Alaska Science Educator's Sources for Lesson Plans & Ideas:
Science education related websites are listed below. If you have
a favorite link to lesson plans, please send your link(s) with a brief
explanation to the web manager at "webguy at asta.org"
Great source of "Alaskan" lessons are available from the Alaska Science Consortium! Check them out!
ATEP Project lessons can be found at http://scienceteachereducationprogram.com
STEP Project lesson plans can be found at http://aktsunami.org
Other Invertebrates- The Natural History Museum in London
This Nature Online website is designed for those visitors who can't visit personally. Other Invertebrates offers visitors information about the world of the backbone-deficient, which comprise the majority of animals on earth. Make sure to check out many of the links to other information, including the deep ocean, natural disasters, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, and much more.
Sir Isaac Newton's Own Annotated Principa Mathematica Goes On-line
Rhythm and Math
When students ask, "Why do I need math? I'm going to be a musician!", introduce them to world-renowned drummer Ndugu Chancler. This six-minute movie contains amazing drumming, a breakdown of the mathematics of rhythm and a professional's opinion on technology and creativity. Watch the movie and download the classroom activity.
Scientist at the Smithsonian
Scientists in action online videos are now available. Students can watch and read about 21 scientists at the Smithsonian including a volcano watcher, a fossil hunter, art scientist, germinator, and zoo vet.
Expand Scientific Literacy and the Excitement of Discovery
The Amgen-BruceWallace Biotechnology Lab Program is an educational outreach initiative that aims to transform classrooms in middle and high schools by introducingstudents to the excitement of real-world science. The program integrates a hands-on, inquiry-based molecular biology curriculum that explores the steps involved in creating biotechnology medicines. In addition to intensive professional development for teachers, the program provides resources and materials that enable teachers to implement the curriculum in their classrooms. Each year, more than 35,000 students and hundreds of teachers have the opportunity to participate. Student Guides, in both English and Spanish, are free for students and faculty to download and print.
SSA Resources Produce Seismic Shift in Learning
Want to shake up education? Start with the Seismological Society of America (SSA), the international scientific association devoted to advancing seismology and applications in imaging Earth's structure and understanding and mitigating earthquake hazards.
SSA, an AGI member society, offers a number of links to educational web sites, including geoscience activities related to seismic science and earthquakes. Sponsored by Purdue University, the site features seismic eruption models, wave animations, platetectonics simulations, information on tsunamis, and much more. SSA also offers publications, information on seismology careers, a distinguished lecturer series, and an electronic encyclopedia of earthquakes. Learn more about SSA online
Examine Critical Minerals In AGI's New EarthNote
What would you do without your cell phone, computer, or car? These technological marvels require dozens of elements, which come from a finite supply of minerals. In a new EarthNote, AGI looks at what makes a mineral "critical" and how a sudden loss of resources could impact the economy. Critical minerals are defined by their dollar value, availability of substitutes, and increasing demand. Green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars, communications technologies such as computers and cell phones, and cutting-edge military systems all depend on critical minerals. Learn more in the new EarthNote.
Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Report
The National Academies are pleased to announce the availability of a new National Research Council report entitled "Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean" published under the guidance of the Polar Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean remains one of the world's last frontiers. Covering nearly 14 million kilometers, Antarctica is the coldest, driest, highest, and windiest continent on Earth. While it is challenging to live and work in this extreme environment, the region offers many opportunities for scientific research. Substantial resources are needed to establish and maintain the infrastructure needed to provide heat, light, transportation, and drinking water, while at the same time minimizing pollution of the environment and ensuring the safety of researchers.
"Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean" suggests actions for the United States to achieve success for the next generation of Antarctic and Southern Ocean science. The report highlights important areas of research by encapsulating each into a single, overarching question. The questions fall into two broad themes: those related to global change, and those related to fundamental discoveries. In addition, the report identified key science questions that will drive research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in coming decades, and highlighted opportunities to be leveraged to sustain and improve U.S. research efforts in the region.
New! Teacher TreeSource Page
Why do leaves change colors, Are all evergreens pine trees? Do cones really have seeds in them?
The Holden Arboretum has the answer to these questions and lots of others about the plants we call "evergreens" on the most recent Teacher TreeSource webpage, a new informational site that puts content knowledge, activities, books and web sites at your finger tips. During the school year Holden will continue to add pages that will help K-12 classroom teachers find ways to include tree related activities in their classroom. At the site you already can learn a lot about diversity, adaptation and reproduction by studying evergreens. Find a better answer to the questions above along with activities and resources.
New MicroGravity Page for Educators and Students
NASAEducation has launched a new website for students and educators about NASA's microgravity laboratories on Earth and on the International Space Station. Visit the new site to learn about the types of platforms that researchers use to study the effects of the microgravity environment. Watch and download video and multimedia features. Answer the question: What Is Microgravity? Shoot some hoops and test your basketball skills in gravity and microgravity in Free Fall Ball. Build a Do-It-Yourself podcast with video and audio clips from NASA. And stay in touch about opportunities for students and educators. Educators can find lesson plans for the classroom and keep students in-the-know with up-to-date information about research on the International Space Station.
Part Two: Science on Mars, Systems Engineering
One of the most vital and rewarding engineering disciplines is also the least understood. Show your students what it means to be a Systems Engineer with Part 2 of our video series about the Mars Science Laboratory. This mission to Mars, which includes a car-sized rover equipped with a jackhammer drill, is the most ambitious exploration of the red planet to date!
Atlas of the Cryosphere
This atlas allows visitors to explore and dynamically map the Earth's frozen regions. Viewed from a polar perspective, the available scenes include snow cover, sea ice extent and concentration, and more. The atlas also allows users to save custom maps for use as images in other documents and to view monthly climatologies to see how and where the cryosphere shrinks and grows over the course of a year.
Biologist in Training
This program from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is designed to guide students through a hands-on exploration of aquatic habitats. The BiT Activity Booklet has been designed with the needs of upper elementary science teachers in mind. Activities offer different means of collecting, organizing, and analyzing biological information, and focus on the students' use of observation skills to make their own discoveries. Additional resources include the BiT Activity Card geared towards younger students, extension activities, and more. The activities correlate to National Science Education Standards, and were developed by a team of teachers and environmental education experts.
Polar Bears, Conservation, Research, and Education
Polar bears are a perfect focal point for teaching all kinds of things-from biology to geography, from math to physics, from environmental science to cultural sociology. Polar Bears International (PBI) offers free teaching and learning materials created by teachers and zoo educators on a range of topics that support national literacy standards and learning outcomes for specificschool districts. The Polar Bears and Ecotourism Research Unit is a comprehensive lesson series that incorporates science, social studies and mathematics standards by using current polar bear research as an integrating context for learning. In this investigation, students use the data collected from an actual research project to make a decision regarding ecotourism policies for the town of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, The Polar Bear Capital of the World. PBI also offers lesson plans connected with its Tundra Connections broadcasts. These plans integrate technology and 21st century learning skills to focus on authentic learning experiences surrounding real-world problems. They include pre- and post-broadcast activities, plus follow-up grading rubrics and assessment activities. At the end of each unit, students are encouraged to develop a solution and take action to solve the problem they have chosen to address. Also find polar bear mini posters, polar bear music videos and a variety of other materials for classroom use.
Host a Real Time Conversation with Crew members Onboard the International Space Station
NASA is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the InternationalSpace Station, or ARISS, contact between July 15, 2012, and Jan. 15, 2013. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, NASA is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals are due Jan. 30, 2012.
Using amateur radio, students can ask astronauts questions about life in space and other space-related topics. Students fully engage in the ARISS contact by helping set up an amateur radio ground station at the school and then usingthat station to talk directly with a crew member on the International SpaceStation for approximately 10 minutes. The technology is easier to acquire than ever before. ARISS has a network of mentors to help you obtain the technology required to host this once in a lifetime opportunity for your students.
Interested parties should contact Teaching From Space, a NASA Education office, to obtain complete information including how the technology works, what is expected of the host organization and how to obtain the proposal/application form by sending an email to JSC-TFS-ARISS@mail.nasa.gov or by calling 281-244-1919.
Encounters: Radio Experiences in the North
This is is a nationally-distributed public radio show about natural history in the North. Hosted by cultural anthropologist and award-winning writer Richard Nelson. And former NPR senior correspondent Elizabeth Arnold, the show mixes western science and native knowledge with unusual natural sound and a first person experience. Now, the program has expanded its website to include information for teachers and student researchers. It is a carefully researched, reliable, multi-media source for students and teachers looking for information on everything wild in the north - polar bears, moose, grizzlies, and more.
There are slide shows, videos, short sound clips and of course the full length radio programs (29 minutes) that make excellent teaching tools. And it's free!
Use Water Wisely
The Project WETFoundation's new Discover Water website is a free online resource for students and teachers about water and water-related topics, including water on Earth, the water cycle, oceans, fresh water, watersheds, water conservation and protection, direct and indirect water use, and water and health.
Citizen Science Opportunity
The Astrobiology Research Center with Pennsylvania's NASA Space Grant program is piloting a citizen science project to study microbial diversity in household water systems. They are currently recruiting 3 households from every state, including DC and PuertoRico, to acquire a water sample from their kitchen tap and answer about 20 questions. This is a great opportunity to teach kids about astrobiology.
Gr PK-5: Take Me Fishing for FREE - http://discoverylake.discoveryeducation.com/ and http://exploretheblue.com/
The Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Discovery Education invite all kids to experience the joy of America's lakes, rivers and streams. Explore the Blue is a comprehensive program that provides you with classroom resources to lead the way. From 28 cross-curricular, standards-aligned lesson plans to Discovery Streaming videos, a regional U.S. habitat map, and Thrill of the Catch, an interactive fishing game.
K-12: Build an Efficient Recycling Business
On the outskirts of Cairo lies the world's largest garbage village, where 60,000 Zaballeen—Arabic for "garbage people"—have survived for centuries by recycling nearly 80 percent of Cairo's waste. Can your students build a recycling business as efficient as the Zaballeen's? Students can try their skill in Garbage Dreams, a recycling game sponsored by the PBS series Independent Lens.
Watch Student Excitement Blast Off with NASA Science Activities
Together, NASA and Texas Instruments' (TI) have created 30 new classroom-ready science activities on space exploration.
Many preschool and kindergarten teachers use the PBS Kids series Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid to encourage scientific curiosity in their students. Now as part of a special, limited-time offer, teachers can sign up to receive new free educational materials connected with these popular programs.
The Dinosaur Train educator toolkit can engage young children in paleontology, life science, and natural history. Each toolkit contains episode clips, music videos, lyric sheets, and preK–Kindergarten lesson plans from the series. On the same request form, sign up to receive a Dinosaur Train Nature Tracker poster! The front shows a full-color image of Buddy and his siblings, while on the back, teachers will find tips for safety and science fun outdoors.
In addition, teachers can sign up to receive Sid the Science Kid posters for their young scientists! The front of the poster features a full-color image of Sid, his friends, and teacher Susie at the science center; the back contains tips for engaging young children in science and interacting at a science center or museum.
Use Technology to Observe Animals
The Secret Lives of Wild Animals looks at new technologies being used to observe animals in their natural environments. Students can view video clips and read stories about tracking white-tailed deer, ocelots, agoutis, dragonflies, zebras and seals.
Tour the Solar System
Your students can explore the planets, visit the moon and gaze at the stars in this 3-Dinteractive model of the solar system. With one click, they can visit Saturn, Venus or the other planets and then spin and explore them in three dimensions. The interface uses NASA calculations to precisely position all celestial bodies. Students click to watch the positions of the planets and moon change as time passes. If they're impatient, they can click ahead to see how the stars align in the year 2100.
Leaps and Flutters – Game Ages 7-9
This is a "Chutes and Ladders" type game. As players land on squares, depending on the described action, they either "leap" frog ahead if they help the environment, or butterfly "flutter" back if they do not. There is a short explanation as part of the game as to why we should care about frogs and butterflies, as well as some facts about the activities on the game board and why they are good or not good for the environment.
Gr 6-8: GRAIL MoonKAM
On September 8, 2011, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, mission launched to the moon. This mission will use twin spacecraft in a tandem orbit to measure the moon's gravity in unprecedented detail. The GRAIL Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, or MoonKAM, project is an exciting opportunity that allows middle school students to take pictures of the lunar surface from cameras mounted on the twin spacecraft. Visit the site to register, find student activities, teacher guides and related educational resources. Observations will begin in March 2012.
EarthScience Guy is a web site that science teachers might be interested in. I add a new resource every Friday evening. To view resources that have been added since I created the site last spring, scroll down and select "older posts".
Thanks,
Rod Benson
Earth Science Teacher
Helena High School
Helena, MT
The FUTURES Channel -- Movie of the Week-Testing Baseball & Softball Bats
Take your students inside Easton Sports' research & development lab to meet engineers and technicians who are using math, science and technology to design and test high-performance baseball and softball bats.
Whether you want real-world examples of measurement, statistics, scientific inquiry or the relationship between force and motion, or you'd like an up-close look at sports-related careers, this movie and its accompanying classroom activities are a real home run.
Also Playing:
Designing Dolls
First One in the Ballpark
Horses in the Movies
In the Chef's Kitchen
Curiosity in the Classroom
Discovery Education and Intel have teamed up to create Curiosity in the Classroom, a website designed to bring teachers, students and families on a journey through life's biggest questions.
New Integrated Resource From the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Education Department offers resources to help educators teach about culture through various subject areas including social studies, art, language art, geography, history, science, cooking, and music. The website now includes online exhibits, downloadable lesson plans, videos, publications, and much more. For students, this website is a rich source of information and provides resources for research.
Science360 Radio
NSF Launched a new resource recently: Science360 Radio for Web, iPhone and Android. (STEM) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programming now streaming 24/7.
Science360 Radio showcases 100+ radio shows and audio podcasts. The stream also includes webcasts, events, in-depth interviews, and documentaries from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other contributors. This new offering is part of the Science360 Network, which also includes a STEM video library, a daily news service (http://news.science360.gov) and an iPad app.
Gr 6-12: The COMET Program Has a New Module: Tsunami Strike!
The COMET Program is pleased to announce the publication of Tsunami Strike! Pacific Edition.
This 3.5-hour module offers a scenario-based learning experience for kids from middle school through high school (approximate ages 13-17). The scenario tells the story of four main characters at different locations in the Pacific basin who are each impacted by a major tsunami that originates in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Over the course of the story, learners not only view the unfolding events and how each of the characters responds, but also observe how warning scientists analyze and communicate the tsunami threat. Fourteen short lessons provide interactive instruction focused on the science, safety, and history of tsunamis.
This module includes many graphics and animations, numerous interactions, audio narration, and companion print versions of all components. Because the module is media-intensive, you may find it more convenient to download it from the link provided on the opening screen. Students, teachers, and those doing tsunami education outreach will all find this module useful.
