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Life Science

THE LIVING SKELETON:
Find a fascinating collection of xray images here, designed to be used with computer projection. Eight sections of the human body form a gallery of images, which themselves link through to images and explanatory text. All images are both labeled and unlabeled, and therefore can be used to teach and to test.

SKELETON TEMPLATE:
What was the hip bone connected to again? Your students had better know in order to put together these printable skeletons from Ben and Jerry's.

GEL PERSON ANATOMY:
[Link2]
This is a very cool idea for teaching about human anatomy. Students will create a gel person with gelatin, gingerbread men molds, and food coloring, and then adapt various vegetables and pasta shapes to represent organs and parts of the body. Have students work in groups for this challenge, and see what each group comes up with, working independently. Use the 2nd link above for a student project planner.

THE HUMAN BODY WEB TREK:
http://www.everydayteaching.com/Treks/human.body.html
Just how do our skeletons manage to keep us standing and in one piece? How can we push and pull - or do we really only push? Upper elementary to middle school students are in for some hijinks here as they complete team tours of the human body, learning all about its major systems through selected internet research and compelling exercises.

INTERACTIVE SCIENCE DETECTIVES:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/yjackie/
Can you solve this science mystery? Aboard a sailboat, crew members are dropping from a mysterious ailment in the middle of a race. You must listen to all the symptoms and advise them on a diagnosis, and whether or not they should complete the prestigious race.

WEBANATOMY - PHYSIOLOGY AND ANATOMY
http://www.msjensen.gen.umn.edu/webanatomy/
What is the ankle bone connected to, anyway? WebAnatomy presents a collection of study aids for entry-level physiology and anatomy students. There are introductions to the body's systems, bone structure, careers in medicine and medical terms. Students can take a self-test, challenge themselves against the clock or participate in amulti-player review. There is also an image gallery with illustrationsof most of the presented terms.

BIOLOGY IN MOTION
http://www.biologyinmotion.com/
Having trouble finding illustrations, diagrams, and interactive activities to supplement biology lectures for your students? Want to provide a visual representation of the passage of blood through the human cardiovascular system--or have your students conduct an online experiment in cell division? "Biology in Motion" offers these and many other features. Based on the premise that the web provides an ideal vehicle for teaching biology, developers have assembled a collection of learning activities, animations, and cartoons designed to help explain difficult, but widely taught, biological concepts. Current topics range from evolution to energy storage, among others. Not sure how to get started? A helpful teacher's section provides tips for how best to integrate the technology into existing lesson plans and offers pointers for making sure the videos and interactive activities can be viewed easily by students.

BUILD A MODEL DNA:
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/modeldna/
How is the genetic code transmitted? How does the DNA molecule work? Grab your fishing line and some chenille stems and pasta. You won't be going fishing, but rather your students will follow the procedures here to create the double helix strands and a DNA model. An interactive glossary is available on site.

JELLO CELLS:
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/cello/
Students will compare and contrast plant and animal cells, as well as describe the cell organelles. How? Jello and canned fruits will do the trick here, along with freezer or storage bags and a few pencil shavings, pepper, and yarn.

The Virtual Cat Dissection
http://bio.bd.psu.edu/cat/
Complete on-line cat dissection. Skinning cat, skeleton system, muscle system, circulatory system, nervous system, and more

A WALK THROUGH THE GUT:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1994/ward_walk.html
Each organ of the digestive system is examined in detail as students simulate what happens to a piece of food they consume. Students work collaboratively to fully understand and present one structure per group.

THE HUMAN BODY ADVENTURE:
http://www.vilenski.org/science/humanbody/index.html
Students will take a complete tour through the inner workings of the human body, learning about all the systems and interacting through quizzes and trivia. This site provides high interest reading and interactivity.

THE SCIENCE OF THE EYE:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/09/090202_sight.jhtml
Vision problems are common among the human species, and science has gone to great lengths to address fading vision. Learn about the various procedures involved in visionary science, then link to a simulation activity on how we see.

Muscles of the body – www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/GrossAnatomy/GA.html

Diseases – www.cdc.gov/ - Health Topics

                www.kidshealth.org - Parents – infections

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM PRINTABLE:
http://www.tipztime.com/minicharts/digestivesystem.html
Print out this colored chart of the digestive system to have your students list the various organs involved. Lines are provided.

THE HUMAN BODY -- EXPERIMENTS:
http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/
Experiments and excellent printable student worksheets comprise these hands-on learning exercises about human anatomy. Bones, skeleton, muscles, cells, nerves, and digestion are all covered.

INTERACTIVE HUMAN ANATOMY:
http://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html
While learning human anatomy or researching student projects or essays on the subject, be sure to visit this interactive site. Each system explores deeper into the specialized operations of its organs, with tours, descriptions, and animations.

BODY QUEST:
http://library.thinkquest.org/10348/
Students will explore various body organs and systems with this site from Think Quest. Hands-on experiments connect with each topic, and students can be tested with quizzes and games.

BONES AND JOINTS ACTIVITY:
http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/bones.shtml
With this lesson plan, students will attempt to create a working model of the human shoulder and elbow joints. Questions and a student worksheet are included.

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9515.html
Using models and demonstrations, students will learn the components and operations of the respiratory system. They will be able to comprehend the concept of lung capacity, how the diaphragm works, and how we take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. All activities are completed with common materials. Test questions are also included.

DIGESTION EXPERIMENT:
http://www.galaxy.net/~k12/body/digest.shtml
Acids and bases are explored with these hands-on activities, modeling the human stomach and using antacids to see how they operate within an acid model. A student worksheet is included.

SEEING, HEARING, AND SMELLING OUR WORLD:
http://www.hhmi.org/senses/
Do try the new imaging techniques for brain functions at this site, where students will investigate just how we come to "know" our world. Sight, hearing, and smell are the main focuses for exploration. A glossary is available; try having students work in teams to present a multi-media presentation on their research.

INVESTIGATING THE HEART:
http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/activity/bio-5.html
A simple demonstration starts this experiment, where students will be opening and closing their hands for a minute to see how it tires, counting how many times they can complete the procedure in 60 seconds. They will then be dissecting beef hearts, identifying the chambers and the functions. They will learn how to keep their hearts healthy, and complete a student worksheet on resting and active heart rates.

GENETIC SCIENCE LEARNING CENTER:
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/
Genetics is a hot topic in our modern world--students can explore the world of DNA and chromosomes, genetic disorders, and stem cells (the latest news shows stem cells are quite prevalent in baby teeth), and complete hands-on activities. They will be able to extract DNA from wheat germ or show just how enzymes function. Explore current issues in cloning, and then click to clone a genetically identical version of Mimi the mouse, learning the steps involved in this procedure.

