Articles, E-Mail and Web Links about Science

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= Article or E-mail you'll find right here on MiddleWeb
= A good link on the topic we've checked out ourselves

Basic Resources
Science Fairs and Alternatives
Biology
Natural World / Environment
Outer Space
Other Science





ASK ERIC Science Lesson Plans - Lots of well-documented lessons.

A Year of 8th Grade Science -- Demonstrates one teacher's activist approach to teaching and learning. This annotated profile, with details about lessons, philosphy, instructional design, and more is part of ALPS (Active Learning Practices for Schools), a remarkable site developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard's Project Zero.

Middle Grades Science Webquests -- A member of the MiddleWeb discussion chat spent the summer preparing these resources for middle grades and high school science teachers. One
of our listserv moderators, whose background is middle grades science, wrote: "I'm seriously impressed! I just looked at Alwyn Botha's webquests and they're awesome!" This group of websites includes about 50 webquests on science topics. The resources include four webquests about scientific thinking. This enterprising teacher has also created a website focused on providing photographic images of the solar system, with quizzes and questions.

Middle School Science Teacher Websites -- Education World interviewed seven science teachers who have created dynamite websites for students and other educators. Most are middle grades teachers (always out on the cutting edge!). Check out the story and the links to these outstanding cyber-science outposts. The teachers also recommend their favorite sites!

Bad News about Middle School Science Texts-- A report, "Review of Middle School Physical Science Texts," from the American Association of Physics Teachers, finds that 12 of the most popular science textbooks used at middle schools nationwide are riddled with errors. None of the textbooks has an acceptable level of accuracy, said John Hubisz, a North Carolina State University physics professor who led the two-year survey.

Profile of a Scientist-- This exploration of the work scientists do was created by a New Jersey science educator for high school students. But the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (which chose "Profile of a Scientist" as a top website for January) says the role-playing acitivity (complete with assignments, rubrics and resources) can be adapted for the middle grades.

"A Science Odyssey" -- PBS-related site highlights some spectacular discoveries in science and technology during the 20th century. Includes an Educator's Guide with activities, discussion questions, resources, and information for using A Science Odyssey in the classroom.

The Science Spot -- The Science Spot is an excellent resource for middle school educators and students. Lessons, projects, worksheets, teacher resources and science trivia class starters. The Adopt-an-Insect Project began as a schoolwide project at Havana (IL) Junior High to investigate the insect world. Each grade level "adopts" specific orders of insects, collects specimens, creates classroom collections, and completes related activities.

Middle School Science Lessons -- Sixth grade science teacher Liz La Rosa has put together a nice collection of science lesson plans and related resources. Liz and several colleagues are starting up a Middle School Science Webring. Find out more here.

Science Center -- Science teachers can find plenty of curriculum resources at Education World's science center, including a section on "Great Scientists" resource, a 9-12 resource center, and a K-8 curriculum resource center covering habitats, space, and the human body.

Virtual Field Trips -- Take students on nature field trips through the Web. Each field trip covers a single topic such as salt marshes, sharks, hurricanes and volcanoes. Sites are arranged in sequential order to build a story and include a series of "trail markers" or stops, that describe each site on the field trip to guide students' learning. If logs or journals are required, every field trip has a set of prepared documents that you can print out for each person on the trip. Also included are short teacher's guides and selected other Web sites that provide background or curriculum guidance. Most trips targeted for late elementary and middle grades students. (Blue Web'n review.)

One Stop Science Spot -- A portal site developed by a middle grades science teacher, who's done the searching for you!

Museum of Unnatural Mystery -- Topics that will engage students, presented in a way that science teachers can use! In the virtual halls of this cyber science museum, you will find answers to questions such as: Are there really flying saucers? What killed the dinosaurs? Is there something ancient and alive in Loch Ness? The Museum takes a scientific look at these, and other, questions.

Eureka! -- The Franklin Institute, Unisys, and the Philadelphia Theatre Caravan have partnered to present Eureka! A Techno-Mystery. This children's play, aimed at middle schoolers, explores the limitations of high technology and the need for human ingenuity. This site offers several related resources, including biographies of some prominent inventors and discoverers.

"Find Out Why" -- Offers short scientific explanations of everyday phenomena having to do with such things as baseball, snow, & milk. The site also promotes an outreach program to increase computer literacy and offers an annotated listing of sites that apply science at the grade-school level. (National Science Foundation)

"Resources for Teaching Middle School Science"
Hard to believe, but the complete text of this book from the National Academy Press is on-line. A product of the National Science Resources Center, the book is a guide to curriculum materials and other resources for teaching science in grades six through eight. The guide is the culmination of several years of intense work, supported by the Merck Foundation.

Resource World -- This is a new site still under development but chemistry and environment teachers will find it's already a useful resource. The site contains a periodic table interface where the user may click on an element to view interesting facts, history, properties, uses and sources of the chemical elements. In the future the developers promise to include information on the relationship between resources and sustainable economic growth.

Digital Dozen in Math and Science -- We regularly steal new links from the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse's monthly Digital Dozen list. If you want to cut out the middle-man, you can go directly to the ENC list each month.

Science Awareness for Middle School Girls -- This story from the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse reports on "Voices of Girls in Science, Mathematics, and Technology: Rural and Urban Images," a program for middle school girls sponsored by the Appalachia Educational Laboratory in Charleston. The ENC site includes other stories about programs aimed at increasing equity in science and math education.

