science sites

Science Sites

First Quarter Sites
Second Quarter Sites
Third Quarter Sites

1). Ocean Explorer
Grades 6 -12

Students learn about our oceans on this site through video, photos, and maps from actual ocean explorations. NOAA’s ocean explorations taken from 2001 through 2007 are available. The gallery provides extensive photographs, maps, audio, and video on most ocean topics. Photographs, video, and sound recordings are available from the most ordinary ocean creatures to the most unusual. Sights and sounds of the ocean will fascinate students.

Lesson plans are provided along with expedition modules which are designed to show discoveries of NOAA's major ocean expeditions. Each module contains an Expedition Purpose, Lessons, Multimedia Learning Objects, and Career Connections along with other links. Multimedia Learning Objects are 15 interactive multimedia presentations and learning activities that address a wide range of topics including ocean waves and currents, pollution, and medicine from the sea. There is also extensive curriculum provided on all topics.

A few of the expeditions include:
—Submarine Ring of Fire
—Aegean and Black Sea
—Tracking Nawhals in Greenland
—Sounds of the Southern Ocean

Some of the learning videos by NOAA available include:
—Tides
—Deep sea coral
—Water cycle
—Mid-ocean ridges
—Ocean currents
—Ocean waves
—Energy from the oceans
—Food, water, and medicine from the sea
—Ocean pollution
—Hurricanes
—Chemosynthesis and hydrothermal vent life

2). Einstein’s Big Idea
Grades 9-12

This PBS Web site, presents Einstein’s ideas along with explanations of the theory of relativity by several of today’s scientists.

The site provides a teacher guide and a library resource kit ready to download. Videos and several interactive activities for students are available. Topics cover Einstein’s greatest achievements, the theory behind the equation, time travel, speed of light, scientists who paved the way for Einstein, and even some Einstein quotes.

The teacher resource page provides links to podcasts and online videos. Teacher guides for all teacher programs are accessible. TV schedules and weekly e-mail bulletins are also available.

3). Science Explorations
Grades 3 - 8

Starting on the home page, students click on a science topic. They learn information through a video about each subject and then have an opportunity to choose from several educational activities. This site provides message boards, a library, vocabulary words, and many interactive activities.

There is also a teacher guide for each topic including the standards that are covered in each lesson. A book list along with links to Web quests pertaining to the topic is included.

Some of the topics on this site include:
— Galapagos Islands
— Understanding bats
— Lizards and snakes
— Classifying insects
— Giant squid
— Space

4). Eco Kids
Grades 4- 8

Eco Kids is Canada's environmental educational Web site for students. The site provides environmental information about critical issues facing the world today. Hands-on activities and games help students learn and understand about these important issues.

Students are encouraged to think and make up their own minds about the environmental issues we all face. A blog page is available for students to express their thoughts or post their own questions.

A teacher resource page with searchable lesson plans on a wide variety of topics is easily accessible. A monthly newsletter is also available along with printable resources.

5). American Field Guide
Grades 6 - 12

PBS has created a distinctive site by providing high quality video segments on a wide variety of topics for use in the classroom. Topics covered on this site are animals, ecosystems, human history, livelihoods, Earth and space, plants, public policy, and recreation. In addition, the American Field Guide offers teachers and students ways to explore a particular topic further by linking related topics to the videos.

Besides the featured videos on each topic, teachers may also search by state for their particular topic. For example, teachers can search for animals in Ohio. They will find videos on painted turtles that inhabit the ponds at Kelley’s Island in Lake Erie.

The Teacher Resource section also contains 19 units of study with lesson plans and activities for students including background information and Web links. Additional lesson plans are embedded in the links along with the videos.

6. Animal Diversity Guide
Grades 6 - 12

The Animal Diversity Web site is a searchable database of animal classification, distribution, and natural history from the University of Michigan. The Animal Diversity Web site contains information on thousands of species including photographs, videos and sound recordings. Students can explore the expansive database for patterns and relationships and learn more about animals and their classification.

The site is easy to navigate with icons for students to click which link to additional information. There is also a modest teacher resource section included for the K-12 teacher.