AN ONLINE EXPLORATION OF THE HUMAN HEART:
http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/heart.html
Visit The Franklin Institute's online heart exploration, where students can follow the blood flow through vessels, learn the structure of the heart, and learn how to help maintain their own healthy hearts.

CYBER ANATOMY:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11965/cyber-anatomy_index.html
Take a tour through human body systems with this Thinkquest project. Each system offers a tour for either grades six through nine, or grades ten through twelve.

THE CLOCK OF LIFE:
http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/4_class/44_guides/guide_1003/44103_life.html
Step into the fountain of youth--is it possible? Find out the latest research on chromosomes, genetic clocks, and the research into immortality here. Students can also participate in an animated cell division activity.

MAKE A MODEL CELL:
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=6-8&BenchmarkID=11&DocID=101
A printable student worksheet on the inside of a cell reinforces this student activity, where students will be using corn syrup, ziplock baggies, buttons, pasta, beads, and pieces of pipe cleaner to represent the parts of a cell

ADS FOR CELLS:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/winners/cellparts.htm
How does a cell function? Students must be familiar with various cell parts and their functions in order to create want ads for them, including a list of qualifications, responsibilities, and benefits.

PLANT AND ANIMAL CELLS:
http://www.orchardproject.org/cells.htm
This lesson plan outlines the use of microscopes, mounting slides and studying onion cells for plants, inside cheek cells for animals. Step-by-step instruction takes students through the lab, where they must observe, make drawings, and label the different parts of a cell.

THE GIANT CELL:
http://sln.fi.edu/biosci/activity/bio-3.html
What does a cell look like and how does it operate? Get the big picture here, where students form the cell and its parts, and then move together to transmit a cell message.

THE VIRTUAL CELL TOUR:
http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/tour/cell/cell.htm
Delve deep within a cell and see its workings with this online tour. Cut through the outer membrane of a mitrochondrion and learn its functions, animate your cell, or zoom in on the cell membrane of the nucleus in this interactive learning exploration.

Cells Alive
http://www.cellsalive.com

INTERACTIVE PLANT AND ANIMAL CELLS:
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/plntcell.htm
http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/animcell.htm
Do your students fully understand how a plant cell is organized and how it operates? Let them interact with an online model, learning about the nucleus, the endoplasm and cytoskeleton, centrosomes and lysosomes, mitochondrion, chloroplasts, and plant cell anatomy and functions. Key words can be added to student vocabulary for a comprehension test; be sure to have them draw and label their own models as well. Use the 2nd URL above for a similar interactive exploration of an animal cell.

MARINE FOOD CHAINS:
http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/intheschool/school2.html
Primary producers, consumers, trophic levels, and all the creatures of the sea will be considered in this lesson plan on marine food chains. Middle school students will be creating posters and presentations on well-defined, complex systems of chains in the marine habitat.

POND LIFE IDENTIFICATION KIT:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/pond/x_index.html
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/ponddip/index.html
Grab the microscope and head to your nearest pond to introduce your students to an exploration of some of the tiniest life forms. If you don't have a pond nearby, try the virtual pond dip, available at the 2nd URL above.

Dragonfly: Science Inquiry
 http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/
Saving the Planet, Monarch Butterflies, Houses, Baseball in Space, Family Ties, Navigation, Space, Time, Water, People & Plants, Small & Tall, Earth Sounds, Using Tools, Hide & Seek, Webs of Life, Animal Talk, Ice & Snow, Skeletons, Take Flight

THE ONLINE MICROBE ZOO:
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/index.html
Here is an excellent resource to explore the fascinating world of microbes. Students can take a look at microbe specimens, learn how they affect our world, investigate microbe newsmakers, and read profiles of scientists who study the microbe world.

The Microbe Zoo
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/

http://www.biologycorner.com/
A great site for biology teachers interested in integrating technology. Contains a large resource of webquests and miniquests, plus clip art and labs for you biology or science class.

LEECHES AND MAGGOTS AND BUGS, OH MY!
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402_bugmedicine.jhtml
The new wizards of medicine are actually ancient remedies: leeches, clay, honey, and maggots. These comeback kids have healing powers that are being investigated anew by the scientific community, for very valid reasons. Maggots, used during the Civil War to clean wounds, have actually been shown to be more effective than any other known non-surgical treatment. Check out the latest in leech know-how, maggot facts, and buggy health tips. Students will learn how aspirin is related to Ancient Egyptian remedies, and how anti-diarrhea medicine today is not all that different from similar methods employed by primitive cultures.

A PERILOUS JOURNEY:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2000/08/080400_leatherback_arc.jhtml
It can measure up to six feet long, weigh up to eight hundred pounds, lays up to one hundred eggs, has lived on this planet for more than twenty million years, and is in danger of extinction... Learn about the leather-back turtle, its decline in population, and survival measures. Students will have an opportunity to connect to further exercises through Earthwatch as well as complete several graphing activities.

INTERDISCIPLINARY MARINE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES:
http://educate.si.edu/resources/lessons/currkits/ocean/main.html
This series of lessons and activities from the Smithsonian Institution explores several aspects of marine life, including ecosystems, sea products, ocean pollution, and more.

ECO-INSECTS:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402t_insects.jhtml
What would we do without those bugs? Most likely become extinct, according to biologist Edward O. Wilson. Students will explore the extraordinary world of insects, along with food chains, ecosystems, and carrying capacities with this Teaching the News unit.

ENDANGERED SPECIES FIELD TRIP:
http://www.field-trips.org/sci/endanger/index.htm
What causes an animal to become endangered? How many species are threatened right now? Middle school students will explore such concepts as biodiversity, the Endangered Species Act, and conservation with this on-line field trip. Teacher Resources are included.

ENTOMOLOGY -- FOR YOUR DINING PLEASURE:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402_eatingbugs.jhtml
Bugs for dinner, anyone? Yummy, yummy! American dining tastes might not yet reflect a particular fondness for insects on the menu, but several countries and cultures the world over find that larvae and pupae are actually very much to their liking--a veritable delicacy, in fact, in some regions. Your students will love this lesson exploration on entomology for your dining pleasure... and they might also just be a wee bit disgusted to find that cinnamon, for one, or maraschino cherries for another, could very well harbor insect parts. The stories are here, along with insect exercises and Xcursions. When finished, there will be much discussion in your class--have your students exercise their persuasive writing skills to create commercials or advertisements promoting insect feasts and products, or create a whole new menu for your favorite local restaurants for an April Fool's gag.

Owl Pellet Dissection
http://www.kidwings.com/index.htm
Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection

www.froguts.com - a virtual frog dissection

Space

Hubblesite - Out of the Ordinary, Out of This World!
http://hubblesite.org/
Hubblesite is truly out of this world!  A reference desk packed with facts (did you know the Hubble Telescope is roughly the size of a school bus?), weekly pod casts, month-by-month guides to the nightsky, quizzes, games, video, extensive image galleries, news archives...this site dishes up a galaxy of information.  Older students canexhaust their curiosity and younger ones will be star-struck by thephotos.