Athena: Earth and Space Science for K-12 -- Looking for ways to use Internet-based science data? This site includes materials for incorporating data into your classroom, with student activities, explanations of various data sets, and background information for teachers. Students will observe phenomena related to oceans, the atmosphere, and astronomy with remotely-sensed data from a variety of sources. Use the introductory activities for teachers and students to learn how to use this site and the Web in general. (Eisenhower National Clearinghouse's "Digital Dozen.")

LabNet, "an electronic community for science and math teachers," includes resources, discussions facilitated by experienced moderators, on-line seminars and courses and regularly scheduled collaborative projects. LabNet's goal is to provide "affordable on-line teacher professional development." Supported by TERC. Modest membership fee; 30-day money-back guarantee!

Cool Science for Curious Kids -- A Java-based site where students can explore animal classifications, dust particles, butterfly metamorphosis, and other science information. Five science-oriented museums have contributed data and activities to the site. Includes tips for parents.

NOVA Teachers -- A new site developed by the NOVA television series includes a summary of the NOVA site sorted by grade levels, a bank of lesson plans, Internet activities, and a forum for teachers interested in using NOVA resources.

The Amateur Science Site -- This personal site developed by an out-of-work engineer will be of interest to science teachers for its project ideas as well as its suggestions for obtaining materials, etc. See this interesting page-in-progress about science misconceptions in k-6 textbooks.

NASA Quest -- This site is highly recommended by a former middle grades educator who now works as a technology learning specialist in a Wisconsin school district. She attests to its value as both a space sciences site and a basic science resource. Visit her contribution -- the Wright Flyer Online. Also see the Space Team Online, Aero Design Team Online, Mars Team Online, The Women of NASA, and the Space Station Tour. The Learning Technologies Channel provides live events connecting classrooms and educators to such exciting programs as the Eye of the Storm, Satellite Town Meetings, Exobiology, the Oceans Programs, and much more. "There are wonderful projects going on for educators who integrate aeronautics units in their classroom," she says, "and aeronautics is a very popular topic in middle school tech ed and science classes."

Teacher2Teacher -- Middle school teachers in the Oakland, CA school system spent the summer developing these resource-rich webpages that include lesson plans, an exploration of teacher inquiry, urban education links, teaching projects, and even some humor. The artwork is great, too. So check out Cody's Science Education Zone, The Niche, Ars Scientia-The Art of Science, and the Carter Science Page (which promises to feature student work soon). It's a four-for-one-click deal! Anthony Cody deserves a special mention for his creative graphics. See, for example, his "tub-o-fun!" which manages to combine funny stories and teaching opportunities.

What special problems do LEP students face in science? -- Reviews several innovative programs that help LEP students cope with the specialized vocabulary of science.

The Science Seeker Newsletter -- Offered periodically by a Canadian science teacher and is full of useful resources and links.

Extreme Science -- The Great White Shark logo backs up this site's claim to being the biggest, baddest natural science site for middle and elementary students. "It got a definite thumbs-up from our eight-year-old tester," says the Blue Web'n review. "Not easy on the eyes, but easy to use and written at a level that accommodates a wide range of users." Extreme Science provides
pictures, short informational paragraphs, types of scientists who study these phenomena, and where to go for more information.

Science Daily -- Middle school science teachers will love this daily review of science news and research, written for a general audience. Plenty of links and school-oriented information.

PBS Online Science -- Links to PBS sites devoted to various science series (like NOVA and New Explorers). Teacher and curriculum resources.

Science Websites Authored by Students -- Sorted by subject area, you'll find some inspiration and a lot of useful information, and several dozen experiments.

Science Try-It's -- Fifth grade science teacher (and former national science teacher award winner) John Cowens offers a few of his favorite easy-to-do experiements.

BioChemNet -- The BioChemNet is a gateway to the best chemistry and molecular biology educational resources on the Web. It now features a weekly updated "News & Reviews" section. Challenging for students, a great resource for science teachers.

The Yuckiest (Science) Site on the Internet -- What a great idea! An education site designed to lure kids in by emphasizing the yucky side of science. Middle schoolers will love it -- teachers with strong stomachs will, too! One of our personal favorites: "Spend a Day with Ralph the Roach." Coming soon: Camp Yucky.

You Can with Beakman and Jax -- Ever wonder why feet smell or how your remote control works? Find out in this fun site from the creators of the Beakman and Jax science comic strip. The site also has plenty of interesting interactive Shockwave demonstrations and science links and should interest kids of all ages.

Experimental Science Projects -- Experiments for K-12 students. Excellent introduction to experimental science which students can use on their own.

Getting Kids to Think Like Scientists -- A Wisconsin middle grades science teacher shares some of her ideas about getting students into a scientific frame of mind. From internet e-mail.

Science Links -- Excellent site! Hundreds of links divided into categories, with brief explanations. Includes lists for the history of science, science magazines, all science areas. Start here.

Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans in Math and Science -- These lesson plans were designed by teachers to teach standard concepts in math and science in new ways. The lessons, which include capsule descriptions that make browsing quick and easy, were developed as part of an effort to encourage more girls to pursue math and science careers. Definitely worth a look.

Planet Science -- This site maintained by New Scientist magazine is a rich source of current science information in many fields.

