BrainPop: Science
Brainpop describes itself as the leading producer of educational animated movies. Their Web site has a science page that currently contains sixty-five animated movies, with a large portion of them being physical science related. Each subject contains a 3-4 minute Movie, an Interactive Quiz, an Experiment, a Comic Strip, a How-to hands-on application, a Timeline, and a printable Activity Page. Visitors can play three movies per day for free (all of which begin by a somewhat annoying ad for subscr
The NBN Gateway
Several British conservation and natural resource organizations have collaborated to form the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), a network of biodiversity data. After the free registration, users can access the NBN gateway, which hosts a large variety of datasets that can be navigated by species name or site location. Results allow users to view 10km distribution maps of the selected species. This site encompasses a large amount of data on species distribution in Britain; however, some of the
The Red Kite
The Gigrin, a family-run sheep farm in Wales with a conservation mindset, offers this Web site devoted to the red kite, a small raptor that humans have attempted to protect longer than for any other bird species in the world. Readers can expect a solid introduction to red kite natural history, and an encouraging example of conservation by private landowners. The main Web page provides a general background information about the red kite, including a short audio clip of a red kite call. The follow
Dividing Daffodils
Middle School, difficulty level 4. Help us plant our garden of daffodils.
1900 Air Pollution
Examine this graph from FRONTLINE/NOVA: Whats Up with the Weather? Web site to see dramatic increases in three greenhouse gases over the last two hundred years.
Performance Assessment Links In Science (PALS)
This searchable resource contains a list of performance assessment tasks, aligned with and linked to National Science Education Standards. The resources are collected from a variety of reputable sources, such as the Third Annual Math and Science Study (TIMMS) and the NY State Education Department. The tasks include student directions and response forms, administration procedures, scoring rubrics, examples of student work, and technical quality data calculated from field testing. On-line rater tr
Who Gets the Job?
Each job candidate can see the other two candidates' black or red dots but not his own. Whoever can figure out the color of his own dot gets the job.
Barbie bungee
In this lesson, students model a bungee jump for a Barbie doll. They collect data in a table (number of rubber bands and jump distance), then create a scatterplot of the data, find its line of best fit, and write an equation of that line. Students go on to analyze the equation, noting its slope in relation to the data collected, and the meaning of the y-intercept. Since the distance to which the doll will fall is directly proportional to the number of rubber bands, the lesson provides a scenario
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
Astronomy Without a Telescope
Astronomy notes is an educational resource for introductory astronomy classes for undergraduates. This section describes: the celestial sphere, coordinate systems, the motion of the stars. There are also sections describing: time, the seasons, time zones, the phases of the moon, solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, and the motions of the planets.
Microbe Detective Story
Here is an online cooperative learning activity about microbes and germs. The lesson is divided into three missions. In the first, students unscramble clues about the mysterious microbe, next they identify the culprit, and finally they answer questions about the guilty microbe. Teacher pages, activity pages, resources, and a unique rubric are included.
Function of Fever
Fevers are a sign of infection, but they may also be part of the cure. This drawing illustrates Matthew Klugers lizard study, which supports the notion that fever can be beneficial.
USA Today - How Weather Works
This is a very extensive site, providing backround information about virtually all aspects of weather. Topics include: the role of the sun; wind; storms and fronts; forms of water; flood and droughts; snow and ice; lightning, thunderstorms and tornadoes; hurricanes; the sky; weather prediction; climate change; weather extremes; and a bibliography of other resources. Within each topic are several brief articles about a specific weather-related phenomena, typically accompanied by excellent illustr
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.
Natural Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems
This collection of teacher guides includes: Ecosystems and Climate, Wildlife - Just One Piece of the Picture, Integrated Pest Management, Soil and Ecosystems, Sustainable Agriculture, and The Web of Life - Understanding Ecosystems. Each guide includes a subject overview, objectives, and student activities. By the end, students should be able to understand the effect of climate on ecosystems; the interrelationships of animals with components of their natural ecosystem; how ecosystems benefit from
The secret life of the brain
This web site was developed to accompany the PBS television series The Secret Life of the Brain, which explores how the human brain develops and changes from infancy through late adulthood. Among the site's features are a timeline of human knowledge of the brain, an interactive three-dimensional brain model, and illustrated descriptions of various brain scanning techniques. There are also sections devoted to each episode of the TV series that provide an overview of the episode, brief video clips
Viewing media
This informational piece, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to a three-stage process for viewing media. The three stages are preparing, viewing and listening, and reflecting. A student tip sheet explains each stage and enables students to work through the processes in a step-by-step manner while seeing how the information is tied together. Students prepare, examine, and critically summarize their new information. A graphic organizer provides students with an opport
The path of light
This short article uses text and illustrations to explain that light travels in a straight path until it encounters interference.
Measuring the Height of a Building Using Shadows
What time of day is best to use a shadow to measure the height of a building by using triangles?
Frequently Asked Questions: Questions About Paleontology
This site asks and answers questions about paleontology, fossils and dinosaurs. Paleontology questions are: What is paleontology? How does paleontology differ from anthropology and archaeology? What are the practical uses of paleontology? How do paleontologists know how old their fossils are? What training is necessary to become a paleontologist? What organizations exist for paleontologists?