FALL INTO A BLACK HOLE GAME:
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/svlbi_do1.shtml
How can your students study black holes? From a safe distance, and using this printable game board from NASA. Find out how astronomers explore black holes, quasars, neutron stars, and black holes; visit the Jet Propulsion Lab, learn about radio telescopes, and much more. Travel to the furthest reaches of space, and all you'll need to pack is this printable board game and its component pieces.

WEATHER REPORT FROM SPACE:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2000/07/072600_sunspots.jhtml
Solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and sunspot cycles... Weather takes on a whole new meaning when we take it out and into space. Students will examine solar storms and learn just how they affect Earth's magnetic fields as well as our communications systems.

NASA picture of the day
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

NASA SS EARTH KAM:
http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/

FROM GALILEO TO HUBBLE:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/galileo/
Students can take an interactive historical slide show through man's history with space exploration, focusing on our eye to the sky, the telescope, from Galileo to Hubble. Challenge questions are periodically inserted to review text and slides.

PLANET IMPACT:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/impact/home.html
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/impact/teacher/index.html
In this Amazing Space interactive game, students can track, trace, and alter the path of a comet as it slams into Jupiter. Lesson plans and teacher guides  are available.

REACHING FOR THE STARS:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/08/080102t_telescope.jhtml
If your students were to build the ultimate telescope for viewing the deepest corners of the known universe, where would they build it, and how would they go about it? Welcome to ALMA, soon to be located high atop the Andes Mountains in Chile, where scientists around the globe have collaborated in planning stages for years to build the world's largest radio telescope. Learn about its development and functions, and then teach the problems involved with the guidelines offered here. Future astrophysicists can even find complete plans here to build their own telescopes.

GALILEAN MOON LOGIC:
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/palmasola/rcda3_10d.htm
Put on your thinking caps for this logic puzzle on the moons of Jupiter. Students must complete a chart, filling in the correct moon for distance, orbit, and diameter, by the process of elimination and using the clues provided.

HUBBLE MISSION EXERCISE:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/mastermind/lesson/task_nf.html
In order to relegate order to the events of this particular mission and to set the Hubble telescope properly in space, students must first learn about the key requirements. They will click on images to access information, employing a student worksheet, and use the clues to re-configure the mission in a logical sequence of events.

PACKING FOR A LOOOONNNGGG TRIP TO MARS!
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/teachers/mars_packing.pdf
Imagine packing for a journey for which you would be away from home for two and a half years. Now imagine fitting everything you need to take within a 1 cubic meter box! Students must work cooperatively to attack this project based lesson, where they will have to prioritize personal items to decide what will last and make the most sense to take along for the lengthy trip. And while your students might give high priority to their CD players, don't forget they will also need batteries. How long will those batteries last? How much room would a supply of them take? Your teams will need to defend their rationale as well, explaining the compromises they had to make in their decision processes. Guidelines and strategy tips are included.

SPACE TODAY ONLINE -- SPACE STATIONS:
http://www.spacetoday.org/SpaceStations.html
For more on the history of space stations as well as a virtual tour of the ISS, real-time data, or conditions to expect when living in space, try exploring this graphics-intensive site.

AN INQUIRER'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE:
http://sln.fi.edu/planets/planets.html
Is the universe expanding? Could Mars possibly have supported life? Student planetary investigators can discover what we already know about space, and then explore the realm of science fiction in this Franklin Institute exhibit. They can also try their hand at writing science fiction pieces themselves in the writing labs, and then submit their work for online portfolios.

SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH SIMULATION:
http://pao.ksc.nasa.gov/sim/index2.html
Let your students try a simulation shuttle launch at this NASA interactive presentation site. Before the countdown and liftoff however, they will need to prepare themselves--through a series of related explorations and exercises.

DESIGN A PLANET:
http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/
Your planet has to be habitable, of course--by the human species in particular. Before building their planet however, students must first take astronomy training and pass the quiz in order to proceed.

EXPLORE THE SOLAR SYSTEM:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/activity.html
How does Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" fit into your unit on the solar system? It will help students to comprehend the Earth's orbit in "A Song for All Seasons". Or try Moonlight Madness to reinforce the phases of the moon, or Planet Hop to modify your age and weight instantly--on another planet

REACHING FOR THE RED PLANET:
http://cosmos.colorado.edu/~urquhart/outline.html
Here is an excellent course on Mars that was originally written for gifted grades 4 to 6 classes. Each module within the unit contains student worksheets, a teacher tour guide, and experiments. Students will be asked to plan a viable colony on Mars. They will, however, first need to complete sections on pre-planning, thereby formulating educated and thoughtful projects. Topics include considerations for what is necessary for life, defining the characteristics of other planets, explaining why Mars is the focus, learning how systems work, deciding and selecting the first colonists, and illustrating just what all is entailed in design functions.

PRINTABLE NASA POSTERS:
http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlnasa/pictures/poster.html
Download several NASA posters here for use in your classroom. Topics include Mars, the ISS, flight, sun storms, microgravity, the Wright Brothers, and more. Many include student activities as well.

FALLING INTO SPACE:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/station/freefalling.html
Astronauts in space do not actually float about due to zero gravity--they are instead in a continuous free fall. Discover how this concept works with interactive exhibits and student activities.

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT:
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/eds/overviews/explorations/slsb.php.p=Teaching+tools%40%2Ceds%2Ctools%2C%3EOnline+explorations%40%2Ceds%2Ctools%2Ctype%2Cexplorations.php
Experiment with the electromagnetic spectrum--online--with this learning tool. Students will investigate properties of waves, energy, wavelengths, and frequency in an interactive format. Teaching guidelines are included, along with a lesson plan and background teaching component.

ABOARD THIS SPACESHIP EARTH:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/04/042202t_speed.jhtml
Combined velocities, relative speeds, and space travelers: what do they have to do with your class? Quite a lot, since each one of us is hurtling through space at a speed of
sixty-six thousand miles per hour. Students will hop aboard a commercial jet, drop into the International Space Station, and open a parachute to understand how relative speeds work. Online activities in energy and motion and speed and velocity support student investigations.

LIFE ON MARS?
http://riverdeep.net/current/2002/09/090902_mars.jhtml
What is rarer than a flawless diamond? A meteorite from Mars, for one--we only have 24 known Martian meteorites on Earth. Learn what scientists can extrapolate from these alien missiles, and why some findings might point to evidence of past life on Mars. Students will also analyze adaptations of bacteria to Earth's most extreme conditions, and then form hypotheses on the possibility of life today on the Red Planet.