Top-Rated Math and Science Sites -- Each month the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse selects a dozen useful math and science sites for teachers and students. Visit the archives here.

Novels about science and the environment -- Suggestions from teachers.

How some middle grades teachers introduce the scientific method. --From e-mail.

Frank Potter's Science Gems -- A selection of excellent sites and activities in math and science.
Teachers Talking About Science Fiction - An e-mail discussion among middle school teachers about ways to use science fiction in English and science classes.

Internet Science Units - This New Jersey education project has developed a set of science modules that are Internet-based with topics that range from the aurora borealis to earthquakes to the Gulf Stream. Excellent examples of integrated lessons.

Instructional Innovations in Science and Math -- Developed by the National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathematics and Science. The Center's work is based on "the design and testing of instructional innovations in teaching, curriculum, instructional technology, and assessment."

Reinventing Science Education -- This article from ASCD's "Curriculum Update" reviews current themes in science reform literature, including active learning experiences for students. A related article offers interviews with leaders in the field of science education, including Senta Raizen, director of the National Center for Improving Science Education.

Science and Math Initiatives -- A free curriculum resource originally developed for rural math and science teachers but available to all.

The Math/Science Clearinghouse - The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse maintains a "treasure trove" of mathematics and science resources. Check out the Clearinghouse's "Digital Dozen," a monthly selection of useful math and science web sites (which are also archived). The Clearinghouse works in concert with ten regional Consortia organizations. For a report on how the regional Consortia work with local school systems, click here. For information about teachers' professional development needs, see this report.

Hobby Science -- A content-heavy site for educators and science hobbyists, including "weird" science, misconceptions, science projects.

The Why Files -- Students will love this lively site dedicated to "the science behind the news." Supported by the National Science Foundation. It's COOL!

Bill Nye, The Science Guy - Science rules! Try the "Demo of the Day" for a random science demonstration students can do at home or school.

Amazing Science - Site maintained by a middle school science teacher at McKinley School in Redwood, CA. Fun, student work included.

Bad Science - Page attempts to sensitize teachers and students to examples of bad science often taught in schools and universities, and offered in magazines and textbooks.

The Explorer - Self-description: "A collection of educational resources (instructional software, lab activities, lesson plans, student created materials) for K-12 mathematics and science education." Well-organized subject area outlines, many of which include Acrobat or Claris downloads.

The Guide to Math & Science Reform - A fully searchable database that includes concise entries on more than 1,200 projects, resources, and organization involved in K-12 math and science education improvement in the U.S. Funded by the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project. The Guide's "SAMI" feature includes opportunities for students to e-mail questions to science experts.

Franklin Institute Museum - Monthly science resource updates. Selected by Electronic Learning magazine as a Top 10 site in 1996.

National Geographic - Great site, as you would expect!

Cornell Science Gateway - Rich resources and links for biology, chemistry, other sciences.

The Brainium -- A fee-based science resource for teachers, students and parents, based on curriculum for grades 4-8. Canadian public schools have government-supported access to the site. Includes earth & space, life science, and physical science materials. Attractive graphics that are student-oriented. Free trial memberships available. Be sure to check out system requirements; heavy graphics; requires several web browser plug-ins.

Benjamin Franklin : Glimpses of the Man -- Find out almost everything there is to know about Benjamin Franklin, the inventor, philosopher, writer, and diplomat. Includes lesson plans (ie. solar energy, electricity, and hot air balloon experiments) that focus on current implementations of Franklin's ideas. By the Franklin Institute. Interdisciplinary link to history.

Science Fairs

Fun with Cells -- A plant and animal cell activity developed by a middle school science class. Example of posting student work on the Web.

Ask a Biologist -- Site developed by Arizona State University includes "lots of experiments and stuff." Lots of middle grades materials, including this activity testing for color blindness.

Animal Cams -- A list of live cameras, focused on everything from puppies to piranha. Observe dangerous and exotic animals from the saftey and comfort of your own classroom!

Red Wolves of Alligator River -- If you are looking for a great Internet project to use in your classroom, then you'll like the Red Wolves of Alligator River. The site critically examines the plight of the endangered red wolf in the Alligator River area of North Carolina. Lesson plans are included. (Education World)

Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes -- A collection of classroom lessons to help biology teachers more effectively teach basic concepts. Developed and tested during nine years of summer institutes by biology teachers from across the nation. Sponsored by NSF.

Bugscope -- And speaking of bugs, students can get a bug's-eye-view at Bugscope. A new educational outreach project of the World Wide Laboratory, which provides access to a scanning electron microscope for K-12 classrooms via the internet.
Human Anatomy On-line --Contains over one hundred illustrations of the human body with animations and thousands of descriptive links. Human Anatomy On-line uses Java applets to show images and select anatomy parts. Java support must be enabled in your browser.

Seeing Color -- This site on color vision is designed for K-12 students and includes a sample color blindness test using two of the Ishihara charts along with brief explanations about color blindness. Included are links to Sir Isaac Newton and a chart on common animals and the colors they see.