Second Quarter Sites

1). Astronomy Picture of the Day
Grades 3 - 12

This NASA site displays daily pictures of space along with detailed explanations to be used as an educational resource in classrooms. There is a searchable archive of all photographs as well as an index and calendar of all photographs. A glossary and links to numerous sites about space are also provided

2). The Hubble Site
Grades 4- 12

This amazing site is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach and includes ten years of Hubble images. Included on the site is extensive information on Hubble discoveries, astronomy, and the telescope. There are dazzling photographs and videos of planets, stars, and galaxies. Don't miss the SkyWatch weekly podcast. Here students will learn about the newest discoveries in astronomy.

Everyone can enjoy this site. It contains a remarkable amount of information along with spectacular photographs from the Hubble telescope.

3). Monterey Bay Aquarium
Grades K-12

The Monterey Bay Aquarium web site provides fantastic photographs of underwater life. There are live web cams from eight different areas including Monterey Bay, the Outer Bay, and the underwater kelp forest. Students can also visit the current exhibits at the aquarium through astonishing pictures and also some past exhibits are still available online. There is an extensive library of podcasts and videos filled with striking photographs. The amount of information on site is staggering. There even games and activities available.

4). Cells Alive
Grades 6- 12

Cells Alive is a fantastic Web site which contains excellent computer-enhanced images of living cells and organisms that can be used in the classroom to increase understanding of cells and cell division. There are interactive models of mitosis, meiosis, and the cell cycle. A cell cam shows pictures of cancer and bacteria cells which are updated every ten minutes. Students will truly become engaged in learning while amassing knowledge about cells from this site.

This site was created by and is maintained by James A. Sullivan, a retired research assistant professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia. His education includes a B.A. in Biology from Rhodes College in 1967. He received his M.A. in Developmental Biology from the University of Virginia in 1970 and his M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1973.

5). Chem Collective
Grades 9 - 12

The Chem Collective is virtual chemistry lab. The site provides stimulating online lessons using “scenario-based” learning activities for students to use as pre-labs, alternative assignments, or class activities. Teachers are provided a great deal of flexibility with the use of the tutorials, tests, scenarios, and simulations that are available. The pre-made activities and simulations on the site may be used or teachers can create their own. Feedback is encouraged and a discussion forum is planned for the near future.

The site was developed by faculty at Carnegie Mellon University for use by high school teachers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation through the Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Program and the National Science Digital Library.

6). Action Bioscience
Grades 6-10

The Action Bioscience Web site is an educational web site created to promote bioscience literacy by promoting an understanding of the biodiversity of life and promote global ecological awareness.The site provides articles by scientists, educators, and science students regarding environment, biodiversity, environment, genomics, biotechnology, evolution, and new frontiers in science. The site is divided into each of these six areas of interest. There are numerous articles written in each of these areas. Each article gives students a vast amount of information along with links to various other Web sites on the same topic.

Third Quarter Sites

1). Earthquakes
Grades 5 - 8

This site covers the many aspects of earthquakes It describes how earthquakes occur, how they are measured, along with earthquakes safety and history. The site is easy for students to understand and navigate.

2). A Climate Conundrum
Grades 5-8

This site contains a lesson plan for the study of turtles and how turtle populations may be affected by climate change. Students will work on developing a solution to the problems turtles face as a result of climate change. There is a link to a outstanding Jean-Michel Cousteau video on turtles to be used with the lesson.

3). Investigate Biodiversity
Grades 6-12

Investigate Biodiversity takes your students on a virtual expedition studying endangered ecosystems. Students will learn about conservation issues, species, and conservation professionals along the way.

The educational activities on the site help students learn what about conservation and conservation choices that they can make. Students also have the opportunity to explore conservation careers.

4. Windows to the Universe
Grades 2 - 12

Windows to the Universe covers Earth and space sciences and has been in development since 1995. The site contains a vast collection of documents, images, movies, and animations that explore the Earth and space. Windows to the Universe is updated on a regular basis to provide the most current information.

The site is appropriate for use with all grade levels since the site is written in three reading levels. These levels may be chosen by using the upper button bar on each page.

5. The Planetary Society
Grades 7 - 12

The Planetary Society, founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman. Their goal is to interest people in space exploration through education. The Planetary Society members are interested making discoveries and acquiring new knowledge about our solar system.

The Web site is devoted to educating people about space. A variety of topics about space are presented on the site with links to more resources. A weekly radio show is broadcast concerning numerous space topics and is also available online. There are also podcasts and space projects to investigate. Students can easily navigate this site and locate information. There are links to many other resources including the NASA site where information and photographs are plentiful.