Science
5 characteristics of an effective science teacher - from a researcher who trains them: theconversation.com/5-characteristics-of-an-effective-science-teacher-from-a-researcher-who-trains-them-165211
5 science projects for kids using items already in your home: https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/science-projects-for-kids-using-items-already-your-home/87RBY7MPjTaTnTJvxez7yH/
9 Fun Science Activities for Preschoolers: https://www.parents.com/kids/education/math-and-science/9-fun-science-activities-for-preschoolers/
"Whether your preschooler is naturally curious or a reluctant learner, check out these nine fun science activities to do at home.
10 Fun Facts About the American Robin: www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-american-robin
24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities: www.teachjunkie.com/sciences/force-and-motion-experiments/
The ABC's of Nuclear Science: http://www2.lbl.gov/abc/
AccuWeather.com: http://www.accuweather.com/
Actionbioscience: http://www.actionbioscience.org/
"Bringing biology to informed decision making."
The Adventures of Herman: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/
"The autobiography of Squirmin' Herman the worm"
Africam.com: http://www.africam.com/wildlife/
AIMS Center for Math and Science Education: http://www.aimsedu.org/
"The Center focuses on translating research focused on how children learn math and science."
AirNow: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main
"Every day the Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is, along with associated health effects that may be of concern. The AQI translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health."
The Alaska Zoo: http://www.alaskazoo.org/
Anchorage, Alaska
All On Robots: http://www.allonrobots.com/index.html
"Robotics is an interdisciplinary field merging together at least mechanical engineering, electronics engineering and computer science. Often, however, other fields such as biology, cognitive science and others are involved."
Amazing Space: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association: http://www.afrma.org/
"The main purpose of AFRMA is to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of fancy rats and mice. We also educate the public on their positive qualities as companion animals and provide information on their proper care."
American Institute of Physics: http://www.aip.org/
American Museum of Natural History: http://www.amnh.org/
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
Amphibian Specialist Group and Amphibian Survival Alliance: http://www.amphibians.org/
""..world leaders in amphibian conservation, research and education"
Announcing the Sky: http://webexhibits.org/calendars/
The schedule of our lives is shaped by the movements of the earth, moon, and sun.
Apples and More: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/index.cfm
University of Illinois Extension
APS physics: http://www.aps.org/
American Physical Society Sites
Arbor Day Foundation: http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm
ARCUS (Arctic Research Consortium of the United States: http://www.arcus.org/
As Many Exceptions As Rules: http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.com/
"A Good Teacher Mus know the Rules: A Good Pupil, The Exceptions. Martin H. Fischer"
Australian Academy of Science: https://www.science.org.au/
Bird Academy: academy.allaboutbirds.org/live-events/
Archived Open Lectures by the Cornell Lab
Brain Origami: faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/origami.pdf
Cut out and fold this origami that includes facts about the brain.
Build a Dam and Explore Water Flow: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/build-a-dam-and-explore-water-flow
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - U.S. Department of Treasury: http://www.bep.treas.gov/
Information about paper money, plus games in the kid's area, including spotting real vs. fake bills.
California Academy of Sciences: http://www.calacademy.org/
California State Science Fair: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/
Can You Hear the Difference Between These Saw-whet Owl Calls?: www.audubon.org/news/can-you-hear-difference-between-these-saw-whet-owl-calls
The Canadian Science Fair Journal: https://csfjournal.com/volume-1-issue-1-1
This is a link to the first issue which can be read for free. More recent issues may need to be purchased.
Cash Puzzler: http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/english/pop/games/p_puzzler.html
Students can complete a simple puzzle featuring a dollar or other bill. Success is rewarded with some quick facts about the people featured on the bill.
Cells Alive!: http://www.cellsalive.com/
Center for Science Education: https://scied.ucar.edu/
"The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is a consortium of universities and colleges offering degrees in the atmospheric sciences and operates the National Center for Atmospheric Research."
Cheetaspot.com: http://www.cheetahspot.com/
Chemical Heritage foundation: http://www.chemheritage.org/
"CHF’s staff and fellows study the past in order to understand the present and inform the future. We focus on the sciences and technologies of matter and materials and their effect on our modern world, in territory ranging from the physical sciences and industries, through the chemical sciences and engineering, to the life sciences and technologies.
We collect, preserve, and exhibit historical artifacts. We engage communities of scientists and engineers. We tell the stories of the people behind breakthroughs and innovations."
Chesapeake Bay Program: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/
"Science. Restoration. Partnership."
City Math
Have students create a city. Some students are assigned the responsibility of creating the natural features like lakes, hills, and rivers by placing construction paper where they are located. Others design roads, bridges, and consider the use of other modes of transportation. Some work on the development of the business areas, while still others design needed municipal services, recreational areas, and housing. At home, the students create a 3-D building or facility to place in the town. After the city has been created, students provide a written mathematical description of the building they designed. They can use geometric descriptions using area, perimeter, volume, angles, measurements of distances, etc. They can also explain the placement of the buildings, modes of transportation and how they impact development, and other issues cities grapple with as they develop.
Classroom Garden From Trash: http://www.teacher.org/lesson-plan/classroom-garden-from-trash
"Students will create several plants (a garden) from pars of a plant that are normally thrown away."
Cleveland (Ohio) Metroparks Zoo: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Zoo/Zoo.aspx
Dolor Me Ph.D.: A Coloring Book of Science & Engineering Research: www.colormephd.org/
Coral City Camera: http://www.coralcitycamera.com/
"The Coral City Camera is an underwater camera stre3aming live form an urban coral reef in Miami, Florida."
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: www.cshl.edu/
Colder than Ice: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/water/colderthanice.html
"This simple activity requires minimal organization and effort to prepare but it will get kids thinking about scientific reasoning as they think long and hard to explain the outcome of their experiment."
Colorful Experiment
You will need coffee filters, food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow), cotton swabs, pencil, tape, small plastic cup (3 ounces), clear plastic cup (8 ounces), and scissors. Cut a strip from a coffee filter that is about 10 centimeters (cm) long and about 2 cm wide. Place one drop of two different food colors together in a small cup so that they mix. Even though the colors are mixed, a little chemistry can make them come apart again. Use your cotton swab to soak up the food color from the cup. Touch your coffee filter strip with the cotton swab and make a dot of color about 2 cm from the bottom of the strip. Place a little water in the bottom of your clear plastic cup. Wrap the top of the strip around a pencil and tape it down. Place the pencil on the cup, but be sure that only the very bottom of the paper strip touches the water. Watch the color dot as the water moves up the strip. What do you notice? How many colors do you see? If you see more than two colors, what do you think could cause that? If you mix three or four colors, do you think you could see them all as they moved up the strip? Try it and see! Rinse the contents of the cups down the drain and throw the cups into the trash. Wash your hands when you are finished.
Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair: http://ctsciencefair.org/
Could you Survive the Real Twilight Zone?: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yJ3RySf9U4
"Find out how the hatchetfish survives its daily journey from the depths of the ocean's Twilight Zone to the resource-rich surface."
Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/home
DesertUSA: http://www.desertusa.com/
"Southwest Adventure, Living & Travel"
Digital Ocean Stickers Request Form: http://stickers.digitalocean.com/
Digital Ocean, a New York-based cloud provider service, offers free stickers, mostly depicting animated sharks and the company logo.
Dirtmeister's Science Lab: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/index.htm
"Get your hands on science with a fun experiment from the Dirtmeister — and make science come alive in your classroom!"
Discovery News: http://news.discovery.com/
Earth Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=logo
NASA: "Where every day is Earth Day"
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
NASA & California Institute for Technology
Earthquake Wave: stem-works.com/external/activity/570
"This elementary science experiment creates a wave box that demonstrates how earthquake waves can travel through a variety of materials as they travel away from the focus of an earthquake where the rocks first rupture."
eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
Edison After Forty: http://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/
Electricity: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/electricity.php?
Lesson plans, Resources
Energy Kids: http://www.eia.gov/kids/index.cfm
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Energy Quest: http://energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
EPA: http://www.epa.gov/
United States Environmental Protection Agency
EuroTurtle: http://www.euroturtle.org/index.htm
"Since its launch in 1997, EuroTurtle has fostered linkages between conservation and environmental education and the first in Europe to be exclusively devoted to sea turtles in the Mediterranean. The site is packed with high quality information, graphics, photographs, work sheets, diagrams and scientific data. Most activities are interactive, on-line and cross-curricula and all have been fully tested in an educational environment. The activities are ‘turtle-orientated', although many of the issues raised apply to most other endangered marine species. The conservation component of EuroTurtle provides a rich resource for extending educational activities and giving an in-depth insight into the threats facing sea turtles today. The website covers sea turtle biology; distribution of the seven species of marine turtle; threats; conservation efforts as well as accurate identification keys. Also included is a comprehensive sea turtle glossary, ‘Suzy’s’ Frequently Asked Questions and links to relevant conventions, environmental organizations and sites. EuroTurtle is also a portal for UK Turtle Code, a code for reporting marine turtle sightings in the UK."
Exploring the Temperatures in your House: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/exploring-temperatures-in-your-housewww.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/exploring-temperatures-in-your-house
"Go on a temperature scavenger hunt with your child to discover the many ways you measure temperatures inside and outside your house."
Exploritorium: https://www.exploratorium.edu/
The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception
FactCheck: https://www.factcheck.org/
"A Project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center"
FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Fermilab: http://ed.fnal.gov/index.shtml
"Bringing Science Education to You!"
Field Trip Earth: http://www.fieldtripearth.org/index.xml
"Field Trip Earth is the global resource for teachers, students, and proponents of wildlife conservation."
The Fish Out Of Time: http://www.dinofish.com/
"This is the astounding coelacanth ("see-la-kanth"), the fusion of life and time, that following a supposed extinction of 65 million years, head-lined into human consciousness with its discovery alive in 1938. Nicknamed "Old Four Legs" and the "Living Fossil," Laitmeria chalumnae- the Coelacanth- quickly became the continuing obsessive focus of journalists, crypto biologists, scientists, eccentric explorers, aquariums, divers, film makers and billionaires."
The fish that walk on land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWyLtYrTLYo&feature
"Explore the challenges facing amphibious fish when they leave water and the ingenious ways they survive on land."
Forest Academy: https://www.theforestacademy.com/en/
"Join us on a special journey through the woods and collect merit badges as you learn about trees and their environment."
Forests: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/forest.php?
Lesson Plans, Worksheets, Activities, and more from Teacher Planet
Fort Totten Park: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-totten-park/facilities/naturecenters?_sm_au_=iVVQPW7PM8k3FNM5A pristine stretch surrounding a preserved Civil War fortress, Fort Totten Park in New York City offers recreation, relaxation and a glimpse into New York's past. It also offers opportunities to view wildlife. Urban park rangers who lead tours of the fortress discuss the resident wildlife, such as killdeer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, hawks and warblers. Bird enthusiasts congregate to watch migrating waterfowl rest before their long journey south, while others are particularly drawn to the peregrine falcons here. Peregrines are about the size of crows, with females larger than males, and they can live as long as 20 years. These raptors are capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph as they plunge from tremendous heights in pursuit of prey, primarily other birds.
The Franklin Institute: https://www.fi.edu/
Free Medical Journals: http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/
"Promoting fee access to medical journals"
Frozen Chalk Paint: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/frozen-chalk-paint
Fun and Easy Ideas for Water Play With Preschoolers: www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/fun-and-easy-ideas-for-water-play-with-preschoolers
Fun DIY Bird Feeders: www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/make-your-own-feeder/
"...simple feeders that can easily be made with household items!"
Funology: http://www.funology.com/
"Funology is the science of having fun!"
Fun Science Activities Online: https://findyourcontext.education/fun-science-activities-online/
Genetics Home Reference: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
"Your guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions"
Geoscience.com: http://www.gcsescience.com/index.html
Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
Go Science Girls: Empowering Girls in STEM: gosciencegirls.com/
The Great Plant Escape: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/index.cfm
"Help Detective Leplant and his partners Bud and Sprout unlock the amazing mysteries of plant life!"
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century: http://www.greatachievements.org/
Gumdrop Bridge
With 50 gumdrops, 100 toothpicks, a ruler, pencil and paper, ask children to design and build a bridge that will go over a 6-inch gap between desks and hold a paper plate with 300 pennies on it.
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History: http://www.hiltonpond.org/default.htm
York, South Carolina
History's deadliest colors - J. V. Maranto: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-s-deadliest-colors-j-v-maranto
We have learned over time that many commonly used chemicals to make beautiful colors have been determined to be detrimental to our health or they may even be fatal.
Homemade Bubbles and Bubble Blower: www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/recipes/bubbles.htm
How deep is the ocean?: http://ed.ted.com/featured/5BW7G9Uu
A TedEd Talk
How Much Do You Know About Birds?: action.audubon.org/quiz/how-much-do-you-know-about-birds
This five question self-checking quiz has beautiful labeled pictures of birds.
How to Regrow Your Groceries: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-regrow-your-groceries-1388684
How to Tell Apart Sound-Alike Warblers: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-apart-sound-alike-warblers
Hudson Highlands Nature Museum: http://hhnaturemuseum.org/
Hurricane Hunters Association: http://www.hurricanehunters.com/index.html
"Supporting the Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron ""Hurricane Hunters""
Hurricanes: http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/index.html
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
Imagine Mars: http://mars.nasa.gov/imagine/
The incredible, Bendable, Twistable, Expandable Elephant Trunk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL2_zXCgbXI
Insect World: http://www.insect-world.com/
"A World of Insect Information"
International Rhino Foundation: http://www.rhinos.org/
"We are dedicated to the survival of the world's rhino species through conservation and research."