DNA From the Beginning -- Provided by the Human Genome Project, this site is "the world's first online, animated genetics primer - that takes a person from basic concepts of inheritance through up-to-the minute methods of DNA analysis." Specifically aimed at teenaged users without scientific backgrounds, the site has terrific potential for use in junior high or freshman-level biology courses. Requires RealPlayer, Shockwave, and Javascript. (Scout Report)

Hidden Killers: Deadly Viruses -- Here is a site where students can learn more about deadly viruses such AIDS, hepatitis, and yellow fever. The deep red and black colors of the site give it an ominous feeling. Developed as a ThinkQuest project by students in Maryland and California, users learn the basics about viruses and how our bodies' immune systems combat them. Teachers take note that students are encouraged to submit their own work for the site's weekly/bi-weekly feature article section. It is also good to be aware that some of this information, while important, may be disturbing for some students. (from the Education World review)

Access Excellence -- Developed by a CA biology teacher of the year, this site explores biotechnology and "the genetic frontier," with some emphasis on biotech ethics issues. The site is supported by Genentech, a major biotechnology company. Lots of lesson ideas, inquiry-based learning projects. The site received a prize from the American Academy of Neurology. Of particular interest is the area, "Classrooms of the 21st Century," a teaching/learning forum for educators that "provides a place for us to reflect on these ideas and the effects they have on our students' understanding of science." The site also offers abstracts of important articles about science education. See, for example, "Ruminating on Rubrics," an examination of the rubrics process in elementary science teaching. Also see Biotechnology , an article from ASCD's "Curriculum Update" newsletter, that includes a description of how one teacher in Charlotte, NC used case studies to help her students develop their "bio-ethical decision-making" abilities.

Virtual Autopsy --Offers students a chance to look over the shoulder of anthropologist as he examines the partially preserved body of an Incan maiden, sacrificed to the gods centuries ago. Using computed tomography (CT) scans and studying tissue samples, scientists have gleaned information about her DNA and possible links to living relatives as well as details of her death that provide new insights into Inca ritual and religion. "Stunning" National Geographic site also links to Ice Treasures of the Inca, a chronicle of the mummy's discovery.

Nueroscience for Kids -- Teachers and students will both love this rich, kid-friendly site supported by The National Institutes of Health. Activities include building a (non-working) model of the brain, and experiments with reflexes, the senses, and "sidedness." The site also includes creative writing projects and many games and puzzles for grades K-12 that help students explore the relationship between memory and learning.Teachers can find out where to order a brain--animal, gelatin, rubber, or plastic--to study, and students can browse photos of schools where kids are studying neuroscience -- and see samples of student work. They can even subscribe to a monthly newsletter.

Memory - Developed by the San Francisco Exporatorium, this site explores various aspects of human and animal memory. Includes information about brain research and displays the dissection of a sheep's brain: "By dissecting the brain of a sheep--an animal in which brain structure and function are similar to our own--we can see where memory processes thake place." Includes the work of a "memory artist" and a place for visitors to record their earliest memories and read the early memories of others.

Bat Thematic Unit -- Sections cover basic information, resources (web links, books, etc.), projects & activities (be sure to try the BatQuest!), art, science, conservation, literature, environment, sports, and even a Bat Quiz. "Even with some sections unfinished, there is still plenty to do at this site," says Blue Web'n Reviews.

Hello Dolly: A WebQuest on Cloning -- High school science teacher Keith Nuthall writes, "Hello Dolly is a webquest project that requires students to ask good questions, access current information, analyze the validity of sources, apply new knowledge to evaluate a current controversy, and reach consensus with peers."

Which Disease? -- The Bellingham (WA) public schools have developed a high-quality Online Student Research Project for 7th graders who must answer the question: "Which disease is most deserving of our research dollars?" Although the activity makes use of some "pay-for-service" information (EBSCO and Electric Library), it's worth your review.

The Microbe Zoo -- The Microbe Zoo is just one part of this site developed by the Digital Learning Center for Microbial Ecology. "Microbial ecology is the study of ecosystems that are entirely composed of or profoundly influenced by microscopic organisms. Unlike medical microbiologists, who study disease-causing microbes, microbial ecologists are often concerned with communities of microorganisms responsible for processes that are helpful to or sometimes essential for the health and survival of humans on Earth."

The Biology Project-- This "interactive online resource for learning biology" from the University of Arizona was designed for high school and college-level biology students, but middle grades teachers can use it as a content-rich resource for themselves and their students. Tutorials, problem sets, activities, and other resources guide learners in biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, human biology, Mendelian genetics, immunology,and molecular biology.

The Biology Place -- Developed by Peregrine Publishers for science teachers; includes online lessons that explore global warming, the bacterial genome, and others. Fees start at $75, but try the free seven-day membership.

Beyond Bio101 - A highly rated site that explores the transformation of undergraduate biology education. For middle and high school teachers interested in the continuum of science eduation.

Vancouver Aquarium - Creatures of the cold northern sea. Information on Beluga whales, dophins and porpoises, gray whales, orcas (killer whales), sea otters, sea turtles, and sharks.

The Total Shark Experience -- At the Discovery Channel site, the last time we looked.

Interactive Frog Dissection - Voted a top site by the kids at Franklin Middle School in Long Beach, CA. No bloody hands when students observe the video dissection of a cybermodel.

The Missouri Botanical Garden -- Great site for kids to learn about biomes, geography, ecology, plants and animals. Material also available on a CD.

The Raptor Center -- International center for injured birds of prey. Information and links about eagles, hawks, and other raptors. Includes environmental lesson plans.

Electronic Zoo - Great source for animal information. Slow loading graphics!

