Boeing Integrated Defense System : Space Exploration
Space Exploration, a division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, is a leading global supplier of reusable and human space systems and services. Headquartered in Houston, the organization comprises more than 4,000 people operating in five locations. The organization s legacy began in the late 1950s with the X-15, spanned to the Apollo missions of the 1960 and 70s, and continues today with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.
Compare and contrast warm and cold fronts
This pair of Earth science animations show students what happens at cold and warm fronts as clouds are formed by the interaction of warm air and cool air. The cool front animation depicts cumulonimbus clouds forming as a cold front moves into a region of warm air and forces the warm air to rise. In contrast, the warm front animation shows how warm air, moving over cold air, causes a progression of nimbostratus to cirrus clouds to form. Movie controls allow students to repeat, pause, or step thro
Polyhedra Collection
Galleries of polyhedra shown using JPEG pictures and 3D objects in VRML2.0 format. Uniform polyhedra; Duals; Compounds; Johnson's solids; 59 stellations of icosahedron; 270 stellations of deformed dodecahedron; symmetric stellations of rhombic triacontahedron: polyhedra and stellation diagrams; Spherical Platonic polyihedra; Infinite regular polyhedra ; Compounds Composer (an interactive building of polyhedra compounds); Polyhedral Kaleidoscope; Symmetrical compounds of uniform polyhedra; Stella
Golden rectangle (grades 6-8)
This virtual manipulative can help students visualize the golden rectangle. It shows how a set of golden rectangles is generated by using the golden ratio (the ratio of the longer side to the shorter side of a golden rectangle) to create smaller golden rectangles within an initial rectangle. The size of the initial rectangle can be varied, and the center of the spiral generated by the applet can be seen. Instructions for using this online manipulative are included on the site, as is a link to th
Mathematics Museum
Like any museum, this website called the Mathematics Museum provides some interesting visuals and explanations of various aspects of its subject, in this case mathematics. For example, the Fractal 3D Gallery includes video footage of 3D fractals and an FAQ section that provides some basic information on fractals. The Kodawari house includes some interesting math games and instruction for children as well as more advanced mathematics. Visitors can browse images created using Mathematica software
Ten preparation steps for a successful group presentation
This resource informational piece, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to the process of making a successful group presentation. It lists 10 steps for students to follow when making presentations. These include: research and gather information, focus the group's efforts, create a story line, and self-evaluate, among others. Students are given guided questions and checklists for each of the 10 steps to self-evaluate whether they have successfully completed the step. A
Observe images of advection fog
This Earth science resource presents six photographs depicting examples of advection fog along various coastal areas in the United States. The introduction explains how advection fogs form and provides a brief explanation of how they differ from radiation fogs. Students are instructed to click on each labeled image to see an enlarged version of it. Each enlarged version includes a caption that describes the location of the fog relative to local landmarks in the picture. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower
How can you go eighty miles per hour on a bicycle?
Is it possible for a human to ride a bicycle at the speed of 80 miles per hour? This riddle asks students how such a feat could be accomplished. On a clue page, students read about and view a brief video clip of two boys experimenting to see if a certain combination of gears can help them bike faster. When students select the correct answer from the riddle's three answer choices, a video clip plays about a unique kind of aerodynamic bicycle. A cyclist talks about the special design features--the
Measuring What Counts: A Conceptual Guide for Mathematics Assessment
To achieve national goals for education, we must measure the things that really count. Measuring What Counts establishes crucial research-based connections between standards and assessment. Arguing for a better balance between educational and measurement concerns in the development and use of mathematics assessment, this book sets forth three principles--related to content, learning, and equity--that can form the basis for new assessments that support emerging national standards in mathematics e
Energy-mass conversion
How do physicists make new particles? In this page of a particle physics tutorial, students are introduced to the concept of converting kinetic energy to mass. Students read that low-mass particles placed into an accelerator can be smashed together to produce more massive particles through the conversion of energy to mass. They see an example in which two pieces of fruit are accelerated and smashed, and additional types of fruit are produced. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Whats It Like Where You Live? Desert
This site provides excellent background information on deserts. Large print and superb pictures make this site very appealing to younger students. Topics include: What is a Desert Like?, Types of Deserts, What causes Deserts?, Deserts of the World, Desert Plants, Desert Animals, and links to other desert sites.
Quick take on area and volume
This one-page document highlights online resources with virtual manipulatives that can help make area and volume real for students. Be sure to check out the sites these resources are from; the sites contain many other interesting and useful mathematics learning resources.
History topics: Babylonian mathematics
This website contains an overview of Babylonian mathematics, with links to in-depth analyses of Babylonian numerals and Pythagoras?s theorem in Babylonian mathematics. The history of zero covers Mesopotamia, Greece, India, the Mayan people in Central America, China, and Europe. Links also give access to bibliographies of mathematicians, such as Cardan, Ch'in, Bhaskara, and Brahmagupta. Examples of written numbers using the cuneiform symbols in the sexigesimal system are included. Other terms: al
Before aspirin : endorphins
This resource is part of a set of readings that show the students what pain relief was like before modern painkillers were invented. Students will understand the discovery of endorphins was fairly recent and will learn how endorphins are perceived to work.
Using Variables to Solve Word Problems
Susan puts only dimes and quarters in her coin bank ...
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.
Conan the Bacterium
This on-line news article reveals the defense strategy of radiation-resistant Deinococcus radiodurans to be a tightly packed ring of DNA. The article explores the hypothesis of some that indicates the microbe originated on Mars and describes the actions of others that used experiments to show resistance is not attributed to repair enzymes, as was once believed. The article details the implications of these findings and concludes with future studies regarding the organism.
Keeping Cool at Deep-Sea Vents
This Astrobiology Magazine article reports that a research team of marine scientists has determined that water chemistry controls the location and distribution of two species of weird worms inhabiting deep-sea hydrothermal vent sites: the tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila) and Pompeii worm (Alvinella pompejana). The article includes color images of the worms and monitoring equipment, links to related web pages and other astrobiology resources, and an MP3 machine text-to-speech function.
Wisconsin Fast Plants Program
This is the homepage of the Fast Plants organization. Fast Plants are inexpensive seeds which take approximately 2 weeks from planting to flowering. The website includes seed ordering, growing directions, and activities.
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.
