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Teacher
Resources
Science
Earth & Sky Science Resources
General Science Resources
Special Education Resources
General Science Activities & Lesson Plans
Life Science Resources
Life Science Lesson Plans and Activities
Earth & Sky Science Resources
Miss Maggie's Earth Adventures: Stories and activities that introduce students to actual environmental issues and motivate them to delve deeper into the issues. On-line, standards-based activities and a multitude of printable lessons correlate with the animated stories. (1-6)
Landmarks: The Landmark Environmental Changes website looks at how 5 very different environments have changed as the human population has increased. Includes case studies and activities for students to complete. (4-9)
KidsGardening: This site was created to provide horticultural expertise, quality resources, meaningful networking opportunities, and ideas/activities that spark inquisitiveness and exploration to help educators and parents use gardening as a springboard for learning. Great site! (K-12)
Kid's Valley Webgarden: This site informs kids how to design, prepare, plant, and maintain a garden. (3-9)
Wildflowers in Texas: A 7th grade Life Science class created this website with images and research based descriptions of about 28 different Texas Wildflowers. (K-12)
For Kids Only - Earth Science Enterprise: NASA presents this site full of information about how NASA studies air, land, water, and natural hazards. NASA also looks at how people affect the earth. (A great resource plus some activities too!) (K-12)
How Volcanoes Work: Comprehensive information on volcanic eruptions with illustrative diagrams and photos. (K-12)
Neil's Geology for Kids: Visiting this site will help you learn all about rocks and geology with relatively straightforward language and explanations. (K-6+)
Geology: An introduction to geological time and the corresponding animal and plant life associated with each stage in the earth's evolution. This primer traces the idea of geologic time, starting five centuries ago when rock relationships were first studied. (K-12)
The Ozone Hole Tour: Up to date presentation from Cambridge University that takes you on a virtual tour of the depleting ozone layer over the Antarctic. (4-12)
Earth and Sky: Whatever science you're teaching, Earth and Sky has information you can use in your classroom. Subjects include astronomy, earth sciences, ecology, anthropology, and others. (K-12)
Ocean World: This site presents a wide range of information from offshore to up in space. Find out the link between the study of the oceans and satellites in space. There is a teacher's guide with background information, lesson plans, and a guide to technology lab stations and their use in the study of oceanography. (K-6+)
StarDate: The UT McDonald Observatory offers this site along with their daily radio program and bimonthly astronomy magazine. The site also keeps tabs on night sky events and offers astronomy resources to teachers which include lessons, astronomy links and activities. (K-12)
Astronomy for Kids: This site (built for kids by kids) is a quality educational Astronomy resource for students grades K-6.
All About Space: A comprehensive on-line site about space and astronomy designed for people of all ages and levels of comprehension. The easy-to-use structure allows readers to start at a basic level on each topic and then progress to much more advanced information as desired, simply by clicking on links. (K-12)
National Wildlife Federation Education Page: For more than sixty years, the National Wildlife Federation has been a leader in environmental education, reaching out to the communities where children and adults live, work and play. Explore NWF's educational pathways to understanding, appreciating and safeguarding the natural world. (K-12)
Explorers Club: Plants and Animals: The Environmental Protection Agency's website for 5-12 years old kids. Games, pictures and stories encourage viewers to explore their environment and learn about things that can be done to protect it. (K-6)
Planetpals: A fun, animated site that teaches kids to love our planet and everything in it. The site provides activities, crafts, games, fast facts, and a monthly newsletter covering a wide variety of environmental topics. (K-3)
National Wildlife Week: Featuring a different theme every year since 1938, National Wildlife Week's goal is to educate participants about wildlife conservation issues both globally and in their own backyard. NWF offers these informational hands-on activities, educator guides, projects, and resources for grades K-8.
Texas Nature Trackers: TNT is composed of statewide monitoring projects where volunteers collect data about various species on their own property or on public land and report the data back to TPW biologists. (Scroll down a to see the 5 statewide projects that are appropriate for school groups in Texas.) (K-12)
Field Trip Trail Heads: Virtual Field Trips - everything from beaches to volcanoes. To take any field trip, just click its name. (K-12)
Air Quality Lesson Plans: Material designed to provide Texas educators with background, activities and resources to teach the subject of air quality in the classroom. The information is presented in three levels: lesson plans, information and activities, and data files. (K-12)
Project A.I.R.E: Air Information Resources for Educators was developed by EPA to focus the attention of elementary, junior high, and high school students on air pollution issues. The units in this package encourage students to think more critically and creatively about air pollution problems and the alternatives for resolving them. Topics covered include: air quality, rainforests, radon, the creation of environmental laws, the greenhouse effect, and ozone. (K-12)
NASA Science Activities: Classroom-ready activities for K-12 students that represent a robust combination of contemporary teaching/learning strategies from the National Science Education Standards, exciting and current NASA science data, and Internet pointers to an endless supply of accurate resources. Neat lessons!