The Henrietta Leavitt Flat Screen Space Theater
http://www.thespacewriter.com/
Information Desk, Astronomy in the News,

Energy & Ecology

POLLUTION PREVENTION TOOLBOX:
Each of the topics listed on this Pollution Prevention Toolbox contains fact sheets, student activities, and four page lesson plans. Topics include Energy Conservation, Water Pollution, and Pollution Prevention in Schools, among others, for grades 6-8.

TESLA - MASTER OF LIGHTNING:
[Link2] [Link3]
Students can explore the creations of Nicola Tesla in this online exhibit from PBS. Use the 1st link above for his Life and Legacy; access interactive inventions with the 2nd link; and find lesson plans on potential energy, electrical energy, mechanical energy, and energy conversion in the last link above

BUILDING SOLAR COOKERS:
{Link 2}
For those students who are interested in solar energy, or if you have been studying the greenhouse effect, etc. these hands-on science experiments in solar cooking provide a wonderful opportunity to put theory into action, with great results. Numerous plans are included here to build variations of solar cookers, from simple to complex, with a soda bottle pasteurizer included as well. You might wish to have different teams select different solar cooker plans, then hold a competition to see which one is the most effective. The 2nd link above yields some interesting teaching materials for further exploring solar capabilities.

SCIENCE AND WAVE POWER:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/04/040802t_power.jhtml
Energy. It's a huge topic, as non-renewable sources are continually depleted while demand increases worldwide. Explore alternative energy forms through wind and waves, investigating specific energy factories and solutions. Then take your class through related math exercises, and link to several further resources for extended exercises or research options.

A THEATER OF ELECTRICITY:
http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/toe.html
Use the Teacher's Guide available here to explore all the many resources and learning opportunities provided at this online exhibit and gallery. Included are Tesla Coils, Franklin's Kite, the history of electricity, and more.

DESIGNING AN ECOLOGICALLY SOUND CITY:
http://www.ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/sci/cecsci/cecsci038.html
Environmental issues are the topic of the moment, as students must create their own ecologically ideal city. They will need to create laws outlining citizen responsibilities, consider power sources, homes, industries, and of course waste disposal methods. This is a great project for cooperative efforts, and would work well for an Earth Day project.

THE MATH AND SCIENCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2000/01/front.050100.elec_cars1.jhtml
Several car manufacturers are developing electric and/or hybrid vehicles for a growing clientele; Toyota and Honda, for instance, are among those leading the way. What are the reasons behind electric transportation, as opposed to gasoline propelled vehicles? Learn the philosophy, the science, and the math here, with student exercises in miles per gallon versus cost.

ADVENTURES IN ENERGY:
http://www.adventuresinenergy.org/
Oil and natural gas provide almost two-thirds of our energy needs, and these needs continue to increase. How do we find, supply, use, and conserve energy? Take an in-teractive online tour for an overview of where oil and gas come from, which everyday products are made from oil, and which environmental practices may be developed for future energy sources.

Habitats & Biomes

BOTTLE HABITATS:
Explore aquatic ecosystems within the convenient confines of a recycled 2 liter soda bottle. Middle school students will create the habitats, record their observations, graph data, and write analysis papers on those observations.

AMAZON EXPLORER:
Middle school students will take on the role of an Amazon explorer to complete "field research" for the American Natural History Museum. They must study animals on each rainforest level and come back with data, correctly answering the online quiz to be successful.

AMAZON INTERACTIVE:
After learning about the rainforest in Ecuador and the Quichua people who live there, students will try to create a sustainable, ecotourism project in a simulation game with this interactive ecology learning tool.

Blue Planet Biomes
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/index.htm
Blue Planet Biomes takes a closer look at the globe we live on. The site is divided into sections on planet facts, world biomes, animals, plants and climate and explores how all of this fits together to make up home. Along with some interesting information, you can also browse for a bit of inspiration as portions of the site are authored by sixth graders in an ongoing project.

RAINFOREST WEBQUEST:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/tropical_rain.htm

RAINFOREST ALLITERATIONS:
http://www.abcteach.com/RainforestFacts/alliterations.htm
Have fun with rainforest themes and make up your own alliterations based on animals, plants, or habitats. Challenge your students to come up with the most unusual alliteration; find a printable student worksheet here.

BIOMES OF NORTH AMERICA:
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/tourFames.cgi?tour_id=14051
Get ready for a virtual tour of some pretty rugged tundra, then jaunt on over for an exploration of a Mediterranean region. Next you can plan a hike through a temperate forest, or gear up for a trip to some northern plains. If that sounds too chilly, how about warming up in a humid tropical forest? All of these biomes are on one continent, North America, and all you will need for these otherwise diverse and arduous treks is an internet connection and a mouse. Have your students work in teams to select one of the biomes and create a class slide show presentation. Don't forget to include maps.

ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/index.htm
Students will visit three field sites in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil to understand how ecosystems sustain wildlife. Animals will be the focus of this study, and students will have a chance to discover project scientists and Earthwatch teams, discussing the importance of preserving endangered ecosystems. They will be interacting with food chains, analyzing data, and building a uniquely adapted caterpillar, among several other student activities.

RAINFOREST RESEARCH STARTERS:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/researchtools/researchstarters/rainforests/index.htm
Excellent resources have been collected here to help students build a research report on the rainforests of the world. Topics are included, along with a glossary, articles, and online resources to fully investigate rainforest concerns.

BUILDING A BIOME:
http://www.iit.edu/~smile/bi9439.html
Students will be assigned to teams and, following the directions given at this site, build either a desert, grass-lands, a deciduous forest, or a rainforest biome. They will be growing seeds in the various biomes, noting at the end of the project in which biome seeds grew best. Variables are introduced to understand how they affect experiment outcomes.

INVESTIGATING CORAL REEFS:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/11/111201_reefs.jhtml
Conservation efforts to preserve earth's fragile coral reef system must take into account new dangers, such as shoreline developments, sunscreen toxins from snorkelers, and global warming. Students will investigate these and other reasons for threats against coral environments.

HABITATS AND FUNCTIONS:
http://iitc.tamu.edu/1998and2000/lessons/trophic.pdf
Less than one-third of all insects have been named in our world; they perform diverse functions and occupy nearly as many habitats as humans. Both function and habitat cards (included) are used in this lesson activity to introduce students to the wide variety of insect life on earth

NORTH AMERICAN BIOMES:
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1992/5/92.05.12.x.html
Find a full curriculum unit on desert, grasslands, tundra, rainforest, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest biomes, complete with seven excellent student activities. The focus is on habitat reduction and modern problems faced by each separate ecosystem.

CREATE-A-FISH:
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci198.txt
Fish adaptations and environments are the focus of this lesson plan, whereby students will design and present a fish from the year 2025. Aware of the ecological changes in ocean habitats, students must take in to consideration structural changes in ocean environments in order to plan a fish with the unique fortifications necessary for future adaptations.

