Extreme Animals
This online news article discusses the ability of tardigrades to withstand harsh conditions. The article covers the history, biology and significance of tardigrades, as well as the different types of cryptobiosis. It includes detailed images of the organisms and links to related web pages.
POP Goes Antarctica?
As students explore this Web site, they will learn how scientists work together to answer questions. This site follows several scientists to Antarctica where they are doing research on Persistent Organic Pollutants. A daily journal, glossary, and learning activities will help incorporate this into classroom lesson plans.
The Metric System : Metric and Scientific Notation
This lesson describes the history and basic operation of the metric system as well as scientific notation. Metric to English conversions and examples of unit conversions by moving the decimal are included.
The science of light : funhouse mirrors background
This page briefly describes and illustrates the laws of reflection. It includes a short section on pedagogy and it relates the content to standards.
Fossils, Rocks, and Time
This on-line book, published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), discusses the use of fossils in determining the age of rocks. The publication covers how to place events in correct temporal order, a description of the geologic time scale, the use of fossils to indicate rock ages, the law of fossil succession, index fossils, and radioactive dating.
Absorption, Distribution and Storage of Chemicals
This module introduces the concept of biological absorption, storage and distribution of chemicals. It includes descriptions of the various chemical factors involved and diagrams of the cell membrane and human body.
Study of Climate Change in the Arctic
This page describes why and how scientists study climate change in the Arctic. It includes information on the climate indices and important research concepts used by scientists to study climate change.
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
Quick take on those dicey decimals!
Understanding decimals is a must and practice with them a basic necessity. These digital resources feature games, lessons, and interactive experiences that encourage understanding and practice at varying levels of mastery.
Fighting Back
Help the immune system fight off an infection in this interactive feature from the NOVA: Surviving AIDS Web site.
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.
Pre-Algebra Problem of the Week
Math problems for students learning algebraic reasoning, identifying and applying patterns, ratio and proportion, and geometric ideas such as similarity. The goal is to challenge students with non-routine problems and encourage them to put their solutions into words. A a href= /pow/support/ Teacher Support page/a is available for each problem.
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
Heat and temperature
Knowing the difference between heat and temperature is important if one is to have a clear understanding of energy. In this section we will define both terms and reach an understanding of how they are related ideas, but not identical ideas.
Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science: Workshop 5. Sunlight to Starch
Explains the process of photosynthesis. Leaves from plants grown in the light contain starch, but leaves from plants grown in the dark do not contain starch.
Skulls : structure and function
Skulls have been designed for both form and function. Through the use of text and labeled photographs, this website explains how specific skull adaptations meet the needs of organisms. For instance, visitors will discover that some beaks of macaws are attached to their skull only through ligaments to limit the amount of force put on the skull when the birds crack open nuts. The site also presents a series of skull facts, questions, and answers provided by scientists. A unique feature allows visi
Observe animations of processes that occur along plate boundaries
Here are three animations that reveal how tectonic plates move relative to each other at three types of plate boundaries--transform, convergent, and divergent boundaries. Key features such as the asthenosphere are labeled in the animations. In addition, each animation is equipped with movie control buttons that allow students to play, pause, and move forward and backward through each clip. The animation of a transform boundary shows the North American and Pacific plates sliding past one another,
Lessons on the Lake : An Educators Guide to the Ponchartrain Basin
This resource is designed to educate students, through activities teachers can use, about the environmental importance of Lake Ponchartrain. The main goal is to foster a sense of stewardship in students through learning to identify environmental issues that affect the lake, offer changes, and develop solutions. Although the resource deals with the Lake Ponchartrain Basin, the activities are applicable to students and teachers beyond this local level. The activities and lesson plans cover everyth
Static Charged Two by Fours
How can you move a wooden two-by-four without touching it? This material is part of a series of hands-on science activities designed to arouse student interest. Here students use static electricity to attract and move a wooden two-by-four. The activity includes a description, a list of science process skills and complex reasoning strategies being used, and a compilation of applicable K-12 national science education standards. Also provided are content topics, a list of necessary supplies, instru
Science Sampler : Thinking about students' questions
Asking questions is a vital component in any classroom, but it is absolutely essential in a science classroom. As science teachers, we know that questioning plays a major role in the inquiry process and has a positive impact on students' learning. This article discusses the importance of questioning skills and current research on questioning techniques. In addition, this article will present a series of lessons that were implemented by the author to improve the questioning abilities of middle sc
