suggested
topics.
West Tennessee Regional Science Fair: http://members.aol.com/drgmarsch/WTRSF.html
Calgary Youth Science Fair: http://www.cadvision.com/cysf
Contact information and important dates.
Connecticut State Science Fair: http://www.ctsciencefair.org
Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair: http://lasers.llnl.gov/lasers/tvsef
TVSEF is a science project competition for students grades 7-12 from public
schools within the areas of Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San
Ramon, and Sunol.
Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair: http://www.reach.net/~qrstf
Science fair information including dates, awards, registration forms,
rules, classification of projects, judging, contacts, Canada Wide Science
Fair, previous winners and links.
VIrtual Science Fair: http://www.parkmaitland.org/sciencefair
An extensive project created by the 1st-6th grade computer classes in
Florida. The site includes drawings, photographs and links to related
science resources on the web.
Biology4Kids: http://www.kapili.com/biology4kids/index.html
Boasting a streamlined design, this site provides straightforward explanations
for basic concepts in biology. In particular, the descriptions and accompanying
art for the parts of a cell are extremely well-presented. The site rounds
up the terms involved in biological taxonomy in a
way that makes perfect sense. Appealing also to environmentally conscious
kids, the site includes a well-written section on ecosystems.
Einstein Revealed: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/index.html
So the Theory of Relativity isn't exactly for middle schoolers, but this
site makes the great Albert Einstein accessible to even young kids. In
addition to providing some biographical detail about the famous scientist,
the site also describes his best-known theory. Click on "Light
Stuff" to take the "Joe's Room" quiz, a good, basic way
to demonstrate Einstein's genius. A game on time travel, accessible with
Shockwave, is both fun and educational.
The eSkeletons Project: http://www.eskeletons.org/
No, it's not a book by R.L. Stine, but it might actually be a tool to
dispel kids' fears of skeletons. Providing detail on the bodies of humans
and certain primates, this site lets students view individual bones and
compare skeletons. An expansive glossary clears up terms;
it also includes some videos viewable with Windows Media Player. Kids
who think that they know the difference between a tibia and a femur can
test themselves, too.
Neill's Geology for Kids!: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/8991/
Using fun, easy language, this site makes rocks sound exciting! Not only
does it present the basics on gemology, glaciology, marine geology, and
paleontology, the site takes students into the heart of each of the ecosystems
where these sciences are relevant. The section describing how volcanoes
form will be compelling to the most skeptical science student. The site
does a great job of highlighting new vocabulary as well as providing instructive
links.
TryScience: http://www.tryscience.org/
This wonderfully produced site uses four different formats -- online adventures,
offline experiments, live Webcams, and Internet field trips -- to motivate
students to explore science. The site compiles the online features
of over 400 science centers worldwide to bring you and
your class the best science content on the Web. Be sure to check out the
current online adventure, in which your students assume the role of a
Star Trek Starfleet Academy cadet to compete with other students in investigating
and solving various scientific questions.
ExploreScience.com: http://www.explorescience.com/
Updated monthly, ExploreScience.com uses Shockwave extensively so students
can accurately manipulate the actual variables involved in scientific
experiments. This month's feature on the principles behind x-ray machines
not only demonstrates how to conduct experiments in class,
but also allows students to try parts of the experiment online.
Edhelper.com: http://www.edhelper.com
Lesson
Plans - Teacher's Lesson Plans - WebQuests - Primary Teacher Resources
- Math Lesson Plans - Writing Lesson Plans - Reading Lesson Plans - Science
Lesson Plans - Technology Lesson Plans - Social Studies Lesson Plans
Rainforest Action Network: Kids' Corner: http://www.ran.org/ran/kids_action/index1.html offers information about the plants, animals, and peoples residing within rainforests. More importantly, it shows what kids can do to help conserve these natural resources. The site includes a newsletter, children's art gallery, and teachers' resource center.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured
dramatic images of two swirling storms on Jupiter as they collided to
form a truly titanic tempest. FULL STORY at:
http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast24oct_1.htm?list73662
Kinetic City: http://www.kineticcity.com/
Kinetic City is a science lesson and comic-book story all rolled into
an interactive Web site. To solve a fictional doomsday crisis, students
must work science problems and send the results back to the Kinetic City
team of kids who keep tabs on the results. The new science-based capers
refresh every month to keep your team of young scientists on their toes
for the next mission.
Hunt for Alien Worlds: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worlds/ encourages students to consider the existence of life outside of our planet. Students must investigate the conditions necessary for life, and then determine where -- if anywhere -- life can exist. The site includes a star map and information about constellations and planets.
Chemistry Coach high School Links for Science:
http://www.chemistrycoach.com/high.htm#High
Chemistry Drills for Kids: http://www.edu4kids.com/chem/
About.com/Science: http://home.about.com/science/index.htm
Cornell University Theory Center: http://www.tc.cornell.edu/Edu/MathSciGateway/
Discovery Channel School/Science: http://school.discovery.com/students/science.html
U.S. DOE FREE Science Resources: http://www.ed.gov/free/s-scienc.html
High School Hub/ Chemistry: http://highschoolhub.org/hub/chem.htm
ScienceNet Links: http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/index.html
Learning from the Fossil Record: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/fosrec.html
offers
notes on the importance of fossils to science and society. The site
includes a great collection of related classroom projects and student
activities. You can even download an image of the Geologic Time Scale
-- a geological "timeline" that makes learning easier -- produced
by the
Geological Society of America.
Earth & Sky: http://www.earthsky.com/
produces daily radio and Internet broadcasts on subjects like astronomy,
earth science, ecology, and anthropology. You can also
access articles on these subjects, or check out the Teacher's Lounge for
related resources.