FOREST IN A JAR:
http://www.col-ed.org/cur/sci/sci63.txt
Students will be able to see successive habitats--a swamp proceeded by a forest--and relate their findings to real world changing environments with this ecosystem/habitat lesson plan and experiment.

STUDENT PROJECT ON BIOMES:
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/studinst.html#atlas
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/intro.html
Students will create a mini-atlas on the world's biomes; if you prefer limiting your scope, have them cover all types of biomes found in their region instead. Use the 2nd URL above to link to an introduction to biomes and research resources for students.

BOTTLE BIOLOGY:
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/lessons/bottle.html
Middle school students will be creating and observing an aquatic habitat over a four week period--all created in soda pop bottles. Daily observations and careful recording will help them to hone scientific skills, and learn how to balance an ecosystem.

BIOMES OF THE WORLD:
Here's a good resource for exploring all the biomes of the world in one place, with different and relevant topics addressed and introduced under each category. For instance, under Ponds and Lakes, learn about Lake Effect Snow, or Algae. On Shorelines, explore Mangrove Forests or Salt Marshes, among numerous other topics.

Earth Science

BIOSPHERE & GLOBAL WARMING MINI WEB TREK:
An answer key is provided for this Mini Web Trek, where middle school students will use selected resources to research the biosphere and the current issues surrounding it, focusing on global warming and increased carbon content in the carbon cycle. A build your own biosphere is included as an optional exercise.

TSUNAMI WEB TREK - KILLER WAVES:
Excellent research sites lead students through investigations of the science and history of tsunamis, one of the deadliest natural forces on our planet. They will learn how tsunamis are created, visit visual models of tsunamis, learn about warning systems and survival odds, and complete an interactive quiz and wordsearch on tsunamis. The 2nd half of this Web Trek features Student Projects, where student teams will research and design tsunami posters, prepare a news report, create a tsunami trivia board game, or make an animated or table model of a tsunami

FEATURED WEB TREK - 3RD ROCK:
Fasten seat belts as we prepare to journey into the solar system! Ooops - wrong planet - we're already here! Middle school students will learn a great deal more about their home planet as they journey through the computer lab exercises in the first half of this week's Web Trek, with an optional and 2nd half for more detailed research in student research and hands-on projects on volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes.

TIDES WEBQUEST:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/tide.htm

VOLCANO WEBQUEST:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/volcano.htm

HURRICANE SEASON AND WIND INTENSITY
http://www.npr.org/news/specials/hurricane/ap/
This is a very interesting and informative animation of wind velocity and resulting damages caused by it.

ONLINE VIDEOS: LEARN ABOUT HURRICANES:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/video/hurricanegallery.html
Discovery Channel provides a video gallery where educators and students can access online videos to explain the science behind hurricanes, their prediction, and how they develop. A video is also available on the havoc and death wrought by hurricanes; please use discretion and consider your students' ages for each of the videos offered.

EYE IN THE SKY:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/hurricanes/hurrintro.html
From National Geographic, take a tour through the phenomena and the effects of hurricanes. Hurricane science is also covered, with videos and survivor stories.

HURRICANES ONLINE:
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/hurr/home.rxml
Older students can explore the resources at this site to learn about the structure of hurricanes, how to best prepare, the damage and destruction caused by hurricanes,how they are named, how they form, and more, including a 3-D exploration of a hurricane.

INDIAN OCEAN: TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE:
http://iri.columbia.edu/~lareef/tsunami/
This site offers a detailed and understandable overview on the events leading to the Dec. 26th tsunami in the Indian Ocean. It contains an animated tsunami as well as earthquake seismographs for the region on Dec. 25th and Dec. 26th, with several maps and charts to help explain the severe weather phenomenon.

THE ROLLING EARTH:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Rolling_earth/Rolling_earth1.html
Boundaries, plates, and faults, as well as all their various categories, are covered in this interactive lesson plan on earthquakes. Comprehension questions are also available, referenced to specific pages with this online lesson.

Earth science picture of the day
http://epod.usra.edu/

SLEEPING GIANTS -- PERILOUS VOLCANOES:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/05/052002t_cascades.jhtml
Why would the volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain Range, stretching from Northern California to British Columbia, Canada, be considered the most perilous volcanoes in the United States? What are some of the names of these volcanoes? What poses the greatest threat to nearby inhabited areas if these volcanoes erupt? What three definitions does the USGS give for volcanoes, and how do they differ from one another? Have your students read the text for Sleeping Giants and answer the above questions, as well as the "Extending the Problem" questions on evacuation concerns, included with this lesson plan. For further research, explore the link to the Volcano Lab.

UNDERSTANDING EARTHQUAKES:
http://www.crustal.ucsb.edu/ics/understanding/
How much do you know about earthquakes? Test your knowledge here, and watch a Java animation on how earthquakes occur. Learn the history of seismology, read some famous earthquake accounts, and find an animation on earthquake locations around the world.

THE GEOLOGY OF CAVES:
http://riverdeep.net/current/2001/12/121001_caves.jhtml
http://www.usgs.gov/
Use this resource from The Riverdeep Current to support your unit on either Rocks and Minerals, or Geology and Earth Sciences. Students will visit underground marvels and learn how they were formed. Link to student activities with acids and bases, and create a geologic timeline, diorama, and glossary for one of the caves your class will discover here. Use the 2nd URL above for the correct link to the US Geological Survey regional maps.

METAMORPHIC MAGIC:
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/act/payton4.htm
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/act/cookie.htm
http://sln.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/metamorph.htm
Use the 2nd URL above to create your own, unique, metamorphic cookies. Students will form analogies to rock cycle processes by making and baking their "rocks", predicting how heat will change or morph the solid materials, and then mine their cookies for minerals. Follow instructions here for further excellent, hands-on student exercises. The 3rd URL above will show students a simple animation of how metamorphic rock is formed, along with two examples of those rocks.

WHAT IS IN DIRT?
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/act/payton2.htm
Don't track your dirty boots on the clean floor; wash your dirty hands; did you wash off the dirt on that counter? Where does all this "dirt" come from anyway? Students will investigate soil, learning how it originates and what elements it's composed of, and categorizing soil samples in this elementary science lab exercise on rocks and minerals.

MAKE A VOLCANO:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/ADODGE/Volcano.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_models/models.html
Depending on how vigorously you want your volcanoes to erupt, and also dependent upon the age and ability levels of your science students, find several different variations on the theme here for creating volcano models, from easy to complex.

VOLCANO CAMS . . .

CURRENT VOLCANIC ACTIVITY:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/current.html
For up-to-date volcanic eruptions and images, try this site. It lists last eruptions the world over, with archived photos of last incidences.

