Access to the Web means finding millions of resources. How does anyone choose what to review and even more, what to use? Most often, finding a trusted source that provides thoughtful recommendations makes all the difference. In this case, the sites listed are from the federal government.
In 1997, more than 30 Federal agencies formed a working group to make hundreds of federally supported teaching and learning resources easier to find. The result of that work is the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence web site (FREE). (http://www.ed.gov/free/index.html). The web sites listed below are excerpted with permission.
Here are web sites for teaching science.
Exploring the Moon
is a teacher's guide for learning about lunar geology,
distance to the moon, Apollo landing sites, and life support
systems. Lessons focus on calculating the distance between
scale models of earth and the moon, designing a spacecraft for
travel to and from the moon, the geology of the six Apollo
landing sites, and calculating the diameter of the moon using
proportions. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Global Warming Debate
discusses global warming, policy struggles to address it,
international efforts, the cap-and-trade system, and more.
Interactive features show how much CO2 different cars produce
and how populations around the world may have to adapt to
climate changes in 100 years. (NewsHour, National Science
Foundation)
Mars Exploration Rovers
tells the story of Spirit and Opportunity, two rovers that are
investigating the hills and craters of Mars. See an animation
of Spirit's journey from launch pad to Mars. Learn about its
instruments. See a slide show of the most detailed images of
Mars' surface ever captured. A lesson on the distance and
relative size of other planets is included. (NewsHour,
National Science Foundation)
Search for Ancestors
looks at the history of the double helix, the science behind
DNA test kits for people who want to learn more about their
ancestry, an interactive map of human migration over 200,000
years, DNA analysis tracing African-American lineage, and how
mutations found in DNA can unlock the past. (Online NewsHour,
National Science Foundation)
Biodiversity Counts
helps teachers get middle school students out into their own
backyards to gather and identify plants and arthropods
(spiders, insects, and more). Lesson plans, essays, and
interactives focus on dozens of topics: how to capture
arthropods, mount dried plants, make a net, keep a field
journal, set up guest quarters for visiting arthropods,
establish rules for field trips, and find local specialists.
(American Museum of Natural History, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration)
Biodiversity: It Takes All Kinds to Make a World
invites elementary students to explore biodiversity in a city
park, on an island, and in a desert. Learn about 10 species
whose habitats are in danger, a conservation project in
Africa, and where in the world various foods we eat come from.
(American Museum of Natural History, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration)
Bioed Online
features lessons on the water cycle and global warming, the X
chromosome, sleep and daily rhythms, muscles and bones, and
food and fitness. Experts offer presentations (streaming
videos) on classification, cloning, viruses, infectious
diseases, animal behavior, Mendelian genetics, genomes, sleep
and performance, body systems, childhood obesity, asthma,
ecosystems, populations, nutrition and energy, and more.
Articles discuss biology news -- stem cells, bird flu, and
more. (Baylor College of Medicine, Multiple Agencies)
DNA Microarray
is a "virtual lab" of a DNA microarray experiment. Compare
samples of healthy tissue and cancerous tissue as a scientist
would. Learn the basics about DNA and gene expression.
(Genetic Science Learning Center, National Institutes of
Health)
Memory
dissects a sheep brain to show us "the anatomy of memory." See
works of an artist who paints entirely from memory. (Compare
his paintings to photos of places.) Play interactive games
that test your memory -- learn ways to improve it. Discover
why some things are easier to remember than others (droodles
game). Which facial features help us remember a face? Which
image of the penny is correct? Try a mnemonic device called
"elaborative encoding." (Multiple Agencies)
Science of Healthy Behaviors
introduces middle school students to the scientific study of
behavior. Lessons focus on defining "behavior," what
influences it, surveys, and behavioral specialists in health
care settings. In role-playing activities as behavioral
therapists, students investigate the influences and
consequences of behaviors. They also learn how science
provides evidence that can be used to understand and treat
human disease. (National Institutes of Health)
Science of Mental Illness
provides six lessons that help students understand what mental
illnesses are. PET images show changes in the brain and how
treatment can change activity levels and restore functioning.
Case studies and other activities explore differences among
illnesses, risk factors, and treatment plan goals. Students
develop a brochure to inform people about mental illness.
(National Institutes of Health)
USGS Publications
offers 40 online booklets on geology-related topics: acid
rain, birth of mountains, building stones of our nation's
capital, changing continents, collecting rocks, deserts,
earth's interior, earthquakes, fossils, gemstones, geologic
history of Cape Cod, geologic time, glaciers, gold, the Ice
Age, San Andreas fault, and volcanoes. (U.S. Geological
Survey)