Nova Odyssey of Life - Accompanies the PBS Nova series, includes embryo morphs, a virtual tour of the microscopic organisms that live in your house.

Animal Diversity Web -- Good general resource for life science students studying animals. Maintained by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

Diseases -- A group of web resources assembled by teachers for a thematic unit.

Cloning -- Students can explore the science and the ethical issues surrounding cloning at this site maintained by New Scientist magazine. Includes other web links and the original article about the Scottish breakthrough in closing, originally published in Nature.





Earth Systems Curriculum for the Middle Grades --Wyoming science teachers and university science educators and scientists collaborated to develop a unit of study involving Earth system science. This new interdisciplinary field, a result of the Earth System Science Internet Project, examines connections among agriculture, astronomy, atmospheric science, botany, geography, geology, water resources, and zoology. The curriculum is applicable for middle and high school students.

Gorilla Foundation -- Dedicated to Koko, the signing gorilla, this site includes the first five chapters of Dr. Francine "Penny" Patterson's book, The Education of Koko, which details how Koko learned American Sign Language. Included are videos, gorilla art, teacher information, and links.

Estuary Live! -- Estuary Live offers live web broadcasts of estuarian exploration several times each year. Free to participants (but please sign up in advance). Lessons from past and future explorations available on the site. The "Frequently Asked Questions" section covers technical issues surrounding the webcast sessions.

Environmental Scorecard -- This amazing public service site allows visitors to enter their zip code and review a range of information about environmental conditions and pollution sources in their local communities. What a great way to get students interested in data!

Oceanography -- The site, supported by the Office of Naval Research, explores all areas of the ocean, "from the beaches and mangroves to the depths of the ocean basins and trenches." Colorful, interactive graphics teach about the processes that keep the ocean in motion. Quick quizzes and experiments test the viewers' knowledge.

Secrets at Sea -- "Dive into Ace on the Case: Secrets@Sea" and see if you can solve the mystery." In this educational adventure story for grades four through seven, the reader steps into the "starring role of Ace, assistant investigator to Paula Pacific, who is assigned to examine unusual behaviors noticed in killer whale populations in the Alanamorris Strait." As you pass through the story, you'll complete a number of ocean-related activities, which will lead you to the solution. (Includes teacher guide. Requires Macromedia software that can be downloaded free.)

An EPA Site for Kids -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put together a group of Web sites designed to help teach kids about the importance of protecting our environment. Users can visit the Explorers Club for ages 5-12, the EPA Student Center for middle school and high school students, or the Environmental Education Center for teachers.

Glacier -- Middle schoolers can use this Rice University site to learn about Antarctica. Good photos, links. Text written for students. "Antarctica is the coldest, highest, driest, windiest place on Earth! Are you wearing enough warm clothes to be here?! We hope so, because here we go!" Teachers can read about Teachers Experiencing Antarctica, a program sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in which teachers are selected to travel to the Antarctic and the Arctic for a field season to participate in ongoing research.

National Geographic Society Xpeditions -- Education World gave this site an A+. Built around the national geography standards, the site includes an atlas, forums, an Xpedition hall, and an archive of standards-based materials. "Very interactive and beautifully illustrated."

La Niña at the Exploratorium -- San Francisco's Exploratorium science correspondent covered the recent La Niña summit and prepared several dispatches, which a posted on this page of excellent La Niña resources. While you're checking out El Niño's twin sister, be sure to examine the many rich offerings at the Exploratorium, including the livecam view of San Francisco Bay.

Carolina Coastal Science -- An inquiry-based science activity that uses the Web to explore science in coastal Carolina. Teachers and students can use this web site independently or as a class using different teaching strategies. In "The Shell Island Dilemma," students take on roles to investigate and debate complex issues surrounding oceanfront structures threatened by coastal erosion. A guide for educators provides a variety of teaching suggestions. (Blue Web'n review.)

Sea Turtle Satellite Tracking Program -- This marine biology resource lets you follow migratory movements of endangered sea turtles tracked by satellite. Learn about turtle species, behaviors, and the threats they face as you follow the progress of turtles released in Florida, Baja, and South Carolina. Teachers can request a free guide. (Recommended by Blue Web'n for middle school.)

Hurricanes -- Here's a terrific page for teachers who want to plan lessons around the hurricane season. For the latest hurricane news, try Yahoo!'s special "hurricane season" page. And here are some other good sites for students and teachers who want to keep up with the lively hurricane season: Here's a good simple description of how hurricanes form; The Weather Underground provides hourly updates on tropical hurricane activity. Ohio State has a whole page of FAQS about hurricanes. And the Weather On-Line site has a detailed tropical storm area. Of course, The Weather Channel has full coverage and special resources at its homepage. Finally, there's Wild Weather's hurricane page. (prepared in Fall 1998)

GLOBE -- Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. Students and teachers from over 5000 schools in more than 70 countries work with research scientists to learn more about Earth. Includes a complete on-line teacher guide.

Tornadoes -- This page on the "Natural Disasters" website has good basic information about tornadoes. Other useful twister websites include WeatherLabs Inc., the tornado page at FEMA's website for kids, and this Dallas Morning News coverage of the Jarrell, TX tornado.

Weather Activity Using Real Data -- This page includes a lesson plan that allows students to compare the accuracy of The Farmer's Almanac with The Weather Channel.

