Free Resources for Science Teachers
Amazing
Space, an astronomy and space science education program,
uses Hubble Space Telescope's scientific findings to create free, online materials
designed for K–14 students and educators. For more information, visit
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu.
The Lewis
and Clark free online curriculum has educational content and activities
for students that focus on primary resources from the National Lewis and Clark
Bicentennial Exhibition. The teaching material is ready-to-use with over 50
fully developed lesson plans, including assessments, for grades 4–12.
For more information, visit http://www.lewisandclark200.org/curriculum.
The SouthEast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEA-COOS) Virtual Waves Classroom, an online resource, offers free materials for learning about many aspects of waves. Available are a "Making Waves" poster, lesson plans, real-time data, and interactive models. For more information, see http://seacoos.org/Community%20and%20Classroom/WavesClassroom.
The Last
Journey of the Leatherback is a 27-minute film about the plight of
ancient sea turtles that features appearances by leading marine scientists.
The video is available free, along with a teacher kit, to teachers and educational
organizations. For more information, visit http://www.seaturtles.org/teachers.cfm.
Urban
Bird Studies is a set of free projects to study birds living in cities.
Students across the continent can participate through classrooms or on their
own to help scientists by counting birds and reporting their data. The projects
are simple and inquiry-based, each with easy-to-understand questions of interest
to the scientific community. Data submitted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
are used for scientific and general-audience publications. All information is
provided on the website. In July, "Celebrate Urban Birds!" through
science, art, writing, and more. Free printed materials are available when you
sign up on the website. Visit http://www.urbanbirds.org
to learn more about Urban Bird Studies and Celebrate Urban Birds!
SENSORSCITY,
a NASA remote-sensing site, enables
students and teachers from anywhere toprogram the city’s elements themselves
and remotely receive information and data from the city. To learn more, visit
http://www.marshall.edu/LEGO/RTI-SENSORSCITYdoc.html.
Carolina
Tips® provides feature articles, classroom news and tips, lesson plans,
product updates, and other information for science teachers. To sign up to receive
the free printed version, go to
http://www.carolina.com/general/company/RQF.asp.
Carolina E-Tips can deliver
customized electronic newsletters on life science, biotechnology, AP® Science,
physical science, STC® Update, and more to your desktop. Each newsletter includes
a feature article, classroom news and tips, lesson plans, product updates, and
other information. To sign up for one or more of Carolina's electronic newsletters,
go to http://www.carolina.com/newsletter/joinpart_1.htm.
Court TV has developed, in
cooperation with NSTA, two new online forensic science units. Download this
free standards-based curriculum supplement at
http://www.courttv.com/forensics_curriculum.
NOAA's
Jet Stream website is arranged by weather subject, beginning with global
and large scale weather patterns followed by lessons on air masses, wind patterns,
cloud formations, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, damaging winds, tornados,
tropical storms, cyclones, and flooding. Interspersed in JetStream are "Learning
Lessons" that can be used to enhance the educational experience. Visit
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream
for more information.
National
Science Digital Library (NSDL) is a digital library of exemplary resource
collections and services, organized in support of science education at all levels.
Starting with a partnership of NSDL-funded projects, NSDL is emerging as a center
of innovation in digital libraries as applied to education, and a community
center for groups focused on digital-library-enabled science education. Consult
http://www.nsdl.org for more information.
The Digital
Library for Earth Science Education (DLESE) focuses on Earth sciences. DLESE
lets users annotate some of the digital resources with tips, suggestions for
using the resources in addressing concerns like diversity, and other review-like
comments. Visit http://www.dlese.org for
more information.
Project
Oceanography is a live television program designed for middle school science
students. Each week during the school year, you can learn about various ocean
science topics right in your classroom. Programs are taught by real scientists
and feature a call-in question-and-answer session at the end of each lesson.
Tune in direct from the satellite; contact us about local cable channel access
and videotapes; or watch past programs right from the web at http://www.marine.usf.edu/pjocean/index.html.
Mad
Science offers a free teacher's resource package with each workshop purchased.
Enhance your science curriculum with a hands-on experience for students from
preschool to sixth grade. Visit http://www.madscience.org for more information.
Conservation
Central (National Zoo) is a habitat education program that explores the
temperate forest, home of the giant panda and black bear, through online activities.
See http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/ConservationCentral
for more information.
Bloodlines: Technology Hits Home
allows you to step into the lives of six people at the center of ethical
dilemmas and decide for yourself how to resolve difficult conflicts. You will
see how your opinions compare to those of others at the end of each case. Visit
http://www.pbs.org/bloodlines
to learn more.