Intrepid: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/
Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex
Iowa State University Department of Entomology: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/
Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer: http://www.jackstargazer.com/
"The world's first and only weekly TV series on naked-eye astronomy"
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
California Institute of Technology
JetStream - Online School for Weather: http://www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/
National Weather Service
Journey North: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
"A Global Study of Wildlife Migration and Seasonal Change"
Kids Pages: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/index.htm
National Institute of Environmental Health Education
Kiwi Web: http://www.chemistry.co.nz/
"Chemistry and New Zealand"
Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation: http://invention.si.edu/
Part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Lemelson-MIT: http://lemelson.mit.edu/
Celebrating invention, inspiring youth
Lincoln Park Zoo: http://www.lpzoo.org/
Chicago
Make a Neuron: faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
Create a neuron by using clay, playdough, Styrofoam, recyclables, food, etc.
Make Aphids and Ants on a Log: rangerrick.org/recipe/make-aphids-and-ants-on-a-log/
"Do you love bugs? Then you'll have lots of fun making-and eating-this tasty treat!"
Make Ladybug Pals: https://rangerrick.org/crafts/make-ladybug-pals/
Marshmallow Challenge
Provide each group of students with one marshmallow, 20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, one yard of tape and one yard of string. In 18 minutes, can they build a structure where the marshmallow is on top?
Maryland Department of Natural Resources: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
MedMyst: http://medmyst.rice.edu/
"Medical Mysteries On The Web"
Meet Susan Fenimore Cooper: America's First Recognized Female Nature Writer: www.audubon.org/news/meet-susan-fenimore-cooper-americas-first-recognized-female-nature-writer
"In 1850, Cooper anonymously published a book whose call for conservation won praise from Charles Darwin. It was largely forgotten—until recently."
MetEd: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/index.php
"Teaching and Training resources for the Geoscience Community"
Microscopy UK: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html
Middle School Science: http://middleschoolscience.com/
"Free Lesson Plans & Resources For Grades 5-8"
Minnesota Bird Songs: www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/bird_songs_interactive/index.html
You can "Click on a bird to hear its unique tune."
Modeling Blood Flow: www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/modeling_blood_flow
Molecule of the Month: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm
Monarch Watch: http://www.monarchwatch.org/index.html
Monterrey Bay Aquarium: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
MSSEF: http://www.massscifair.com/
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair
Multimedia Animal Lessons
Five week lesson plan for creating multimedia animals lesson in Power Point or other presentation programs
Preplanning: Information will be arranged into five categories or folders, representing the movement, homes, eating, body coverings, and fantastic facts. Each folder except for the Fantastic Facts folder will contain four subfolders. The teacher may want to pick the animals first, making sure to include at least one animal in each subfolder.
Week 1: Approximately 45 minutes a day learning about a variety of animals, reading nonfiction books, classifying animals based on their body coverings and using descriptive words to analyze each example.Using fiction and nonfiction books, art experiences, observations, videotapes, the internet, and encyclopedias, the students compare animals. The students then design their own animals, describing where the animals lived, what and how they eat, how they move, and what type of body covering they have.
Week 2: Groups of 3-4 student each are assigned to research an animal. The students are told they will use many different sources of information to find out about their animals and then create a project to share with each other and other students what they learn about animals. It is also explained that the final project will be similar to five different "chapter books." One book will be about movement, one about eating, one about homes, one about body coverings, and one about fantastic facts, describing anything interesting they discover about the animal.. Each book will have four chapters. The movement book will have these chapters; walking, flying, swimming, and crawling. The polar bear would have a page in the walking chapter, the snake in the crawling chapter, so on. Each animal would have one page in each book, for a total of five pages per animal. The student and teacher create a research form together that includes all the information they will need to know about each animal.
Week 3: The research groups find the information they need to record on the research form by visiting the media center, using available software, and searching the internet. Students are directed to write only what is necessary to answer the question and to take notes rather than write in complete sentences. After the research has been completed, the notes on the research forms are written in separate paragraphs about each aspect of an animal. Group members divide the responsibilities, assigning one person the movement page, one the eating page, and so forth. After a student writes the information for a particular page, they read the page to someone in the group to see if it makes sense. The final product is then edited and checked for spelling and punctuation. After the children write and edit their paragraphs, they discuss what type of illustrations would best accompany the text. They create illustrations, each focusing on a different distinguishing feature of the animal as described by the students. For example, the parrot page may simply have a picture of a feather from clipart, or pictures from books, magazines, the internet, or student drawings may be used.
Week 4: Students complete their work, entering text and amending their illustrations as necessary. The folders are linked by graphical menus and buttons (hot links) so that students can freely move within and among the folders.
Week 5: The students look at their own pages and those of their classmates. They then share their work with other classes and their parents. Extension: When the site is completed, a scavenger hunt, can then be created. The scavenger hunt includes fill-in-the-blank and short-answer questions that can be answered by using the project.
Museum of the History of Science: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/
My First Garden: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/firstgarden/index.cfm"
"a guide to the world of fun & clever gardening"
Mystic Aquarium: http://www.mysticaquarium.org/
Mystic, Connecticut
NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/
NASA Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=logo
NASA Quest: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/index.html
"NASA Quest Challenges are FREE Web-based, interactive explorations designed to engage students in authentic scientific and engineering processes. The solutions relate to issues encountered daily by NASA personnel."
NASA Science: http://science.nasa.gov/
The National Academies: http://www.nationalacademies.org/index.html
"Where the Nation Turns for Independent, Expert Advice
National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, National Research Council"
National Agricultural Library: http://www.nal.usda.gov/
National Agriculture in the Classroom: http://www.agclassroom.org/
National Data Buoy Center: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
"Center of Excellence in Marine Technology"
National Drought Mitigation Center: http://drought.unl.edu/Home.aspx
National Environmental Education Week: http://eeweek.org/
Natural Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
National Geographic Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service
National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/
"The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction"
National Inventors Hall of Fame: http://invent.org/
National Science Foundation: http://www.nsf.gov/
"Where Discoveries Begin"
National Science Teachers Association: http://www.nsta.org/default.aspx
National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov/
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/
Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/
Nature: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/
PBS Thirteen
NOAA Fisheries: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast fisheries Science Center: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Photo Library: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/index.html
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services: http://www.ncagr.gov/index.htm
Neuroscience For Kids: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Nine Planets: http://nineplanets.org/
Observations and Inferences
a. write the characteristics of a peanut, put all peanuts in a pile, see if you can find yours, swap lists, see if someone else can find yours.
b. make a detailed sketch of a sea shell
c. draw a unique object from many points of view (hang an object from the ceiling and give kids 5 minutes to draw, then rotate and draw from another point of view.