Planet Earth -- This site, a joint project of the the Poway (CA) Unified School District and The Museum of Television & Radio. is described as a "suite of interactive learning activities on ecology." The resources are excellent -- see for example this performance-based unit about grey wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Includes ecology treasure hunt and hotlist of ecology sites.

Whales: A Thematic Web Unit -- Includes lesson plans from Sea World, Inc. Assortment of good whale-oriented web links. Materials cover k-8. Developed at U of Virginia.

Dinosaur Dictionaries -- This collection of four related dictionaries includes guides to dinosaur anatomy and type, as well as paleontology terms and pronunciations of dinosaur-related words. If want to go whole hog, or whole dinosaur in this instance, try the homepage: Dinosauria.

The Chena River Project -- A remarkable "cross-curricular study" of the history, ecology, and uses of a clearwater river running through Fairbanks, Alaska. This is an elementary school project that could serve as a model for any elementary or middle school science program with access to a river.

El Niño Sites -- Here's our collection of some of the best research sites on the El Niño phenomenon.

Rachel's Place -- Includes one of the best e-mail newsletters about current environmental issues, "Rachel's Environment and Health Weekly." Published by the Environmental Research Foundation, the weekly covers U.S. waste policies, links between cancer and pollution, climate change, forest destruction, and much more. Link to index.

EcoQuest: Desert Edition -- Created by teacher Mark Kirk, this WebQuest was designed to help 7th and 8th graders learn more about the desert ecosystem. Students look at characteristics and challenges of the desert from different perspectives. After they learn about the desert and complete the assignments given to them, they design a multimedia presentation describing what they have found and present it back to the class. This project was designed to take about a week to do, with kids in groups of 5 or less.

International Symposium on Environmental Issues -- In this challenging WebQuest activity, eighth and ninth grade students investigate the Antarctic ecosystem to determine if there could be a relationship between the depletion of high altitude ozone and a decline in the penguin population. Students then propose three actions that would most effectively prevent the depletion of high altitude ozone layer, and present their findings to the International Symposium on Environmental Issues.

Endangered Species (A 6th Grade Project) -- This site describes a project completed by students in a Miami school who pursued the 'driving question': "Is man the biggest factor which has contributed to the endangerment of species?" Includes lesson plans, process description, samples of student work, research paper rubric. A Co-NECT project.

OnLineClass -- Provides opportunities for students to participate in a rich, interactive learning experience. The subscription price is reasonable. Get on their e-mail list for future information.

The Lithics Site -- The place to start for all things Stone Age.

Sea and Sky is an "in-depth" site exploring the oceans and the Universe, with lots of information and interactive games.

Diving into Deep Research -- "Researching Marine Life in the Connected Classroom" is a middle school internet-based learning project built around whales and other marine animals.

Space Available: Learning from Satellites -- This site includes over 50 lesson plans for learning activities and longer term projects on remote sensing, imaging science, oceanography, meteorology, and ecology. Developed by the Gulf of Maine Aquarium and NASA.

Energy Conservation Project -- Over 130 complete lessons built around energy conservation issues.

Real Science with NASA - NASA frequently offers students an opportunity to interact online. A recent NASA project -- "Live from Antarctica 2" -- included three live hour-long telecasts accessible on NASA-TV and many PBS stations. Teachers can find out more about these NASA programs by visiting a project website or contacting Jan Wee, educational outreach coordinator. (Schools can use the program's products via videotape after the live telecasts have ended. )

Endangered Species Home Page - An illustrated database with classroom activities from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Site includes "kid-friendly" profiles of several dozen endangered animals.

Volcano World - One of the best of many volcano sites. Includes photo history of the eruption of Mount St. Helens an "Ask a Volcanologist" feature and a section on current eruptions.

Geologylink -- News stories, facts, and chat forums help professional and amateur geologists unearth scientific concepts and discoveries. Recent "hot topic": "Is There Life on Mars?"

Journey North - Follow animal migration and other seasonal changes. Selected by Electronic Learning magazine as Top 10 site in 1996. Students can participate live each spring or use archives.

The Nature Conservancy - The Conservancy operates the largest private system of nature sanctuaries in the world -- more than 1,500 in the U.S. alone. Students can learn more about conservation science.

Marilyn's Imagination Factory - Here's a site that can help students turn solid waste into art as they learn about recycling and environmental issues.

Environmental Education Links -- Plenty of links.

Middle Earth Science -- Focus on earth science for middle schoolers.

Environmental Education -- Federal Bureau of Land Management homepage includes teacher resources.




Searching for Just the Right Planet -- Students to learn about the planets in our solar system by creating a report recommending a good site for a new planet-orbiting hotel. Explicit directions to this activity are provided as well as a rubric to evaluate the project.

Earth and Sky -- If you've ever heard the "Earth and Sky" reports on National Public Radio, you know that the folks at E&S do a great job of keeping us up to date on celestial events. Teachers and students interested in the goings-on of the stars and planets can plan their nightly viewings here. There's also a teacher's lounge, contests for kids, and in-depth articles on earth science and astronomy. A terrific service.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- This site features a daily, high-quality image with a description of its significance, written by a professional astronomer in clear, easy to understand terms. Extensive archive going back several years. While we're on the topic, if you or your students missed The Leonids, you'll find some terrific photos at Leonids Live! And if you just can't get enough news about the Cosmos, check out StarTimes.

