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
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.
How do you light up your bike without reflectors or lamps?
Bicycle safety is a critical matter. This riddle asks students how they can illuminate their bicycles without using reflectors or headlamps. Before they select their answer, students are given a clue. They read about and watch a video clip of two children's attempts to use glow-in-the-dark materials to light up their bikes. The riddle's final page presents students with three clickable answer choices. Brief feedback is given for the incorrect choices. When students select the best answer, a shor
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.
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.
Ice Cube of Exotic Microbes
This article describes a permafrost subglacial lake discovered beneath Antarctica. The lake offers scientists a chance to test their sterile drilling techniques before exploring elsewhere in search of exotic microbes. Techniques that avoid contaminating a drill site with microbes, suggests the author, would prove useful for future drilling into Mars polar caps in search of life.
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.
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.
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.
Who done It? Or what's that brown fuzzy stuff on my plum?
A safe and simple exercise that uses Koch's postulates to prove that an observed fungus is the cause of fruit disease. Since the fungus that causes brown rot of stone fruit is present naturally on the surface of these fruit, stone fruit purchased from the supermarket or farm stand will usually develop the disease. The fungi responsible for brown rot of stone fruit are not human pathogens. This lab requires dissecting and compound microscopes. A simplified exercise, without cultures, to demonstra
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.
BBC historic figures : Isaac Newton
This concise biography includes an image of Newton and related links in the right navigation bar including: one to an article Newton papers revealed; The Newton Project; and to a lengthier biography, Isaac Newton.
