Using History and Biographies in Science
This article describes the use of history and biographies in the development of the educational modules available through Vision Learning, Inc. It includes suggestions for using these resources in the classroom.
Discovery, Chance and the Scientific Method
This article on the nature of science, discusses several events in science history and asks how chance influenced each. The authors conclude that though many texts credit serendipity, the reality is the scientists involved were probably aware of work done before them on until then, unanswered questions. They used this previous work to inform their own work and thus were enabled to make scientific progress, not by chance but by clever application, creativity and synthesis.
Learning English in the Math and Science Classroom : Northwest Teacher, volume 5 number 1
In this issue of Northwest Teacher, you ll read about teachers who are fostering their students English acquisition while taking them boldly into the worlds of math and science. The opening article reviews what researchers and practitioners have learned about English language learners in the math and science classroom. There are rich connections to be made, they say, in the teaching and learning of language, math, and science. In the second article a teacher in the rural town of Royal City, Wash
Science Fair
PBS provides students in grades 4-7 with oodles of science fair ideas and a science fair tip sheet in this section of the DragonflyTV web site. Overviews of investigations from the television show are offered to help students hone in on an interesting topic and create their own science fair project. Each overview relays a question that a child asked on television, the main steps in his or her experiment, and the results. The overviews also include ideas for further investigations that build on t
Antarctic Extreme Jeopardy
This Antarctica activity challenges students to research and create the answers and questions for a game of classroom Jeopardy. They will include hazards to humans, polar gear, and the cold facts. This site also includes a series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about Antarctica and guidelines for conducting additional research, illustrated activity directions, and a worksheet that helps students craft their Jeopardy-style answers and questions.
Examine global surface currents
This Earth science animation is designed to help high school students visualize the causal relationship between global winds and the temperature and direction of ocean surface currents. The animation presents a world map that shows the direction of surface currents, which are color-coded to indicate warm and cool temperatures. Moving the cursor over the map superimposes gold arrows that indicate wind direction. The introduction summarizes the relationship and calls students attention to the temp
Quick take on safety in the science classroom
With the increasing emphasis on hands-on instruction, it becomes more important than ever before for science teachers to be knowledgeable about laboratory safety issues. The National Science Education Standards say that students should have frequent opportunities to use a wide range of equipment, materials, supplies, and other resources for experimentation and direct investigation of phenomena. The National Science Teachers Association recommends that a minimum of 80 percent of science instructi
Science News For Kids
This resource is meant to enhance the usefulness of Science News in the middle-school classroom and offer recreational reading and activities for students interested in science. It is comprised of six zones: a weekly brainteaser for those who enjoy solving and inventing puzzles, entertaining science-fiction composition exercises for those interested in writing, and weekly science fair profiles and tips. The GameZone contains a small selection of logic and memory games, implemented as Java applet
Racing Game with One Die
This activity allows the user to play a game in which two players move towards the finish line based on the roll of a six-sided die.
University of Iowa : burn oat hulls for economic, environmental benefit
What is an alternative energy source that is available today? This article, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to a pilot project of burning oat hulls at the University of Iowa power plant. Students read that the burning of oak hulls instead of coal provides for cleaner air and additional space in landfills. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Science Sampler : Differentiated assessment
One of the goals of science education is to encourage students to think and reason at increasingly higher levels. In order to accomplish this goal, the authors created a unique form of assessment that not only encourages students to work at the highest critical-thinking level possible, but also allows them creative liberty to express their understandings of the big ideas. This enables all students, including English language learners and special education students, to achieve their potential thr
Tides and gravity labs
How does gravity cause tides in the oceans? This section, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, introduces students to four activities on tides and gravity that cover critical orbital speed between Earth and the moon, gravitational forces between two bodies, tidal effects from the sun and moon, and the change in tidal levels over time. The activities include hands-on animations of concepts whose variables can be manipulated by students. Questions posed to students include ans
Early atomic understanding
This brief timeline covers all the major ancient Greeks and their various ideas. It is part of a larger website, which includes sections on Scientific Revolution and Classical Mechanics, Quntum Theory and The Modern Standard Model.
A Change in Seasons : Increasing Student Observation Skills
The ability to accurately observe and notice small details is a skill important to scientists. To help students develop this skill, have them record and share observations, successively focusing in on smaller, more precise details. When students observe changes in the seasons, they can extend their science knowledge by carefully noting changes in color, shape, and patterns in vegetation, asking questions, and making predictions.
This Planet Really Rocks
This ThinkQuest Junior site contains information and activities about rocks and minerals. Included is information about what a rock is, the major characteristics with examples of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, the rock cycle, the differences between rocks and minerals, how to identify minerals (color, luster, streak, cleavager, hardness, and specific gravity), and the Mohs Scale. Facts about common minerals and their properties, how rocks and minerals are important, and their uses
Observe an animation showing evidence of the carbon cycle
In this visual resource about the carbon cycle, students are presented with an animation and accompanying text that focus on carbon and plants. The text addresses how plants fit into the larger carbon cycle, including how carbon enters and leaves the biosphere, and it explains what students are viewing in the animation. The animation shows false color images on a flat map of the world. When the viewer clicks on the image (or the play button), the animation plays, and color patterns reveal change
Our Solar System
This site contains information about the nine planets, the sun, and the moon. Included is each planet's size compared to the sun. Students can click on a picture to discover the following information: the diameter, mass, temperature, number of rings, what it's made of, can life exist there, and other interesting facts. Included for each planet are the number of moons, length of a day and year, and the average distance from the sun. Students can enter their weight to find out how much they would
A Maths Dictionary For Kids
An animated, interactive dictionary for students which explains over 400 common mathematical terms in simple language. Includes definitions, animated examples, interactive activities, practice and lots of different calculators.
Waves of Destruction - Tsunamis
At this site, users can read and view pictures and videos that explain the mechanisms that trigger tsunamis, how they travel across great distances of the ocean, and what damage they cause.
Ebola infection reported
This article describes cases and outbreaks of Ebola virus. The focus is on how little is known about Ebola and Marberg viruses, especially about how certain people survive those infections. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