EarthKAM - EarthKAM's goal is to provide students with the capability to take images of Earth from a camera mounted in a space shuttle and to use these images for investigative projects. Read this case study co-authored by astronaut Sally Ride, visit the EarthKam site at UC San Diego, and read a list of the many middle schools that have been involved.

World Builders -- Talk about higher order thinking! This site supports a course about designing entire planets. It includes lessons, many links to web pages, teacher resources, science notes, and planets created by teams of teachers who participated in the course. Developed for a university course, it has been used by K-12 teachers to develop world-building units. The developers describe their course as a model of "constructivist and problem-based learning"

NASA Quest -- This site is highly recommended by a former middle grades educator who now works as a technology learning specialist in a Wisconsin school district. Visit her contribution -- the Wright Flyer Online. Also see the Space Team Online, Aero Design Team Online, Mars Team Online, The Women of NASA, and the Space Station Tour. The Learning Technologies Channel provides live events connecting classrooms and educators to such exciting programs as the Eye of the Storm, Satellite Town Meetings, Exobiology, the Oceans Programs, and much more.

Classifying Galaxies -- Designed for grades 5-9, students observe how the galaxy classification system of Edwin Hubble assigns galaxies to different groups according to shapes. Students attempt to categorize unknown galaxies according to the Hubble classification descriptors. Includes a teacher lesson plan, printable worksheets and answer keys, images from telescopes all over the world, and hotlinks to other useful astronomy websites.

Windows to the Universe -- Blue Web-n says that "this stunning NASA-funded site explores Earth and Space sciences and the historical and cultural ties between science, exploration, and the human experience." The site includes a rich array of images, movies, animations, and data sets. Teacher Resources include classroom activities and educational links.

Amazing Space -- This site built around the Hubble Telescope includes lessons written by teachers about the solar system, the life cycle of stars, and the training of scientists.

Exploring Planets in the Classroom - Two dozen hands-on planetary science activities.

The Nine Planets -- Another site with details about the solar system, including NASA photos.

Raccoons from Mars - Did NASA know about the Raccoon cities? Fun hypertext tale.

Sea and Sky is an "in-depth" site exploring the oceans and the Universe, with lots of information and interactive games.

Exploration in Education -- ExInEd offers students access to the latest NASA discoveries. The site includes electronic picture books for students of geography, planetary science, and astrophysics.

High Energy Astrophysics Learning Center - The Center's "StarChild" area includes information about high-energy astronomy for many ages and education levels. Includes multi-level lesson plans for physics, mathematics, astronomy and chemistry. Lots of graphics covering the solar system, the universe, and more!

Mars -- A group of web resources assembled by teachers for a thematic unit.

Women of NASA - Provides an opportunity for students to participate in live webchats with women who serve NASA in scientific and technical jobs. Available throughout the '96-'97 school year. To register for information e-mail listmanager@quest.arc.nasa.gov. Or check out the site.




Heavy Ions -- Students of many ages study ions. But what happens when you smash an ion? And how would you do it? Brookhaven National Lab has created a virtual tour of its Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, which recently began operation. Learn about construction techniques, and what is being studied as the ions fly around the RHIC "Racetrack." More importantly,introduce your students to cutting edge research. (Blue Web'n review)

ChemSite -- Middle grades science teachers may enjoy this well-done site developed by a Massachusetts high school chemistry teacher. Dan Damelin has included all the handouts he uses in class, homework sheets,short video clips, animations of molecular models (which he says are critical visual tools to help kids understand), examples of good work, and all class notes that he would have written on the board. There are also short sample problems that students can try to answer and the site will let them if they are correct and provide an explanation to go with the answer.

How Does A Thing Like That Work? - Created by physics professor and science popularizer David Willey, HDATLTW describes some of Willey's more visual and dramatic demonstrations from his introductory university physics course. Middle grades science teachers will find plenty of useful ideas, including more than a dozen fun ways to introduce Newton's Laws.

Inventors and Inventions -- This Internet scavenger hunt, prepared by Education World writer Hazel Jobe, helps students surf the best on-line resources for fun facts about some famous and not-so-famous inventors and inventions. Includes two hunts --- one for elementary and one for older students.

Resource World -- This is a new site still under development but chemistry and environment teachers will find it's already a useful resource. The site contains a periodic table interface where the user may click on an element to view interesting facts, history, properties, uses and sources of the chemical elements. In the future the developers promise to include information on the relationship between resources and sustainable economic growth.
Contributions of 20th Century Women to Physics -- There are more female physicists who have made major contributions to physics, math, and astronomy than you think there are. This site provides citations on many women in a variety of physics fields, including condensed matter physics, materials physics, fluid dynamics, and space physics.

The Soundry -- Learn about the anatomy of the ear and the physics of sound at this ThinkQuest '98 entry. This site, simply organized, takes users on a tour of the ear to learn how humans capture and interpret sound, introduces users to the physical properties and applications of sound, and provides a timeline of sound history. An interactive sound lab encourages users to experiment with some of the topics they have explored.

