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
Observe auroras as seen from the ground and from space
This Earth science resource presents students with a series of land and satellite views of auroras. The nine images include examples of green auroral arcs, a series of bands, and a colorful corona. Satellite views show the location of the aurora over the Earth's poles. The introductory text explains how auroras are formed. Students are instructed to click on each labeled image to see an enlarged version of it. A link to additional images and information is included. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower Nat
Lotto or Life: What Are the Chances?
Students are naturally inquisitive about space science and the topics surrounding the existence of intelligent life in other parts of our Universe. Tapping into this curiosity, this lesson uniquely combines the concepts of astronomy and probability to have students use inquiry, problem solving, reasoning, and communication skills to compare winning the lottery with the likelihood of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the Universe. The site contains all of the information and materials needed
Observe the formation of loess deposits
This Earth science resource presents six different photographs depicting examples of loess deposition from glacial outwash and desert dust storms. Students are instructed to click on each labeled image to see an enlarged version of it. Each enlarged version includes a caption that explains the location of the loess as well as the mechanism of its deposition. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Understanding Percent
This math site contains seven interactive lessons and a solutions page dealing with percents. Included are lessons on the meaning of percent and writing ratios as fractions, decimals, and percents; writing fractions as percents; writing decimals as percents; writing percents as decimals; writing percents as fractions; and the understanding and writing of percents less than one and greater than a hundred. All contain examples and practice exercises. Challenge exercises are included and a percent
Observe changes in Earth's orbit that contribute to climate change
This series of three Earth science animations shows middle and high school students how cyclical changes in the Earth's orbit and the tilt of its axis contribute to climate changes. The animations demonstrate how changes in precession, eccentricity, and obliquity cause differences in the amounts of sunlight received by the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Each animation is accompanied by explanatory text. Movie controls allow students to repeat, pause, or step through the animation, which can
Quick take on the trip of a drip
The concept of evaporation is generally understood by students in grades 5-8, but they may be unsure of the journey that a single drop of water takes from the sky to earth and back again. The National Science Education Standards stress that the process of condensation requires extensive observation and instruction if students are to really understand the water cycle.
Cob web plot (grades 6-8)
With this applet, the learner defines initial conditions for graphing a fractal and observes the results. The screen opens to show a first-quadrant unit square with either triangle or parabolic curve with adjustable height and an initial point on the line y equals x. From the initial point, a cobweb plot, or Verhulst diagram, is traced as the point moves vertically until it hits the curve and then moves horizontally back to the line. This automated graphing process continues until paused by the
Examine video clips of erupted materials
This Earth science resource presents students with four video clips from eruptions of Kilauea, a Hawaiian volcano. Each clip features a different type of lava flow. A sentence is included with each clip to describe the erupted material that is displayed. The clips feature solidified basalt on top of lava, lava flowing down over rocks, a lava fountain, and lava with low viscosity. Students are able to use control buttons to play, pause, and step through all four video clips. Copyright 2005 Eisenh
Manipula math with Java : inner center
This applet shows students that there is only one circle inside a triangle tangent to all three sides. Users can specify any triangle they wish; the triangle starts out with three small circles, one in each corner. Users move the circles' centers until the circles are tangent to all three sides, while the circles' radii expand depending on where they are moved. No matter where the three circles start out, they all end up in the same location, which is shown by letting users superimpose them. The
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
Teacher's guide to the infrared
This is a page from a larger website, Seeing our World Through a Different Light, sponsored in part by NASA. This page contains side by side standard and IR photos to illustrate how IR photos show heat. It describes and compares visible light and infrared light. An explanation, accompanied by photos, of how infrared cameras work is also provided.
How Space Shuttles Work
This site explains the complexity of the entire mission of a space shuttle launch, orbit, activities, and return to Earth. Students and teachers can learn about the precise nature of space science including extensive preparations and examine the monumental technology behind Americas shuttle program, as well as the extraordinarily difficult mission it was designed to carry out. Information is also provided on the background and history of the space shuttle. Diagrams, full-color photos, highlighte
Quick take on action with fractions
Really understanding what fractions are, how they fit on the number line, and how to operate with them-add, subtract, multiply, divide-is central to learning decimals and percentages. According to the NCTM Principles and Standards, students in the middle grades should be expected to acquire a deeper understanding of fractions, decimals, and percents and an increased flexibility in using them to solve problems. Yet students may reach even the higher grades of middle school without a firm grasp of
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.
Germy Surfaces
If your brother or sister gets a cold, there is a good chance that you ll pick up the same bug either directly or from something he or she touched or sneezed on. In this Science Update, you'll find out how long a germ can hang around and wait for its next victim. Available as a podcast and written transcript with some background information.
1918 Influenza Pandemic
This web page provides an in depth look at the 1918 flu pandemic that killed more than people than World War I.
Methods and Strategies : Using Models Effectively
Models are crucial to science teaching and learning, yet they can create unforeseen and overlooked challenges for students and teachers. This article guides students through age-appropriate, critical analyses of instructional models.
Box model (grades 6-8)
This virtual manipulative enables the student to randomly generate data that is displayed on a chart. The chart shows the results of a simulated drawing with replacement from a set of numbers selected by the student. The manipulative can be used to simulate flipping a coin or tossing a die. A pause button stops the simulation. A button for showing theoretical probability places an outline on the theoretical probabilities chart, which allows the student to compare the theoretical and experimental
Written division
Factsheets emphasize the meaning of place value in division, the concept of division as repeated subtraction, division by 10 and 100, and well explained examples of both short and long division. A game as well as worksheets and quizzes are provided for practice.
