Using technology to support Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) students' learning experiences
This article examines the challenges and rewards related to using technology as a tool to increase learning for limited English-proficient (LEP) students. The article is based on the belief that students' content, linguistic, and technology skills should be developed in tandem. Strategies and standards for technology use are featured along with suggestions for enhancing LEP students comfort level in content classes. Access and equity and the redefinition of teacher roles are also discussed. Impr
Soil as Living Skin
In this two-minute radio program, a soil scientist introduces listeners to reasons why soil is crucial to the planet. The scientist lists functions of soil that include nutrient cycling and water filtration, and he also uses living skin as an analogy for soil. The program, part of the Pulse of the Planet radio show, is available here in text and audio formats. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Hurricanes 1: The Science of Hurricanes
This lesson is the first of a two-part series on the science of hurricanes and the kinds of technology being used to identify and track them. In this segment, students examine different scientific aspects of hurricanes, all in an effort to begin to understand the nature of motion, particularly how changes in speed or direction of motion are caused by forces.
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
How Students Learn: History, Mathematics, and Science in the Classroom
How Students Learn: History, Mathematics, and Science in the Classroom builds on the discoveries detailed in the bestselling How People Learn. Now, these findings are presented in a way that teachers can use immediately, to revitalize their work in the classroom for even greater effectiveness. Organized for utility, the book explores how the principles of learning can be applied in teaching history, science, and math topics at three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Leading educators
National Gardening Association
This is the homepage of the National Gardening Association, a nonprofit organization established to help gardeners, and to help people through gardening. The Web site contains loads of garden-related information, including over 2,000 articles, 30,000 FAQs, seed swap programs, a zone finder, pest control library, and much more. The site does advertise some retail items, but all information in this extensive online resource is available free of charge.
The CSI Effect: Changing The Face of Science
Until recently, the vast majority of female student images of scientists were versions of white males working alone in laboratory settings (Barman et al. 1997). As a result, the authors asked the question, ?What phenomenon is responsible for the recent change in female students? mental images of scientists?? They suggest that the popular Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) television series and other television programming have greatly influenced how students, especially female students, perceive sc
Exploration Activity: Local and Global Precipitation Patterns
In this activity, students investigate and compare seasonal precipitation patterns in the San Francisco Bay area with locations at similar latitudes and geographic situations in the southern hemisphere. They will also characterize the pattern of annual average precipitation versus latitude for the earth as a whole. They must understand the concept of latitude, know the names of latitude zones used by meteorologists and geographers, be able to estimate latitudes on a map or globe, and be able to
Infinity
What is mathematical infinity? Are some infinities bigger than others? And does infinity exist in nature? This radio broadcast discusses how the infinitesimal is needed to understand motion and change; the idea that infinity is a limiting process rather than a thing; whether physical infinities exist such as at the Big Bang or in black holes; the discovery of zero and imaginary numbers; and the sense in which numbers can be said to be real. There is discussion on the paradoxes of Zeno; Cantor an
The Earth's Orbit
These eleven activities relate to the results of the motion and position of the Earth in its orbit, investigating both the causes and the effects of changing seasons. It starts simply by trying to quantify the observation that it is colder in the winter and ends by measuring the tilt of the Earth. This is chapter two of the online book Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground, containing explorations into astronomy as a classroom tool for learning how to theorize, experiment, and analyze data. The ac
Platonic solids, duals (grades 6-8)
Using this virtual manipulative, the student can examine the dual relationship among the five platonic solids, each a polyhedron with identical regular polygonal faces. Every platonic solid has a unique platonic solid that fits inside it, with its vertices at the midpoints of the original solid. The student can manipulate, color, and change the size of each solid. A transparent mode is available for viewing the outline of each polyhedron and its dual. Instructions for using the applet and inform
14 Writing Strategies
That a relatively small piece of writing such as Albert Einstein's three-page paper of relativity could be so important certainly illustrates the significance of writing to science. A science class is not complete unless it helps students learn to think like scientists, and writing is an essential part of such thinking. This article enumerates fourteen writing strategies that will encourage critical thinking skills and provide legitimate, purposeful writing practice by promoting solid science le
Variations on a Team: Changing Paradigms
Three paradigms related to teaming and how the might be revised to improve the quality of today's middle school programs are discussed: team configurations, teaming for interdisciplinary instruction, and teaming and advisory.,Volume 7, Number 2
Classifying Quadrilaterals : Activity A
Apply constraints to a quadrilateral, and then reshape and resize it. Classify the figure by its constraints. Explore the differences between the different kinds of quadrilaterals.
Atlas of the Cyrosphere
This site from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) allows visitors to explore and dynamically map the Earth's frozen regions. Viewed from a polar perspective, the available data sources include snow cover, sea ice extent and concentration, glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost, and other critical components of the Earth's cryosphere. Users can zoom in to a specific region on the Earth as well as overlay country borders, major cities, and other geographic information. This site provides a ge
History and Philosophy of Western Astronomy
These web pages give a brief history of the imporatant figures associated with shaping Astronomical thought into what it is today. It covers the work and discoveries of the ancient Greeks, Ptomely, Copernicus, Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and others. This is a part of Astronomy notes, an educational resource for introductory undergraduate astronomy classes.
Meteor crater map
A Landsat image of the world with crater locations flagged. One can zoom in on any location.
Turning Zeros to 60s
It's adjusting the grading scale so that each grade has an appropriate amount of influence on the student's summative evaluation and each grade provides information for effective decision making.,Volume 9, Number 3
Finding Patterns
Build a pattern to complete a sequence of patterns. Study a sequence of three patterns of squares in a grid and build the fourth pattern of the sequence in a grid.
Atmosphere
What is this atmosphere that surrounds the Earth? This instructional tutorial, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, introduces students to the structure, effects, and components of the atmosphere. Here students investigate the composition of the atmosphere; effects of temperature, pressure, and ozone; the greenhouse effect; and how Earth compares with other planets. Interactive activities present students with opportunities to explore ideas and answer questions about the atm