TeachEarth.com: http://www.teachearth.com/
offers resources and programs about our planet's air, land, water, and
life forms and how they are all interconnected. Search their extensive
resources by grade level or subject.
NASA's Anatomy of an Airplane: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/trc/saic/anatomy.html
unveils
the world of aeronautics to fifth through eighth graders. Students
can learn about the various parts of an airplane, the history of aviation,
the forces of flight, and the special language used by pilots. With the
Shockwave plug-in, they can even build an airplane online.
LookLearn&Do Projects: http://www.looklearnanddo.com/documents/projects.html
Give your science lessons a constructive aspect by letting your students
build their own projects that test scientific principles. LookLearn&Do
provides project ideas ranging from greenhouses and blimps to kites and
mousetrap cars. Although the projects don't have accompanying teaching
resources, almost all of them can be used to demonstrate principles with
materials found in your classroom.
Internet Neuroscience Resources For Kids:
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/interr.html
is a
collection of links related to the inner workings of the human brain.
Check out brain facts and figures, puzzles, and games, and links to other
interesting articles and related Web sites.
Life Sciences Safari: http://vilenski.com/science/safari/index.html provides guided tours through biology Life Science Connections, was created for the parents and students of Jennifer Vilenski's seventh-grade class at Roger Ludlowe Middle School in Fairfield, Conn. Throughout the site, Mrs. Vilenski shares with the World Wide Web audience clever ways to explore life with a focuson biology, botany, ecology and zoology.
Dan's Wild Wild Weather Page: http://www.whnt19.com/kidwx/ was created by a television meteorologist and provides information about weather-related phenomena like clouds, temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, and wind. Many pages are image-heavy and may take a while to load.
Extreme Science: http://www.extremescience.com/
Extreme Science is a virtual book of records for the natural world. The
Web site prides itself on focusing on the most extreme aspects of nature
with displays including devastating weather patterns, life in drastic
climates, and creatures of the most contrasting shapes and sizes.
Besides being a great site for showing off sheer wonders of nature, it
is a marvelous reference site for science topics on time, space, and biology.
Discovery School's A-to-Z Science: http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozscience/index.html
Discovery School's A-to-Z Science site is the ultimate science encyclopedia
and homework helper. The subjects run the gamut from physics to biology
and the encyclopedia entries are clear, concise, and often have accompanying
photographs or diagrams.
Chem4Kids: http://www.chem4kids.com/
offers information on various chemistry topics, like the states of matter,
elements, compounds, and the periodic table. Students can take a chemistry
quiz to test their understanding or simply explore a topic of their choice.
Newton's Window: http://www.suzannesutton.com/
provides some great ways to make math interesting and fun. There
are sections for elementary, middle-, and high-school students, for those
who love math and those who hate it. The site includes articles, homework
tips, quizzes, and product reviews. There is even a section devoted to
reducing math-related anxiety.
The National Marine Sanctuary has been working
to protect distinctive natural and cultural resources in the marine environment
since 1972. Now the RADIO EXPEDITONS
partnership of National Public Radio and the National Geographic Society
wishes to highlight NMS's work in their feature, "Frontiers in the
Sea." Students can embark on an "Interactive Expedition"
at http://www.npr.org/programs/RE/fits/index.html
and contribute to research, conservation, and, in some cases, restoration
of marine environments. Whether they travel by
virtual airplane or submarine, students are bound to glimpse fascinating
flora and fauna.
Project Wet: http://www.projectwet.org/
provides hands-on, easy-to-use, and fun ideas for water-based activities
and games. It also provides a guideline on how to conduct a water festival
for students. This site allows students to learn about water science in
an interactive,
online format.
Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/
The site contains up-to-the-minute news and information on the globe's
natural resources (such as parks, forests, oceans, and lakes) as well
as some of its biggest challenges, like global
warming and clean cities.
Visit WaterWorks: http://www.omsi.edu/sln/ww/
for an introduction to the physics of water and the mechanics of
moving liquids. This site from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
offers a collection of photographs, drawings, and sound bytes of different
types of fountains,
as well as classroom ideas for investigating and creating fountains.
Soothe your students' fear of science with The Atoms Family: http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/,
which offers educational activities and information about a host of energy
concepts. Discover energy conservation, the power of the sun, energy transformation,
electricity fuel conservation, and the properties of light, waves, and
particles.
Ask Dr. Universe: http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/Contents.html
Every day, Dr. Universe answers a new question about science. The questions
cover the kinds of issues about which kids wonder: everything from how
mirrors work to how insect love helps crops. Students can use the search
engine to look up topics, or they can browse the list of
recently asked questions. Since kids can email their own questions, the
material stays relevant to them.
Butterflies at the Field Museum: http://www.fmnh.org/butterfly/
As accompaniment to the exhibit at Chicago's Field Museum, this site lets
your students know all there is to know about these insects. The site
includes a clearly written section on butterfly habitats. In addition,
the Q-and-A section answers the all-important puzzle of the difference
between moths and butterflies by discussing both creatures' life cycles.
True to museum quality, the site includes vivid photos.
EduGreen: http://edugreen.teri.res.in/
Your students will become environmental activists once they check out
this excellent site. Not only does the site include clearly written descriptions
of terms like "ecosystem" and "genetic biodiversity,"
it also offers topographic and water maps and extensive descriptions of
geographical areas around the world. The glossary is a must-bookmark.
The highlight of the site is a calendar noting important dates in environmental
history (like Bhopal Tragedy Day) and ways that students can commemorate
them.
Bird of the Week: http://birds.cornell.edu/bow/
Especially useful for students who have outdoor field trips coming up,
this site includes a lengthy description of the habitat, feeding habits,
and appearance of one bird a week. Using RealPlayer, students can also
download a video of the bird in its environment. For an overview, the
site also links to the "Bird Source," which tracks the movements
of birds.