TeachSPACE: TeachSpace delivers easy-to-teach, inquiry-based space science lessons (each containing a field-tested hands-on activity) to upper-elementary and middle school teachers. In addition, each month, the site centers on a different space theme. (4-9)
The Headbone Derby - Iz and Auggie in Ecology Strikes Back: With this free, on-line investigation game, students (4-8) will learn the fundamentals of Internet research and discover challenging ideas about ecosystems and important environmental issues. The Derby does all of this in a fun, engaging context! Intended for students in grades 4-8 this comic adventure game awards prizes to individual puzzle solvers or teams that score the most points.
The Headbone Derby - Mystery on Mars: Iz and Auggie's adventure-filled tour of Mars has 7 exciting episodes. Students (4-8) can solve the mystery and develop astronomical intelligence as they surf the Internet for answers to this Headbone Derby's mind-frying questions.
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General Science Resources
BrainPOP - Science: BrainPOP's unique, award-winning Science content is based on original, animated movies created to explain the human body and the world around us in an engaging, interactive journey for kids. BrainPOP.com has over 80 original animated movies covering Health, Science and Technology topics. (K-9)
The Black Hole Gang: This site is set up like a clubhouse with each member having their own "corner" stocked with items representing their scientific interests. (3-8)
Dragonfly: This site has an 'inquiry-driven approach to learning' based on the idea 'We shape ourselves on the questions we ask'. It introduces a wide range of science investigations in a non-patronizing, easy to follow format. (4-6)
National Geographic Kids: Fun, games, challenges, quizzes, experiments, amazing facts, exhibits, photography, and links of interest to kids of all ages. (1-5)
Ranger Rick's Kid Zone: The environmental magazine for children, a homework help section, and briefings on such issues as the wetlands, endangered animals, water quality, and more. (K-6)
A+ Learning Galleries for Fun Science Learning: ScienceMaster Learning Galleries are a place to learn, explore, and understand - from the microscopic to the cosmic. Each Gallery contains a collection of images relating to one science or nature topic. (6-12)
JumpStart Topics: Each JumpStart page provides fast and concise information on one topic in Earth, Space, Life and Physical Science. Use them to get a quick overview of a topic. Many contain links for further study. (K-12)
The Exploratorium's Ten Cool Science Sites: This site is sponsored by the Exploratorium museum and contains a list of links to this month's BEST educational and Science sites. (Be sure to browse the subject index archive on the left side navigation bar!) (K-12)
The Why Files: Well-researched, educational descriptions of the actual science behind current news stories. (K-12)
How Stuff Works - Science and Technologies: A great place to learn how things work in the world around you. This list is focused around lots of Science and Technology questions such as: How lasers work, how sunglasses work, how gears work, and why is snow white? (K-12)
Ask Mr. Science: A long list of resources answering fundamental science questions a parent/scientist answered while visiting elementary classrooms since 1996. Includes demonstrations, easy low-tech and no-tech experiments and links on the subjects. (3-6)
The Mad Scientist Network: Need an answer to that burning science question? This site lets you search through its extensive database of previously asked/answered questions in a myriad of science fields. (1-12)
Sport! Science @ Exploratorium: A site where kids can learn the science that underlies the sports they love. (1-8)
Sci4Kids: Sci4Kids is a series of stories about what scientists do. (3-7)
Scientific American: Ask the Experts: Archived lists of questions and answers about Science. Additionally, this site let's you submit questions and provides links to related sites. (K-12)
Science Whatzit: Ask a question or find an answer about topics related to Science. (K-8)
Term Browser: Part of learning about science is learning the scientific lingo and terminology. This Term Browser site provides an extensive glossary of scientific terms. In addition to definitions, there are examples in both animated graphics form as well as written text to further explain the terms. (K-12)
A to Z Science Encyclopedia: This easy to use encyclopedia about all things science is presented by Discovery School and World Book. Search by keyword or browse alphabetically. (K-12)
Physics Central: This site covers a variety of needs of physics teachers at all levels. If you're teaching younger students, look at the Physics Links, with links to outside resources designated beginner, general (for students in high school physics), and advanced. Check out the Interactive section for ideas for all classrooms. (1-12+)
Chem 4 Kids: This site provides great introductory chemistry information and activities for elementary and middle school students about matter, the elements, atoms, math, and reactions. (3-8)
The Open Door: This site was created by a group of teachers in France, but the content is of universal interest to teachers and students. It includes topic chapters, facts and figures, and questions and quizzes. (3-12)
Science Fair Central: Discovery Channel Science Fair experts guide students (and parents) through idea generation, project preparation and finally, implementation, to help students achieve blue ribbon success. (2-9)
Thinking Fountain: A Science Fair site full of activities and ideas for fun science experiments, galleries to show your work, and neat science facts. A good site where kids learn from each other as well as from the experts. (5-8)
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Special Education Resources
Inclusion in Elementary Science: Some simple suggestions and information for science teachers working with inclusion. Also introduces some resources to help facilitate inclusion.
Inclusion in Science Education for Students with Disabilities: Accommodation and inclusive strategies for Science students with disabilities. Topics include teaching strategies, learning environments, and adaptive technologies. Eight types of disabilities are presented across six science teaching methods, such as teacher presentation, laboratory, and reading.
