Dr. Saul's Biology in Motion
This site offers an interactive simulation activity, which examines how natural selection works to bring about the evolution of adaptations. Using the simulation tool, the student can slow down the process to watch all the steps involved or can speed it up to watch how a population evolves over time. Links are provided to a variety of useful sites.
Smart Move!
This is a simple activity to visualize a communication system. In order to do this the students encode, decode, transmit, receive and store messages. They will use a code sheet and flashlight for this process. They will also maintain a storage sheet from which they can retrieve information as and when it is required.
Water reclamation plant
In this video clip, students see how wastewater is treated at a water reclamation plant. One of the plant's operators gives Bob the Vid Tec (a children's programming host) a tour of the plant, describing along the way what happens at each step in the water treatment process. For example, the operator explains that microorganisms are used to consume human waste in the biological nutrient removal step. Bob also talks with another plant operator about why kids should learn about wastewater treatmen
Box Plot 2
This activity allows the user to explore maximum, minimum, median, upper quartile, lower quartile and outliers while learning how to draw box plots.
University of Iowa : burn oat hulls for economic, environmental benefit
What is an alternative energy source that is available today? This article, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to a pilot project of burning oat hulls at the University of Iowa power plant. Students read that the burning of oak hulls instead of coal provides for cleaner air and additional space in landfills. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Blue Planet Challenge - A natural history of the oceans
This very interactive site uses a variety of games to explore ocean related subjects. The games cover such topics as tidal zones, deep ocean species, ocean currents, general animal life of the ocean, symbiotic relationships, water pressure, human impact on ecosystems, and the habitats found at the South Pole and along the California coastline. There are help tabs added to the games called Species Fact Files and Infobursts where a player can find out more information on a particular topic if need
Lobster's Violin: Why They do it
This two-minute radio show focuses on why spiny lobsters make sounds using soft body parts. While the sounds of a lobster play in the background, the show's guest scientist explains that the spiny lobster, being an arthropod, goes through a molting process in order to grow. It produces these sounds to ward off predators when its new outer skeleton is not yet hard. The show, which is from the Pulse of the Planet radio program, is available here in audio and text. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower Nationa
Factoring Special Products
Choose the correct steps to factor a polynomial involving perfect-square binomials, differences of squares, or constant factors. Use the feedback to diagnose incorrect steps.
Maths: Number : Short and long division
Worked examples of short and long division problems. For long division, an applet gives a step-by-step demonstration of the procedure; the pace at which the learner views each step is controlled by the user.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : Climate Homepage
This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website provides climate information and data. This site offers a variety of product links to climate monitoring, climate at a glance data, U.S. drought assessment, global climate change information, weather observation stations and more. Users can also link to organizations which participate in climate research such as the National Climate Data Center, Ocean Climate Laboratory and the National Weather service. This site is an excellent resour
Alfred Wegener
This brief biography of the originator of the Theory of Continental Drift, Alfred Wegener, covers his background and some of his other work in addition to his 1912 book, The Origin Of Continents And Oceans. In addition, the site explains the evidence that brought Wegener to his conclusion, the early rejections, and his final vindication. It also provides information about some of his personal interaction with others. In addition, there is a link to information about his work in Greenland.
Teacher's Toolkit : Reforming cookbook labs
The majority of ancillary materials provided with any textbook includes a large quantity of labs that have step-by-step instructions. Although it is important in science for students to learn how to follow directions, offering only cookbook labs limits students' access to exploration. Presented in this article are 11 different ways of altering cookbook labs so that students understand the intention of the procedure. The altered labs do not fully achieve the status of inquiry-lab, but they are a
Tech Trek : The latest in handheld microscopes
Microscopes have come a long way since their invention in 1590. New technologies in handheld microscopes encourage interactivity, exploration, and observation of specimens in real time, very often allowing students to see living microcosms that are difficult to observe. The ideas presented here will update your knowledge of the technologies available for examining the structure and function of living things in the middle school science classroom.
Ecological Footprint: Overshoot
In this two-minute sound segment, the director of the Sustainability Program for the public policy group Redefining Progress discusses the concept of your ecological footprint. This is the amount of nature it takes to support your lifestyle. He says that if we use more than can be replaced by nature we are in a condition called overshoot. He suggests that this can continue for a while but eventually someone will have to pay with a lower standard of living. This site is from an archive of a daily
Observe how glaciers erode bedrock surfaces
In this interactive Earth science resource, students are first presented with six different photographs showcasing how glaciers can erode bedrock. Students are instructed to click on each labeled image to see an enlarged version of it. In the enlarged view, each photo is accompanied by a sentence or two that explains the glacial erosion shown. The images include features such as cirques, medial moraines, and striated bedrock. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Slope calculation
Examine the graph of two points in the plane. Find the slope of the line that passes through the two points. Drag the points and investigate the changes to the slope and to the coordinates of the points.
The future of energy, environment
The lasting effects of energy consumption on the environment continue to be a problem as the world's population requires more and more energy. This informational piece, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to environmental issues related to the use and production of energy. Fossil fuels, nuclear energy, hydropower, and clean air are discussed in the context of environmental quality. Students can read about the development of environmentally friendly vehicles and follo
Science and Technology
The goal of engineering is to solve practical problems through the development or use of technologies. Technology/engineering works in conjunction with science to expand our capacity to understand the world.
Earth and Space
In earth and space science, students study the origin, structure, and physical phenomena of the earth and the universe. Earth and space science studies include concepts in geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy.
HPLC Primer
Nice introduction to high performance liquid chromatography that includes information on the modes of separation, a comparison of normal vs. reversed phase separations, identification of analytical, semi-prep, and preparative scale LC and a very nice large glossary that includes definitions of terms related to chromatography.