Click-N-Learn: http://www.kids-online.net/learn/c_n_l.html
This site gets at the heart of computers, giving detailed descriptions
of the insides of a typical CPU. Simply drag your mouse over the exposed
skeleton of the computer and click to get full descriptions of the hardware.
There are three different knowledge levels for your students to
explore; teachers can benefit from knowing the ins and outs of computers
as well.
BioInteractive: http://www.biointeractive.org/grants/lectures/biointeractive/index.html
This site is filled with bio activities and tools for students of all
ages. For younger children, choose "Cool Science for Curious Kids."
For older students, especially AP students, access the latest virtual
tools for the geneticist, physician, and immunologist in the virtual labs.
Take 20 minutes to be introduced to the tools of the trade (Flash required).
Take part in a sequencing a strand of DNS, and identify the virus it belongs
to. Request FREE CR Roms of these activities if you are bandwidth challenged.
Grade Level: Early Childhood, High School Content Area: Science
(Life Science) Application Type: Activities, Lessons
LivingWise: http://www.getwise.org/lwise/main.html provides information on pollution, waste management, renewable energy, and the origin of electricity and natural gas. Facts about energy and energy-saving tips are also included in this site.
Visit The pH Factor: http://www.miamisci.org/ph/default.html to introduce your elementary- and middle-school students to acids and bases. The site offers interactive screens, lesson plans, and several interesting ways to explore pH levels.
EncycloZine: Worlds of Science: http://www.encyclozine.com/Science/
This clear, concise, online encyclopedia lays clear the basics of science
from explaining the significance of the scientific method to broadly defining
the limits of science. It allows students to explore every branch of science
and even provides listings of other quality Web sites where they can go
to find out more.
The EPA's Environmental Education Center:
http://www.epa.gov/teachers/
offers teachers a
collection of curriculum resources and activities related to the environment.
Environmental laws, news, community service projects, and grant information
are all covered here.
Learning to be WaterWise: http://www.getwise.org/wwise/main.html
helps students
understand the nature and importance of water. The site addresses water
issues, water pollution, waste-water treatment, and water re-use.
For many years, researchers agreed that climate
change was triggered by "greenhouse
gases," with carbon dioxide from burning of fossil playing the biggest
role. However, NASA
funded scientists suggest that climate change in recent decades has been
mainly caused by air
pollution containing non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases. FULL STORY
at:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast29aug_1.htm?list
Funology.com: http://www.funology.com/index.cfm
This cartoon-like site aims to get kids interested in science by demonstrating
how the everyday world is filled with demonstrations of scientific principles.
You and your students can get ideas for classroom experiments and science
"recipes" to work on at home. Then work through
some fun science quizzes and exams.
EE-Link: http://www.nceet.snre.umich.edu/ offers links to a wide variety of environment-related resources on the Web. Educators can access classroom activities, grants, job postings, and resources from environmental organizations.
Designed for early-elementary students, All About Birds http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/ takes an in-depth look at birds, including their movement, diet, nests, eggs, migration, and lots more.
Class: Insecta: http://www.insecta.com/ offers great photographs and information on insects. The site includes a virtual tour of the Spencer Entomological Museum in Vancouver.
Medicine Through Time: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/medicine/index.shtml
This excellent site from the BBC will appeal to all kids: science buffs
will appreciate the technical facts about medicine, and language buffs
will love the "Gory Story." The site's extensive history section
traces the development of Eastern and Western medicine from the
ancient world to modern times. Topics range from disease to public health
to alternative medicine. Students can submit their own Webzines about
medical topics, and teachers can grab one of the many lesson plans. Although
the site is best viewed with the Shockwave applet, a
non-interactive version is also available.
Project Exploration: http://www.projectexploration.org
University of Chicago scientist Paul Sereno and educator Gabrielle Lyon
have compiled a fascinating site for educators to teach kids about dinosaurs
and participate in a live fossil hunt. Sereno will soon be heading another
fossil trek to Africa, and his fresh adventures with
updated teaching resources are worth following throughout the school year.
In two studies of the marine iguanas of the
Galapagos islands (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), researchers discovered that
the reptiles are able to survive long spells of difficult times by physically
shrinking. Smaller iguanas survive longer in times of scarcity because
they eat less and have to exert less energy to move around and hunt for
food. In the studies, some animals became as much as 20% shorter during
two years of food scarcity. The marine iguanas of the Galapagos are the
world's only ocean-swimming lizards. The large males make long,
demanding trips into the water during which they dive for tasty algae
and crustaceans. On the way back, they must swim through crashing
waves and come ashore among sharp volcanic rocks.
Charles Darwin thought the Galapagos iguanas were quite ugly: http://www.rit.edu/%7Erhrsbi/GalapagosPages/MarineIguana.html
Marine iguanas are the only seagoing lizards: http://features.LearningKingdom.com/fact/archive/1998/09/23.html
Visit Amazing Space: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
for Web-based activities related to galaxies and the solar system. It
includes teaching tips, lesson plans, and online references. You'll find
topics ranging from the history of telescopes to comets.
The U.S. Geological Survey created Water Science for Schools http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/
to provide information about every conceivable aspect of water, including
its properties, use, makeup on Earth, and variants like acid rain. There
are some great images in their Picture Gallery. Also available are data
maps, an interactive center, and links to other sources of
information about water.
The Animal Omnibus: http://www.birminghamzoo.com/ao/
Developed by the Birmingham (Ala.) Zoo, the Animal Omnibus is a terrific
resource for teachers looking for extended information or visual aides
on virtually any species. Use the site's search engine or browse through
the different families of the animal kingdom to find links to the Web's
best resources about a given creature.