MOUNT FUJI:
http://live-fuji.jp/fuji/livee.htm

MOUNT ARARAT:
http://www.arminco.com/livewebcam.html

SANTORINI:
http://www.santorini.net/volcano.html

VOLCANO EVENTS:
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Volcano/
Click on a country to view an atmospheric image of the active volcanoes.

VOLCANO REPORT FORM:
http://www.abcteach.com/volcanoes/volreport.htm
For young researchers, here is a printable template for volcano reports.

VOLCANO DID YOU KNOW CARDS:
http://www.abcteach.com/volcanoes/dykcard.htm
Print out multiple copies of these cards to distribute to students, to keep track of facts as they learn about volcanoes. Use the cards to compile a report, or to share later as a class.

PARTS OF A VOLCANO WORKSHEET:
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/california/science_explorer/earth_science/Student_Area/FES_SC3_ACT_index.html
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vw_hyperexchange/parts.html
Learn about the parts of a volcano that eventually contribute to a major eruption, and then print out this colorful worksheet for students. Use the 2nd link above to go over the various parts.
http://teacherexchange.mde.k12.ms.us/teachnett/worksheet.htm
Using the volcanic activity links above, have each student choose a volcano, then report back to the class on it using this simple worksheet.

VOLCANO EVACUATION SIMULATION:
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Online/vaca.html
Your students are on vacation at an active volcano site, when the volcano starts making noises that it's about to erupt. What to do? That's up to your students, as they must use the resources here to work cooperatively and plan a safe and orderly evacuation within a limited time.

UNDERSTANDING LIGHT:
http://can-do.com/uci/ssi2003/light.html
Middle school students will be using several excellent online resources to understand the properties of light. They will conduct experiments, participate in online simulations, keep a lab book of notes and observations, and complete a quiz at the end of this webquest.

http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/hurricane0.html
How do hurricanes form? Take a look inside a hurricane as it builds up to a mighty storm. Read survivors' stories, track hurricanes, and learn how to make your own weather monitoring instruments.

TRACK A HURRICANE:
http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/instructions.html
In this online exploration, students will practice latitude and longitude by tracking their choice of three different hurricanes.

HURRICANE HOUSE:
http://www.fema.gov/kids/games/hurhouse/
In the event of a hurricane, how could you best prepare your house and your yard? Students will click on the house to see which objects could possibly cause problems during hurricanes.

HOW IN THE WORLD DO HURRICANES FORM:
http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/webweather/hurricane2.html
You need to whip up a batch of some of the most violent weather on Earth; how are you going to do it? Find the recipe here, and make sure you follow the process and instructions well.

MOUNT ST. HELENS:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2000/09/090400_volcano.jhtml
Scientists were not able to accurately predict the devastation wreaked by the Mt. St. Helens' eruption in 1980, but they did notice several indications of activity. How do scientists predict a volcano will blow? Revisit the scene of the 1980 eruption, calculate the damage, and learn about the secondary effects of volcanic activity.

Miscellaneous Science Topics
 

CHEMISTRY QUIZZES:
http://www.1001-periodic-table-quiz-questions.com/
There are loads of chemistry quizzes available here at all different grades and levels for learning the periodic table of elements, acids and bases, mixtures, heat, and more.

EXPLORATORIUM ONLINE EXHIBITS:
http://www.exploratorium.org/exhibits/f_exhibits.html
The Exploratorium in San Francisco offers one of the country's finest hands-on, interactive science exhibits
in a massive hall, in the old site of the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition.If you can't make it to San Francisco however, you can still explore some of the great Exploratorium exhibits online, including several of these visual experiments.

WHAT IF A PERSON NEVER STOPPED GROWING?
http://www.serve.com/chunter/index/info/growing.html
Here's a new twist to learning statistics. How much would a person grow at their current rate, in twenty years? Add puzzlers to the formula, such as adjustments for fast food restaurants. Two student activity sheets are included.

SCIENCE ANIMATIONS:
http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/animatio.htm
This site has collected numerous interactive tutorials, animations, and movies on science topics across the board.

INTERACTIVE SIMPLE MACHINES:
http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm
For each room in the house, students will have to find or discover the tools being used. They will experiment with such effects as levers, understanding load, effort, and fulcrum, before continuing to find the next tool. A Teacher Guide is available.

MAGNETIC FIELD AND ELECTRIC FIELD VIEWING BOTTLE:
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/electrom/statbotl.html
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/mar97/859291596.Ph.q.html
Extend your usual unit on magnets with this high interest experiment on magnetic fields. Students will build a magnetic field viewing bottle from baby oil and steel wool fibers to see the magnetic field align with a magnet. A similar experiment is offered to make an electric field viewing bottle; both experiments yield dramatic results for elementary students. The second link above offers explanations for understanding magnetic fields.

SCIENCE HOW-TO'S AND SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS:
http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/middleschool.html
Make a barometer, a hair hygrometer, a sun star cooker, or a straw woodwind. Then learn how 3-D works, or how clocks manage to keep time, how the ozone layer works, or how to control a soccer ball. Or explore glass blowing, Hollywood stunts, antacid tablet races, or air bags. There is much here in every aspect of science for your middle and high school  students.

LOGIC AND MEMORY GAMES:
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Games/educational/#memory
Improve both critical thinking and student retention skills with these online games.

EXPLORATORIUM
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
The folks at the San Francisco Exploratorium museum have put together a
truly fabulous website. There is something for everyone: weather, music,
stem cells, atomic bomb operas (I kid you not), marine life, online
dissection of a cow eye, gardening and relativity for starters. Find
interactive sections, a digital library, live web casts, articles and
information for educators. So get exploring!

THE PERIODIC TABLE IN COMIC BOOKS:
http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/
No kidding... this periodic table will define the elements in whole new ways. Old comic books are included which focus on the elements. Try Ricky Nelson explaining oxygen to learn about electrons, neutrons, atoms, proteins, or nuclear fission.

INVENTING THE FUTURE:
http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/1372.html
http://www.exploravision.org/2005/home.htm
Students will consider current technologies before designing new ones in this inventors lesson plan for middle school students. They will work in groups to consider the worst inventions, describing negative criteria, then brainstorm positive criteria to make a good invention. They will also need to use persuasive writing skills in order to promote their final products; see complete directions here. Use the 2nd link above to enter great final products into the Exploravision student competition for envisioning future technology.

NEWTON'S LAWS OF MOTION:
http://www.mhschool.com/science/2002/student/lessonlist.php3?vGrade=5&vUnit=F&vAlt=Tiger
Three lesson plans will examine Newton's Laws of Motion. Each summary is followed by a student quiz in a drop-down format; students can check their answers immediately. A step-by-step research report template is also included, along with suggested sites for student research.

EXPLORE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/eyk/index.asp?flash=true
Pick a subject, any subject. Then pick a grade, and a number of questions, and test your knowledge with this online learning game for eight grade students. Great pre-testing practice.