Gr 6-8: Investigate the Impact of Weather
NOAA Research is the research arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA scientists study weather and air quality, climate, and ocean and coastal resources. This site is a joint effort of NOAA Research and the College of Education at the University of South Alabama (USA). The goal of the site is to provide middle school science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using online resources.
The site is organized around six research topics:
* In the El Niño section, students find out how El Niño forms and what its effects on the weather of the world are.
* In Storms, students investigate hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning by tracking their courses and measuring their strength.
* The Atmosphere section involves students in investigating the origins and effects of global warming and the effects solar events have on Earth.
* In the Fisheries section, students manage various fish species after learning about the impact of overfishing and the environment on commercial fishing.
* The Great Lakes section involves students in interpreting maps of winds, waves and temperature. In the Oceans section, students take real measurements, such as temperature and wave height, and graph the changes. They also find out about ocean currents.
* A Teacher section (indicated by an apple icon) provides free, downloadable resources for each topic. The resources include lesson objectives, interdisciplinary uses, NSTA and AAS standards and teacher preparation materials.
K-12: National Chemistry week is October 16-22
The Theme this year is "Chemistry—Our Health, Our Future!"
Explore the positive impacts of chemistry as it relates to nutrition, hygiene, and medicine.
National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based annual event that unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life. You will find an activity book online with lots of ideas you can use in your classroom.
You may also wish to check out their Chemistry for Kids site. Here you will find additional activities on chemical/physical change; characteristics of materials; solids, liquids, and gases; and others.
Explore the World of Insects
The Bugscope project provides free interactive access to a $600,000 scanning electron microscope (SEM) so that students anywhere in the world can explore the microscopic world of insects. This educational outreach program from the Beckman Institute's Imaging Technology Group at the University of Illinois supports K–16 classrooms worldwide. Bugscope allows teachers everywhere to provide students with the opportunity to become microscopists themselves - the students propose experiments, explore insect specimens at high-magnification and discuss what they see with the institute's scientists - all from a regular Web browser over a standard broadband Internet connection.
Earthquake ABC's
Earthquake ABC, a free online book created by children who had witnessed an earthquake, incorporates science, feelings and preparedness related to this unpredictable and frightening hazard. The pages of the book, which are organized by letters of the alphabet, include children's artwork expressing their feelings about earthquakes. A Guide for Elementary School Teachers suggests possible ways to use the book in a classroom setting. This free online guide includes questions or challenges teachers might pose to students before, during and after reading. A free Parent's Guide to Earthquakes by Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS), includes a glossary of terms with background information.
See the World from a Kids-Eye View
BASF Corporation has partnered with Kids X-Press to present anew twist in science literacy for children—a fun-to-read quarterly magazine about science that is written by kids. Combining articles, poems, illustrations and games, this new 32-page multilingual publication presents the world of science from a kid's point of view with many interesting results. Anyone between the ages of 6 and18 can submit material to Kids X-Press, which is accepting submissions for the next science edition focusing on the International Year of Chemistry and the importance of water as a major global resource. The Kids X-Press Website provides information on how to submit work to the magazine.
Blue Marble Matches: Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons – Grades 5-12
This activity is designed to introduce students to geologic processes on Earth and model how scientists use Earth to gain a better understanding of other planetary bodies in the solar system.
International Observe the Moon Night (Oct. 8)
Get ready for International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN)! This night will be dedicated to encouraging as many people as possible, worldwide, to spend an evening observing and learning about the Moon. Information about InOMN and the Moon, a listing of all registered events, step-by-step instructions on hosting your own event, activities, and more are available at http://observethemoonnight.org/
Play a new game on SciJinks, Satellite Insight
A sea of critical real-time weather data floods into the satellite's memory grid! A storm full of tornadoes is brewing! The Sun is about to blast out a huge solar flare that could destroy satellites! To save lives and protect expensive instruments, the GOES-R weather satellite must not lose any of the data it is collecting. You can help! The new Satellite Insight game on SciJinks challenges you to keep GOES-R's incoming data "buffer" from overflowing. Keep it going as long as you can and try to beat your best time!
Gr 3-5: Engage and Enrich Your Students with EcoInvestigators
Brought to you by PBS and the International Paper Foundation! Take a new and exciting approach to teaching environmental issues with EcoInvestigators! Working as a team, your students will hone inquiry-based skills and broaden environmental knowledge as they investigate, research, identify, and offer solutions to the environmental problems of their community. Visit the EcoInvestigator website to access: Lesson plans; Project ideas; Media assets and assessments; Rubrics related to the four primary environments—air, soil, salt water, and fresh water; PBS earth system science and environmental resources.
The Inverse Square Law of Light - Grades 6-8
We all know that a light, such as a candle or a streetlight, looks dimmer the farther away from it we get. This classroom activity gives an easy way for students to measure the relationship between distance and brightness. Once students discover the relationship, they can begin to understand how astronomers use this knowledge to determine the distances to stars and far away galaxies.
Project SPECTRA! - Grades 6-12
Project SPECTRA! is a science and engineering program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System. Project SPECTRA! emphasizes hands-on activities, like building a spectrograph, as well as the use of real data to solve scientific questions. Lessons are available for middle school students, which can be easily adapted for use with high school or elementary students as well. Each lesson has a front page listing national standards in science and mathematics, prior knowledge required, materials, and time needed to complete the lesson - http://lasp.colorado.edu/spectra/
Earth Science Week 2011: Our Ever-Changing Earth Oct. 9-15
The American Geological Institute is pleased to announce the theme of Earth Science Week 2011: "Our Ever-Changing Earth." This event will engage young people and the public in learning about the natural processes that shape our planet over time. Earth Science Week 2011 materials and activities will show how evidence of change can be found everywhere, from the earth beneath our feet to the oceans and atmospheres around us. Earth Science Week offers opportunities to discover the Earth science and engage in responsible stewardship of the Earth. The 2011 Earth Science Week Toolkit provides the traditional theme-related activity calendar and classroom activity poster published by AGI. It also features a variety of educational resources from program partners, including National Park Service resources on fossils and geology, a Rite in the Rain mini-notebook, and water experiment materials from the American Chemical Society. Order a Toolkit from the website listed above or visit the AGI Publications page. You may also call the AGI Publications department to place your order at 703-379-2480.
The program is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey, the AAPG Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, the National Park Service, Exxon Mobil, ESRI, and other major geoscience groups.
New NASA Website Available for Kids
Two award-winning kids websites have join forces to further inspire a new generation of explorers. NASAScience Kids and SpacePlace have combined to provide several new Web features with interactive graphic designs, in addition to having extensive rich science and technology content of the "old" SpacePlace -- with over 50 NASA science missions -- and content from NASAScience Kids. These sites offer the best of NASA material for elementary school students.
The site includes over 300 separate modules available in English and Spanish. Modules feature categories related to Space, Earth, Sun, Solar System, People and Technology, Parents and Teachers. Information mirrors the missions of the NASA's Science Mission Directorate, as well as the agency's commitment to education and public engagement.
The menus are filterable on subject or type of activity, and searches produce customized menus. Educational and compelling games have been reframed, images and illustrations are enlargeable with a mouse click, and videos run seamlessly within the page. All pages are printer friendly, with a special formatting algorithm that appropriately arranges headings, sidebars, and images.
Celebrate World Space Week -- Oct. 4-10, 2011
Join educators and space enthusiasts around the world to celebrate World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2011. This international event commemorates the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957. World Space Week is the largest public space event in the world, with celebrations in more than 50 nations. During World Space Week, teachers are encouraged to use space-themed activities.
To find NASA educational resources that can be used during World Space Week, visit http://search.nasa.gov/search/edFilterSearch.jsp?empty=true
A free Teacher's Activity Guide is available at http://worldspaceweek.org/teacher_activity_guide.html
Chemistry Now
In this week's Chemistry Now video, learn about a chance discovery that
makes what once were rare and expensive colors reserved for the well to do
cheaper to obtain and more effective. Also access lesson plans to create
natural dyes and to explore pH using household products There are 13 videos
available in the Chemistry Now blog, with lessons for middle school and high
school students.
Engineering Video of the Week
Are you interested in an LCD screen teardown? If so, you will want to watch
Bill take apart an LCD monitor and show how it works. He explains how it
uses liquid crystals, thin film transistors and polarizers to display
information.
K-12: Participate in the Largest Chemistry Experiment Ever!!!
To help students from all over the globe understand that water is a precious
resource that can¹t be taken for granted, the Dow Chemical Company is
supporting The Global Water Experiment. Water is the most abundant
substance on the Earth¹s surface. Although it covers more than 3Ž4 of our
planet, water has become one of Earth¹s most precious resources. Ninety
seven percent of the water on Earth is seawater of high salt content and is
not adequate for most uses. Therefore the availability of water around the
world, in terms of both quality and quantity, requires that practical
methods through chemistry be found for proper treatment.
Launched on World Water Day, The Global Water Experiment encourages teachers
and students to participate in a global experiment allowing students to test
the water where they live and interact with other students around the globe
to share results. This will teach students about sustainable water
management and the role that chemistry plays in purifying water for human
consumption. The results will be showcased on an interactive global data map
throughout the experiment, which runs throughout 2011.
The Global Water Experiment is just one of many activities being hosted to
get students excited about chemistry in 2011, which the United Nations has
designated the International Year of Chemistry (IYC). Teachers and students
are encouraged to learn more about IYC and to participate in what may be the
largest chemistry experiment ever.
Freebies for Science Teachers: Fun Learning in Bill Nye¹s Climate Lab
Emmy-awardwinning science educator Bill Nye has become Bill Nye the Climate
Guy‹complete with his own Climate Lab‹courtesy of Chabot Space & Science
Center of Oakland, California. Join Nye in his free online lab for fun
missions and activities to reduce energy consumption and thwart climate
change. You can hunt down energy vampires, design a ³green² home, grow a
virtual garden‹and compete to become a ³Climate Champion²! Bill Nye¹s
Climate Lab is just one of the many free resources found at the Freebies for
Science Teachers website. Just visit:
http://www.nsta.org/publications/freebies.aspx?lid=exp
Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom
There are ag-related DVDs for loan. The list and request form are on the
website. There are also two Alaska ag videos on the website to view there.
Here are other websites to help:
National AITC website
Alaska AITC website; for other states, change postal abbreviations. You might want to visit IL, CA, UT, TN, FL for some good activities and ideas.
interactive site for kids from American Farm Bureau
short video about farming
Moo Milk Tour
If you need other ideas, a K-12 lesson plan CD with lots of fun activities,
or other assistance, let me know. And please mark the first Tuesday in May
each year as Alaska Ag Day so you are ready to be involved with great
activities like our classroom readers, special presenters, DVD loan, special
events, etc.
Victoria Naegele
Alaska Agriculture in the Classroom
907-982-2219
fax 746-2173
Physical Phenomena in Real Time
There is a growing realization that nurturing scientists for the 21st
century requires engaging students in the processes of doing science. For
students to be engaged in the process of doing physics, they need to learn
to think like a physicist.
Physics is more than the final content that we assess in a traditional exam.
Much of its richness is the process through which physicists acquire
knowledge and those specific ³habits of mind² that are necessary to practice
physics. For example, when solving an experimental problem, a physicist
needs to decide what features of the problem are relevant and which features
can be ignored, how to represent the problem in different ways, including
mathematical expressions, how to use available equipment to collect
necessary data, how to analyze the data, and how to evaluate the results.
Investigations are subject to the variability of experimental conditions and
unanticipated complications.
What if we could guide students so that they can make progress in a short
amount of class time, yet still be engaged in the process of doing physics?
The Rutgers Physics Teaching Technology Resource engages students from
middle school to college in the process of physics. It contains more than
200 videos of real-life physics experiments that students can view and
analyze as they learn new material, perform labs, carry out independent
projects, or do homework.
The videos allow them to see physical phenomena in real time and then again
in slow motion for data collection. The videos do not contain tools for
quantitative analysis. Instead, students need to decide themselves what data
to collect and how to collect them. The goal is to engage students in
actions and decisions similar to those of real physicists by working with
simple experiments.
Note: Users need to register to use the site, but registration is FREE and
instantaneous thanks to computers! Check it out now, especially if your
science lab is short on the technology you would need to have students
engage in these experiments
K-12: May 27 is Don¹t Fry Day
At the web site you can download free resources, including: background
information on why we should protect our skin from the sun, skin cancer
facts, a sun safety packing list for day trips, Don't Fry Day posters and
stickers, and links to other skin cancer prevention organizations.
Faces of Climate Change
The Alaska Marine Conservation Council, COSEE Alaska, in partnership with Alaska Sea Grant program, has produced three short videos showcasing the dramatic changes in Alaska's marine ecosystems. These introductions to the impacts of climate change in Alaska include interviews with Alaska Natives, commentary by scientists,
and footage from Alaska's Arctic.
Frontier Scientists
This a new website and online community, connecting those interested in breaking discoveries in the Alaskan Arctic with field scientists.
See vodcasts and Ask a Scientist about Alaska petroglyphs, grizzlies,
volcanoes, climate change, native weavers and ancient Eskimos..
Frontier Scientists is a project of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and
WonderVisions with funding from the National Science Foundation
Resources for the Final Shuttle Launches
"Mommy, do you remember long ago what it was like when the Space Shuttle was still flying?" It will come to pass. Soon these storied vehicles that have been a testament to America's technological prowess, and propelled dreams of generations heavenward, will be relegated to museum display. There they will celebrate the past for generations to come. And in the not too distant future, in a hangar maybe at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, or Kennedy Space Center, or the California Science Center, our children's children will say "Mommy, do you remember long ago what it was like when the Space Shuttle was still flying?" And maybe, Mommy will say something like,"Why, yes, I do! Let me tell you about it!"
Legacies endure though the experiences and knowledge passed from one generation to the next. It is why we have Mozart, da Vinci, Einstein, and Shakespeare. It is why we have art and music and science and technology. The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program on Shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis, would like to provide teachers links to resources that can make this historic moment a teachable moment. The resources include grade 5-12 appropriate essays with essential questions and classroom objectives that are relevant to: e.g., where the Shuttle orbits the Earth, the physics of a shuttle launch, the cause of microgravity (weightlessness), and the history, legacy, and future of human spaceflight.
Gr 5-8: Use Science to Crack the Case
Rice University, in partnership with the Forth Worth Museum of Science and History, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and CBS, has created CSI: Web Adventures, a game designed to introduce middle school students to forensic science through cases based on the popular TV-show franchise about crime-scene investigations. During the game, students identify shoeprints, test DNA and interview suspects in order to crack the case. The game outlines which academic standards it covers and was crafted with learning objectives in mind.