Inferences. (a guess based on your observations)
a. read the beginning of a story, have students infer what will happen next.
b. Mystery Boxes - put objects in covered boxes, through the sense of touch have students infer what the object is.
c. The Candle - Take an apple corer and core out the fleshy part of an apple. Place an almond sliver on top. Hold the "candle" and ask students to make observations. Then light the almond sliver (it maintains a light!) and walk around with the lit "candle" and ask students to make more observations. Then blow out the flame and take a bite! Ask them to check their observations. If it was really a candle, would it have been eaten? So, if they listed it as a candle, they were actually inferring that it was a "candle". This activity makes students aware of the difference between describing something completely and making inferences when you are not sure.
Other ideas: Never tell them it was anything but a candle! You can preface it by telling them that we take many things for granted, and there are many observations you could make about something as simple as a burning candle. Make a list of observations, and the candle usually goes out. Talk about how the smoke appears only after it goes out (just about instantly), relight it, go on..... The second
time it goes out, say to heck with it and eat it--right before the bell rings for them to leave.
Generate questions
Bring in a variety of natural items (seed pods, rocks, shells, plants, pine cones, sea stars, sand dollars, etc.). Have out magnifying lenses and dissecting microscopes. Students make a two column list in their notebooks. One side labeled " I Notice", the other side labeled "I Wonder". They each choose 3 different items and list everything they notice and everything they wonder about those items. Later ask them to share one particularly surprising observation and a question they are dying to find the answer to. Practice turning questions into ones that can be investigated (this takes a lot of practice).
Oceans: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/oceans.php?
Lesson Plans, Worksheets, Activities, Units, and more from Teacher Planet
The Old Farmer's Almanac: http://www.almanac.com/
Outdoor Explorations: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/outdoor-explorations
"Stepping outside is a simple way to set foot into nature's laboratory. Backyards ad neighborhood walks can lead to interesting conversations, new vocabulary words, observations, predictions, and investigations."
Physical Measurement Laboratory: http://www.nist.gov/pml/
The Physics Classroom: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/
Project Wet: http://www.projectwet.org/
Water Education for Teachers
Project Wild: http://www.projectwild.org/
Quests: www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/quests/
Indoor and outdoor quest ideas for families from The Cornell Lab
Rader's Chem4Kids!: http://www.chem4kids.com/index.html
Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr.: http://www.nwf.org/kids.aspx
Games, Apps, Family Fun, Parents, Educators tabs available even if you don't subscribe to the magazines.
SandlotScience.com: http://www.sandlotscience.com/
"A massive collection featuring interactive live optical illusions, exhibits, artwork, games, puzzles! Free Tours!"
ScienceNetLinks: http://sciencenetlinks.com/
"Find Science Lessons and Tools for K-12"
Science Network: http://www.madsci.org/
Shedd Aquarium: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/
Chicago, Illinois
Sink or Float? The Iced Block Science Experiment: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/sink-or-float-the-ice-block-science-experiment
Sites to See: Bugs and Insects: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites026.shtml
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu/learn
"Bring the wonder of Air and Space to life through videos, hands on activities, games, and more"
Smithsonian Science Education Center: ssec.si.edu/
Smoky Mountains National Park: http://smokymountains.com/park/
Sound Extenders Lesson Plan: https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_sound_lesson02
Space Demonstrations
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.
Spaceweather.com: http://spaceweather.com/
"News and information about the Sun-earth environment"
Spiders of North-West Europe: http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/spidhome.htm
StarDate: http://stardate.org/
Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
The Stowaway Adventure: http://k12science.org/curriculum/shipproj/
"Adventures on the High Seas"
Switch Zoo Animal Games: http://www.switchzoo.com/
"Make new animals by switching the heads, legs and tails of 142 different creatures."
Sunrise Sunset: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/
"SunriseSunset.com provides a free service that creates a custom calendar with sunrise, sunset, twilight times and moon information for any location around the world."
This Week in the History of Chemistry: http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/week.html
The Time Now: http://www.thetimenow.com/
Toledo (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium: https://www.toledozoo.org/
Tox Town: http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/index.php
"Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play"
Tryscience: http://www.tryscience.org/
"TryScience.org is your gateway to experience the excitement of contemporary science and technology through on and offline interactivity with science and technology centers worldwide."
The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids: 239 Cool sites About Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: https://www.mastersindatascience.org/blog/the-ultimate-stem-guide-for-kids-239-cool-sites-about-science-technology-engineering-and-math/
UNE's Brain Fair e-Library: read.bookcreator.com/library/-MK1A8OV4GD7hMPRaiG2
"A virtual science-themed library created by neuroscientists at UNE for kids in grade k-8!"
University of Kentucky Geological Survey: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/
"Earth Resources -- Our Common Wealth"
United States Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.usgs.gov/
"science for a changing world"
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/
"Conserving the Nature of America"
University of California Museum of Paleontology: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/index.php
U.S. Geological Survey: http://www.usgs.gov/
Educational Resources: http://education.usgs.gov/
The U.S. Geological Survey offers several online education resources on biology, geography, geology, water and much more. Resources at the site are geared toward students in kindergarten through undergraduate studies.
The Virtual Cave: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/index.html
A Walk in the Woods: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/woods/index.cfm
In Spanish and English
WebElements Periodic Table: http://www.webelements.com/index.html
Weather Wiz Kids: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/index.htm
What happens if you cut down all the trees?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zarll9bx6FI
from TED-Ed
What you can do with an extra jaw: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UOt5KzKjV4
from TED-Ed about pharyngeal jaws in fish
Why to cats have vertical pupils?: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdrNjHPYKz4
The Why Files: http://whyfiles.org/
"The Science Behind the News
The Woman Who Stared at the Sun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxM9PhcY_90
"Get to know the legacy of Hisako Koyama, whose drawings of the sun's surface helped scientists reconstruct 400 years of sunspot activity."
Wonderville: http://www.wonderville.ca/
Woodland Park Zoo: http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1722
Seattle Washington
World Carrot Museum: http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/
World Meteorological Organization: https://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html
World Science: http://www.world-science.net/
WWF: https://www.worldwildlife.org/
"The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.1 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature."
5 science projects for kids using items already in your home: https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/science-projects-for-kids-using-items-already-your-home/87RBY7MPjTaTnTJvxez7yH/
9 Fun Science Activities for Preschoolers: https://www.parents.com/kids/education/math-and-science/9-fun-science-activities-for-preschoolers/
"Whether your preschooler is naturally curious or a reluctant learner, check out these nine fun science activities to do at home.