Quiz games – www.quia.com/jg/66042.html

How things work – www.howstuffworks.com

Exploratorium Science - www.exploratorium.edu/  

Chemistry for kids - www.chem4kids.com 

Chemistry – www.chemicalelements.com

CANADIAN SCIENCE SITE
http://www.mysciencesite.com
It covers topics in detail and has lots of free teacher downloads in the form of pdf files. Some of the units have a few interactive pages as well. The grade 6topics are especially well done.

Eisenhower Clearinghouse for Math and Science – www.enc.org
    A list of the best math and science web sites

Amazing Page:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/

BUILD A SIMPLE MICROSCOPE:
http://chroma.mbt.washington.edu/outreach/BUILD.html
Why not have your students start out their unit on microscopes and cells by building their own microscope, and learning first-hand how they work. This activity would also make a good science fair project.

SLIME TIME SCIENCE:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/12/120301_simplescience.jhtml
It's drippy, messy, gooey, slimy, tons of fun--and it's science... Explore these hands-on ultra-cool science projects and recipes in your classroom, with Dancing Raisins, Musical Fractions, and Educational Goo. Be sure to try the Related Activities as well, offering more in math and music, and reinforcing both the scientific method and lab write-up procedures.

WHY AN AIRPLANE FLIES:
http://www.faa.gov/education/resource/airflys.htm
Simple but effective experiments demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle and the concepts of flight; geared to grades seven and eight.

WEATHER FORECAST SHOWDOWN:
http://www.uwm.edu/~kahl/WebQuests/Showdown/
Information for weather forecasting on the web is vast; this webquest will take advantage of those online resources to compare daily predictions and find which ones have been most consistently accurate. Students will learn about relative and absolute errors in forecasting as they collect their data; consider having them prepare an Excel worksheet for their data collections as well.

SCIENCE CLASSROOM CLIPART:
http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Science
Choose volcanoes, shells, fossils, biology, chemistry, anatomy and more. Use the clipart for your web pages and newsletters, or save the images for your own worksheets.

THE PARTICLE ADVENTURE:
http://particleadventure.org/particleadventure/
How small can we get in discussing fundamental matter? Enter the fascinating world of quarks, dark matter, and particle detectors... This interactive tour from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab can be viewed in several international languages, including Chinese, Greek, Spanish, and Russian. Question and answer formats with side pop-ups and "Did-you-know's?" keep the journey interesting.

Today in Science History
http://todayinsci.tripod.com/

Science question of the week
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/science.html

The Why Files
http://whyfiles.org/

Brain Pop
http://www.brainpop.com/

PERIODIC TABLE POWERPOINT PROJECT:
http://www.seq.org/~jengberg/Periodic_Table_StudentPage.htm
Combining both chemistry and technology learning objectives, students will create a PowerPoint presentation on the Periodic Table of Elements. A project rubric is also included with these instructions.

MAKE A BASKET EVERY TIME!
http://www.fearofphysics.com/Proj/proj.html
Is it possible? Can you actually make a perfect shot every time in basketball? Yes, indeed it is, and this physics demo will show you the scientific laws behind the sport. Plug in your data--how far you are standing from the basket, at which angle you wish to shoot the ball, how tall you are, etc., and then show the animation and listen to the physics. You never know, it just might improve your game!

THE FEAR OF PHYSICS -- WHY THINGS FALL: ONLINE DEMOS AND GAMES:
http://www.fearofphysics.com/Fall/fall.html
Gravity is explained here, with demonstrations that students will love. Drop a ball--from the Empire State Building if you wish, or how about trying the Golden Gate Bridge? Follow the trail of your tennis ball as it drops, and find out just how fast it would be traveling when it hits the ground.

STICKY WATER:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/bubbles/sticky_water.html
Did your students know that water is incredibly sticky? It sure is! Learn why here; how its atoms act, how a water strider can hunt on the surface of water, and how your students can conduct their own experiment with surface tension.

ANTI-BUBBLES:
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/amateur/antibub/antibub1.html
http://www.antibubble.org/
There are three main types of bubbles--do your students know which these are? Then there are anti-bubbles... Find out how to define them here, and then create your own anti-bubbles.

BUBBLE TOWN:
http://www.zurqui.co.cr/crinfocus/bubble/bubble.html
How are your bubble skills? Do you know how to accurately measure a bubble? How about freezing a bubble, or creating a bubble cone? Don't forget to construct a high-tech bubble blowing tube, or learn all about bubble engineering.

PIECES OF SCIENCE:
http://www.sln.org/pieces/
This fascinating online exhibit from the Franklin Institute offers sixteen different "Pieces of Science" to explore in detail. Activities are attached to the exhibit, as are resources and lessons for teachers. Stories are interactive, games are included, as well as links to further resources for each exhibit. Be sure to visit the Mad Dog 2, Genetic Engineering, and Penicillin exhibits.

ENVIRO-MYSTERIES:
http://enviromysteries.thinkport.org/
Investigate the role the environment plays in various diseases. Lesson plans are geared to middle school, and explore possible causes such as air quality and mold.

INVENTOR OF THE WEEK:
http://web.mit.edu/invent/i-main.html
Learn about all the incredible men and women of the world who have contributed to technology and innovation, with this online exhibit featuring an inventor of the week.

INVENTION CONNECTION:
http://www.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/i/invent/www/ima/connection.html
Inventions do not usually stand alone in time, but instead rely on the shoulders of those that came before. This game challenges students to trace a path of connection between different inventions, with textual clues to help out.

Texas Nature Trackers
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/education/tracker/educators/educators.htm

Cool Science For Curious Kids
 http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/index.html
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute brings you this biology-related website for kids who want some hands-on interaction with science. Facts about scientific curiosities, online quizzes, and kid-friendly projects will keep your students wanting to learn more about plants, animals, and the world around them.

Virtual Field Trips
http://www.field-trips.org/vft/index.htm
Content: Online Field Trips, Teacher Resources, Lesson Plans, TourMaker Software.
Let's face it. Students love field trips. They just can't get enough of them! Unfortunately, schools don't always have the resources to provide them. But with this site, you can take your students around the world and back without spending a cent or oversleeping from jet lag. Virtual Field Trips for every subject and standard will whisk your class away with a click of a button, via TourMaker software, which you can download with a free trial and create your own field trips. You can even print Virtual Permission Slips for parents to sign.

http://www.extremescience.com/
A gallery of the 'biggest, baddest, and the best' in the natural science world.

www.weatherwizkids.com
Designed for kids to allow them to learn more about the fascinating world of weather. It's also a wonderful educational website for teachers and parents that gives them the right tools they need to explain the different types of weather to children.