Useful YouTube Channels for Educators
Online College Courses has created a list of 100 useful YouTube channels for teachers. Most of the usual suspects like TED, PBS, and National Geographic are on the list, but there are quite a few that you may not have seen before such as Garland Science, Witness, and Craft. 100 Incredibly Useful YouTube Channels for Teachers is divided into four parts; general education, science & math, history & world issues, visual & performing arts. If you're fortunate enough to be able to access YouTube in your classroom, 100 Incredibly Useful YouTube Channels for Teachers could be a good place to find video content to complement your instruction. Remember that you can download clips using a site where You Tube is not blocked, save the files to a USB drive, and use that drive to share the videos with your students.
Citizen Science opportunities
This site provides a download for the iPhone, so students can take images, and share them immediately with others through this site. A large image bank is already archived on the site, and some of the photographs are just breathtaking. Do click on this link, and get inspired to get involved in citizen science activities with your students! Any digital camera and an internet connection can be used to capture and share the images; iPhones not required (just easier and quicker and more likely to get done, as the students can do it!).
Science With Me
Help children learn science the easy, hands-on way with Science With Me! - Science for kids educational website. Science With Me! is a free educational science website for elementary age children. The website offers science movies and songs, free science coloring sheets, free science worksheets, fun science projects for kids and stories to help young children learn scientific principles and science the fun way.
Navigate Beneath the Ocean
Art meets science in The Ocean Portal, a beautiful Web site designed by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. The Ocean Portal's interactive online experiences inspire awareness, understanding and stewardship of the world's oceans. Students can dive into Ocean Life & Ecosystems, view Photo Essays, see The Ocean Over Time, learn about Ocean Science and discover The Ocean & You. An Educators section includes free lesson plans, activities and suggestions for using the Ocean Portal's features
Gr 6-12: PBS Design Squad Nation: "One Giant Leap"
A new full-length episode of PBS Design Squad Nation is now available online. In this episode, engineers Judy and Adam invite Felipe -- an accomplished 15-year-old pilot from Miami, Fla. -- to compete in the 2010 Red Bull Flugtag competition. Together, they team up with NASA to design and build a human-powered flying machine. With their NASA-inspired glider design, Team One Giant Leap soars off a 30-foot high deck, impressing the judges with distance and style.
Click the links below to view the episode online.
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLYzD4ukQ4s
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7zluiYt2Q
An Exciting Opportunity to Engage Your Students in Global Issues - SHOUT
Want to give your students a voice? A voice of leadership? A voice that needs to be heard? Help them shout! SHOUT connects educators with rich content, tools and expertise that get students to take action on global issues.
Explore: Help students explore the world around them with Smithsonian resources and experts as their guide
Connect: Exchange ideas with other teachers bringing exciting, real-world projects to their students
Act: Use new knowledge and skills to bring about real-world change that matters
Follow links at the site that will help you get started:
* Join online events, and view session archives or register for upcoming education conferences
* Download a teacher's guide to find student activity ideas and information on free educational software
* Take global action and empower young people by joining our Deforest Action challenge
* Do citizen science and get involved in real climate change research or sign up for the Tree Banding Project
* Connect with educators and engage with other educators in the SHOUT teacher community
* Connect with students in other classrooms and share your work in our global community
Ask A Biologist: The Mysterious World of Dr. Biology
Ask A Biologist began in 1997 in the School of Life Sciences. The site continues to be developed, and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. It is designed as an educational resource for students preK-12, and their teachers and parents. Ask a Biologist is visited by over 3,000 people every day and has answered more than 25,000 questions. This is a SafeSurf site.
Anyone is welcome to use Ask A Biologist. Keep in mind that it is intended primarily to serve grades preK-12, and to be available as a resource for teachers and parents. The scientists who maintain the site also find that life-long learners enjoy many of the content areas on the web site, so therefore anyone interested in biology is encouraged to make use of the web content.
Ask A Biologist is not intended to answer questions for post-secondary students. However, teachers are highly encouraged to use the site, whether they are involved in preK-12 classes or not, and to send in their feedback.
Energy Kids
Energy Kids is a student-friendly website hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The site includes a variety of information and activities about energy organized in several main categories: What is Energy?, Sources of Energy, Using & Saving Energy, History of Energy, Games and Activities, for Teachers, Related Links, Energy Calculators, and a Glossary.
This teacher guide provides activities for using Energy Kids as a resource to teach students about energy in a fun and interactive way. Using Energy Kids provides students with the opportunity to learn about energy while improving research and reading skills.
Are You Sure of Your Facts? Check out Bad Science!
This site attempts to "sensitize teachers and students to examples of the bad science often taught in schools, universities, and offered in popular articles and even textbooks."
The site was created by Alistair B. Fraser, who considers that "Bad" Science is prevalent, and is more often than any of us would like, difficult to combat. Mr. Fraser limits his site to well understood science phenomena which are persistently presented incorrectly by teachers and writers.
You will find links to Bad Meteorology, Bad Chemistry. There is also a link to the "Pathetic Fallacy" site, which points out errors stemming from the tendency we have to use words to describe the motivations of inanimate objects – which of course have no human aspirations, or emotions. Using verbs such as "love, hate, want, attempt and try" to explain the behavior of the inanimate natural world is just asking for trouble, Fraser contends.
Grades PK-4: The Missouri Botanical Garden Biology of Plants
This site start out by explaining that plants are alive, and so have certain characteristics common to all living things. There are several sections, each appropriate for the younger student of science. There is information about how plants start to grow, what parts they have, how they make food, develop seeds, spread their seeds, and have adapted over time.
The site is easy to navigate and at a reading level that younger students can manage. There are short videos, songs to sing, teacher lesson plans, and links to additional information and resources.
The Great Green Web Game
The Great Green Web Game, which was created by the Union of concerned Scientists, is a fun way to test your students' knowledge of how consumer choices affect the environment. It raises student awareness of the impact that humans have, because of their habits and choices, on the environment. The development of such an understanding is critical for all 21st Century citizens.
As students answer various questions and try to purchase those things which are environmentally friendly - "shop green" - they receive a score on the built-in Envirometer which gauges the cumulative impact of their choices.
The centerpoint on the Envirometer represents the impact of an average American household on the environment. At the end of the game students can compare this average to their own impact on natural habitats, air quality, water quality and the sustainability of our climate.
See 100 Activities on Earth Learning Idea
Earth Learning Idea (ELI) - a leading web site for earth science education - recently celebrated the publication of its 100th activity online. Every two weeks, ELI publishes a new Earth-related teaching activity, designed to be a practical resource for teachers and teacher trainers. Most activities require minimal cost and equipment.
Educational Video Directory
This site offers a directory of online videos for children that you may find helpful for your teaching. There are more than 10,000 videos in STEM fields; all have been screened and found to be appropriate for children. There is a search function, so videos that will fit your need will be relatively easy to find.
National Lab Network
http://www.nationallabnetwork.org/success and http://www.youtube.com/user/NLDVideos
National Lab Day has changed its name because it is more than just a day - a community is being built! National Lab Network is a nationwide initiative to build local communities of support that will foster ongoing collaborations among volunteers, students and educators.
COSEE-OS ROLE Model Webinar --April 13
April 13, 7 p.m. EDT The second series of the Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence – Ocean Systems (COSEE-OS) Researched-Based Online Learning Event (ROLE) Model webinars is under way. Each webinar features scientists presenting marine science content through concept-map presentations of their research. The next webinar is titled, "How Zooplankton Are Effected by Changes in the Marine Environment." The webinar is free, but registration is required. For more information and to register, visit the web site.
NASA's Teaching from Space Office Unveils New Website
Teaching From Space is a team of former classroom teachers devoted to helping educators make science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, come alive for learners. Each experience and resource offered through Teaching From Space is intended to be unique and accessible and to provide real-life connections to the world of STEM.
Teaching From Space recently unveiled a new website. This site provides information on many opportunities available through the Teaching From Space Office. Opportunities range from capturing images of Earth by remotely programming a camera aboard the International Space Station to launching an experiment on a NASA weather balloon. Teaching From Space even can put you in touch with astronauts aboard the International Space Station to answer questions related to your classroom studies.
The new site also features a section devoted to women and female students who serve as role models for future generations. Celebrate Women's History Month by reading about some of the women at NASA and the paths they followed to achieve their goals.
In addition to hands-on activities, the website features electronic resources designed with busy educators in mind. Quickly and easily find everything needed, from short video clips to lesson plans, to infuse your classroom with NASA-unique content.
NASA Launches Women@NASA Website
To celebrate Women's History Month in March, NASA recently unveiled a new website that features women in NASA careers telling their stories in their own words. The website has 32 video interviews with women of diverse backgrounds who represent different aspects of the agency's work. Subjects include NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver, astronauts, engineers and scientists. They discuss their accomplishments and offer encouragement to women and girls considering technical careers so they can become the trailblazers of tomorrow. The site also provides information about NASA internships and career opportunities. .
Grades K-6: USGS Science Resources For Primary Grades
This Web site contains selected USGS educational resources that may be useful to educators in primary school grades. Many of these resources can be used directly in the classroom or will be useful in classroom lessons or demonstration activities preparation, or as resources for teacher education and curriculum development. Topics include Ecosystems, Biology, Geography, Geology, and Water.
Making Genetics Easy to Understand
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/ and http://teach.genetics.utah.edu/
The Human Genome Project and the subsequent explosion of genomic information are transforming our knowledge of how organisms function and how genes and the environment interact. These insights have led to advances in personalized medicine, stem cell treatments, and genetic testing. Students, teachers, and the public must be prepared to make informed decisions about participation in genomics research, genome-related health care, use of genetically modified agricultural products, and public funding for stem cell research. Education has been identified as a crosscutting element that is critical to achieving the potential of genomics research (1).
To address this need for genomic literacy, we have developed two related Web sites. Learn.Genetics provides educational materials that currently cover 15 topic areas ranging from DNA to epigenetics. Classroom activities designed to support and extend these materials, as well as other resources for educators, are available on Teach.Genetics.
Our goal in developing these Web sites has been to make genetics and genomics easy for everyone to understand. The grants and contracts funding the sites have supported development of curriculum-supplement materials for grades 5 through 12 that address the National Science Education Standards (2) and gaps in standards-related, free, online, multi media educational materials.
NOVA Tsunami and Earthquake Resources
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/japan-killer-quake.html and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tsunami/
NOVA has aired programs about tsunamis and earthquakes and provides websites for off-TV explorations. Japan's Killer Quake offers an eyewitness account of the recent March 11th disaster, while the Wave that Shook the World reconstructs the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The websites link to expert questions and answers, videos, teacher resources, and more
Earth Day Information and Resources -- Celebrate Earth Day!
Earth Day, April 22, inspires and mobilizes individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
Check out the education resources, including the Green Your School Guide, Student Activist Toolkit, and more.
Dnatube
Check out some great scientific videos!
Kids to Space Club
In Kids to Space Club: Are We There Yet, five young friends, in their quest for an outer space adventure, come face to face with experts' answers to their wonderment about planning to go to space, visiting and living in space, and exploring space. Via a story accompanied by children's illustrations, students make a plan to talk with experts, do research at the library and on the Internet, keep journals, give reports, share opinions, learn concepts and get together to collaborate when the challenges are tough. In the process they learn to listen, follow directions, cooperate, take turns being in charge, accept responsibility and not give up. The drawings in the book depict children's imaginations and dreams about our space future. The book, written by Lonnie Jones Schorer, includes a foreword by Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space. The cover was designed by NASA American artist Greg Mort.
Participate in Solving an Online Mystery-Starts April 4th
A mystery is brewing at the Smithsonian Institution, and the scientists there want the help of the nation's middle schoolers to solve it. Children and teens aged 11–14 can get involved in uncovering the mystery in Vanished, an online science-fiction interactive mystery event that starts April 4.Students can sign up for the event, conducted by the Smithsonian and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at The Education Arcade. The mystery, which is unveiled during the course of the eight-week event, involves a fictitious environmental disaster. Each week, participants will get clues online that will allow them to come up with hypotheses about the cause that can be tested, debated and refined. As part of the event, players get an assist from real-world Smithsonian scientists in areas such as forensic anthropology, paleobiology, and entomology. Scientists will have videoconferences online, and participants can send them questions that will be answered in real time. Students will be asked to collect real data, such as documenting a species in their neighborhood. They can upload pictures to the Web site and compare their finds with field guides. Some players near 20 or so Smithsonian-affiliated museums can find clues inside. Clues can also be gathered from several games that will be available on the site. As players participate, they will gain achievement points, just as in video games.
K-12: International Year of Chemistry
Are you visiting the International Year of Chemistry website regularly?
Imagine a day without cars, electric lights, TV, telephones, safe food, water, medicine, clothing, your house, and other things that make up modern life. Do it, and you are imagining a day without chemistry.
To find out what a day without chemistry might be like, check out latest HD video at:
http://bytesizescience.com/index.cfm/2011/1/20/A-Day-Without-Chemistry <http://bytesizescience.com/index.cfm/2011/1/20/A-Day-Without-Chemistry>
View Seasonal Changes from Space
From space, NASA satellites record the change of seasons. Satellite images show large parts of the landscape at one time, helping scientists study regional patterns on Earth. These images also help show bigger changes that may occur over many years. When seasons change, nature reacts differently, depending on where you live. Temperatures change, rain or snow falls, rivers may flood. What kinds of changes happen where you live? Share a photo you have taken that shows how seasons change in your part of the world.
February's Year of the Solar System theme is Small Bodies-Big Impact. Some of the smallest bodies in our solar system have had the biggest impact on our understanding of how the solar system formed. Join NASA's exploration of these curious members of our solar system and experience their impact. On this month's page, you will find a number of resources and ways to become involved in YSS.
The Plastiki Blog
The Plastiki is a 60 foot (18 m) catamaran made out of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles and other recycled PET plastic and waste products. The craft was built using cradle to cradle design philosophies and features many renewable energy systems, including solar panels, wind and trailing propeller turbines, and bicycle generators. The frame was designed by Australian naval architect Andrew Dovell. The boat's name is a play on the 1947 Kon-Tiki raft used to sail across the Pacific by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, and its voyage roughly followed the same route. On March 20, 2010, the sailing vessel set off from San Francisco, California to cross the Pacific Ocean with a crew of six: British skipper Jo Royle, co-skipper David Thompson, expedition diver Olav Heyerdahl, filmmakers Max Jourdan and Vern Moen, and expedition leader David de Rothschild. The expedition projected landfall in Sydney, Australia and included plans to visit several sites en route of ecological importance or which were susceptible to environmental issues caused by global warming, for instance the current sea level rise, ocean acidification and marine pollution. Plastiki arrived in Sydney Harbour on July 26, 2010, accompanied by a small flotilla of boats. Shortly afterwards, it was towed to the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, where it was on display until late August.
Gr 9-12: New Science 2.0 Blog for High School Teachers
The Science 2.0 blog is all about digital tools for your classroom. Want to use the web to support student learning—or promote your own professional growth? This online companion to The Science Teacher's Science 2.0 column will help you find resources, connect with colleagues, and share your own ideas and get connected!