10 Fun Facts About the American Robin: www.audubon.org/news/10-fun-facts-about-american-robin
24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities: www.teachjunkie.com/sciences/force-and-motion-experiments/
The ABC's of Nuclear Science: http://www2.lbl.gov/abc/
AccuWeather.com: http://www.accuweather.com/
Actionbioscience: http://www.actionbioscience.org/
"Bringing biology to informed decision making."
The Adventures of Herman: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/worms/
"The autobiography of Squirmin' Herman the worm"
Africam.com: http://www.africam.com/wildlife/
AIMS Center for Math and Science Education: http://www.aimsedu.org/
"The Center focuses on translating research focused on how children learn math and science."
AirNow: http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main
"Every day the Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is, along with associated health effects that may be of concern. The AQI translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health."
The Alaska Zoo: http://www.alaskazoo.org/
Anchorage, Alaska
All On Robots: http://www.allonrobots.com/index.html
"Robotics is an interdisciplinary field merging together at least mechanical engineering, electronics engineering and computer science. Often, however, other fields such as biology, cognitive science and others are involved."
Amazing Space: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
American Fancy Rat & Mouse Association: http://www.afrma.org/
"The main purpose of AFRMA is to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of fancy rats and mice. We also educate the public on their positive qualities as companion animals and provide information on their proper care."
American Institute of Physics: http://www.aip.org/
American Museum of Natural History: http://www.amnh.org/
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
Amphibian Specialist Group and Amphibian Survival Alliance: http://www.amphibians.org/
""..world leaders in amphibian conservation, research and education"
Announcing the Sky: http://webexhibits.org/calendars/
The schedule of our lives is shaped by the movements of the earth, moon, and sun.
Apples and More: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/apples/index.cfm
University of Illinois Extension
APS physics: http://www.aps.org/
American Physical Society Sites
Arbor Day Foundation: http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm
ARCUS (Arctic Research Consortium of the United States: http://www.arcus.org/
As Many Exceptions As Rules: http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.com/
"A Good Teacher Mus know the Rules: A Good Pupil, The Exceptions. Martin H. Fischer"
Australian Academy of Science: https://www.science.org.au/
Bird Academy: academy.allaboutbirds.org/live-events/
Archived Open Lectures by the Cornell Lab
Brain Origami: faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pdf/origami.pdf
Cut out and fold this origami that includes facts about the brain.
Build a Dam and Explore Water Flow: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/build-a-dam-and-explore-water-flow
Bureau of Engraving and Printing - U.S. Department of Treasury: http://www.bep.treas.gov/
Information about paper money, plus games in the kid's area, including spotting real vs. fake bills.
California Academy of Sciences: http://www.calacademy.org/
California State Science Fair: http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/
Can You Hear the Difference Between These Saw-whet Owl Calls?: www.audubon.org/news/can-you-hear-difference-between-these-saw-whet-owl-calls
The Canadian Science Fair Journal: https://csfjournal.com/volume-1-issue-1-1
This is a link to the first issue which can be read for free. More recent issues may need to be purchased.
Cash Puzzler: http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/english/pop/games/p_puzzler.html
Students can complete a simple puzzle featuring a dollar or other bill. Success is rewarded with some quick facts about the people featured on the bill.
Cells Alive!: http://www.cellsalive.com/
Center for Science Education: https://scied.ucar.edu/
"The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is a consortium of universities and colleges offering degrees in the atmospheric sciences and operates the National Center for Atmospheric Research."
Cheetaspot.com: http://www.cheetahspot.com/
Chemical Heritage foundation: http://www.chemheritage.org/
"CHF’s staff and fellows study the past in order to understand the present and inform the future. We focus on the sciences and technologies of matter and materials and their effect on our modern world, in territory ranging from the physical sciences and industries, through the chemical sciences and engineering, to the life sciences and technologies.
We collect, preserve, and exhibit historical artifacts. We engage communities of scientists and engineers. We tell the stories of the people behind breakthroughs and innovations."
Chesapeake Bay Program: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/
"Science. Restoration. Partnership."
City Math
Have students create a city. Some students are assigned the responsibility of creating the natural features like lakes, hills, and rivers by placing construction paper where they are located. Others design roads, bridges, and consider the use of other modes of transportation. Some work on the development of the business areas, while still others design needed municipal services, recreational areas, and housing. At home, the students create a 3-D building or facility to place in the town. After the city has been created, students provide a written mathematical description of the building they designed. They can use geometric descriptions using area, perimeter, volume, angles, measurements of distances, etc. They can also explain the placement of the buildings, modes of transportation and how they impact development, and other issues cities grapple with as they develop.
Classroom Garden From Trash: http://www.teacher.org/lesson-plan/classroom-garden-from-trash
"Students will create several plants (a garden) from pars of a plant that are normally thrown away."
Cleveland (Ohio) Metroparks Zoo: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Zoo/Zoo.aspx
Dolor Me Ph.D.: A Coloring Book of Science & Engineering Research: www.colormephd.org/
Coral City Camera: http://www.coralcitycamera.com/
"The Coral City Camera is an underwater camera stre3aming live form an urban coral reef in Miami, Florida."
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: www.cshl.edu/
Colder than Ice: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/water/colderthanice.html
"This simple activity requires minimal organization and effort to prepare but it will get kids thinking about scientific reasoning as they think long and hard to explain the outcome of their experiment."
Colorful Experiment
You will need coffee filters, food coloring (red, blue, green, and yellow), cotton swabs, pencil, tape, small plastic cup (3 ounces), clear plastic cup (8 ounces), and scissors. Cut a strip from a coffee filter that is about 10 centimeters (cm) long and about 2 cm wide. Place one drop of two different food colors together in a small cup so that they mix. Even though the colors are mixed, a little chemistry can make them come apart again. Use your cotton swab to soak up the food color from the cup. Touch your coffee filter strip with the cotton swab and make a dot of color about 2 cm from the bottom of the strip. Place a little water in the bottom of your clear plastic cup. Wrap the top of the strip around a pencil and tape it down. Place the pencil on the cup, but be sure that only the very bottom of the paper strip touches the water. Watch the color dot as the water moves up the strip. What do you notice? How many colors do you see? If you see more than two colors, what do you think could cause that? If you mix three or four colors, do you think you could see them all as they moved up the strip? Try it and see! Rinse the contents of the cups down the drain and throw the cups into the trash. Wash your hands when you are finished.
Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair: http://ctsciencefair.org/
Could you Survive the Real Twilight Zone?: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yJ3RySf9U4
"Find out how the hatchetfish survives its daily journey from the depths of the ocean's Twilight Zone to the resource-rich surface."
Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/home
DesertUSA: http://www.desertusa.com/
"Southwest Adventure, Living & Travel"
Digital Ocean Stickers Request Form: http://stickers.digitalocean.com/
Digital Ocean, a New York-based cloud provider service, offers free stickers, mostly depicting animated sharks and the company logo.
Dirtmeister's Science Lab: http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirt/index.htm
"Get your hands on science with a fun experiment from the Dirtmeister — and make science come alive in your classroom!"
Discovery News: http://news.discovery.com/
Earth Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=logo
NASA: "Where every day is Earth Day"
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
NASA & California Institute for Technology
Earthquake Wave: stem-works.com/external/activity/570
"This elementary science experiment creates a wave box that demonstrates how earthquake waves can travel through a variety of materials as they travel away from the focus of an earthquake where the rocks first rupture."
eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
Edison After Forty: http://americanhistory.si.edu/edison/
Electricity: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/electricity.php?
Lesson plans, Resources
Energy Kids: http://www.eia.gov/kids/index.cfm
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Energy Quest: http://energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
EPA: http://www.epa.gov/
United States Environmental Protection Agency
EuroTurtle: http://www.euroturtle.org/index.htm
"Since its launch in 1997, EuroTurtle has fostered linkages between conservation and environmental education and the first in Europe to be exclusively devoted to sea turtles in the Mediterranean. The site is packed with high quality information, graphics, photographs, work sheets, diagrams and scientific data. Most activities are interactive, on-line and cross-curricula and all have been fully tested in an educational environment. The activities are ‘turtle-orientated', although many of the issues raised apply to most other endangered marine species. The conservation component of EuroTurtle provides a rich resource for extending educational activities and giving an in-depth insight into the threats facing sea turtles today. The website covers sea turtle biology; distribution of the seven species of marine turtle; threats; conservation efforts as well as accurate identification keys. Also included is a comprehensive sea turtle glossary, ‘Suzy’s’ Frequently Asked Questions and links to relevant conventions, environmental organizations and sites. EuroTurtle is also a portal for UK Turtle Code, a code for reporting marine turtle sightings in the UK."
Exploring the Temperatures in your House: https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/exploring-temperatures-in-your-housewww.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/exploring-temperatures-in-your-house
"Go on a temperature scavenger hunt with your child to discover the many ways you measure temperatures inside and outside your house."
Exploritorium: https://www.exploratorium.edu/
The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception
FactCheck: https://www.factcheck.org/
"A Project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center"
FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Fermilab: http://ed.fnal.gov/index.shtml
"Bringing Science Education to You!"
Field Trip Earth: http://www.fieldtripearth.org/index.xml
"Field Trip Earth is the global resource for teachers, students, and proponents of wildlife conservation."
The Fish Out Of Time: http://www.dinofish.com/
"This is the astounding coelacanth ("see-la-kanth"), the fusion of life and time, that following a supposed extinction of 65 million years, head-lined into human consciousness with its discovery alive in 1938. Nicknamed "Old Four Legs" and the "Living Fossil," Laitmeria chalumnae- the Coelacanth- quickly became the continuing obsessive focus of journalists, crypto biologists, scientists, eccentric explorers, aquariums, divers, film makers and billionaires."
The fish that walk on land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWyLtYrTLYo&feature
"Explore the challenges facing amphibious fish when they leave water and the ingenious ways they survive on land."
Forest Academy: https://www.theforestacademy.com/en/
"Join us on a special journey through the woods and collect merit badges as you learn about trees and their environment."
Forests: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/forest.php?
Lesson Plans, Worksheets, Activities, and more from Teacher Planet
Fort Totten Park: http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-totten-park/facilities/naturecenters?_sm_au_=iVVQPW7PM8k3FNM5A pristine stretch surrounding a preserved Civil War fortress, Fort Totten Park in New York City offers recreation, relaxation and a glimpse into New York's past. It also offers opportunities to view wildlife. Urban park rangers who lead tours of the fortress discuss the resident wildlife, such as killdeer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, hawks and warblers. Bird enthusiasts congregate to watch migrating waterfowl rest before their long journey south, while others are particularly drawn to the peregrine falcons here. Peregrines are about the size of crows, with females larger than males, and they can live as long as 20 years. These raptors are capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph as they plunge from tremendous heights in pursuit of prey, primarily other birds.
The Franklin Institute: https://www.fi.edu/
Free Medical Journals: http://www.freemedicaljournals.com/
"Promoting fee access to medical journals"
Frozen Chalk Paint: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/frozen-chalk-paint
Fun and Easy Ideas for Water Play With Preschoolers: www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/fun-and-easy-ideas-for-water-play-with-preschoolers
Fun DIY Bird Feeders: www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/make-your-own-feeder/
"...simple feeders that can easily be made with household items!"
Funology: http://www.funology.com/
"Funology is the science of having fun!"
Fun Science Activities Online: https://findyourcontext.education/fun-science-activities-online/
Genetics Home Reference: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
"Your guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions"
Geoscience.com: http://www.gcsescience.com/index.html
Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html
Go Science Girls: Empowering Girls in STEM: gosciencegirls.com/
The Great Plant Escape: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/index.cfm
"Help Detective Leplant and his partners Bud and Sprout unlock the amazing mysteries of plant life!"
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century: http://www.greatachievements.org/
Gumdrop Bridge
With 50 gumdrops, 100 toothpicks, a ruler, pencil and paper, ask children to design and build a bridge that will go over a 6-inch gap between desks and hold a paper plate with 300 pennies on it.
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History: http://www.hiltonpond.org/default.htm
York, South Carolina
History's deadliest colors - J. V. Maranto: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/history-s-deadliest-colors-j-v-maranto
We have learned over time that many commonly used chemicals to make beautiful colors have been determined to be detrimental to our health or they may even be fatal.
Homemade Bubbles and Bubble Blower: www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/recipes/bubbles.htm
How deep is the ocean?: http://ed.ted.com/featured/5BW7G9Uu
A TedEd Talk
How Much Do You Know About Birds?: action.audubon.org/quiz/how-much-do-you-know-about-birds
This five question self-checking quiz has beautiful labeled pictures of birds.
How to Regrow Your Groceries: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-regrow-your-groceries-1388684
How to Tell Apart Sound-Alike Warblers: https://www.audubon.org/news/how-tell-apart-sound-alike-warblers
Hudson Highlands Nature Museum: http://hhnaturemuseum.org/
Hurricane Hunters Association: http://www.hurricanehunters.com/index.html
"Supporting the Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron ""Hurricane Hunters""
Hurricanes: http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/index.html
Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science
Imagine Mars: http://mars.nasa.gov/imagine/
The incredible, Bendable, Twistable, Expandable Elephant Trunk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL2_zXCgbXI
Insect World: http://www.insect-world.com/
"A World of Insect Information"
International Rhino Foundation: http://www.rhinos.org/
"We are dedicated to the survival of the world's rhino species through conservation and research."