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/
Providing a wealth of resources for K-12 science educators, Science NetLinks is your guide to meaningful standards-based Internet experiences for students.

http://www.ncsu.edu/imse/
Extensive collection of resources for science teachers. Covers different subject areas as well as links to internet science projects, science magazines and journals, science education organizations, visual instructional materials resources, and more

SIMPLE MACHINES ACTIVITIES:
http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/index.htm
With a glossary and a teacher's guide on site, this resource offers plenty of interactive, online learning situations to help your students understand both simple and compound machines.

THE GREAT PLANT ESCAPE -- INTERACTIVE MYSTERY:
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/
Students will choose between six different cases to help Detective LePlant solve his mystery. They must search for clues and conduct experiments, all the while learning much about the nature of the plant world.

CHRISTMAS SCIENCE:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceArtMDChristmasCrystals46.htm
Grab the borax, some pipe cleaners, and some polygon shapes for this exciting, hands-on holiday experiment. Combining a Christmas theme with a science lesson, students will be creating crystal ornaments and writing up their lab reports.

www.sciencenewsforkids.org
Latest science news written for kids. Features science news articles, but also contains PuzzleZone, GameZone, SciFairZone.

MINERALS MAKE CHRISTMAS:
http://www.mii.org/pdfs/xmastree.pdf
So what do minerals have to do with Christmas and the holiday season? Quite a lot, as it turns out, and most of them surround the Christmas tree and the gifts found underneath it. Find out more with this download, complete with a student worksheet.

WEATHER CHART PRINTABLE:
http://www.pbs.org/edens/etosha/cr_lesson_weather_inst.htm
Start your New Year off with a weather chart, recording daily highs and lows, monthly averages, and barometric pressure. This printable weather chart makes it easy. Enlarge it before printing to mount on your bulletin board and make it a part of your daily routine.

SUPER BOWL PHYSICS:
http://riverdeep.net/current/2002/01/012802t_football.jhtml
Before your students sit down to one of the most-watched television events, give them a few relevant exercises to touchdown on... Exercises include speed and velocity, momentum and force, energy, and projectile motion. Offer up snacks with "Think About the Problem", where students must consider tackles, passes, and scores as they relate to physics; great homework activities for the weekend.

AN INTRODUCTION TO MICROSCOPY:
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/index.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/intro/index.html
Most students are fascinated with the world as seen through a microscope. Find a guide here on how best to take advantage of microscopes in the classroom, with history, insects, botany, pond life, and marine life all covered. Also included is a great little guide to pond life identification.

http://www.sandlotscience.com/index.htm
This site is all about optical illusions: distortions, after images, impossible figures, mirages and even moon illusions. Trick your mind into seeing things that aren't really there, turn images inside out, see staircases that never end, and watch still images move. You'll find out how these illusions fool your brain and unravel their mysteries. You can even build models of some of these illusions and use them at your school science fair.

THE CHEMISTRY OF FOOD AND RESPIRATION:
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/02_8_ChemistryFood.pdf
Through an intricate balance, consumers and producers work together to create a system of energy, ultimately allowed by our sun. Students will be completing a series of lab experiments in enzymes and chemical compounds to follow the metabolic pathways of organisms. Resources, student worksheets, and a glossary are all included.

MAGNETISM IN A BOTTLE:
http://www.exploratorium.com/snacks/magnetic_lines.html
With iron filings and a simple juice or soda bottle, demonstrate magnetic poles and how the filings will line up to a magnetic field. Be sure to do the further experiment with rust, and read how magnets are actually fed to cows--and why.

MOTOR IN A BOTTLE:
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/emotor/emotor.html
Well, three bottles actually... Students will be building a high voltage, simple electrostatic motor in this science experiment. Plans, instructions, demonstrations, photos, and debugging tips are all included with this science in a bottle project.

MAKE A WEATHER STATION:
http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/weatherstation.html
Find several hands-on activities for measuring and monitoring weather. Topics include wind, air pressure, temperature, and moisture, and each heading offers instructions for student activities.

IT'S A BREEZE:
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/air_pressure/index.html
How does atmospheric pressure affect our daily lives? Well for one, it plays a key role in our physical ability to live here on Earth... Find several experiments with air pressure, as well as word searches and teaching tools with this resource on air pressure.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE -- BUT IS IT SAFE?
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/johnshopkins/classroom/water.html
Students will explore drops of their regular tap or drinking water with a microscope to find organisms and possible water-borne pathogens. Several online resources guide students to identifying aquatic microorganisms, with a set of guided observation questions. Students will then filter their water and re-examine the drops, with further research options available.

THE ART OF THE JELLY FISH:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/05/052002_jellies.jhtml
Students can visit the enchanting world of jelly fish through a pop-up gallery included in this Riverdeep Currents installation, and then link to the online Monterey Bay "Jellies: Living Art" exhibit. They will also learn about venomous hunter jellies, including the Box Jelly off the coasts of Australia. Extension activities include linking through to The Human Circulatory System to follow how venom would travel through the human body systems. Also learn how to treat jelly fish stings, or explore issues with jelly blooms in relevant ecosystem topics.

STRANDED:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/11/110501_strandings.jhtml
Students will examine what causes hundreds of cetaceans to become stranded along the Eastern Seaboard each year; have them do further research for a class presentation. They can also link to Whale Xcursion, a virtual field trip examining the characteristics and behavior of whales.

THERE ARE ALGAE IN YOUR HOUSE:
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/education_lesson1.html
http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/educate/neptune/lesson/social/algae.htm
Have your students first create a list of food items containing algae derivatives, and then proceed with either of these lesson plans (one includes a student take-home work-sheet) to illustrate just how many common, everyday foods contain algae.

MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS VIEWING BOTTLE:
http://www.eskimo.com/~billb/electrom/statbotl.html
Extend your usual unit on magnets with this high interest experiment on magnetic fields. Students will build a bottle from baby oil and steel wool fibers to see the magnetic field align with a magnet. A similar experiment is offered to make an electric field viewing bottle.

THE RECONSTRUCTORS:
http://reconstructors.rice.edu/
Your students are amazing detectives from the future, and they must now travel to the past to solve medicinal mysteries. Sound intriguing? Students will love delving into a "Plaguing Problem" and help find pain relief for mere earthlings, completing mini-labs and making choices as they move from episode to episode, altogether learning to avoid drugs and to make healthy choices in their lives.

CURRICULUM KIT: SCIENCE AND OUR FOOD SUPPLY:
http://www.nsta.org/fdacurriculum
A hot topic today is the safety of our food supply, receiving notice particularly in our schools. Teachers can fill out an online form here to receive a free curriculum teaching kit on the Science of Our Food Supply, including an interactive video, a reference guide, and separate guides for middle and high school teachers. With these units, students will be investigating the journey of food from production to consumer, along with safety concerns at each stage of the process. From the National Science Teachers' Association.

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