Pollination Lesson -- "Farm to supermarket to your dinner table... Who are the pollinators that cause fruits to form from flowers? A pollination lesson from the supermarket and library." Ideas for a lesson on pollination developed by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Exploring Chocolate --The San Francisco-based Exploratorium offers a yummy compendium exploring chocolate from bean to bar and beyond. Divided into topical sections, the site examines everything from the processing of the cacao beans into chocolate to the chemical makeup and possible health benefits from indulging. Video and audio clips highlight the text, including video shot in the Amazon showing the process of cutting open and tasting cacao fruit and audio interviews with a chocolate researcher. There is also a tour of a chocolate factory, a great bibliography, and a quick lesson in tempering chocolate to make candies. (Scout Report)

Programmable Bricks -- The MIT Media Lab is developing Lego-like bricks that students can use to build programmable robots, "smart rooms" and other interesting devices. Fascinating! The forerunner of one of this Christmas' hot toys.

Theater of Electricity -- From Boston's Museum of Science, the Theater of Electricity offers an overview of how electricity works and a look at the historical use of electricity in scientific experiments. You'll find information on Tesla coils, Van deGraaff generators, and Ben Franklin's kite experiments. Videos clips and teacher resources are also available. (Blue Web'n review.)

A Walk Through Time -- A nicely done introduction to the history of time, and time-keeping. Created by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology, the site includes pages on ancient calendars, early clocks, the "revolution in timekeeping," the atomic age, world time scales, and the NIST's high-tech time calibration system. Suitable for middle-schoolers.

Roller Coaster Physics Resources-- We've ridden the Web with our hearts in our throats and come up with this page full of resources for science teachers who would like to combine physics and fun. There's some seriously good stuff here!

The Wizard's Lab -- A physics website with five sections: "Motion, Planetary Motion, Sound and Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, and Light and Energy". Each section includes a dialogue with the wizard, which students can read or listen to using real audio. As you enter the "Motion" section, for example, you are invited to travel back in time through a time machine. First you meet Aristotle, who "got the ball rolling" in the study of motion. Next you proceed to Galileo, and see how he brought us a step further in understanding the physics of motion. There's a quiz at the end of each section. (Excerpted from Skewl Sites review.)

Geologylink -- "For anyone who has ever been interested in "the world's daily geological rumblings," says one review of this site. Breaking news on geologic events all over the world, the latest news and discoveries, hot topics, virtual field trips, interactive forums, an image gallery and more.

Atomic Infinity -- Study the atom and particle science, in layman's language. Great tutorial that you can tailor to your own needs. Designed by students as part of ThinkQuest.

Albert Einstein Homepage -- Nice job of collecting resources -- designed by a high school student.

PhysLINK: The Ultimate Physics Resource -- Well developed reference, societies, and publications sections, and also links to history, news, and fun sites as well. Visitors can subscribe to PhysLINK's Quotations mailing list for a weekly quote by e-mail.

Chem-4-Kids -- Students can explore the Periodic Table and learn about the elements and how they combine to make compounds. Colorful and kid-oriented. Still under development but the first 20 or so elements were detailed as of June 1997.

The Science Center -- A corporate-sponsored resource featuring chemistry resources and links. Includes lesson plans and classroom activities geared towards the science educator. Sponsored by the Chlorine Chemistry Council.

The Pictorial Periodic Table -- The Web magazine called this "one of the most entertaining chemistry sites imaginable." Offers many styles of the Periodic Table, including Mendeleev's original "folded" table. One table is interspersed with comic book heroes! And PT trivia -- for example, the densest element, osmium, was not named for Donnie Osmond.

WebElements -- The periodic table of the elements on the web! Visit this table to learn about each element--you'll find typical fare such as name, symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight. More information includes background, electronic properties, physical properties, crystallography, compounds, and uses of the element and uses in geology and biology. Diagrams illustrate many of the different concepts.

Chemfinder Webserver -- Search engine identifies all compounds in its database that you specify, using parameters like boiling point and melting point. Links to further information.

Iron and the Global CO2 Problem -- In this activity, the student takes on the role of science advisor to a newly elected U.S. Senator and must prepare a report about a new process that cuts down emissions of greenhouse gases. From The Chemistry Place. (Links are deactivated in this "tour" version. Membership is available for a nominal fee.)

Molecular Expressions -- Go where no microscope has gone before. One of the Web's largest collections of color photographs taken through an optical microscope (commonly referred to as "photo-micro-graphs").

Whirligig Farm -- A Minnesota science museum travels to North Carolina to visit a windmill and whirligig farm. Science and art meet!

The Transformations Project -- A non-profit program linking middle school teachers with practicing engineers throughout the US for an exploration of technology. Site includes links to several dozen middle schools involved in reform and to lesson plans emerging from the project.

Resources for Chemistry Teachers -- ChemCom is a chemistry curriculum written for 7-12 students that emphasizes chemistry's impact on society. The site includes eight real-world, problem-based units.

The Physics Classroom - A set of interactive, hypertext lessons covering the topic of motion. Suitable for middle and high school students. Easy-to-read style. Each lesson includes a set of "Check Your Understanding" questions with answers and explanations hidden within "pop-up
menus."

The Science of Hockey, developed with the assistance of the NHL's San Jose Sharks, explains the science behind the game. Developed by the Exploratorium, the site includes RealVideo and audio interviews with players and scientists.

WeatherEye - A weather education site created by a forecast team and local educators. Includes an area for students in grades 6-12. On-line lessons can be easily integrated into class schedules. Lessons put students in real-world situations, including a drive through a blizzard or being mayor of a town threatened by a hurricane and let's them figure out what to do.

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