PK-12: Do you want to stay current in science news?
This magazine has great information, current and breaking news, and images that will enrich your teaching. Make science accessible to your students with the images that are worth a thousand words. Keep up with the ever-changing world of science as new discoveries are announced. Learn about the work of scientists around the world, and inspire your students. Follow links to NPR's audio program "Science Friday" for short audio clips that correspond to what you are teaching; these can fill the odd 5 or 10 minutes that may crop up in your day and expand your students' horizons at the same time.
Gr PK-6: Make Science Come Alive with Web Resources
Don't have time to surf the web for resources that are appropriate and science worthy for your students? Let experts in the field do that for you. Each site is approved by the KidsSites staff before being included in their listings.
Gr PK-6: Science Resources from National Geographic for Kids
If you need some great images, appealing short videos, interesting stories about science topics, or other quality material to enrich your science elementary program, check out this site. National Geographic is known for its quality images, correct and current science content, and interesting information about science around the world. You will want to bookmark this site, and visit it often!
Grades 2-4: Fizzy's Lunch Lab Lessons
If you want to help your students learn health eating habits, this site, created by our colleagues at PBS Kids, is a good place to start.
2011 National Environmental Education Week, April 10–16
Join thousands of educators and students across the country in exploring our vital connection to the ocean during National Environmental Education Week (EE Week), April 10–16, 2011. The 2011 theme is Ocean Connections.
EE Week, the nation's largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day, inspires environmental learning and stewardship among K–12 students. EE Week connects educators with environmental resources to promote K–12 students' understanding of the environment.
Heads and Eyes Up: Mark your calendar for the Sky Awareness Week
The 21st Annual Sky Awareness Week (SAW) celebration will be held April 24-30, 2011. Its theme will be "THE SKY- Where Meteorology Meets the Heavens, the Earth and the Oceans!"
Since 1991, more than 40 states and the District of Columbia have issued proclamations in support of this important celebration. The National Weather Service, The National Weather Association, The National Science Teachers Association, the National Science Foundation, The Weather Channel and NASA's 'SCOOL (STUDENTS' CLOUD OBSERVATIONS ON-LINE) Project are among the many organizations that have collaborated with us in this effort!
The goal of Sky Awareness Week is to get people outside, to "look up" and to see the myriad of cloud patterns and formations that grace the sky. Please check out their growing collection of sky imagery, as well.
Grades 8-9 MY NASA DATA: SCIENTIST TRACKING NETWORK
This series of lessons is designed to answer the question, "How can we use data from NASA satellites to pinpoint a geographic location?" Students participate in a problem-based unit to investigate the relationships among three data sets located on the MY NASA DATA website. They will create products that discuss the relationship of surface irradiance to season and surface temperature. They will also compare total column ozone levels recorded at different latitudes.
Celebrate the International Year of Chemistry
The theme of the International Year of Chemistry 2011 is “Chemistry – our life, our future.” The goals of this year of global celebration are to:
1) Increase the public appreciation of chemistry
2) Increase the interest of young people in chemistry
3) Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry
4) Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Madame Curie’s Nobel Prize and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies.
Portaportal-A Web Resource
Teachers…want to use a great free online web resource that can allow your students to access standards based websites of your choosing that can be use during school or for after school work? Check out “Portaportal “. This free site allows you to organize your sites by subject area, assignments, and learning standards. Other educators have indicated it is very useful when use when:
1. Working with classes in computer labs to ensure they are all on the same page.
2. Assigning special projects or after school assignments that have a web links
3. Providing ESL students with an easy way to locate sites without language issues.
4. Providing parents with way to see the unit you are studying and join in with their student to learn cooperatively.
5. To view a “live” page organized used by a NASA education specialist in teacher workshops go to the website listed above; sign into "Guest Access" with the password “bjhawkins”
Let me know if you have any questions!
Brian Hawkins
NASA Aerospace Education Specialist (AESP)
NASA Ames Research Center Bldg. 253; M.S. 253-2
Box #1 Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
Cell: 360-362-3026
For AESP Scheduling: http://aesp.psu.edu
Investigate the Reasons for the Seasons
In the Mystery Class global game, students search to uncover the secret locations of ten “mystery” sites hiding around Earth. To guide the investigation, students track changes in day length at the mystery sites and at their hometown, and use other “clues” along the way. As they take this journey, students unlock the essential questions behind the reasons for seasons and the dramatic changes in day length that result. The game starts on January 31, 2011. Find information for observing Earth’s daily and seasonal cycles as well as lessons, activities and journals on the game’s Website.
GLOBE at Night
GLOBE at Night is an annual citizen-science campaign that encourages people all over the world to record the brightness of their night sky. For two weeks every winter/spring since 2006, when the Moon is not out during the early evening and the constellation of Orion can be seen by everyone everywhere, children and adults match the appearance of Orion with 7 star maps of progressively fainter stars found on the website:
http://www.globeatnight.org
They then submit their measurements (e.g., which star map they chose) on-line with their date, time and location. This year, GLOBE at Night will be expanded to include a second campaign focusing on observations of the Constellation LEO!
The 2011 GLOBE at Night Schedule is listed below:
GLOBE at Night ORION Campaign:
February 21 through March 6, 2011
GLOBE at Night LEO Campaign: March 22 through April 4, 2011.
Move from a Virtual World to the Natural World
With the launch of Animal Jam, National Geographic is offering content from its
extensive multimedia resources as an integrated component of a virtual world for young adventurers. Players can access video features, photos and facts about animals, plants and insects in a game world that encourages them to move from the virtual to the natural world by exploring nature right in their own neighborhood or backyard. Player scan also create their own content that will appear in the virtual world, including hosting special in-world parties or contributing their own artwork that could be featured in the in-world newspaper, Jamaa Journal. National Geographic's Animal Jam is free for anyone to play.
Water Planet Challenge
Now is the time for students in grades 6-12 to take action in protecting and restoring our precious water planet. Inspire your students and give them the tools to get involved! Introducing the Water Planet Challenge - an online destination filled with valuable multimedia resources for use in both the classroom and community alike:
* Standards-aligned lesson plans and engaging videos
* Service-learning action guides, tips and ideas for getting involved
* Related online resources that will challenge students and dare them to change the world
Thanksgiving Science
From the pop-up thermometer to turkey genetics, Thanksgiving offers lots of topics that can be explored through science. We've put together six sets of ORC resources that are related to Thanksgiving topics. Along with these resources consider asking students to conduct Internet research to answer these questions,
* What is it about a traditional thanksgiving meal that makes you sleepy, the tryptophan in turkey or something else?
* What is the science behind those golden brown and delicious dinner rolls? Hint: Maillard reaction
* Does cornstarch or flour make the best gravy?
Honoring Hubble
November 20 is Edwin Hubble's birthday. These resources either include images taken with the Hubble telescope or the Hubble constant.
It's Time for Bird Watching!
By sharing information about which birds visit their feeders between November and April, backyard and schoolyard bird watchers can help scientists track changes in bird numbers and movements from year to year. You and your students can be part of Project FeederWatch, a citizen-science program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada for people of all ages and skill levels. The program can help engage children in nature study and scientific investigation by encouraging careful observation and note-taking; stimulating children to ask questions about the natural world; promoting independent study; and providing opportunities for meaningful internet use and exploration.
Bird counting began on November 13, 2010. Register at the Project FeederWatch website. The site also contains a live "bird cam," bird photographs, information on birds and bird feeding, and tips for identifying various species.
PK-12: America Recycles Day is November 15
Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on November 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day. More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs, in the United States. One day to inform and educate! One day to get our neighbors, friends and community leaders excited about what can be accomplished when we all work together! One day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year!
Free Science Activities for Kids
This is a joint project of UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science, the Exploratorium, the New York Hall of Science, Science Museum of Minnesota, Children's Museum of Houston, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers—a free, online collection of thousands of hands-on interactive science and math activities for kids in nonclassroom settings.
The project spotlights hands-on and interactive activities, both physical and virtual, that involve doing and learning. Activities take many forms, from downloadable lesson plans, to field trip activities, how-to videos and online interactive games. In addition to the collection of activities, the website offers list-making features that provide educators a public or private online space to collect their favorite activities and add teaching tips and ideas on how to use an activity in context; user-contributed videos, and other creative community functions that encourage users to rate and comment on activities and earn badges for community involvement.
PK-12: Zero Footprint Challenge
How much carbon do we produce for each student we educate? How different is one school's footprint from another? The Zero footprint Challenge is a global initiative encouraging schools around the world to measure, compare and change their footprints. Zero Footprint provides the software that allows schools to benchmark their impact and provides a platform for students to challenge one another to reduce. The Zero Footprint Challenge will enable students to measure, compare and change the environmental impact of their school.
GULF OIL SPILL FOCUS ON THE OSCAR DATA VISUALIZER
The oil spill resulting from the explosion on the Deep Water Horizon sent oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. Once in the Gulf, the oil is subject to the currents in the area, the largest of which is the Loop Current. The Loop Current's path is difficult to predict, but scientists have observed a general cycle, which can now be seen on the OSCAR data visualizer using data collected between 1992 and May 2010. The visualizer also allows you to select a region of the ocean and study changes happening in that region.
Gr 4-8: Take an Electronic Field Trip to Explore Climate Change
Take your class on a field trip to learn about climate science. On October 13, 2010, the National Park Foundation's Electronic Field Trip series will broadcast from North Cascades National Park, teaching students of grades 4-8 about climate change.
With its northerly location and high elevation, Washington's North Cascades National Park is experiencing melting glaciers and loss of species. Given its efforts to understand climate change with science, management, and education, the park represents an important educational resource.
Study Tradeoffs in Developing and Preserving the Environment
Want to link science, social studies or political science content to the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill? Check out the collection of free resources gathered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). You'll find teaching suggestions for different grade levels, videos of the gulf coast ecosystem, an interactive map showing the spread of the spill and links to online lessons on everything from how ecosystems naturally purify water (including a virtual tour of an "urban river") to role-plays on the tradeoffs between development and preservation of the environment. You'll also find a collection of news articles on the science of the oil spill.
Fred Meyer Helps Anchorage Museum Offer Free Admission Days
Anchorage Museum will offer free admission 3 to 9 p.m. Thursdays October through April 2011 thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Fred Meyer Fund. Fred Meyer Free After 3 Thursdays at the museum gives all Alaskans the opportunity to greater understanding of the human experience through art, history and science exhibitions. This generous gift from the Fred Meyer Fund offers people a free way to visit more often and enjoy the new Imaginarium Discovery Center and Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. The Fred Meyer Fund assists nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children and reducing hunger in communities served by 130 Fred Meyer stores in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. The Fred Meyer Fund is supported by parent company The Kroger Company as well as employee and customer donations.
Gr 7-12 Marine Invasive Species Curriculum- Alaska SeaLife Center
&Invaders is a new program offered for the 2010/2011 school year thanks to generous funding and support from Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council. This program is an interactive course that discusses what it means to be a native, alien, or invasive species in the marine ecosystem, and encourages students to discuss impacts of marine invasive species on local ecosystems, to develop their own invasive species, and discuss solutions for management. Invite us to your school for an outreach session for schools in Anchorage, Mat-Su, and Kenai Peninsula areas. Or, if your school has interactive videoconference equipment, our distance learning programs are a great way to visit the SeaLife Center without leaving your classroom. Reservations should be made at least 30 days in advance. Each session includes hands-on supplies for up to 30 students (additional materials available upon request) and a teacher's guide with background information and ideas for supplemental activities. All programs are designed to align with national and Alaskan academic content standards. For program costs, scheduling, and registration information, and to see a list of all of the K-12 programs, please visit us at our website.
Delve Into Environmental Issues
Maggie¹s Earth Adventures is an online bilingual educational program
provided free to teachers, students and parents. The animated stories and
activities that comprise each unit in Maggie¹s Earth Adventures introduce
students to actual environmental issues and motivate them to delve deeper
into the issues presented. Teachers will find online, standards-based
activities and a multitude of printable lessons in the Teachers¹ Lounge to
correlate with the animated stories. Activities from various disciplines are
integrated into each mission to allow students to see the connectedness and
relevance of math, science, geography, language arts and cultural
experiences.
October 4-10 is World Space Week
This is the Largest Public Space Event on Earth. You may not have known
that the UN declared World Space Week to be from October 4-10 annually. The
week offers an ideal time for teachers to use space in the classroom to
excite students about learning.
Get a teachers' guide, follow links for sites designed for students, for
information on awards, for general information about the event, and more.
Learn what the White House is planning, and what others across the world
will be doing, and make plans to join them by having a World Space event at
your school.
2010 GLOBE XPEDITION TO THE ROOF OF AFRICA
Begins Sept. 23 with two Alaskan teachers and Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa from UAF being part of the trek!
Join the second Xpedition of GLOBE students, alumni and scientists on a GLOBE Africa and Seasons and Biomes trek to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, as they observe firsthand the shifting biomes and shrinking glaciers of the mountain. The 9-day trek may be followed online. New features to the website include 3D Google Earth Tours of the mountain, as well as daily video blogs that include updates and GLOBE protocol demonstrations. For more information, please visit: http://www.globe.go
Earth Science Week & 2010 Earth Science Week Toolkits Now Available
The American Geological institute (AGI) is sponsoring three national contests in conjunction with Earth Science Week 2010, celebrating the theme of "Exploring Energy," October 10-16. Order an Earth Science Week Toolkit today!
National Park Foundation Offers Electronic Field Trip
On October 13, the National Park Foundation's Electronic Field Trip series will broadcast from North Cascades National Park to teach 4th-grade to 8th-grade students around the country about climate change. A show will air on that date at 9 a.m. Alaska time.
This will be the first Electronic Field Trip broadcast from a park in Washington State and the first focused on the planet's changing climate. With its northerly location and high elevation, North Cascades National Park is already experiencing melting glaciers and loss of species.
Educators and students can take advantage of the program by registering for free to watch the show premiere. They will also have access to a companion website, launching September 1, that features downloadable lesson plans and online activities to enhance the learning experience. Educators can register to participate in this broadcast now by clicking on "Registration for Teachers" at
Global Ozone Project or "GO3 Project"
We are trying to identifying schools and teachers who would like to participate in our exciting new project for high school students, the Global Ozone Project or "GO3 Project". In the GO3 Project , students around the world measure ozone and meteorological parameters outside their school and upload their data to an overlay in Google Earth to share with other students, teachers and scientists around the world. We have 18 schools participating at the present time, including 4 international sister schools in Madrid, Moscow, Sydney and Cairo. GO3 students are learning about environmental science while helping create the world's first ground-level ozone database. We expect to have funding for 50 more schools starting this fall. Funding is provided through the GO3 Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit foundation. To learn more about the project, please see our website and 2-minute video . We have developed a free curriculum that teachers can download as Power Point presentations, and we are working on free online interactive ("moodle") courses on all of atmospheric science. Each participating school will receive a free instrument package valued at $5,000.
