Water Science for Schools
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water resources site provides comprehensive coverage of water related issues, and includes several interactive quizzes and activities for children. Here you will find information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center. Topics include: Earths water, Water basics, Water use, Water Questions and Answers, Activity center, Picture Gallery, Glossary, and Related Water Links. A special topics section tackles current proble
Energy Transformation on a Roller Coaster
This webpage offers a discussion of work, energy, and force on a roller coaster as it goes through a loop in the track. It includes an animated image of the roller coaster with appropriate data for each point in the track. A multiple choice practice question using the relevant equations is also available.
Create a Graph
Students will learn how to create area, bar, pie, and line graphs. They are provided with information about what each type of graph shows and what it can be used for. Students are given an example of each type of graph, but they can create graphs using their own data in the interactive tool.
Blue Planet: Sea Vent Photo Gallery
These nine "sea vent" inhabitants were captured on film with a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution high definition underwater imaging system from the Deep Submergence Vehicle Alvin. A description of each animal is provided. The vent is in the Pacific about 1,000 miles south of San Diego, California.
Energy : An Introduction
This article presents an introduction to the forms and changes in energy. This lesson discusses potential and kinetic energy as well as introducing the 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamics.
Nucleic Acids : DNA and RNA
This lesson is an introduction to the structure and function of DNA including the process of DNA replication. A short multiple-choice quiz is included.
Spaghetti Bridge
Civil engineers design and construct structures such as buildings, dams, and bridges. We can explore the field of engineering by making a bridge using spaghetti. This bridge is then tested based on the weight it can carry without breaking.
Life in the Cold and Dark: Penguin Adaptation
In these two activities, students investigate animal adaptations to a cold environment, specifically how they keep warm and incorporate key findings by designing an organism well-adapted to this environment.
National Centre for Biotechnology Education Genetically Modified Food
Following the recent decision of Bayer CropScience to withdraw its herbicide-tolerant fodder maize, Chardon LL, the soonest we are likely to see commercial cultivation of any GM crop in the UK is 2008 . This mini-site examines the history of GM food in the UK. This content is appropriate for teachers or as an extension.
Polar Bears International Photo and Video Gallery
This page links to video intervews of the researchers and photographers, videos of polar bears taken with the polar cam, and images of polar bears.
Critical Evaluation of a Web Site : Middle School Level
This is a checklist designed to help middle school users critically evaluate web resources. By answering the questions in the checklist, students can then assess if the site would be a good one to use for their science research projects. There is a series of How does it look? questions and a series of What did you learn? questions that challenge students to think critically about what they are looking at and then summarize the effectiveness of the web site.
T.P. Away
What's a quick way to unroll a roll of toilet paper? This material is part of a series of hands-on science activities designed to arouse student interest. Here students use Bernoulli's principle and an electric leaf blower to force air over the top of the toilet paper to quickly unroll it. 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 c
Science Sampler : Growth Potential
Students will enjoy carrying out this exciting and challenging research project that combines science with computers and mathematics to investigate how polyacrylate animals change in size over time when placed in water and aqueous salt solutions. The hands-on activity motivates students and provides them with enjoyable and rewarding science project experiences. Here they have an opportunity to solve a problem and use the science inquiry skills of observing, collecting, organizing, and analyzing
Quick take on the wide, wide world of geometry
As the social studies, art, and music classes in the middle school widen students horizons, some of your students may become fascinated with the art, costumes, and customs of other peoples in this and other times. The NCTM Principles and Standards calls for middle school students to be able to recognize and apply geometric ideas and relationships in areas outside the mathematics classroom, such as art, science, and everyday life.
A Sphere's Surface Area and Volume
What is the relation between a sphere's surface area and its volume? How does their ratio change?
Area of Parallelograms : Activity A
Examine and manipulate the graph of a parallelogram or triangle and find its area. Explore the relationship between the area of a parallelogram and the area of a rectangle using an animation.
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
Fractal Musicand Fractal Music Lab
This first website offers a collection of fractal music using images created by G.W.F. Albrecht. The technology and mathematics which this presentation draws on is described on the second website. The second website, developed by David Strohbeen, offers some basic information about fractals and fractal music. He has also posted some samples of his music and invites visitors to download software for creating fractal music and to submit their own compositions.
Place Values
This site has explanatory lessons, interactive practice, and challenge games all dealing with place value. Includes information, practice, and games on place value of two, three, six and seven digit numbers and expandend notation for two, three, six, and seven digit numbers. Problems are randomly selected and students receive immediate feedback with the correct response. The bottom of each lesson page contains timed exercises.
The online geoboard
This applet simulates the use of an actual geoboard without the usual limitations of working with rubber bands. geoboards are used to investigate shapes, area, and perimeter. With this applet, students have choices about the number of pegs on the geoboard and the number of rubber bands. They also may select to have the area filled in within the shapes or merely work with rubber band outlines. Most materials designed for real geoboards may be used with this online version. Copyright 2005 Eisenhow
