Online Resources to Enhance K-12 Science Instruction
by WPS Media Specialist David Privett
May 16, 2011
Below are some online resources I have located through peer recommendation, professional journal recommendations, and some I have just come across through my own searching. In an attempt to keep this page as up-to-date and useful as possible, please report all dead links or new links you would like added to dprivett@esu2.org.
SCIENCE (K-12)
NetTrekker (Subscription Database)
(See Mr. Privett for user name and password)
NetTrekker d.i. (differentiated instruction) offers access to more than 180,000 educator-selected online resources organized by readability level and aligned to Nebraska State Standards. A great resource for teachers to use to enhance their lessons, and for students to review classroom content in all subjects and all grade levels! CHECK IT OUT!!
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American Chemical Society (ACS)
A free, online MIDDLE SCHOOL chemistry curriculum that correlates with national standards.
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Cells Alive!
"It seems like this web site has been around forever, but it just keeps getting better. The 'staying power' of this site and its continued use by science teachers is a testament to the quality of the site. Cell biology, microbiology, immunology and microscopy and the topics with interactive links to cell models, mitosis, meiosis, the cell cycle and cell cams. Check out the puzzles and quizzes--students like the challenges and then download some cell images for use in your slideshows and handouts. If you are studying cells, this is your on-line starting point!"
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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Edheads--Activate Your Mind!
"This site offers interactive activities related to machines, weather, and performing virtual hip or knee replacement surgery. According the the web site, Edheads' mission is '...to help students learn through educational games and activities designed to meet state and national standards...' This FREE web site also offers downloadable lesson plans that correspond with the on-line offerings."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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Energy Kid's Page (Target: Grades 6-8)
All kinds of energy-related facts, games, and activities from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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The Exploratorium (Target: Middle School)
"Used most frequently by middle level grades, this site is more than a science museum that 'experiments with new ways to discover the world!' A link to the museum in Second Life offers students the ability to interact with exhibits. Webcasts, digital libraries and interactive microscopes are all possibilities that can be explored at this 'tried and true' science site that was highly recommended by our science teachers."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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HippoCampus
HippoCampus offers multimedia lessons and course materials to help you with your instruction, homework and studies. You can browse multimedia lessons or complete courses, and find help with the topics covered in popular textbooks. Multiple resources are available, for free, for the subjects of Biology, Environmental Science, and Physics.
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Interactive Library Physics Activities (Target: Secondary)
This link is "to the sitemap that lists all of the science related activities to the interactive library. You will find links to weights & measurements, physical & chemical properties, types of mixtures, simple machines, molecular modeling, molecules and the solar system. If you are looking for interactive web sites for a secondary science classroom, this would be a great place to begin your search."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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iWASwondering.org
The Web site iWASwondering.org is a project of the National Academy of Sciences intended to showcase the accomplishments of contemporary women in science and to highlight for young people the varied and intriguing careers of some of today's most prominent scientists.
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Learn.Genetics (Target: High School)
From April/May 2007 Library Media Connection--"The site begins with a tour of the basics on DNA and genes using colorful animations that provide the fundamental answers to basic questions regarding DNA, genes, chromosomes, proteins, heredity, and traits. An animation on a eukaryotic cell allows students to click on the individual cellular organelle and a description of its function and characteristics are presented. Students then have the opportunity to build a DNA molecule, transcribe, and translate a gene. There is also information on how scientists investigate protein function. There is a very broad and comprehensive section on understanding genetic disorders. This web site contains very detailed explanations, animations, and data of several advanced genetic topics. An enrichment activity uses DNA evidence to solve a mystery; the fictional trial of a man accused of illegally taking archeological artifacts from public land. Finally, the last section brings RNA into view and includes RNA's roles as an information molecule and biological catalyst. This unit contains an online introduction and detailed PDF monograph. This is a comprehensive site that would be useful in the high school biology or advanced placement biology classroom."(Review written by Christine Brandt, Science Teacher, Wissahickon High School, Ambler, PA)
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K-2 My World Interactives (Target: Grades K-2)
"K-2 interactive science sites are few and far between and this site, submitted by a NETA member who uses it in Kindergarten, was one we wanted to include. The two science links on the site are 'Plant Parts' and 'Elmo's World Weather Game.' Other interactive links for K-2 curricular areas are also available at this site."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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National Geographic's Forces of Nature
"Volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes are explored at this image-enhanced site offered by National Geographic. Each topic is explored in the lab, shown visually on a timeline map and then explored using a case study. Interaction is provided by allowing students to create a volcanic eruption, earthquake, hurricane or tornado."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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"This self-proclaimed 'thousand sites in one' offers a number of links to curricular areas including science. New additions to the science links include a two-minute challenge on the periodic table and a bacterial invasion game. Old favorites include the topics of biomes, insects, crickets, butterflies, mammals, vultures, penguins, sharks, birds, and other science related games."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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NASA
The NASA site is vast and offers a daily image gallery, and links for both educators and students.
Some specific NASA sites of interest:
NASA for Kids
"With students as the audience, this link takes you directly to the grade level links for K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 offering space related resources, images and games written for the targeted age band."
NASA Space Place
"NASA's Space Place offers animated games, projects, animations and amazing facts in a kid friendly forum. This award-winning site is available in Spanish and English and was mentioned by many teachers as their one-stop site for space science studies."
NASA Fundamental Physics in Space
"Aimed at secondary students, this site explores the laws of science, experiments in space and recent news events and discoveries related to space studies."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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Science News for Kids (Target: Ages 9-14)
All of the latest science news, sorted into categories such as Computers, Dinosaurs and Fossils, and Human Body.
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TeAchnology
"This on-line teacher resource includes lesson plans, printable worksheets, preformatted rubrics, printable generators, teaching tips and themes, while listing 256,000 reviewed sites. For science, click on the 'Subjects' tab and then 'Science' and you will find a wealth of information from teaching tools to lesson plans and worksheets that relate to a variety of topics." --Renee Kopf & Pam Krambeck, NETA News (September 2007)
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The Virtual Body
"Explore the human brain, skeleton, heart and digestive tract from the friendly confines of your classroom computer using this interactive guided tour. This site is a great on-line resource that offers animations, narrations and activities such as building a skeleton and organizing the organs of the digestive tract."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
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The Wild Classroom (Target: Biology)
This web site targets "the biology classroom and we ended up spending over an hour exploring the podcasts, vodcasts and blogs available at the site. Some of our favorites were an offering on Biodiversity and Deadly Snakes. . . . We found the site to be one that would peak the interest of students from upper elementary through secondary. If you haven't seen this site, it is worth a look, but be warned--you will get hooked and time will fly by."
Source:
Kopf, R. and Krambeck, P. (2008, February). Teacher tried and true web sites - Science.
NETA News, 8-9.