Dr. John Birks
Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Boulder
Director, Global Ozone (GO3) Project
Chair, GO3 Foundation
Phone: +1(303)273-0559
Email: johnb@twobtech.com
Fall's Journey South is about to Begin!
Free Project Tracks Migrations, Plants, and Seasons*
Teachers and students in K-12 classrooms are invited to sign up now for
Journey North's 17th annual global study of wildlife migration and
seasonal change. A *free* (thanks to Annenberg Media) Internet-based citizen science project,
Journey North enables students in more than 23,000 schools to watch the seasons unfold.
*Plant a Journey North Tulip Test Garden This Fall
It's time to dig in! This fall, plant a Journey North Tulip Test Garden
so you can proclaim the official arrival of Spring 2011 in your community.
*Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico
Join Us! Please Report Your Monarch Sightings! Report your own
observations and track the monarch's trip to Mexico. Watch for weekly
migration updates every Thursday, beginning August 26th.
*Follow Whooping Cranes Led by Ultralights on Their First Journey South
Year TEN in the historic conservation project to reintroduce Whooping
cranes to eastern North America is nearing takeoff. Will all the chicks
make the journey safely? What highlights and lowlights wait as they
migrate through seven states in a journey over 1,000 miles?
*Send a Monarch to Mexico!
Students across the United States and Canada send symbolic butterflies
to Mexico each fall. Children in the sanctuary area protect the
butterflies all winter and send them north in the spring. United by the
monarch butterfly, children across North America learn lessons of
conservation and ambassadorship.
*Track Hummingbird Migration as a Citizen Scientist
You're invited to help track hummingbird migration this fall as the tiny
migrants travel to and from their wintering grounds.
A New Tool for Visualizing Distance-Rate-Time Problems
NASA has released an interactive online tool that enables students to simultaneously visualize and manipulate three linked representations of a distance-rate-time problem. The side-by-side tool format features two airplanes (each flying at a constant speed) on merging jet routes, the corresponding distance-vs.-time graphs, and the corresponding linear equations. Students can manipulate an airplane's speed and starting position on its route, rotate or shift the associated line on the graph, and change the parameters of the associated equation. As students change one representation, the other representations update accordingly.
The free classroom materials include the tool, student workbooks, assessments, teacher guides, and alignments to grades 5-9 mathematics standards for all 50 states. The new tool is an addition to FlyBy Math from NASA Smart Skies -- distance-rate-time investigations that engage students in the challenges faced by air traffic controllers.
NASA Offers Educational Resources
NASA has educational resources for use with kindergarten through college, as well as resources for the informal education community. Many of NASA's educational products are quick and easy to find on the NASA website.
Visit the NASA Blast Back to School page to find educational resources and NASA events taking place in your area. From the site, you can find information relating to the following topics:
Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin's On the Origin of Species http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/darwin/
This interactive, multimedia report from NSF presents resources on evolution and Darwin himself, including interviews and essays by a team of international evolutionary experts and a clickable timeline summarizing major intellectual and technological achievements that advanced our understanding of evolution. The report shows how Origin drew attention to anthropology, biology, the geosciences, polar sciences, and even astronomy and why it likely will continue to serve as the organizing framework for the sciences. The report also details the criticisms, longstanding hoaxes, and dedicated scholarship Origin has inspired. The report is appropriate for teachers and students at a range of grade levels.
Is Your School an Eco-School?
Eco-Schools is an internationally acclaimed program that provides a framework to help educators integrate sustainable principles throughout their schools and curriculum. The Eco-Schools program was started in 1994 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with support by the European Commission. It was identified by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development in 2003. The Eco-Schools program strives to model environmentally sound practices, provide support for greening the curriculum and enhance science and academic achievement. Additionally, it works to foster a greater sense of environmental stewardship among youth. As of October, 2009, Eco-Schools is currently being implemented by 46 delegations in 47 countries around the world, involving 30,000 schools, 8 million students, 400,000 teachers and 4,000 local authorities. To register to become an Eco-School, please visit: http://www.nwf.org/EcoSchoolsRegister/EcoSchoolRegistration.aspx
Become a NASA Explorer School
The NASA Explorer Schools project is NASA's classroom-based gateway for middle school (grades 4-8) and high school (grades 9-12) classrooms. NES provides free teaching and learning resources that promote student engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. The project provides opportunities for teachers and students to participate in NASA's mission of research and discovery through inquiry-based experiences directly related to the work of NASA scientists and engineers. Throughout the school year, the NES Virtual Campus website will serve as a portal to dynamic learning experiences, allowing students to examine real-world problems and challenges based on NASA research and exploration. Classroom activities are coupled with special events featuring interactions with NASA's scientific and technical workforce, so students learn firsthand about mission highlights, new technologies and research findings.
Operation: Tectonic Fury
The JASON Project's new geology curriculum for middle school, Operation: Tectonic Fury, features scientists and takes your students from the top of Mount St.Helens to the depths of a West Virginia mine in search of answers to Earth's geologic mysteries. The free, online unit offers research articles, inquiry-based activities, videos,
Final Flight of the Space Shuttle: A Remarkable Grade
5-12 Opportunity for Student Experiments
http://ncesse.org/2010/06/ssep/
In June The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)
launched the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a historic
opportunity for students to propose experiments for the final scheduled
flight of the Space Shuttle, STS-134.
The Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) provides middle
and high school classes across the U.S. the ability to propose experiments
to fly in low Earth orbit, and to celebrate that accomplishment with
their local community and with national and global audiences. Entire
school districts can participate, with student teams proposing experiments
like professional scientists and engineers.
Phase 1 of the program is a unique and historic opportunity to propose
an experiment to fly aboard STS-134, the final scheduled flight of
the Space Shuttle. Selected student experiments would fly for 10 days
aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. Launch is tentatively scheduled for
November 2010, but a launch slip to mid-January is expected, enabling
this student spaceflight experiments opportunity.
We want the final voyage of the Space Shuttle to also mark a new beginning
for private sector sponsored student experiments in space, which organizations
on the SSEP Team have pioneered. The flight of Endeavour will be used
as a gateway to Phase 2 of the SSEP — sustainable, ongoing access
to space for grade 5-12 students inspired to propose experiments for
low Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station (with transport
via the Russian Progress and Soyuz vehicles), and on suborbital space
flights.
SSEP is undertaken by the National Center for Earth and Space Science
Education (NCESSE), in partnership with American Aerospace Advisors
Inc.
(AAAI).
For more information or to set up a telecon contact:
Dr. Jeff Goldstein, Center Director
National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
301-395-077 jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org
Gr K-4: New Educational Games Online
from NASA
Build Your Own Space Mission -- Grades K-2:
In this interactive game, students choose a scientist, laboratory,
spacecraft and destination as they design their own space mission.
After packing the spacecraft into a rocket, they watch it blast off
to their destination of choice.
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/edu_game/
Put It Together Puzzle -- Grades K-4:
In this interactive online game, students build online puzzles of NASA
pictures.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Put_It_Together.html
K-12: Coming to a computer near you: Zooniverse: Opportunities for
Citizen Science
http://zooniverse.org/home
After a huge amount of work behind the scenes, we're proud to open
wide the doors of the Zooniverse. The Zooniverse's aim is to provide
a home for a whole suite of projects which will enable anyone with
a web browser to contribute to science. Whether you're inspired to
classify galaxies, hunt supernovae, or take part in one of the projects
which will launch over the coming weeks and months, we hope that Zooniverse
will help you find a project that's right for you.
With funding from the National Science Foundation, this interactive
web site opens doors to the world beyond our Earth, connects what we
do in our classrooms with the real world, and makes the curriculum
we teach come alive. Check it out. Online tutorials are
provided and thousands of people are already involved. Join the
effort with your students!
K-12: Resources on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Scientist
Profiles
http://www.scnas.org
The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
(SACNAS) offers two free resources on their web site. The SACNAS Traditional
Ecological Knowledge page (www.sacnas.org/tek.cfm) includes the downloadable
publication Changes We Have Seen: Traditional Knowledge Proceedings
from the 2008 SACNAS National Conference, as well as a clearinghouse
of references to online traditional knowledge resources on climate
change, best practices in using traditional knowledge in Western scientific
settings, and connections to Native American community and environmental
activism groups.
Highlighting the life stories and professional contributions of Native
American, Chicano, and Latino scientists, mathematicians, and engineers,
the SACNAS Biography Project (www.sacnas.org/biography/default.asp)
was created for use in precollege (K–12) settings. The Biography
Project web site contains profiles of approximately 80 Latino and Native
American scientists, searchable by subject area, ethnicity, and gender.
The site also provides links to other sites profiling minority and
women scientists, as well as resources for educators and students.
Where Words Touch the Earth
In this new digital media collection for grades 3-12, students from
American Indian Tribal Colleges interview Elders, students, and community
members to provide a Native American perspective on climate change
and its effects on their communities. Downloadable videos touch on
key environmental science issues and indigenous knowledge of the depleted
salmon population in Washington State, the ecological function and
spiritual role of wetlands, and the relationship between humans and
nature.
http://www.teachersdomain.org/special/nasawords/
K-12: Want to make sure your science
lessons are safe? Here are resources to help
http://www.flinnsci.com/Sections/Safety/safety.asp
Flinn is known for their tremendous interest in supporting
safe science instruction. This site give you access to free
MSDS sheets, information on managing Lab chemicals safely, eye
and eyewear safety, general information to help you create safe
laboratory conditions for you and your students, sample safety
contracts, links to teacher-selected safety websites, safety products
and free short PD safety training lessons via email.
Gr 5-12: National Geographic's Traveler's Guide to the Planets http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/travelers-guide-to-the-planets-interactive#/G/1
This is a wonderful, fun, visually spectacular resource for students
learning about our solar system and the planets. The main page has
two panels. The left side panel allows you to select which planet you
want to learn about (Pluto is still listed, Earth is not since we live
there) and what you want to know about each planet.
The site is set up as a true traveler's guide and includes info such
as history, trivia, sites, advice, climate, and luggage. This is a
great way to get students to learn about the planets in a new way.
NASA Enables Students to Launch Virtual Space Shuttle
NASA launched the space shuttle Atlantis on its last voyage on Friday,
May 14, 2010. The agency is now offering the ABCs of 3,2,1 liftoff
to students and educators throughout the nation. A new computer
simulation program will allow them to take
on the roles of NASA engineers and launch the shuttle from their own
classrooms. The program is based on software used for training at the
shuttle Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The Kennedy Launch Academy Simulation System, or
KLASS, gives students the chance to monitor important shuttle
systems during a launch countdown and decide whether they are "go" for
liftoff. They will work together as a team and learn about the
different responsibilities behind-the-scenes of a shuttle launch.
KLASS was designed for sixth- through 10th-grade students to develop
their science, technology, engineering and
math skills. In addition to the launch simulation software, KLASS is
offering 40 hours of lesson plans and interactive resources for teachers.
These materials can be used for one-day lessons or one-year curriculums.
The KLASS materials are available for download at:
http://www.nasa.gov/education/klass
K-12: An online tool to help Science Writers in your classroom
Science Writer is a FREE interactive, web-based instructional learning
tool designed to help students in writing a complete science report.
There are tips and hints delivered by cartoon characters named Eko,
Max, and Sam, but it does seem to support students throughout the process
of writing a science report. Research has revealed several effective
instructional practices in improving the written language performance
of students, and Science Writer has been designed to provide these:
* A breakdown of the report writing process into manageable components
* Scaffolds for each step of the writing process
* An organizational structure for report writing
* Sentence starters to help initiate the writing
K-12: New FREE resources from the National Academies Press
The National Academies Press offers several books that are available
to download absolutely free in their entirety. There is no catch, no
gimmick, and no time limit. The entire PDF book is yours to keep. Among
others that are available, look at these, for example:
••Understanding Climate's Influence on Human Evolution
The hominid fossil record documents a history of critical evolutionary
events that have ultimately shaped and defined what it means to be
human, including the origins of bipedalism; the emergence of our genus
Homo; the first use of stone tools; increases in brain size; and the
emergence of Homo sapiens, tools, and culture. The Earth's geological
record suggests that some evolutionary events were coincident with
substantial changes in African and Eurasian climate, raising the possibility
that critical junctures in human evolution and behavioral development
may have been affected by the environmental characteristics of the
areas where hominids evolved. Understanding Climate's Change on Human
Evolution explores the opportunities of using scientific research to
improve our understanding of how climate may have helped shape our
species.
••Envisioning the 2020 Census
Planning for the 2020 census is already beginning. This book from the
National Research Council examines several aspects of census planning,
including questionnaire design, address updating, non-response follow-up,
coverage follow-up, de-duplication of housing units and residents,
editing and imputation procedures, and several other census operations.
This book recommends that the Census Bureau overhaul its approach to research and development. The report urges the Bureau to set cost and quality goals for the 2020 and future censuses, improving efficiency by taking advantage of new technologies.
••An Enabling Foundation for NASA's Space and
Earth Science Missions
NASA's space and Earth science program is composed of two principal
components: spaceflight projects and mission-enabling activities. Most
of the budget of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is applied
to spaceflight missions, but NASA identifies nearly one quarter of
the SMD budget as "mission enabling." The principal mission-enabling
activities, which traditionally encompass much of NASA's research and
analysis (R&A) programs, include support for basic research, theory,
modeling, and data analysis; suborbital payloads and flights and complementary
ground-based programs; advanced technology development; and advanced
mission and instrumentation concept studies.
ScienceStorms Interactive Website
The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago presents ScienceStorms,
an interactive exhibit/website that reveals
the science behind seven natural phenomena—lightning, fire, tornadoes,
avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight and atoms in
motion. It’s a perfect storm of physics, chemistry and curiosity.
“Don’t Fry Day” Sunshine
Pledge
Take the EPA “Don’t Fry Day” Sunwise Pledge! With
the UV Index on the rise, it's time to remind your students to Slip!
Slop! Slap! and Wrap! In their effort to raise awareness about a health
issue that is largely preventable and too often ignored – skin
cancer, EPA encourages you to promote sun safety before the second
annual Don’t Fry Day on the Friday before Memorial Day (May 28,
2010). As millions of us prepare to enjoy the great outdoors this Memorial
Day weekend, EPA and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention
are reminding Americans to practice sun-safe behaviors. They need your
help; go online and pledge to incorporate sun safety into your spring
and summer activities. Take the Pledge: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/dfdpledge.html
Participating classrooms and informal education organizations will
receive a Don’t Fry Day poster and a set of sun safety stickers.
The stickers feature SunWise animals showing children how to Slip!