Building Bridges between Science and Special Education - Inclusion in the Science Classroom: An article detailing a four-step plan for inclusion of students into the Science classroom.
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General Science Activities & Lesson Plans
Exploratorium Science Snacks: A collection of miniature science exhibits that teachers can make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials. By using Snacks in their classrooms, teachers can climb out of the textbooks and join their students in discovering science for themselves. (1-9)
ProTeacher Science and Technology: Pick from specific subcategories to access a list of K-6 Science and Technology resources, ideas and lessons.
Do Science Activities: An archive of fun hands-on science you can do at home or at school. (1-12)
Science Playwiths: Activities and experiments using "everyday things to pose interesting questions" on a variety of topics. Ideas for learning about everything from bubbles to electricity to sound. Each activity includes an explanation of the science behind the experiment. (K-12)
Light and Color: Light theory in three interactive sections: Talking about Color, The Lighter Side of Color, and An Eye on Color. (1-4)
Science Worksheet Generator: Use teacher-created Science worksheets, or create your own from ready-made templates with the "Create a Worksheet" button at the top of the page. (1-12)
Project Primary: This site contains wonderful ideas for activities and experiments to introduce primary students to botany, chemistry, literature, geology, physics and zoology. (K-3+)
Educational Web Adventures - Science & Nature: Educational games, simulations, and learning modules designed to bring out the excitement of Science. (4+)
ARM Lesson Plans: The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program is an important part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) strategy to understand global climate change. They offer these lesson plans aimed at Middle school students. (5-8)
TryScience: This interactive site has fun experiments and field trips for kids and adults alike on diverse topics in science. More than 400 science learning institutions contributed experiments to this site. (2-8)
Amazing Space: Collection of web-based activities designed for classroom use, but made available for everyone to enjoy. (K-12)
Stardate Activities: Five hands-on activities encouraging students to explore astronomy concepts in a way that is fun, yet meaningful. (K-12)
The Headbone Derby - Iz and Auggie and the Invention Snatchers: One of seven free, year-round Internet research adventures that teaches kids how to locate useful information on the World Wide Web. This science/history-oriented game is intended for students in grades 4-8 and awards prizes to individual puzzle solvers or teams that score the most points.
Who Dunnit?: This site challenges students to solve a crime by learning how forensic scientists analyze evidence. (6-8)
The ROVer Ranch: ROVer Ranch features resources for teaching about robotic engineering, the development of robots, and their elements and systems. The teacher's guide correlates the lessons with national science and math standards and links to other educational resources. (K-12)
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Life Science Resources
Animals of the Rainforest: Visit this site for a look at vanishing species. Choose from a list of birds, fish, amphibians, insects, mammals, or reptiles. Each species has photos and information about habitat, diet, enemies, and special facts. (K-12)
Life Science: Encarta offers these articles, resources, and activities all about life science. (K-12)
Living Things: A collection of Web resources for teachers of life science. This site from the Franklin Institute provides information and links to related sites about living things. (1-8)
Discovering Dinosaurs: Encyclopedia Britannica explores how our conception of dinosaurs has evolved in the 150 years since dinosaurs were first discovered. There is a great activity section and a full teacher's guide to help you incorporate this site into your dinosaur unit. (3-8)
I Can Do That!: Are you interested in cloning? What about DNA, RNA, and Genetics? If so, here is a great site that will inspire you to learn about all of these things and a lot more. (2-8)
Neuroscience for Kids: Comprehensive site intended for elementary and secondary students and teachers. Includes on-line and off-line activities, lesson plans, experiments, demonstrations, games, worksheets and basic information about the nervous system. (1-8)
eSkeletons: This site enables you to view the skeletons of a human, a gorilla or a baboon and gather information from the osteology database. QuickTime & VRML is used to see the bones from all angles in 3D. (1-12)
The Particle Adventure: An easy & accessible doorway into the world of matter, antimatter, and other things. "A tour of the inner workings of the atom." (7-12)
The Microbe Zoo: A virtual zoo filled with exotic specimens from the microscopic world. Includes pictures of microbes, data, scientific classification, and feeding habitats. Specimens are arranged in pavilions representing the habitats they naturally dwell in. (1-12)
CELLS Alive!: Explores different types of cells through pictures, video and text. The site offers features such as CellCams, which let you look at the growth of cancer cells and bacteria growth in real time; a Cell Gallery with exhibits on apoptosis, antibody production, crystal growth and allergies; quizzes and more. (K-12)
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Life Science Lesson Plans and Activities
Under the Sea: A complete thematic unit for teaching about marine biology that includes interactive activities for students. (K-5)
Insectlopedia Lesson Plans: A large collection of lesson plans about every kind of insect. (K-12)
Journey North: An Internet-based learning adventure that engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. (K-12)
Encarta Life Science Challenge: Students 6-8+ can play this Jeopardy-style on-line game based on articles about life science. Students can see an article for each question if they desire.
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For more information please contact
Stacy Avery Project Director, Project E-Teach, Education Service Center, Region XIII.
For technical support please contact Shaunda Guthrie Technical Program Assistant, Project E-Teach, Education Service Center, Region XIII.
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