Animal Tracks: http://www.nwf.org/atracks/,
a site from the National Wildlife Federation, introduces students to environmental
education concepts. It includes training, materials and follow-up support
to help you integrate environmental themes across the school curriculum.
USGS Learning Web: http://www.usgs.gov/education/learnweb/index.html
The Learning Web from the U.S. Geological Survey is filled with great
lesson plans geared toward teaching students about the geological life
of Mother Earth. Find interesting lessons related to the Earth's physical
contours, such as using maps, exploring fossils, and investigating natural
disasters. Most lessons have either downloadable visual supplements or
online interactive models, such as an impressive virtual volcano.
Amazing Space: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Kids are always fascinated by the mystery of space. At Amazing Space,
you'll find Web-based activities specifically designed for classroom use.
Study galaxies, stars, black holes, comets, and space exploration equipment.
Each activity provides some background material, related lesson plans,
and the national standards to which the activity corresponds. The activities
are
colorful, fun, and are animated with Shockwave technology.
The Cell: http://library.thinkquest.org/3564/
No biology or life science unit is complete without a look at cells. Start
out in this ThinkQuest site's Gallery of Cells for images and explanations
of a variety of cells. If you have RealAudio, listen to a sound
presentation of a simple cell. There's even a program that will translate
a
DNA sequence into the amino acid sequence for a polypeptide protein. Try
the five special lessons and then head to the four quizzes.
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century
http://www.greatachievements.org/
The National Academy of Engineering developed this site to teach students
about the last century's most important engineering discoveries and inventions.
Select from among
20 achievements to read some background history and view timelines of
events that led up to each feat. You can easily print each page to create
classroom handouts.
Ology: http://www.ology.amnh.org/
Ology is a brand-new site from the American Museum of Natural History.
Regular installments will examine a variety of scientific disciplines;
the first installment looks at paleontology. The site is colorful and
filled with fun Flash animation that students will love. Click on the
asterisks in the text to access special Ology cards that look at people,
places, and events in fine detail.
Weather: What Forces Affect Our Weather?: http://www.learner.org/exhibits/weather/
Fascinate your students with an explanation of our weather. This Annenberg/CPB
Exhibit takes an in-depth look at the earth's atmosphere, water cycle,
storms, and precipitation, and describes how meteorologists collect and
analyze weather data to develop forecasts. Be sure to
stop on the weather vane icons for related activities.
In 2003, NASA plans to launch a relative
of the now-famous 1997 Mars Pathfinder rover. Using
drop, bounce, and roll technology, this larger cousin is expected to reach
the surface of the
Red Planet in January 2004 and begin the longest journey of scientific
exploration ever
undertaken across the surface of that alien world. FULL STORY at:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast28jul_2m.htm?list
An instrument on board NASA's Terra satellite recorded much less snow than usual over parts of North America during the winter of 1999-2000. This story includes a snow map of North America in March 2000 and sample pictures from Terra's snow-mapping "MODIS" instrument. FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast27jul_2m.htm?list
The Genetic Science Learning Center: http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/
offers lab activities,
projects, lesson plans, and more for teachers, families, and students.
Discover the basic concepts of genetics, genetic disorders, and the role
genetics plays in society. Special thematic units are also available.
This useful guide, What Tree Is It?: http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/products/tree/,
can help your
students examine the trees in their neighborhood. Teach them how to use
this Web site to identify trees by name, leaf, or fruit.
Exploratorium's Science of Baseball: http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/
Why not polish off your recess or P.E. time with some science lessons
on America's pastime? Teach your students the scientific conditions at
work to produce a homerun or a curveball. In addition to the technical
info, there are history-related stories, such as women in the sport and
baseball in Japan.
Thanks to a new NASA web site, stargazers can track the
progress of the growing International
Space Station (ISS) from their own backyards. Because it reflects sunlight
down to Earth, the
ISS often looks like a slow-moving star as it crosses the sky. It can
even appear as bright as
the star Sirius if you know when and where to look. FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast24jul_1m.htm?list
Scientists are working to understand why
the lower atmosphere isn't heating up as fast as some global warming models
predict. FULL STORY at:
http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast21jul_1m.htm?list
Astronomers using the Chandra X-ray Observatory are seeing how supernovae spray the essential elements of rocky planets and life into interstellar space. FULL STORY at: http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast18jul_1m.htm?list
Your home computer can become a portal to a wonderland of stars, thanks to a massive release of images from an infrared sky survey sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation. The current release is based on a volume of data several hundred times larger than that contained in the human genome! FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast20jul_1.htm?list
Using the Internet to Enhance Science Lessons
The wonders of science are best learned and experienced through a combination
of text, visuals, and interaction. Today, there is a surplus of
technology that one can utilize to maximize the learning and teaching
experience, especially in the field of science. With some careful planning,
the Internet can be used as a powerful tool to not just teach science
more effectively, but to actively improve student involvement in the subject.
First, take a close look at your curriculum and identify the areas in
which you can use the Internet to effectively supplement the learning
process. You may want to consider breaking these areas into categories,
such as:
· To learn the different ideas about and representations of a topic;
· To research a topic for a homework assignment; and
· To actively exchange ideas and information with students from around
the world.
Having identified these broad areas, you will now need to research the
validity and credibility of the Web sites that you intend to incorporate
in your teaching process. There are numerous Web sites -- some
of them owned by the government -- that promote the learning of science
through the Internet. Some of these utilize multimedia formats to graphically
illustrate experiments. For example, to teach
chemistry's periodic table, you might find several fun, interactive Web
sites that graphically explain the role of trace elements and their compositions.
Similarly, some sites visually demonstrate the different reactions that
occur between atoms when two chemicals are combined. Many of these Web
sites encourage interactivity by allowing students to ask questions; some
sites even answer questions posed by other students. It is worthwhile
to interact with services such as EdGate.com or other science teachers
who already use the Internet to identify the most suitable Web sites to
integrate in your curriculum.
The Internet can also be a valuable tool for scientific research. Your
class can gain access to a variety of study materials ranging from student
articles to full-blown theses by professional scientists. Again, a careful
review of the available sites will allow you to identify the most suitable
reference points to assign your students for research assignments. Most
Web sites devoted to science offer a host of resources for both students
and teachers.
Many large corporations also offer online resources dedicated to a particular
science topic. Many of these resources are free; for example, while teaching
about space, you will find that the most comprehensive resources are those
offered by NASA, all of which resources are free of charge. Beware: there
are those sites that charge fees to access their content.
Once again, it is comparatively easy to integrate the power of the Internet
into your science curriculum -- careful planning and research are all
that are required.
Science Fair Project on the Web: http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/
Teach your students the fundamentals of the scientific method by having
them explore this site's numerous science project ideas. This site attempts
to get your students to think like scientists by providing easy-to-follow
instructions that explain the rationale behind science projects, the scientific
method, and what science tries to accomplish. For students, the projects
are organized by level of difficulty; for teachers, there are ideas on
how to introduce the scientific method into your lesson
plans.
Want to make like an outdoor Sherlock? Then learn the
ancient art of tracking. Bones and fossils, scat, tracks in mud and sand
-- all are stories to understand, mysteries to solve. Stephen Altschuler
spins an
engaging introduction to the skills and abilities of an outdoor detective.
Art of Tracking
http://www.gorp.com//gorp/activity/wildlife/tracking.htm
Amateur astronomers are discovering pieces of a giant
comet that broke apart in antiquity as the
fragments zoom perilously close to the Sun. You can join the hunt, too.
All you need is a computer and an internet connection to view realtime
data from the orbiting ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.
FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast07jul_1.htm?list
NATURE: HUMPBACK WHALES: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/humpback/
Spanning the Pacific from the inlets of the Alaskan coast to the
Polynesian Islands and the shores of
Antarctica, this site presents a many-sided portrait of the humpback whale.
Features include "Song of the Sea" and "Whale Tales."
The Summer Solstice: http://www.windows.umich.edu/cgi-bin/tour.cgi?link=/the_universe/uts/summer.ht
ml&sw=false&art=ok&cdp=/windows3.html&cd=false&fr=f&frp=/windows3.html&
edu=elem ml&sw=false&art=ok&cdp=/windows3.html&cd=false&fr=f&frp=/windows3.html&edu=elem
Use this ingenious site to teach students about the science behind the
solstice. Start at the
beginner level, then progress to intermediate and advanced levels to get
more detailed explanations.
At a NASA press conference on June 22, 2000, scientists
revealed indirect but "compelling" evidence that liquid water
exists near the surface of Mars and sometimes flows down gullies similar
to ones formed by flash floods on Earth. This week's episode of Thursday's
Classroom -- the first of a two part series about Mars and martian water
-- includes kid's stories that summarize today's press conference along
with educational lesson plans and activities about the Red Planet.
Please visit http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com
and go the the archives for June 22, 2000
Thursday's Classroom for July 20, 2000: http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com
In June, 2000, many experts expressed surprise when scientists unveiled
new evidence for water flowing on Mars. The Red Planet is extraordinarily
cold and dry. Water there is expected to be in the form of a solid or
a vapor. Liquid water ought to be very rare. In the July 20,2000
episode of Thursday's Classroom students can explore the reasons why it's
so hard to maintain water on Mars in liquid form. Lessons and activities
include:
o A Martian Cookbook -- modify an Earth recipe to bake cake in the rarefied
martian atmosphere
o Whatsa Matta You?! -- explore the three states of matter with examples
from the human body
o Mars Geography Concentration -- play cards and learn the strange names
of important places on Mars
and more!
In the Thursday's Classroom Coloring Book younger students can color original
art by Duane Hilton as they follow the articles and activities.
In the past, predicting the onset of a geomagnetic storm
was difficult. Forecasters couldn't say with much precision how
long it would take for a solar coronal mass ejection to reach Earth. Now
scientists have created a model that reliably forecasts the arrival of
these billion-ton gas clouds: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast22jun_1m.htm?list
Scientists are watching carefully as the ozone layer,
which protects animal and plant life from harmful
solar ultraviolet radiation, begins an uncertain recovery. Ozone destroying
chemicals in the atmosphere
are on the decline, but the timing and nature of the expected recovery
-- and even whether a recovery is occurring at all -- are controversial
topics: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast26jun_1m.htm?list
Aiming to make science more fun, the Student Science Enrichment Program: http://www.shodor.org/ssep/stu/index_stu.html offers students in grades six through 12 the opportunity to participate in hands-on science projects. Students can also contribute their ideas, projects, and schoolwork to the site, or play interesting games devised to teach various scientific principles.
Browse through the comprehensive information and links featured in the education section of the U.S. Space Foundation: http://www.spacefoundation.org/education to find new ways to teach your students about space. Seek or post information on the educator bulletin board, or order space-related teaching materials online.
In this scientific human interest story, Dr. Jim Burch,
principle investigator for NASA's IMAGE space weather satellite, describes
what it's like to visualize a modern space mission and then, years later,
to make it happen. Burch shares his experiences as a competitor for mission
funding, as a coordinator of far-flung personnel and institutions, and
as an onlooker during the anxious moments of launch.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast13jun_1.htm?list
Science Made Simple: http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/index.html
This science site has it all: quick answers to common science questions,
unit conversions, science in the news, and more. Get ideas for easy, kid-tested
experiments or subscribe to the monthly newsletter for more information.
One day space tethers may be used for boosting orbits,
powering satellites, and even sending payloads to the Moon or Mars --
all without the expense of conventional propellants. Scientists
discussed this innovative technology at the recent Advanced Space Propulsion
Workshop held in Pasadena, CA.: http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast09jun_1.htm?list
In January, 2000, a seven meter, 200 metric ton rock
from space streaked across the skies of western Canada. The meteor was
at least as bright as the Sun before it exploded over the Yukon Territory.
Scientists have recovered fragments of the carbon-rich rock, which researchers
say is the most valuable meteorite find in at least 30 years. FULL
STORY at:
http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast01jun_1m.htm?list
If an object is attached at the top to a solid support
and swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity, then
it's a pendulum. A pendulum swings with a characteristic frequency
that depends on its length. Something that hangs like a pendulum can be
described as pendulous [adj. PEN-juh-lus].
Both of these words come from the Latin pendere (to hang; to weigh), a
Latin root that has contributed to a wide variety of English words, including
these "hanging" words:
depend: to hang down; to be contingent on; to rely or place trust in suspend:
to hang allowing free movement; to temporarily halt pendant: something
suspended from something else penchant: strong inclination to do something;
predilection pension: retirement wage; regular patronage payment
compendium: list or collection, from Latin com + pendere (weigh together)
A Cool Fact about pendulums: http://www.cool-fact.com/archive/2000/05/19.html
Christiaan Huygens built the first pendulum clocks: http://www.LearningKingdom.com/person/archive/2000/05/19.html
Menageries, zoos, and botanical gardens have been around for a very long
time. The first records of such parks where exotic animals and plants
were kept date from more than 4,000 years ago, in the Egyptian and Mesopotamian
empires. The rulers of these ancient lands were proud of their gardens
and zoos. They set out on extended expeditions to distant lands to bring
back animals and plants, and they hired and trained expert keepers to
make sure the exotic life forms were kept healthy and able to breed.
Some of the modern world's most useful animals and plants were first collected
and grown by ancient zoo-keepers. The first four chickens in Egypt were
the proud possessions of Pharaoh Tuthmosis III.
Today, the purpose and mission of zoos is changing in important ways:
http://www.nwf.org/nwf/intlwild/zoos.html:
Should animals be kept in zoos? The Born Free Foundation says no: http://www.bornfree.org.uk/
The pioneering space station concepts of the mid-1950's
don't look much like the erector-set habitat in orbit today. Read
about Werner von Braun's early designs for an outpost in space and how
he advocated his ideas to the public 50 years ago. FULL STORY at: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast26may_1m.htm?l=NzMwMjk2IGpqZGVicm
FAVVNBLk5FVCBTTkdMSVNUIMvutHEkI4Ch
The latest images of Io from NASA's Galileo spacecraft
reveal a bizarre world of hot volcanoes, sulfurous snowfields, and slip-sliding
mountains.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast19may_2.htm?list
Sue at the Field Museum: http://www.fmnh.org/sue/default.htm
in mid-May 2000, the world's most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton
was unveiled at Chicago's
Field Museum. Take a virtual field trip to meet Sue, who was named after
her finder. Get Sue's vital
statistics, learn how she was discovered, see how the scientists and engineers
prepared and mounted her frame, and take a good, close look at her amazing
skull. Students will also enjoy the downloadable word puzzles and
flip books.
Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/
Do you use current events to demonstrate the relevance of science in daily
life? Science Daily brings you all of the day's major science headlines
so you don't have to do the research yourself. On the front page, you'll
find today's highlighted stories. Or, select a topic -- such as health
and medicine, earth and climate, or fossils and ruins -- to get more specific
news. There's also an image gallery and discussion boards.
Personality: What Makes Us Who We Are?: http://www.learner.org/exhibits/personality/
This online exhibit from the Annenberg/CPB Exhibit Collection peels
back the layers of one's personality to examine reputation, behavior,
thoughts and feelings, and the unconscious. The exhibit also considers
genetic and environmental causes of behavioral traits. Be sure to stop
at the special activities, which allow students to take personality and
inkblot tests.
Arty the Part-Time Astronaut: http://www.artyastro.com
This site uses Flash animation and sounds to add a colorful, interactive
dynamic to your
space-science curriculum. After the introduction, follow the "Travel"
link to visit each planet in the solar system, explore a comet, or learn
about the Hubble Space Telescope. Then check out the "Activities"
and "Games" sections for terrific ways to drill what your students
just learned.
AfriCam: http://www.africam.com/
Here's a unique opportunity to study the flora and fauna of the African
continent. The folks at AfriCam have installed more than a dozen Webcams
around Africa to capture the sights and sounds of a safari. Visit a particular
location, or follow black eagles, hyenas, leopards, and other animals.
There's even an offshore wreckage cam! A variety of field guides help
you interpret what you're seeing, and news highlights fill you in on what's
happening environmentally around the world.
In April 2000, scientists were predicting that current La Niņa conditions would persist, but in May 2000 data from Earth-orbiting satellites show that it may be on the decline. Is it too soon to revise the 2000 hurricane forecast? http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast18may_1m.htm
Lately, sky watchers have been seeing some unusual
sights -- red, green, yellow and purple lights in the sky that usually
arrive about two days after a big solar storm. What's going on? They're
the Northern Lights. Lessons and activities include Aurora Art,
the Northern Lights Mystery, and a Soda-bottle Magnetometer.
For more information, please visit Thursdays
Classroom Archive.
Students can learn more about the Moon and the famous illusion that
makes the Moon appear larger when it's near the horizon by making an edible
Moon Munchie spyglass, calculating Loony Basketball Math, and reciting
"Full Moon Wherewolf" homonym poetry. For more information,
please visit Thursdays
Classroom Archive.
Frogland: http://allaboutfrogs.org/froglnd.shtml
This site is stuffed with cool information about frogs. Learn weird
but true frog facts, try pronouncing "frog" in different languages,
or check out the "Teachers' Corner" for activities and projects.
NASA's Athena: http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/index.html provides instructional information and activities related to space, weather, earth, oceans, and astronomy. There's a searchable database and a host of links.
Biology4Kids: http://www.kapili.com/biology4kids/index.html
On the Biology4Kids site, students can get a solid explanation of key
concepts and terms related to cells, chemistry, ecology, and the techniques
of scientific study. For each of these sections, Biology4Kids posts corresponding
quizzes.
Be sure to check out Plantspot: http://www.kapili.com/plantspot/index.html, a virtual garden that contains photos of plants from around the world. There are samples of plantlife from across the planet with some pictures and one or two plant factoids. On each page you will learn the plant's common name, scientific name, where you can find it and a few little facts about its background. Some of them you see every day and some you may never see again. Walk through the gardens with the Section Tour or use one of the locators and browse through the plants.
Astronomy for Kids: http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/
Students will have a great time studying astronomy on this crisp, clean
site. In addition to basic information about planets, astronomy-related
puzzles, and fun facts, this site includes monthly sky maps that can help
students recognize constellations and stars in the spring sky.
Chem 4 Kids: http://www.chem4kids.com/
Does chemistry seem a little advanced for third graders? Not necessarily.
This terrific site explains key
chemistry principles in elementary terms. Though the information may be
too dense for kids to comprehend all at once, you can easily break the
material into sections according to the site's well-organized units.
Take your kids on an online trip to Everglades National Park. Visit their Web site at: http://www.nps.gov/ever/home.htm to learn about the ecosystem, fire management, endangered species, and conservation efforts underway in Florida's Everglades.
Windows to the Universe: http://www.windows.umich.edu/
An excellent presentation from the University of Michigan. Let students
explore the solar system with games, images, fun facts, myths, and news
about the sun, the planets, asteroids, and comets. Select from Beginner,
Intermediate, and Advanced levels of difficulty.
The Why Files: http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/index.html
Current events meet science on the Why Files Web site. Check the
Why Files for weekly explanations of the science and technology behind
the news. Or search the archive to understand last month's headlines.
Glacier: http://www.glacier.rice.edu/
Glacier is an inquiry-based project that can be integratated into a typical
middle school earth, ocean, and space science curriculum. Educators and
researchers from Rice University and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Initiative
describe their expeditions to Antarctica and provide breathtaking photos
of this chilly continent. Terrific content can help you teach your
students how Antarctica affects the world's weather, geology, and oceanography.
Extinct isn't always forever. Not if a species isn't really gone. Before 1938 you would have learned in paleo-history classes that the Coelacanth was an early fish, living hundreds of millions of years ago. But then in 1938 a fisher in South Africa pulled one up from the ocean. More have been found since. This site tracks that history and current efforts to keep the Coel from actually disappearing. http://www.dinofish.com
Geo-Mysteries: http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries
Explore the mysteries that lie underground with Geo-Mysteries. Hosted
by The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, this site includes a geological
timeline complete with fossils, fast facts about rocks and fossils, tips
for field trips, and a set of three mysteries students can solve with
the help of Rex, the Dino Detective.
The Discovery Kids Adventure List: http://kids.discovery.com/KIDS/thelist.html
The Discovery Adventures list page is packed with 61 mini-learning adventures
for students. Some science-related suggestions include learning the bones
of the body and paper making. There are also a number of non science-specific
activities, such as researching a hero or learing to say 'thank you' in
different languages. Some of these adventures could easily be used
as
in-class activities, while others would make interesting homework assignments.
Science: Structures Around the World: http://www.exploratorium.edu/structures/index.html
Introducing elementary students to the fundamentals of scale and structure
is fun with this Exploratorium feature. The site showcases 10 simple
experiments your students can perform in the classroom. Click on an activity
to arrive at a description and rationale for the project, detailed instructions,
a list of easy-to-find materials, and discussion questions.
| 3M Collaborative Invention Unit | self-directed lessons, great for individual or group work, assignments off-line with links for help |
| Ask a Geologist | ask about volcanoes, earthquakes, mountains, rocks, maps, ground water, lakes, or rivers, a geologist answers |
| Beakman's Electric Motor | step-by-step how to build an electric motor |
| Best Ever Compost | step-by-step how to make a compost pile |
| Bill Nye the Science Guy's Nye Labs Online | things to do in science, coordinated by show and by subject |
| Building Stones of the Nations Capitol | This site tells aobut the stones used to construct the buildings of Washington, D.C. |
| Burpee | seed catalogue company, recipes, growing tips |
| Center for Educational Resources (CERES) Project | classroom-ready online activities, NASA data search engines, and distance learning courses for K-12 teachers.. Learning activities include inquiries and collaborative "spacequests" and are categorized by NASA themes, grade level, and duration. |
| Children's Butterfly Site | tells life cycle, pictures of butterflies |
| Cincinnati Zoo | has field guide for plants and animals, can send in pictures and pictures are placed on website, has weekly game of identifying plant or animal |
| CLEARWATER Hudson River Sloop | details about cleaning up the Hudson River, how to go on Clearwater |
| Cleveland Metroparks Zoo | pictures, games, puzzles, information on animals |
 |
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute invites curious kids to explore biology, on screen and off screen, especially good for younger elementary grade school children |
| Drew | bibliography of Richard Drew, inventor at 3M |
| Earthquakes | causes, history, predicting, measuring |
| Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change | clickable map with maps and pictures of changes in the environment around the world |
| Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education | many varied teacher resources, not only for math and science teachers |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum | NASA site that tells about all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum |
| Ewe II | inquiry-oriented activity "places students in the position to ask great questions, seek out the answers, develop new relationships, and take a stand on a current hot issue: cloning.", Case Study approach to WebQuests, warm-up activites, instructions for teachers, forums, and grading rubrics |
| Exhibts collection - Garbage | learn about waste disposal habits of average Americans and solutions to solve problems related to garbage in the environment, included are an interactive Hazardous Waste quiz, problem-solving exercises, related resources, and much more. |
| Fabulous Funnels | lesson plan with Meteorology, Mathematics, Language Arts and U.S. Geography, grades 9-12 |
| Food Guide Pyramid | interactive |
| Frontiers of the Sea | interactive journal with pictures and sound, from National Public Radio |
| Garden.com | gardening tips by month, tours of gardens, tips about different plants |
| Geologic Story of the Ocoee River | rock study in Ocoee River Gorge in Cherokee National Forest of southeastern Tennessee |
| THE GIRAFFE - TALLER THAN A HOUSE? | facts about giraffes, with printable coloring page |
| Glacier Field Station | US government site, tells about bears, wolves, butterflies, geology, etc. of Glacier National Park |
| HABITATS Resource List | WNET hand picked Web sites and on-air programming with information about the past, present and ever changing places people live (and lived). |
| How Things Work | "Think of this site as a radio call-in program that's being held on the WWW", mainly science oriented |
| The Hudson River Museum | schedule of programs for museum and planetarium |
| Insectclopedia | for students learning about insects and how they fit into various ecosystems, lots of images, lessons (all sorts) and Cuisine (look under Hobbies) |
| International Dark-Sky Association | IDA's goal is to stop the adverse environmental impact of light pollution and space debris |
| International Wolf Center | facts, pictures about wolves |
| Introduction to the Mesozoic Era | especially good for middle school students |
| Invention of the Week | archived, history of invention, related links |
| KidsHealth | answers to commonly asked health questions |
| Living
With Risk: The Human Element of Natural Disaster |
original lesson plan that includes Science and Language Arts for grades 5-10 |
| Look, Learn, and Do | science projects to make with household materials, science books to read online, history of some common things |
| Medical Antiques | early medical items: surgical, medical, dental instruments from 1800's to early 1900's. Information about collecting medical and dental antiques presented as educational project |
| Mount St. Helen's | eruptions of Mount St. Helens: past, present, and future, geology, pictures |
| Museum of Dirt | dirt from all kinds of places, indexed |
| Museum of Science and Industry | in Tampa, Florida, has exhibits, educational programs to attend |
| Mystic Aquarium | follows 2 released pilot whales, can make own map also, movies available |
| NASA Human Spaceflight | View the International Space Station and much more from this comprehensive Spaceflight site developed by NASA. Included are real-time trackings of the station, status reports and news releases, a video and image scrapbook, and mission recaps. Also, see how your school can participate in NASA's Educational Outreach Programs. |
| National Data Buoy Center's Science Education Pages | answers to basic weather related questions |
| National Hurricane Center | continuously watches tropical cyclones over the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific May 15 through November 30 |
| The National Inventors Hall of Fame | bibliographies, easy to use |
| National Student Research Center | links to sites about science projects, science fairs, judging, science fairs on internet |
| Natural Aggregate-A Primer | slide show telling what aggregate is and how it is used |
| NOAA -- The National Marine Sanctuary Program | National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's site devoted to preserving and maintaining marine sanctuaries, education, and science for grades 7-12 |
| North
American Amphibian Monitoring Program |
part
of a global effort to study and conserve amphibians, includes ways for teachers and families to participate |
| Our Savage Planet in the News | original
lesson plan that includes Science and Language Arts for grades 5-10 |
| Puzzling Planet | lesson plans, questions with links to help answer questions, wNetSchool site |
| Science Friday | go online, tune in to NPR's Talk of the Nation to explore the week in science with host Ira Flatow, see what is scheduled and learn how to participate |
| The Science Spot | for K-12 educators and students, includes ideas for classroom activities and a place to exchange information. |
| Steve's Ant Farm | cameras on live ants, ant facts, postcard to send, movie, etc |
| Sunrise Sunset Calendar | enter city or latitude and longitude lines and get sunrise and sunset times |
| TeachWeb | Free unit plans for K-3 grades dealing with plants, farm animals,and butterflies |
| The Tech Museum: Discover; Interactive Exhibits | interactive exhibits to learn about science and technology projects such as satellites and DNA |
| Then
and Now: Public Health from 1900 to Today |
lesson
plan that includes Social Studies and Language Arts for grades 7-12 |
| Think Space | ThinkQuest project about solar systems, stars, galaxies, universe, astronomers |
| This Dynamic Earth | online book of plate tectonics, including how people learned about it, with pictures and drawings |
| Tobacco Ad Parodies | lesson plan and samples of student work |
| Toledo Zoo | Toledo, Ohio zoo with calendar of events, latest happenings and exhibits |
| An Uplifting Experience | lesson plan for science and language arts for grades 4-6. |
| Vision for Your Future | Teacher and student section, lesson plans with worksheets, quizzes, free poster available |
| Volcanoes Online | everything about volcanoes and how the earth is formed, including games, lesson plans, comics |
| Water Ways Resource List | Web sites and on-air programming hand-picked by Channel 13 with information about almost every aspect of water and water use |
| Where is Mir Space Station? | shows current location of Mir |
| WHY DO YOU WEIGH LESS IN THE WATER? | experiment exlaining bouancy, displacement, density for young children |
| The Yuckiest Site on the Internet | bugs, worms, gross body facts |