Slop! Slap! and Wrap! Additionally, you will be entered into a random
drawing for a SunWise Prize Pack. The prize pack includes a set of
UV-sensitive beads, a real-time UV monitor, UV-sensitive nail polish
and other sun safety resources.
Celebrate Earth Day!
The American Chemical Society (ACS) observes Earth Day with its Chemists
Celebrate Earth Day program. The
ACS offers events, contests, and educational resources (including
free materials) that chemical educators and chemistry enthusiasts
can use to illustrate the role of chemistry in the world. The
Earth Day 2010 theme is "Plants—The Green Machines."
SPACE DAY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD May 7
Celebrate looking at the Earth from space. To see what’s going
on in your neighborhood, browse local events: http://www.spaceday.org/index.php/View-Events.html.
To add your own event, visit http://www.spaceday.org/index.php/Create-Event.html.
Learn more about Space Day and explore resources and lesson plans via:
http://www.spaceday.org
K-12: Google for Educators
http://www.google.com/educators/index.html
Google supports teachers in their efforts to empower students and expand
the frontiers of human knowledge, and has assembled the information
and tools you’ll find on this site.
Their goal is to support teachers in their efforts
to empower students and expand the frontiers of human knowledge. Learn about Doodles,
Webinars, and Tools for the classroom. Download classroom
activities posted by members of the Google Teacher Community, and join
it yourself! Check out the free posters, and the Google Teacher
Academy. There are lots of opportunities to learn how to use
Google tools effectively and to support the 21st century skills our
students will need.
Gr
K-2-PBS Teachers Supports Science & Tech
for the Youngest Learners Too
Find Classroom Resources, online discussions and professional development
opportunities. Get on the Dinosaur Train, learn about young eagles,
and find ways to teach earth-friendly living to young primary students. Join
a teacher online class on evaluating and organizing internet resources
and content to support your students.
K-12: Tectonic
Tragedies and online resources
The catastrophic earthquakes that hit Haiti and Chile have raised seismology
to a front-burner topic in students' minds. Teachers can find rich
links to materials on the topics by visiting Incorporated Research
Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). This university consortium, sponsored
by the National Science Foundation, has compiled a collection of multimedia
materials that can help students grasp the science behind the headlines.
Engineer Your Life (EYL) Has FREE Resources You Can Use to Spark Girls' Interest in Engineering
What is EYL? EYL breaks down stereotypes about
engineering and encourages college-bound girls to consider it
as a career option.
A multimedia website EngineerYourLife.org features ten great reasons
to become an engineer, streaming video of inspiring women engineers,
descriptions of dream engineering jobs, and advice for parents, educators,
and engineers on how to talk to girls about engineering.
An independent evaluation shows that 78.5% of girls, after exploring
the EYL website, listed engineering as their number one career choice.
Use EYL in your classroom: Share www.EngineerYourLife.org with
students, parents, teachers and counselors. Order FREE brochures/postcards
by sending an email to feedback@engineeryourlife.org.
Climate Change Stories for Children
The Professor Sneeze stories and educational materials were developed
in the framework of a project of the International Polar Foundation. Stories
for 5-12 year olds explain ways to save energy; 8-12 year olds
learn how energy is produced by wind, sun, and water. The
website also offers crafts, photos, and other materials.
Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood
Project Learning Tree (PLT) has published a new curriculum guide and
music CD to engage children ages three to six in outdoor exploration
and play. Eleven field-tested, hands-on activities showcase over
130 "early childhood experiences" which integrate investigations
of nature with art, literature, math, music, and movement. Early
childhood educators and caregivers can obtain a copy of PLT’s
Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood curriculum by attending
a PLT professional development workshop in their area.
K-12: Minds
by the Millions
"Connect a Million Minds" is a philanthropic effort aimed
at connecting kids with after-school science, technology, engineering
and math programs in their communities. The $100 million, five-year
effort by Time Warner Cable provides information on local hands-on
after-school opportunities to engage and excite kids.
Anchoring the effort is the first-ever, free, ZIP code-searchable national database designed to help children and their parents discover the exciting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) after-school activities occurring in their own backyards. Check out what is available in your part of Alaska!
Alaskan Volcanoes
We think it’s no coincidence that there are exactly 52 historically
volcanoes in Alaska as of December 2009; and we hope to engage the
user in a fun, educational experience. Each full-color card provides
the location coordinates and photo of the volcano, and up to six colored
dots that correspond to a legend on one of the joker cards. The dots
represent characteristics of the volcano, such as a documented eruption,
fumaroles, deformation, or earthquake swarms. The packet includes a
two-sided information sheet with photo captions/credits for each volcano.
Card decks can be purchased at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys office in Fairbanks, or ordered online through the DGGS website at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=20401
New Robotics Module in NASA’s Do-It-Yourself
Podcast
NASA uses robots in the form of aircraft, arms, space probes and telescopes.
These robots do everything from explore the solar system to build
new rockets. Your students can create a podcast about robots using
NASA audio and video clips, images, and information. NASA Education's
newest DIY Podcast topic module is entitled "Robots."
This module features NASA robotic systems engineer Fernando Zumbado
discussing robots and how NASA uses them. The module's 22 video clips
include Mars rover animation and B-roll footage of several NASA robots.
The Robots module also has 11 audio clips. Students download these
NASA multimedia materials and edit them with their own recordings and
narration to create a podcast.
Other DIY Podcast topic modules are: Fitness, Lab Safety, Newton's
Laws, Rocket Evolution, Solar Arrays, Spacesuits,Sports Demo
Students can build multimedia projects, while teachers meet national
education standards.
A companion blog offers tips and suggestions for incorporating the
DIY Podcast into the classroom. To learn more and to start making podcasts,
visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/diypodcast/index.html.
NASA Has Exciting News!
EarthKAM has just launched a new beta version of its Web site. Middle
school educators are invited to join NASA for the International
Space Station Spring 2010 Mission from April 27-30, 2010, and
be beta testers of the new site and software. Find out more about
this exciting opportunity that allows students to take pictures
of Earth from a digital camera aboard the International Space
Station.
ISS EarthKAM is a NASA-sponsored project that provides stunning, high-quality
photographs of Earth taken from the space shuttle and the space station.
Since 1996, ISS EarthKAM students have taken thousands of photographs
of Earth by using the World Wide Web to direct a digital camera on
select spaceflights and, currently, on the International Space Station.
For more information about the project and to register for the upcoming
mission, visit the ISS EarthKAM home page
If you have questions about the EarthKAM project, please e-mail: ek-help@earthkam.ucsd.edu
Opposable Thumbs!
Children often take their bodies for
granted, and their thumbs are no exception. But opposable thumbs are
a part of the human body upon which we rely every day—to eat,
write, and even greet each other with a handshake. Click on:
http://www3.nsta.org/main/news/stories/science_and_children.php?news_story_ID=49036 to read Thumbs Are Handy Digits.
K-12: 137 years of Popular Science archived
issues: online and FREE
http://PopSci.com/archives
Popular Science has partnered with Google to offer their entire 137-year
archive for free browsing. Each issue appears just as it did at its
original time of publication, complete with period advertisements.
And today we're excited to announce you can browse the full archive
right here on. Aside from bringing back memories for longtime
readers, as a whole the archive beautifully encapsulates over a century
of Popular Science's fascination with the future, and science
and technology's incredible potential to improve our lives. Tracing
our dreams and visions of the future back through time, you'll
see that not a lot has changed. Some things we projected with
startling accuracy, and others remain today what they were then--dreams.
Study Shows Disconnect Between Girls and Science
Earth Science Week 2010 will feature the second annual Women in the
Geosciences Day on October 14 to raise awareness among young women
about exciting opportunities in Earth science studies and careers.
Why? Consider the findings of a new study by Northern Illinois
University researchers. High school girls are bored, disengaged,
and stressed in science classes when compared to boys, according to
the study of 244 high school students and 13 science teachers during
the 2008-09 academic year. Classroom discussions are the only activity
to score among the top three most engaging for both boys and girls
and are perhaps the optimum way to connect with all science students.
Even though many girls earn good grades in science, they still often
feel less competent than their grades would indicate. And even though
more boys than girls told the researchers that science is challenging,
boys reported more confidence in their skills and a higher level of
concentration in class.
For more on the study, see http://www.niu.edu/PubAffairs/RELEASES/2009/nov/girls-science.shtml
NSTA Websites to Visit
Explore
the water cycle at home with the miniature terrarium activity at “Water
for Life"
Children
will soar to new levels with this flying activity titled “Flying
Together"
Sampling is the core idea with this activity on counting populations
Engineer Your Life (EYL) has FREE resources you can use to spark girls'
interest in engineering.
What is EYL?
A national campaign
EYL breaks down stereotypes about engineering and encourages college-bound
girls to consider it as a career option.
A multimedia website EngineerYourLife.org features ten great reasons
to become an engineer, streaming video of inspiring women engineers,
descriptions of dream engineering jobs, and advice for parents, educators,
and engineers on how to talk to girls about engineering.
Effective. An independent evaluation shows that 78.5% of girls, after
exploring the EYL website, listed engineering as their number one career
choice.
Use EYL in your classroom:
Share www.EngineerYourLife.org with students, parents, teachers and
counselors.
Order FREE brochures/postcards by sending an email to feedback@engineeryourlife.org.
Present EYL videos of inspiring women engineers to students and parents.
Incorporate EYL into your career exploration programs and curricula.
- Mary Schmitz, a geometry teacher in Missouri, gives her students
the assignment of researching engineering careers on EYL's site and
posting their favorite on their class wiki. Mary comments:
"I just want to let the girls know what is available to them and
maybe open up more opportunities for them. I think your site is wonderful
and I get really good responses from my students after they have read
about the different fields of engineering."
Questions about EYL? Contact feedback@engineeryourlife.org with any
questions or requests related to EYL.
And for additional classroom resources, check out the Engineering collection
on Teachers' Domain.
Encyclopedia of Life
Imagine an electronic page for each species of organism on Earth, Edward
O. Wilson. Have you ever visited the Encyclopedia of Life website?
If not, you should check it out today. Just visit:http://www.eol.org/
Gr K-8: Inquiry in Action: Investigating Matter
The American Chemical Society has created this website to accompany their “Inquiry in Action” book, with hands-on physical science and chemistry activities, downloadable molecular animations and videos in Windows Media or Quicktime format, a chemistry background section, information on upcoming workshops, and more. You can even download a PDF version of the entire 470-page book for free!
Gr 8-12: Biotechnology
Magazine Available
The Biotechnology Institute publishes "Your World: Biotechnology & You," a
biotechnology magazine for grades 7 to 12. "Your World" is
issued twice a year and combines balanced, in-depth information on
a single topic with an online teacher's guide that contains links to
national education standards, tips on how to use the magazine, and
additional exercises.
CLIMATE KIDS: NASA GIVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THEIR OWN GUIDE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
A blinking red-eyed tree frog and flitting butterfly greet visitors
to the new NASA Climate Kids Web site. Targeting grades 4 – 6,
this kid-friendly guide de-mystifies one of the most important science
issues of our time. The site answers the “big questions” about
global climate change using simple illustrations, humor, interactivity,
and age-appropriate language. For example, one interactive feature,
the Climate Time Machine, reveals how global changes have affected
or will affect our planet over time. “Climate Tales” has
animal cartoon characters coping— more or less good-humouredly—with
the effects humans are having on their habitats. A collection of Earth
science-related games offers such experiences as “Wild Weather
Adventure” and “Missions to Planet Earth.” A Green
Careers section profiles real people doing jobs that help slow climate
change.
DLESE Teaching Boxes
Teaching boxes from the Digital Library of Earth System Education are
classroom-ready instructional units created by collaboration between
teachers, scientists, and designers.
The Teaching Boxes contain materials that model scientific inquiry,
allowing teachers to build classroom experiences around data collection
and analysis from multiple lines of evidence, while engaging students
in the process of science, focusing on gathering and analyzing scientific
evidence. Boxes include Global Ups and Downs: Changing Sea Level, Living
in Earthquake Country, and more.
Let‚s
Fly Away Airplane Dodecahedron -- Grades K-4
A regular dodecahedron is made of 12 pentagons. Students learn about
NASA aircraft as they build a geometric form to hang from the ceiling
or place on a shelf
Navigating by Good Gyrations Activity -- Grades 7-12
Gyroscopes are simple devices that seem to defy gravity. They are important
to NASA because they help spacecraft such as the International Space
Station and the Hubble Space Telescope stay on course. Teachers can
use a spinning bicycle wheel to demonstrate how a gyroscope works.
This demonstration contains four gyro "tricks" with explanations
of why the gyro behaves as it does. The demonstration has definitions
for inertia, momentum, angular momentum, centripetal force and linear
momentum. After demonstrating how gyros work, teachers can give examples
of how gyros are used in spacecraft. The activity also includes discussion
questions.
Magnetic Math -- Grades 6-12
This collection of mathematics-related problems pertaining to magnetism
is the next logical step beyond what students explore in their middle
school Earth science textbooks. The lab exercises prepare students
to work the mathematics problems with a better understanding of magnetism.
The variety of problems includes analyzing graphs, scientific notation,
geometry and trigonometry. The problems call for students to apply
mathematics and science concepts to understand the magnetic fields
and magnetism.
Our Solar System Lithograph Set -- All Grades
This lithograph set features images of the planets, the sun, asteroids,
comets, meteors and meteorites, the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, and
moons of the solar system. General information, significant dates,
interesting facts and brief descriptions of the images are included.
Draw on Imagination
Hear specialists in art history, art conservation and the sciences
discuss the connections between art, science and technology in video
clips. You’ll also find lesson plans and student projects on
this site created by The Art Institute of Chicago. The overarching
goal of the site is to show science teachers that an art museum may
be used as a visual library to augment and enrich established high
school science curricula in chemistry, earth science or physics. With
primary emphasis on the theme of light and color, the site reveals
how the scientific method is applied to the making, conserving and
exhibiting of art.
K-12: New
FREE Materials on Biomedical Topics from NIH
#1 A new edition of The Chemistry of Health that includes chemistry
basics, short "Meet a Chemist" profiles, a companion poster,
and an extensive online resource [ChemHealthWeb] with downloadable
chapters, chemistry A-Z glossary, molecule gallery and chemistry-related
puzzles and games.
#2 Get two full-color classroom posters
http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/chemhealthwebposter.html
http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/findingsposter.html
#3 Get the latest issue of Findings magazine
This issue features Marc Zimmer, a biochemist who studies glow-in-the-dark
proteins, and Lola Eniola-Adefeso, a chemical engineer who studies
methods to improve heart disease drugs.
Like all of our offerings, these printed and online resources focus on medically relevant life sciences and are free of charge. Printed materials are available individually or in classroom sets. They are also downloadable.
These materials, and more, are produced by the National Institute of
General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of
Health. They are not copyrighted and you are free to excerpt content
from them to use in the classroom or on a class Web site.