Intrepid: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/
Sea, Air & Space Museum Complex
Iowa State University Department of Entomology: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/
Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer: http://www.jackstargazer.com/
"The world's first and only weekly TV series on naked-eye astronomy"
Jet Propulsion Laboratory: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
California Institute of Technology
JetStream - Online School for Weather: http://www.srh.weather.gov/jetstream/
National Weather Service
Journey North: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
"A Global Study of Wildlife Migration and Seasonal Change"
Kids Pages: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/index.htm
National Institute of Environmental Health Education
Kiwi Web: http://www.chemistry.co.nz/
"Chemistry and New Zealand"
Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation: http://invention.si.edu/
Part of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Lemelson-MIT: http://lemelson.mit.edu/
Celebrating invention, inspiring youth
Lincoln Park Zoo: http://www.lpzoo.org/
Chicago
Make a Neuron: faculty.washington.edu/chudler/chmodel.html
Create a neuron by using clay, playdough, Styrofoam, recyclables, food, etc.
Make Aphids and Ants on a Log: rangerrick.org/recipe/make-aphids-and-ants-on-a-log/
"Do you love bugs? Then you'll have lots of fun making-and eating-this tasty treat!"
Make Ladybug Pals: https://rangerrick.org/crafts/make-ladybug-pals/
Marshmallow Challenge
Provide each group of students with one marshmallow, 20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, one yard of tape and one yard of string. In 18 minutes, can they build a structure where the marshmallow is on top?
Maryland Department of Natural Resources: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
MedMyst: http://medmyst.rice.edu/
"Medical Mysteries On The Web"
Meet Susan Fenimore Cooper: America's First Recognized Female Nature Writer: www.audubon.org/news/meet-susan-fenimore-cooper-americas-first-recognized-female-nature-writer
"In 1850, Cooper anonymously published a book whose call for conservation won praise from Charles Darwin. It was largely forgotten—until recently."
MetEd: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/index.php
"Teaching and Training resources for the Geoscience Community"
Microscopy UK: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html
Middle School Science: http://middleschoolscience.com/
"Free Lesson Plans & Resources For Grades 5-8"
Minnesota Bird Songs: www.dnr.state.mn.us/mcvmagazine/bird_songs_interactive/index.html
You can "Click on a bird to hear its unique tune."
Modeling Blood Flow: www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/modeling_blood_flow
Molecule of the Month: http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm
Monarch Watch: http://www.monarchwatch.org/index.html
Monterrey Bay Aquarium: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/
MSSEF: http://www.massscifair.com/
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair
Multimedia Animal Lessons
Five week lesson plan for creating multimedia animals lesson in Power Point or other presentation programs
Preplanning: Information will be arranged into five categories or folders, representing the movement, homes, eating, body coverings, and fantastic facts. Each folder except for the Fantastic Facts folder will contain four subfolders. The teacher may want to pick the animals first, making sure to include at least one animal in each subfolder.
Week 1: Approximately 45 minutes a day learning about a variety of animals, reading nonfiction books, classifying animals based on their body coverings and using descriptive words to analyze each example.Using fiction and nonfiction books, art experiences, observations, videotapes, the internet, and encyclopedias, the students compare animals. The students then design their own animals, describing where the animals lived, what and how they eat, how they move, and what type of body covering they have.
Week 2: Groups of 3-4 student each are assigned to research an animal. The students are told they will use many different sources of information to find out about their animals and then create a project to share with each other and other students what they learn about animals. It is also explained that the final project will be similar to five different "chapter books." One book will be about movement, one about eating, one about homes, one about body coverings, and one about fantastic facts, describing anything interesting they discover about the animal.. Each book will have four chapters. The movement book will have these chapters; walking, flying, swimming, and crawling. The polar bear would have a page in the walking chapter, the snake in the crawling chapter, so on. Each animal would have one page in each book, for a total of five pages per animal. The student and teacher create a research form together that includes all the information they will need to know about each animal.
Week 3: The research groups find the information they need to record on the research form by visiting the media center, using available software, and searching the internet. Students are directed to write only what is necessary to answer the question and to take notes rather than write in complete sentences. After the research has been completed, the notes on the research forms are written in separate paragraphs about each aspect of an animal. Group members divide the responsibilities, assigning one person the movement page, one the eating page, and so forth. After a student writes the information for a particular page, they read the page to someone in the group to see if it makes sense. The final product is then edited and checked for spelling and punctuation. After the children write and edit their paragraphs, they discuss what type of illustrations would best accompany the text. They create illustrations, each focusing on a different distinguishing feature of the animal as described by the students. For example, the parrot page may simply have a picture of a feather from clipart, or pictures from books, magazines, the internet, or student drawings may be used.
Week 4: Students complete their work, entering text and amending their illustrations as necessary. The folders are linked by graphical menus and buttons (hot links) so that students can freely move within and among the folders.
Week 5: The students look at their own pages and those of their classmates. They then share their work with other classes and their parents. Extension: When the site is completed, a scavenger hunt, can then be created. The scavenger hunt includes fill-in-the-blank and short-answer questions that can be answered by using the project.
Museum of the History of Science: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/
My First Garden: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/firstgarden/index.cfm"
"a guide to the world of fun & clever gardening"
Mystic Aquarium: http://www.mysticaquarium.org/
Mystic, Connecticut
NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/
NASA Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/?eocn=topnav&eoci=logo
NASA Quest: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/index.html
"NASA Quest Challenges are FREE Web-based, interactive explorations designed to engage students in authentic scientific and engineering processes. The solutions relate to issues encountered daily by NASA personnel."
NASA Science: http://science.nasa.gov/
The National Academies: http://www.nationalacademies.org/index.html
"Where the Nation Turns for Independent, Expert Advice
National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, National Research Council"
National Agricultural Library: http://www.nal.usda.gov/
National Agriculture in the Classroom: http://www.agclassroom.org/
National Data Buoy Center: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
"Center of Excellence in Marine Technology"
National Drought Mitigation Center: http://drought.unl.edu/Home.aspx
National Environmental Education Week: http://eeweek.org/
Natural Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
National Geographic Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service
National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/
"The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction"
National Inventors Hall of Fame: http://invent.org/
National Science Foundation: http://www.nsf.gov/
"Where Discoveries Begin"
National Science Teachers Association: http://www.nsta.org/default.aspx
National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov/
National Wildlife Federation: http://www.nwf.org/
Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/
Nature: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/
PBS Thirteen
NOAA Fisheries: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
NOAA Fisheries Service Northeast fisheries Science Center: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Photo Library: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/index.html
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services: http://www.ncagr.gov/index.htm
Neuroscience For Kids: http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html
Nine Planets: http://nineplanets.org/
Observations and Inferences
a. write the characteristics of a peanut, put all peanuts in a pile, see if you can find yours, swap lists, see if someone else can find yours.
b. make a detailed sketch of a sea shell
c. draw a unique object from many points of view (hang an object from the ceiling and give kids 5 minutes to draw, then rotate and draw from another point of view.
