Free Opportunities
for High School Science Teachers
The following free opportunities include various resources to help any high
school science teacher round out the curriculum.
Evolution and the Nature of Science
Institutes. Lessons for teaching evolution and the nature of science. Although
intended mainly for biology, life science, and Earth science teachers of grades
9–12, many of the lessons can be adapted for middle school. Developed, tested,
and contributed by teachers participating in the NSF-funded project, the lessons
deal with the most critical concepts in these two topic areas, some of which
are often overlooked or misrepresented. The website also offers unit plan ideas,
resources, and online support for science teachers using the lessons. Lessons
are student-centered and downloadable with ready-to-use handouts from:
http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb. Select Site Map, then Guided Tour.
Natural Inquirer, online
journal of nature news for middle school and high school students. It focuses
on trees, forests, wildlife, insects, and water. Students can meet naturalists
and scientists from the USDA Forest Service and play games, while teachers can
access resources and more. Visit:
http://www.naturalinquirer.usda.gov.
Introductory copy of Science
Education Review (SER), periodical for primary and high school science teachers
that contains a review of the international science education research literature.
SER also offers "original, peer-reviewed feature and contributed articles
(including research papers); science demonstrations; student experiments; activities
for eliciting students' alternative conceptions; science stories; answers to
teachers' questions; learning/teaching strategies; science poetry; assessment
tasks; other useful classroom resources and links; interviews with leading science
educators; interesting facts; quotes; humor; and more." Receive your sample
copy via:
http://www.flexi.net.au/~willdown/scedview.html.
Findings, a 16-page, full-color
magazine from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences that profiles
cutting-edge young scientists conducting biomedical research. Aimed at high
school students, the publication tells the story of these scientists' research
while also detailing the outside interests of these women and men. Click here
to view past issues:
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/findings
Past issues have featured, for example, a scientist-composer and a scientist
who was formerly a professional basketball player. Each issue also contains
brief research digests about clinically relevant research and a crossword puzzle
containing words appearing in that issue's stories. To order copies of Findings
and all free NIGMS science education publications, visit:
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/news/publist.html
Virtual DNA Fingerprinting Laboratory, available for downloading from:
http://ceprap.ucdavis.edu.
Teachers can request a CD-ROM via the website or by contacting Center for Engineering
Plants for Resistance Against Pathogens, University of California, Davis, One
Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616; 530-752-6694; fax 530-752-6523; e-mail blemberson@ucdavis.edu.
With this program, high school students use virtual lab techniques to solve
the forensic mystery. Throughout the program, students are scored on their ability
to follow directions, adhere to safety standards, and identify the guilty suspect.
A teachers guide accompanies the program.
The Geo Zone, video from
WCET-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio. Explore science and geography, and take a look
at life at the bottom of the sea with this educational technology project for
middle level and high school teachers and students. Watch online video on topics
of marine biology, including a special "critter cam"; access lessons
and activities; post your thoughts and research findings; and more. See:
http://www.edtech.wcet.org/geozone.
A New Universe To Explore-Careers in Astronomy booklet offers career
guidance information for high school, college, and graduate school students
and teachers. Teachers may reproduce as many copies as needed. The booklet includes
a special section entitled "Where Astronomers Work." To view and download
the booklet:
http://www.aas.org/education/career.html#work.
Lake Vostok, animated movie from Columbia University, describes the
geography and history of Lake Vostok, a pristine ancient lake more than two
miles beneath the Antarctic ice. The microbes that may inhabit this inhospitable
environment must contend with a lack of light, extreme cold, and crushing pressures.
The challenge facing researchers is how to collect samples in this ecosystem
without introducing surface contamination. To view the movie, which is appropriate
for students in high school and older:
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/news/vostok/vostokanim.html.
Tutorials and modules for grades
6-12 using real-time data based on the latest ocean science research and technology.
The Project COOL (Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory) website from Rutgers
University has modules that are tied to national science standards and frequently
incorporate mathematics. Each module consists of a series of 4-6 individual
lessons designed to progressively build upon one another. Check them out at:
http://www.coolclassroom.org.
The HyperPhysics website,
which offers various physics "calculators" that will allow quick determination
of weight, gravitational acceleration, free fall times, orbital and escape velocities,
and more. Teachers might find it useful for preparing quiz problems, whether
they deal with gravity or other physics topics. Consult:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html.