Journey North
Jouirney North is inviting students and teachers along the coast of
Alaska
to participate in the Gray Whale study.
If you have Gray Whales that are in your area and you would like to
participate, please email: Jane Duden Journey North jduden@inet-serv.com
JASON Project - http://www.jason.org/public/feature/FeatureDetail.aspx?fid=201
Learn about an exciting opportunity for students and teachers. You
can become an Argonaut!
Design Squad Teacher’s Guide
PBS’ Design Squad goes to school with a new Teacher’s Guide.
Developed for middle school science and technology teachers, the guide
blends hands-on engineering challenges with 3 core science topics,
force, electricity, and sound. The challenges use low cost, readily
available materials and are linked to national science and technology
standards. Order your free copyof the Design SquadTeacher’s Guide
at: http://pbskids.org/designsquad/engineers/newsletter.html
If you have questions please contact:
Natalie Hebshie
Outreach Coordinator, DESIGN SQUAD
WGBH Educational Foundation
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
natalie_hebshie@wgbh.org
The web page has been recently updated with a series of six video modules to help student experimenter design teams with development of their experiments. Hosted by NASA Educator Nathan Lang and NASA Astronaut and former International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke, these brief video modules discuss the ISS and microgravity, considerations for designing a microgravity experiment, the scientific method, and a recap of the Kids In Micro-g! Design Challenge. Bonus videos of microgravity demonstrations onboard the ISS from Fincke and fellow station astronauts Greg Chamitoff and Nicole Stott during their past missions are also included. A matrix of frequently asked questions has also been added as a reference. The FAQ list will be updated weekly as new questions arrive and are answered.
NASA will be accepting experiment proposals through Feb. 19, 2010.
Nature Rocks
Parents should go online to visit Nature Rocks, the family fun nature
planner. This site will help parents find all sorts of nature activities,
plus tools to help guide and plan their adventures. Parents will also
find useful tips and information to help them get into nature without
getting over their head. It's fast and easy so they can shut their
computers down quickly, open up that door and be on their way in as
little as 5 minutes. Nature is closer than you think!
K-12: Ecological
Footprint Education
The Ecological Footprint is a powerful tool for introducing the concept
of sustainability to students. Redefining Progress has applied the
Footprint to a number of resources for educators to help students understand
environmental impacts of their lifestyles.
You will find the Bobbie Bigfoot quiz, lesson plans, training manual,
online course and resources for sustainability education.
Gr 4-6: SAE and
a World in Motion kits
If you know or can find an engineer to partner with you (and SAE will
help you find
one), then you can get some really good curriculum materials and supplies
for your students for FREE.
There are currently three kits for intermediate grades (click on the
Curriculum link):
--Skimmer
Students construct paper sailboats and test the effect of different
sail shapes, sizes, and construction methods to meet specific performance
criteria. Friction, forces, the effect of surface area and design are
some of the physical phenomena students encounter in this challenge.
--JetToy
Students make balloon-powered toy cars that meet specific performance
criteria like; travels far, carries weight, or goes fast. Jet
propulsion, friction, air resistance and design are the core scientific
concepts students explore in this challenge.
-- Electricity & Electronics
Elementary activities provide teachers with activities that focus on
principles of electronics by providing teachers with hands-on
experiments involving static electricity, batteries and capacitors.
NASA AND MICROSOFT ALLOW EARTHLINGS TO BECOME MARTIANS
NASA and Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., created a Web site where
Internet users can have fun while advancing their knowledge of
Mars. Drawing on observations from NASA's Mars missions, the "Be
a Martian" Web site will enable the public to participate
as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, take part in research
tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red
Planet. The Mars Exploration Program is managed by JPL for NASA's
Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Enroll as a virtual
Martian citizen and start exploring!
4th - 6th Grade Teachers - Disney Planet Challenge
K-12: Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter
If you have never downloaded the Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter,
you are really missing something. This is the most complete newsletter
to help students learn more about the brain and the nervous system.
Montana State University Offers Free Lesson Plans and Alternative Energy
Interactives
Science teachers can access free lesson plans and download alternative
energy interactives through Montana State University's National Teachers
Enhancement Network (NTEN). Lesson plans cover all grade levels with
topics in Earth science, physical science, life science and space science,
including multicultural science lessons developed by Native American
teachers, and lessons on rocketry and physics written by a science
teacher working with NSF-EPSCoR faculty at MSU.
The "Hydrogen and the Environment" website explains the connection
between Yellowstone National Park and the quest for alternative fuels,
including videos, student profiles and images, along with free downloads:
an interactive map of Yellowstone microbes and an animation of how
hydrogen is produced. Visit eu.montana.edu/nten and
click on Professional Resources.
Painted Lady Butterflies in Space!
Painted Lady butterflies will spend several months in space as part
of an exciting experiment to observe their life cycles and behaviors
in microgravity. The butterflies will live in a special habitat,
which provides a safe environment, food and water. Photos and
video will be transmitted back to Earth and made available on
the BioEd Online and K8 Science Web sites. Students can view the
data and join in the investigation in real time.
Teachers are also encouraged to engage their students in concurrent
activities with their own butterflies. Everything needed to get started
is available on BioEd Online or K8 Science. A free teacher's guide
is also available for downloading.
COSEE-Coastal Trends
COSEE-Coastal Trends offers education modules based on scientific research.
The Learn, Explore the Trends, and Investigate Current Research sections
provide general information on each topic. The classroom
resources page is designed for teachers and educators and contains
a lesson plan developed by a teacher with the help of his/her scientist-educator
team. The education modules feature movies, video interviews, photographs,
diagrams, and 5-E lesson plans for use in the science
classroom.
Gr 4-8: Investigate a Science Mystery
The Sue Files is a Web-based curriculum designed by The Field Museum
to put students in the shoes of a paleontologist studying Sue, the
largest, most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex. Although
the scenario presented on this site is fictitious and designed to be
an engaging story, all the scientific information regarding Sue the
T. rex and the science of paleontology is completely accurate. In addition,
the questions that student’s answer, as they investigate this
mystery, are the same sorts of questions paleontologists struggle with
on a regular basis.
Making Waves
A multimedia outreach project designed to help bring science and math
to life in your middle school classroom by unlocking the mysteries
of the oceans. Partners for the website include the College of
Marine Science at the University of South Florida, USGS, and InterActive
Teacher Magazine. Resource topics include Sea Level Rise, Red Tides,
Oceans from Space, Real Time Data, and much more.
Zula
Zula USA, LLC is a leading provider of educational products designed
to provide and promote science and math education as well as reading
literacy for children in PreK through 3rd grade – a group
for whom early exposure and intervention has proven most effective. Zula's
comprehensive program addresses the national call for science,
math and reading literacy education among PreK and early elementary
students, provides a critical foundation in understanding core
concepts and content and promotes the development of critical
thinking skills. The Zula Patrol television series, Zula.com website,
classroom curriculum and other supporting materials provi! de
science, math and reading literacy education and character-building
lessons in an entertaining format that encourages whole family
participation while also offering a diverse approach to learning
styles. During the summer of 2009, the company launched: http://www.ZulaWorld.com a
virtual world of fun, science and discovery. In this virtual
world, kids play educational games and go on science exploration
missions. Each child also has an online “Journal” for
recording observations with notes and drawings. Teachers
have access to each child’s Journal, which can be downloaded
and used as an assessment tool. Teachers can also make assignment
to students through their Journals. Parents get regular email
updates on their child’s activities and learning experiences
in ZulaWorld.com. The expert team of educators, writers,
scientists, and media specialists works to ensure that Zula delivers
a dynamic, focused, fun learning experience for children to learn
about the world around them.
SPACE
MATH WEB SITE – NEW
MATH PROBLEMS ONLINE
New math problems (276 – 285) are now online in order to capture
some of the excitement of the recent Ares 1-X launch, and discoveries
by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope and Deep
Impact. The Ares 1X problems take students through the simple ballistic
problem that describes the path of the payload after apogee, along
with some problems about kinetic and potential energy, and exactly
how a solid rocket booster 'burns' to create its thrust .The last one
will certainly dispel a few misconceptions!
K-12: Science in Action: NPR program on Suspension Bridgeshttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100947959
As Suspension Bridges Age, A Search For Failures: How do you know when a suspension-bridge cable is about to fail? That's the question engineers at Columbia University in New York are trying to address in a new experiment.
Visit the web site to hear Joe Palca’s
report, to see videos, and to get more information.
K-12: Win an iPod for your feedback - http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging.station/
The Microscope Imaging Station is looking for educators to evaluate this Web site that has still images, videos, articles, classroom activities, and other educational resources based on research-grade light microscope images. Review the Web site and take the online survey to win a chance for an iPod.
Gr K-5: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears - http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org/
Integrate science, literacy, and the polar regions in your teaching through the NSF-funded Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears magazine!
Designed for elementary educators, each month's issue includes science and literacy content knowledge, high quality lesson plans, misconceptions and tools for formative assessment, researcher profiles, a podcast, and even informational text written specifically for students! In the March 2009 issue, Polar Plants, learn about the plants of the Arctic and Antarctica and their adaptations. Of course, there's much more to discover - so check out Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears today!
Understanding Science One Website at a Time - http://undsci.berkeley.edu/
A new website funded by the National Science Foundation offers
a window to a better understanding about how dynamic and creative the
scientific process really is. Understanding Science is a “fun,
accessible, and free resource that accurately communicates what science
is and how it really works.” The site, intended for both the
general public and K-16 teachers, draws students into real-life examples
and looks at the social side of science, science and society, and asks, “What
has science done for you lately?” It also provides users with
a comprehensive science toolkit. Teacher resources are targeted to
specific grade bands.
Flinn’s eLearning Video Series—Only
$9.95! -- Online “Teacher Training” Videos for Middle
School Science Teachers
Flinn Scientific has just released a new, low-cost online eLearning
Video Series to help science teachers build their content knowledge and
teaching strategies—making it easier for their students to learn
specific topics. Middle school teachers will find videos targeting
the following three topics particularly valuable in building physical
science teaching skills:
The Flinn eLearning Video Series features
20 award-winning high school chemistry teachers demonstrating
their best activities and sharing enormous amounts of content
knowledge, teaching tips and instructional techniques. Each video
is approximately 40 minutes in length containing multiple episodes
and support materials printable as PDFs and can be viewed multiple
times. Teachers can watch and learn, from home or school, as master
teachers model their styles and discuss strategies that have proven
to be successful.
To view free samples go to: http://www.flinnsci.com
K-12: Science360 News Service: Brought to You by NSF - http://news.science360.gov/
Science360, published by the National Science Foundation (NSF),
aims to deliver the full-spectrum of what’s new in global science
to everyone who has ever wondered what’s going on in scientific
research and discovery. The news service gathers news from wherever
science is happening–scientists, college and university press
offices, popular and peer-reviewed journals, dozens of National Science
Foundation science and engineering centers, and funding sources that
include government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and private
industry–and makes it widely available on the Web, via email
and RSS.
K-12: News of a different kind! April, 2009 is
Math Awareness Month - http://www.mathgoodies.com/mam/
Math Awareness Month is held each year in April, and is sponsored by the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics. This year's theme is Mathematics and Climate. Scientists use mathematics to better understand oceans, the atmosphere, and polar ice caps. You are invited to go on a WebQuest to answer these questions:
* How long will summer Arctic
sea ice survive?
* Are hurricanes getting more intense?
* How much will sea level rise as ice sheets melt?
* How do humans impact on climate change?
* How is global climate monitored?
Mathematics and Climate are very relevant to our world today, so join the group and explore these important issues!
Gr K-8: Do you need a Dynamic, Online Destination to Advance STEM Education? - http://www.FuelOurFutureNow.com
Igniting imaginations and fueling student curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math topics, the United States Department of Energy, the X PRIZE Foundation and Discovery Education have created, a new dynamic, online knowledge center inspired by the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE.
Introduced to educators during an interactive workshop presented at the National Science Teachers Association’s National Conference in New Orleans, La., http:///www.FuelOurFutureNow.com is an empowering resource that engages students in the science of alternative fuels and energy-efficient engineering. Featuring targeted curriculum and lesson plans for all grade levels, as well as high-quality video, dynamic interactives and additional resources from the United States Department of Energy, teachers can use the online knowledge center to achieve their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) goals.
The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Together, parents and students can explore a variety of grade appropriate STEM topics through a number of exciting activities.
K-2 students will be challenged to find out what makes cars go, while students in grades 3-5 will focus on building the skills needed to learn about force and motion and efficient energy transfer within a vehicle.
Students in grades 6-8 will investigate fuel efficiency and develop a futuristic, energy efficient vehicle, and high school students will be tasked with analyzing patterns in mass transit issues.
For more information about Discovery Education, visit http://www.discoveryeducation.com or call 800-323-9084.
Gr 5-9: WGBH Teachers' Domain News on Adolescent Literacy - http://tinyurl.com/teachersdomain
Teachers' Domain is pleased to announce a new adolescent literacy special collection funded by the Leon Lowenstein Foundation. These self-paced classroom activities use history and science topics to enhance the literacy skills of struggling readers in grades 5-8. Each activity engages students in a topic such as "slavery and emancipation," or "behavioral adaptations," through videos and interactives, then encourages them to build on what they learn by completing a reading and writing assignment. An online glossary helps build vocabulary, and an online note-taking area encourages writing and active thinking.
All fifteen activities address a range of
literacy skills:
* synthesizing
* constructing and asking questions
* developing vocabulary
* connecting prior knowledge to new learning
* developing a topic in writing
Science topics include:
* Exploring the Everglades Environment
* Newton's Third Law: Action-Reaction
* Reproductive Strategies
* Snake Jaws: A Lesson in Evolution
* Behavioral Adaptations
* Continental Drift: Idea to Theory
* Transitional Fossils
All About Frozen Ground
The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has released a new educational
website on frozen ground: All About Frozen Ground. For more information,
visit the site at: http://nsidc.org/frozenground/.
All About Frozen Ground provides comprehensive information about the
importance of frozen ground. Frozen ground and permafrost, or ground
that stays frozen for at least two years, is key to understanding climate,
frozen ground ecosystems, and the interaction between land and atmosphere.
Explore All About Frozen Ground to learn about the science behind frozen
ground and why frozen ground matters to people, plants, and animals
all over the world. Read an interview with permafrost expert and NSIDC
Senior Scientist Tingjun Zhang, and browse a list of reading and classroom
activities for K-12 learners. While at the site, submit your comments
on the feedback form
K-12: National Engineers Week Foundation
http://www.eweek.org/Home.aspx
It features over 50 ways you can get your students involved in engineering!