Inferences. (a guess based on your observations)
a. read the beginning of a story, have students infer what will happen next.
b. Mystery Boxes - put objects in covered boxes, through the sense of touch have students infer what the object is.
c. The Candle - Take an apple corer and core out the fleshy part of an apple. Place an almond sliver on top. Hold the "candle" and ask students to make observations. Then light the almond sliver (it maintains a light!) and walk around with the lit "candle" and ask students to make more observations. Then blow out the flame and take a bite! Ask them to check their observations. If it was really a candle, would it have been eaten? So, if they listed it as a candle, they were actually inferring that it was a "candle". This activity makes students aware of the difference between describing something completely and making inferences when you are not sure.
Other ideas: Never tell them it was anything but a candle! You can preface it by telling them that we take many things for granted, and there are many observations you could make about something as simple as a burning candle. Make a list of observations, and the candle usually goes out. Talk about how the smoke appears only after it goes out (just about instantly), relight it, go on..... The second
time it goes out, say to heck with it and eat it--right before the bell rings for them to leave.
Generate questions
Bring in a variety of natural items (seed pods, rocks, shells, plants, pine cones, sea stars, sand dollars, etc.). Have out magnifying lenses and dissecting microscopes. Students make a two column list in their notebooks. One side labeled " I Notice", the other side labeled "I Wonder". They each choose 3 different items and list everything they notice and everything they wonder about those items. Later ask them to share one particularly surprising observation and a question they are dying to find the answer to. Practice turning questions into ones that can be investigated (this takes a lot of practice).
Oceans: http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/oceans.php?
Lesson Plans, Worksheets, Activities, Units, and more from Teacher Planet
The Old Farmer's Almanac: http://www.almanac.com/
Outdoor Explorations: https://www.readingrockets.org/article/outdoor-explorations
"Stepping outside is a simple way to set foot into nature's laboratory. Backyards ad neighborhood walks can lead to interesting conversations, new vocabulary words, observations, predictions, and investigations."
Physical Measurement Laboratory: http://www.nist.gov/pml/
The Physics Classroom: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/
Project Wet: http://www.projectwet.org/
Water Education for Teachers
Project Wild: http://www.projectwild.org/
Quests: www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/quests/
Indoor and outdoor quest ideas for families from The Cornell Lab
Rader's Chem4Kids!: http://www.chem4kids.com/index.html
Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr.: http://www.nwf.org/kids.aspx
Games, Apps, Family Fun, Parents, Educators tabs available even if you don't subscribe to the magazines.
SandlotScience.com: http://www.sandlotscience.com/
"A massive collection featuring interactive live optical illusions, exhibits, artwork, games, puzzles! Free Tours!"
ScienceNetLinks: http://sciencenetlinks.com/
"Find Science Lessons and Tools for K-12"
Science Network: http://www.madsci.org/
Shedd Aquarium: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/
Chicago, Illinois
Sink or Float? The Iced Block Science Experiment: www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/sink-or-float-the-ice-block-science-experiment
Sites to See: Bugs and Insects: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/sites/sites026.shtml
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu/learn
"Bring the wonder of Air and Space to life through videos, hands on activities, games, and more"
Smithsonian Science Education Center: ssec.si.edu/
Smoky Mountains National Park: http://smokymountains.com/park/
Sound Extenders Lesson Plan: https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/cub_sound_lesson02
Space Demonstrations
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.
Spaceweather.com: http://spaceweather.com/
"News and information about the Sun-earth environment"
Spiders of North-West Europe: http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/spidhome.htm
StarDate: http://stardate.org/
Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
The Stowaway Adventure: http://k12science.org/curriculum/shipproj/
"Adventures on the High Seas"
Switch Zoo Animal Games: http://www.switchzoo.com/
"Make new animals by switching the heads, legs and tails of 142 different creatures."
Sunrise Sunset: http://www.sunrisesunset.com/
"SunriseSunset.com provides a free service that creates a custom calendar with sunrise, sunset, twilight times and moon information for any location around the world."
This Week in the History of Chemistry: http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/week.html
The Time Now: http://www.thetimenow.com/
Toledo (Ohio) Zoo & Aquarium: https://www.toledozoo.org/
Tox Town: http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/index.php
"Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play"
Tryscience: http://www.tryscience.org/
"TryScience.org is your gateway to experience the excitement of contemporary science and technology through on and offline interactivity with science and technology centers worldwide."
The Ultimate STEM Guide for Kids: 239 Cool sites About Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: https://www.mastersindatascience.org/blog/the-ultimate-stem-guide-for-kids-239-cool-sites-about-science-technology-engineering-and-math/
UNE's Brain Fair e-Library: read.bookcreator.com/library/-MK1A8OV4GD7hMPRaiG2
"A virtual science-themed library created by neuroscientists at UNE for kids in grade k-8!"
University of Kentucky Geological Survey: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/
"Earth Resources -- Our Common Wealth"
United States Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.usgs.gov/
"science for a changing world"
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: http://www.fws.gov/
"Conserving the Nature of America"
University of California Museum of Paleontology: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/index.php
U.S. Geological Survey: http://www.usgs.gov/
Educational Resources: http://education.usgs.gov/
The U.S. Geological Survey offers several online education resources on biology, geography, geology, water and much more. Resources at the site are geared toward students in kindergarten through undergraduate studies.
The Virtual Cave: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/index.html
A Walk in the Woods: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/woods/index.cfm
In Spanish and English
WebElements Periodic Table: http://www.webelements.com/index.html
Weather Wiz Kids: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/index.htm
What happens if you cut down all the trees?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zarll9bx6FI
from TED-Ed
What you can do with an extra jaw: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UOt5KzKjV4
from TED-Ed about pharyngeal jaws in fish
Why to cats have vertical pupils?: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdrNjHPYKz4
The Why Files: http://whyfiles.org/
"The Science Behind the News
The Woman Who Stared at the Sun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxM9PhcY_90
"Get to know the legacy of Hisako Koyama, whose drawings of the sun's surface helped scientists reconstruct 400 years of sunspot activity."
Wonderville: http://www.wonderville.ca/
Woodland Park Zoo: http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1722
Seattle Washington
World Carrot Museum: http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/
World Meteorological Organization: https://www.wmo.int/pages/index_en.html
World Science: http://www.world-science.net/
WWF: https://www.worldwildlife.org/
"The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.1 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature."