Herpetologists' League
Founded in 1936, the Herpetologists' League (HL) "exists to promote scientific study and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. The primary goals of the League are to support the acquisition of knowledge about these organisms, and to transmit that knowledge through publications, conferences, and symposia." Hosted by the Illinois Natural History Survey, the HL website contains contact information for current League Officers, as well as information about membership, and the upcoming Joint Meetin
Toothbrush Beats out PC, Car, Cell Phone as the Invention Most Americans Say They Cannot Live Withou
The Lemelson-MIT Invention Index is "an annual survey of Americans' perceptions about inventing and innovating," and on January 21, 2003, the results for 2003 were released. According to this article, the one invention that respondents said they could not live without was the toothbrush, which was found to be more important than the PC, the automobile, the cellular phone, and the microwave oven. Specific results are reported in the press release. Also on this Web site are links to the previous s
Dividing Daffodils
Middle School, difficulty level 4. Help us plant our garden of daffodils.
Manipula math with Java : Hyppocrates' lunar
This applet leads students through a proof of how the area of two lunar sections is equal to the area of a triangle inscribed in a semicircle. The illustration uses color-coded sections and gives students hints to help find the theorem. The proof uses the Pythagorean theorem to establish the relationship between the lunar sections and the triangle. A separate sequence of diagrams shows the outline of the proof to simplify it. Copyright 2005 Ohio State University
Ozone in the atmosphere : ozone depletion
What processes cause a depletion of the ozone layer? This informational page, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, explores natural and human-made destruction of the ozone layer. Here students read about the instability of ozone atoms and the naturally changing quantities of ozone in the air. Volcanoes, the oceans, and other natural processes provide chemicals that break down ozone. Chemical equations of the breakdowns are provided. A discussion of the use of chlorofluorocar
An Earth Science Scrapbook Project as an Alternative Assessment Tool
Scrapbooking is a popular hobby and as such, has found its way into educational settings, primarily in middle and elementary school levels. This article describes a scrapbook project that is used both as a means of demonstrating the connections between geology and students daily lives and as an alternative form of assessment. The project was developed for an introductory Earth Science class for middle school and high school pre-service teachers.
A Map of Things To Come : National Geographic Map Lesson
This lesson will enable students to analyze and interpret mapped information regarding the effects of urban sprawl on Maryland, and state government efforts during the past decade to address it. The lesson includes two activities based on urban sprawl and a smart growth map.
Plop It!
users click to build dot plots of data and view how the mean, median, and mode change as numbers are added to the plot.
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
Quilt blocks: geometry with a cultural warmth
This lesson describes how quilting activities can be used to integrate geometry and lessons about various cultures into the classroom. Suggested ways of creating paper quilt blocks include Hawaiian techniques, where many different blocks are brought together to make a quilt; Amish techniques, where shapes are pieced together in an intricate pattern; and African techniques, which have an emphasis on strip textiles made on hand looms and religious symbols. The geometric concepts of symmetry, tilin
The Science of Sound
This site contains a series of experiments about sound and its application to animals, musical instruments, and communications. Designed for second graders, each half hour experiment gives the students the introduction, a list of needed materials, and the procedures. Students can easily work in pairs with minimum adult supervision. Included are Animal Challenges which are activities that encourage kids to apply the concepts of sound to the animal kingdom.
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
Circular Motion Activities
This is an online laboratory where students look at either video clips or Flash simulations that model an amusment park ride. Students then use a stop watch to measure velocity and period. with these measurements and some other given information they calculate centripetal force and acceleartion.
El Nino Returns
This web page is an online companion to CNN's special coverage on El Nino for the 1997-98 season. El Nino is a strange but powerful weather phenomenon; tracker and background reports provide the user with the science behind El Nino, its history and impact. Topics covered include: forecast; ground zero (Peru); strange brew (weather); prediction meter; the wet coast (California); and the trackers. Links to other web sites are provided, and users may access more up-to-date El Nino stories by clicki
Fibonacci Numbers and the Pascal Triangle
Offered in English, German, and Serbian, this site is a good introduction to the mathematical concepts of Pascals Triangle, Fibonacci numbers, and the Golden Section. Because it is operated in Yugoslavia, there are occasional grammatical errors in the English version. Nevertheless, the information presented gives a valuable account of the significance of these topics. The content of the site includes historical perspectives (with brief profiles of the mathematicians who originated the ideas) and
Seeds of the world : Journey to Forever
Seeds of the world: Journey to Forever - No seeds, no food, vanishing seeds, most crop varieties already lost, rendezvous with extinction, seed saving, biodiversity, world hunger This site discusses the importance of seeds to humans and the global economy. It provides extension information about genetically modified seeds and the Green Revolution.
Review of Middle School Physical Science Texts
This report provides a review and critique of physical science textbooks in middle school with regard to scientific accuracy, an accurate portrayal of the scientific approach, and the appropriateness and pedagogic effectiveness of the material presented for the particular grade level. Also noted are such things as readability, attractiveness, quality of illustrations, and appropriateness of laboratory activities, home activities, exercises to test understanding, and other resources.
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.
Identify rocks game
This is an interactive page where students identify 15 rocks.
Quick take on the wide, wide world of geometry
As the social studies, art, and music classes in the middle school widen students horizons, some of your students may become fascinated with the art, costumes, and customs of other peoples in this and other times. The NCTM Principles and Standards calls for middle school students to be able to recognize and apply geometric ideas and relationships in areas outside the mathematics classroom, such as art, science, and everyday life.