New Space Mathematics
The Space Math Web site has 25 new math problems for the winter quarter
on a broad range of space science topics (e.g., Angular Size and
Velocity; The Big Bang - Cosmic Expansion; Modeling a Planetary
Nebula; and Stellar Temperature, Size and Power). To support the
International Year of Astronomy, an 'International' math page
has also been added to the Web site and math problems have been
translated into Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, Finnish and
Swedish.
http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Digital Planetariums
With help from a $488,000 NASA grant, the University of Alaska Museum
of the North and scientists at the UAF Geophysical Institute are
joining forces to bring the state's only digital portable planetarium
to communities in rural Alaska. For more information:
http://www.uaf.edu/news/headlines/20081114155829.html
PBS Article-How One Preschool Science Program is Developing
Young Scientists
This article provides suggestions on how to incorporate science into
your early childhood classroom by creating opportunities for children
to explore science objects. A list of additional resources in included.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/articles/science.html
GLOBE Student Research Campaign on Climate Change
Planning for the GLOBE Student Research Campaign on Climate Change
will occur over a 2-year period, beginning in January 2009, and
will enlist the support of internationally renowned climate change
scientists, science educators and educational outreach experts,
as well as businesses, foundations and policy makers. Student
research activities will commence in 2011, with final results
of the campaign to be presented at an international student conference
in 2013.
The Campaign goals are to: (a) involve over 1,000,000 students in climate
change research; (b) enhance environmental and climate literacy for
millions of people around the world; (c) empower students, teachers,
and community members to take action on climate-related environmental
issues; and (d) create a compelling model for 21st century environmental
science education based on grade-level appropriate research and learning
experiences.
The project is currently developing strategic collaborations to make
this campaign a success. For more information, go to: http://globe.gov/r/html/climatechange or email: ClimateChangeCampaign@globe.gov.
EPO’S CHRONICLES – NEW WEEKLY WEB
COMIC
In conjunction with the GLAST launch, Sonoma State University has premiered
a new educational Web comic, entitled "Epo's Chronicles." The
guiding concept behind the project is developing an engaging storyline
with fictional characters that teaches real science both to students
and science enthusiasts of all ages. This weekly Web comic follows
the adventures of Epo, a sentient spaceship/observatory, in the distant
future. Alkina, a humanoid alien, joins Epo as they quest to regain
their memories and learn science along the way. The first series of
'eposodes' focuses on galaxies and is available in English, French
and Spanish. New eposodes appear each Monday, read the most recent
eposode at: http://epo.sonoma.edu/EposChronicles/.
Additionally, there is a special GLAST launch ‘eposode’ available
at: http://epo.sonoma.edu/EposChronicles/?cat=16?=en .
NEW EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
AVAILABLE AT NASA.GOV
The Educational Materials section of NASA's Web site offers classroom
activities, educator guides, posters and other types of resources that
are available for use in the classroom. The materials are listed by
type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available
for downloading.
Getting Dirty on Mars – Grades 5-12
Students will measure the soil moisture content, compare soil colors,
look for biomarkers and measure pH to make their comparisons. They
will then present a “Soil Properties Report.”
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Getting_Dirty_on_Mars.html.
Wall-E Learns About Proportion Video – Grades
K-8
Students calculate the diameter of the moon with the help of Wall-E
the mischievous robot.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Wall-E_Learns_About_Proportion.html.
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Technical
Knockout DVD – Grades K-8
In today's world of high-tech devices, the Tree House Detectives discover
that technology has its flaws when everything electronic stops working.
Eager to solve the problem of this electronic blackout, the detectives
follow the wind to the nearest star…the sun.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Navigational_Uses_for_Global.html.
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Phenomenal
Weather DVD – Grades K-8
Follow the Tree House Detectives as they plan a trip to the Caribbean
and encounter problems trying to predict the weather. In this case,
the Tree House Detectives will learn about violent storms such as hurricanes
and tornadoes, weather fronts, global wind patterns, and climates.
While solving the case, they will discover that predicting the weather
is not predictable at all!
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Learning_About_Clouds.html.
NEW WEB RESOURCE GUIDE ON WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY
An updated, expanded resource guide to the role women have played and
are playing in the development of astronomy is now available through
the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The guide includes both printed
and Web-based materials, and has general references on the topic plus
specific references to the work and lives of 32 women astronomers of
the past and present. All the materials are at the non-technical level
and thus appropriate for student papers, curriculum development, or
personal enrichment. The guide makes reference to 178 different Web
resources, as well as books and articles that are either in print or
found in many larger libraries.
This resource guide is part of a series that can be found on the Society's
Web site, on such topics as the astronomy of many cultures, debunking
astronomical pseudo-science, and resources for astronomy education. http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/womenast_bib.html
Sally Ride Science (http://www.sallyridescience.com/schools)
To help teachers educate the next generation on the science and solutions
for global climate change, Sally Ride Science announces the launch
of the Climate Change Classroom Set.
Developed for upper elementary and middle school students, the Climate Change Classroom Set brings the impacts of climate change to their world. The four books in the set ˜ Ecosystems, The Atmosphere, The Oceans, and The Poles ˜ blend the latest science and environmental concerns with current ideas and solutions for facing our climate challenge and creating a healthier planet. http://www.sallyridescience.com/for_educators/conferences/climate/resources
JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH
Today's news headlines tell of a world facing increased hunger, water shortages, massive floods, and species extinction because of climate change and sea level rise.
In response, educational institutions are introducing courses dealing with the most pressing of these environmental issues. And to help educators explain to students the science behind these new environmental challenges, over 1,500 universities, colleges, and schools in North America have added to their media libraries the environmental video series JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH.
Funded by the National Science Foundation for PBS, JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH is the only video series that helps educators explain to students the science behind the headlines. Find out why publications like The School Library Journal, Booklist, The Journal of Academic Librarianship and the California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse hail the JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH series as the best and most comprehensive environmental series ever produced! The series comes in a 56-minute version and a 25-minute version re-edited specifically for grades 6-12.
To receive a 30-day free preview of the entire 10-episode
series or individual episodes simply reply to this e-mail -- screenscope@screenscope.com
-- with your name, institutional mailing address and phone number.
Or visit our website for more information about the series:
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth
Here's a quick description of each episode:
STATE OF THE OCEAN’S ANIMALS takes a hard look at why nearly half the world's marine animals may face extinction over the next twenty-five years. Locations: Pacific Northwest (whales, salmon and sea otters), Florida (sea level rise and its effect on loggerhead turtles), the Antarctic (threats to Emperor Penguins), and Africa (coastal fisheries). Narrated by Matt Damon.
STATE OF THE PLANET’S WILDLIFE -- Explores what scientists are calling the “sixth great extinction” of our world’s plants and animals. Locations: the Arctic, Montana, China, Kenya, Brazil, Singapore, and the Everglades. Narrated by Matt Damon.
STATE OF THE PLANET -- Looks at how population, climate change, and economic pressures affect the world’s resources such as food and water. Locations: Kenya, India, Israel, Bangladesh, the Amazon, Mexico, China, and the United States. Narrated by Matt Damon.
FUTURE CONDITIONAL -- Looks at the spread of air pollution from disparate locations such as the Arctic, Uzbekistan, Mexico, and California, and how contamination in one area can affect people thousands of miles away. Narrated by Matt Damon.
ON THE BRINK -- Investigates a growing national security threat throughout the world: how environmental pressures can lead to terrorism and regional conflict. Locations: Haiti, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, Peru and along the United States/Mexico border. Narrated by Matt Damon.
SEAS OF GRASS -- Examines the devastating environmental, political and economic effects of the degradation of the world's grasslands, which make up 30 percent of Earth's land surface. Locations: Argentina, Inner Mongolia, Kenya, South Africa, and North America. Narrated by Matt Damon.
HOT ZONES -- Explores how recent trends in globalization and the altering of ecosystems have led to dramatic increases in the spread of infectious diseases. Locations: Kenya, Peru, Bangladesh, New York City, and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. Narrated by Matt Damon.
RIVERS OF DESTINY -- Investigates problems associated with the tampering of the natural environment of rivers. Locations: Mississippi, Amazon, Jordan, and Mekong Rivers. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
THE URBAN EXPLOSION -- Explores ways to sustain burgeoning urban populations without destroying the environment. Locations: Mexico City, Istanbul, Shanghai, and New York City. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
LAND OF PLENTY, LAND OF WANT -- Examines how farmers can feed Earth’s growing population without impoverishing the land. Locations: Zimbabwe, France, China, and the United States. Narrated by Kelly McGillis.
Series Price: $1099 (set of ten) $599 (any five) or $149 per episode. Includes Teachers Guide. Each one-hour episode is also available in a re-edited 25-minute version.
Kimberly Klinger
Educational Outreach Manager
Journey To Planet Earth
Screenscope, Inc.
4330 Yuma Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
Tel: (202) 364-0055
Fax: (202) 364-0058
E-Mail: kklinger@screenscope.com
NASA announces a new Web-based educational project
offered free to every student and educator in the country, from
kindergarten level through lifelong learners
Capitalizing on today's technology, NASA eClips are short, five- to
10-minute video segments available on-demand via the Internet for the
2008-2009 school year. Over 220 video segments are projected to be
available. This project highlights NASA's commitment to providing important
science, math and engineering educational materials in a useful video
format that can be used in the classroom, at home, and by informal
education institutions such as museums, Boys and Girls Clubs, and scouts.
With a goal of increasing science literacy, NASA eClips are designed
to inspire students to learn more about science, technology, engineering
and mathematics and to understand the application of these subjects
in the real world -- all in an accessible, on-demand way.
Additionally, the K-12 (K-5, 6-8, 9-12) NASA eClips project is separated
into grade-appropriate topics that tie into standards-based instruction.
Each level is designed as a resource for classroom teachers; downloadable
video segments and teacher guides illustrating effective instruction
in the 21st-century classroom provide valuable enhancements to teacher
lesson plans.
Students, teachers and the public can look forward to new video and
educational content highlighting current research and innovations throughout
the school year. The video clips are available for streaming on the
NASA Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclips.
The NASA Web site permits educators and the public to download and
save the video clips as well as stream them. In addition, the NASA
Web provides lesson plans and instructions for educators on how to
use these videotapes in the classroom.
Are you looking for a way to engage kids in science? Start a TOYchallenge team today!
TOYchallenge is an exciting way to bring imaginative kids together to create a new toy or game. TOYchallenge can be used in schools, after-school programs, home school families, or as part of any youth-based organization. A team consists of 3 to 6 members, at least half of whom must be girls. One adult is the team coach.
Sign up today at http://www.toychallenge.com or
call 1-800-561-5161. Registion is $60 .
K-12: From the National Institutes of Health: a monthly journal
available online
http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2073
Environmental Health Perspectives is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. Learn about dengue, modifiers of health effects of air pollution, World Trade Center rescue worker mental health morbidity, iron metabolism genes as predictors of children's blood lead, satellite snapshots of global pollution, China's growing organic market, estimating community drug abuse by wastewater analysis, and more.
K-12: NSF and the Birth of the Internet
http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2074
This is a multimedia story of the creation of the Internet. Learn about
the individuals who began connecting computers in the 1960s. Listen
to Vint Cerf, often referred to as "the father of the Internet," describe
their work. Find out about TCP/IP, packet switching, CSNET, and other
technologies and initiatives. Trace developments back to the first
Internet message (Oct 29, 1969) and the first web page (Aug 6, 1991).
See predictions about what's next.
NASA Launches New Hubble Web Site for Educators
NASA has launched a new Web site with resources for educators on the
Hubble Space Telescope. The site celebrates Hubble as a unique tool
of exploration and as a catalyst of inspiration to wonder -- to ponder
new questions and to seek expressive responses to the magnificent visual
imagery it enables people to "see." This site will continue
to follow the Hubble journey into 2010, Hubble's 20th anniversary year.
The Hubble educational resource site offers activities and resources
for three primary themes: Hubble Careers, From Galileo to the Great
Observatories, and the Hubble Walk: Spacesuits and Spacewalks. Revisit
this Web site often throughout the next year for updates and added
activities, resources, links to complementary sites, and notices of
special events. http://www.nasa.gov/education/hubble.
NASA E-CLIPS: A NEW APPROACH TO LEARNING
NASA eClips are short (5-10 minute) video segments available on-demand
via the Internet. The video clips are designed to inspire students
to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) and to understand the application of these subjects in the real
world. The project is a NASA partnership with National Institute of
Aerospace, Caption Max, Internet Archive, and YouTube.
Students, teachers, and the general public can look forward to new
video and educational content highlighting current research and innovations
each week throughout the school year. The video clips are available
for streaming on NASA’s Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclipsand
on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/nasaeclips. The NASA Web site
permits users to download and save the video clips as well as stream
them. The NASA Web site also provides lesson plans and instructions
for educators on how to use the videos in the classroom.
SPACE MATH PROBLEMS OF
THE WEEK
Problem 119 GALEX - A Star Sheds a Comet Tail! (Grade
level: 8-10)
The GALEX satellite captured a spectacular image of the star Mira shedding
a tail of gas and dust nearly 13 light years long. Students use the
GALEX image to determine the speed of the star, and to translate the
tail structures into a timeline extending to 30,000 years ago.
[Skills: Image scaling; Unit conversion; Calculating speed from distance
and time]
Problem 120 Benford's Law (Grade level: 8-10)
Students explore a relationship called Benford's Law, which describes
the frequency of the integers 1-9 in various data. This law is used
by the IRS to catch fraudulent tax returns, but also applies to astronomical
data and other surprising situations.
[Skills: Calculating frequency tables; Histogramming; Statistics]
Problem 121 MESSENGER - Ice on Mercury? (Grade level: 8-10)
Since the 1990's, radio astronomers have mapped Mercury. An outstanding
curiosity is that in the polar regions, some craters appear to have
'anomalous reflectivity' in the shadowed areas of these craters. One
interpretation is that this is caused by sub-surface ice. The MESSENGER
spacecraft hopes to explore this issue in the next few years. In this
activity, students will measure the surface areas of these potential
ice deposits and calculate the volume of water that they imply.
[Skills: Area of a circle; volume, density, unit conversion]
Teachers' Domain as reviewed by Education-World
CONTENT:
Teachers' Domain,
produced by WGBH Educational Foundation, provides a free multimedia
digital library of k-12 resources for science teachers and students.
It includes a collection of classroom ready resources, multimedia
lesson plans, and professional development resources.
REVIEW:
Teachers' Domain supports
science-learning experiences with media rich resources that are
high impact, engaging and interactive. Life science is the focus
of the site and topics include ecology, evolution, genetics, the
cell and more. Each of the resources is geared to a specific grade
level and correlated to state and national standards. Teachers
will find classroom ready video clips, interviews, web-based interactive
activities, photographs, animations, images, and text transcriptions
from original sources, along with contextual information and lesson
plans for effective use in the classroom. Registered users can
create sets of resources on a specific topic and save them to
share with their students. Students could also use this feature
to create a multimedia report on a given topic. Additionally,
there are videos of best practice teaching available for professional
development purposes. This is a rich resource that science teachers
will not want to miss!
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