Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Have a high speed Internet connection? (Most schools do) Then you MUST visit these 3D virtual tours of beautiful sites all over the world with your students. Read the Welcome message on the home page for directions and details, then explore the current features and several years of archives for 3D virtual tours from major world capitals to true "experiences" such as Times Square and white water rafting. Even the tour of a Banyan tree will amaze you. Bring the world into your classroom for geography, landforms, world cultures, foreign language study, or literary settings. Be in the midst of festivals or atop the Sydney Bridge.

tag(s): images (263), landforms (39), virtual field trips (128)

This website truly has something for every science teacher. If you are teaching a new science topic or want to review an already introduced science concept - you must visit this website. This website provides free PowerPoint presentations on over 100+ science topics. There are presentations for grades K-5 and 6-12. If you do not have PowerPoint software, some of these presentations may not open, depending upon how the site-creators saved them. This site has heavy advertising at the top of the landing page. Scroll down to find the presentations.
This site includes advertising.

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This website provides numerous teacher-created PowerPoints. Some of the presentations are excellent, while others are just mediocre. The range of topics goes from astronomy, to history, to French and much, much more! There is something good here for every classroom. You MUST have PowerPoint software (not free) to be able to download and edit the shows.

Engineering Resources is a K-12 website that contains a multitude of information including lessons correlating to national and state standards. Search for activities and ideas by grade level and curriculum topic using the Search and Advanced Search buttons. Narrow choices provided in the curriculum section by filtering options to include lessons, activities, complete units, and more. Maker Challenges offer a variety of experiences for hands-on learning with topics including titles like A Doghouse Design Project and Create and Control a Popsicle Stick Finger Robot. Other site options allow you to search by educational standards and provide information and resources for teaching engineering to students in grades K-12.

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Journey through space using the interactive "Journey to a Black Hole," complete with draggable tools and accompanying sound effects. You and your students will learn about the science of black holes through this tour, a comprehensive black hole encyclopedia, and many interactive questions and experiments about black holes.

tag(s): gravity (43), space (222)

This information-packed site focuses on calendars through the ages. It includes sections on the astronomy of calendars (e.g. moon cycles), the history of calendars, differences among various international calendars, derivation of the names of the months, and loads of other trivia about calendars.

tag(s): calendars (37)

NASA's venerable shuttle is back at work, this time doing supply and repair work on the International Space Station. Consider this mission home page as a way to help introduce a new generation to the wonders, complexities, and scientific possibilities of space flight. Besides, space walks are just plain cool - so this is science in which your students will be interested!

tag(s): nasa (30), space (222)

What happens when you try to boil water in space? While it sounds trivial, the issue of working with liquids in zero-gravity environments has implications for space exploration and travel. It's just an idle question. This site explains the problems and what scientists are trying to do to manage it.

tag(s): gravity (43), space (222)

March 10, 2006 marked the successful arrival of the Reconnaissance Orbiter to Mars. This site provides current details and pictures of the craft and will chronicle its exploration of the Red Planet over the next six months. Check back frequently for updated images and videos of the Martian exploration.

tag(s): mars (26), solar system (110)

After seven years and nearly three billion miles of space travel, NASA's Stardust spacecraft returned to earth on January 15, 2006. It will be carrying dust samples from a comet. The samples are the oldest matter ever collected from space, dating to the origins of the universe. NASA's site offers background and information on the scientific significance of this mission. Though a few features may require Flash, there is still PLENTY of information to learn from or to research.

tag(s): nasa (30), solar system (110), space (222)

The launch of STS-114 marks the first space shuttle misson since the Columbia accident two years ago. This NASA site serves as home base for their multi-format coverage of the launch and flight, and there are loads of links from this page to content for various ages and interests. Though this page is no longer maintained, and a few features require Flash, there is still plenty to learn from this site about past space endeavors.

tag(s): nasa (30), space (222)

This week, scientists at NASA managed to successfully crash a satellite into a passing comet. The result of the impact generated huge amounts of data about the content in the comet, much of which may have been around since the dawn of the universe. This site shows the images and describes the mission in detail.

tag(s): space (222)

Supplement an astronomy unit with the clever tools provided on this site. Students can take advantage of a variety of solar system calculations, watch animations of solar objects' orbits and simulations of the seasons, create a virtual solar system model, and much more.

tag(s): moon (73), planets (113), solar system (110)

With the 15th anniversary of the hubble space telescope scientists have released a new set of stunning images of stars, galaxies, and other space objects taken with the remarkable space telescope. These are some of the richer digital treasures on the web.

tag(s): space (222), stars (71)

Discover the latest details about the Cassini-Huygens' mission to Saturn on this impressive site that includes a concise description of the spacecraft, recent news updates, and Web casts of some of the mission's exciting findings. Be sure to view the interactive tutorial on Saturn's rings and moons.

tag(s): moon (73), planets (113), solar system (110)

It begins with an introductory video and leads visitors through an interactive journey highlighting the exciting accomplishments of NASA during 2020. Features include Aeronautics - Advancing Technologies for the Future of Flight, Earth Science - Understanding Our Home Planet, pace Technology and Exploration - The Solar System and Beyond, and ducating Our Future through STEM Engagement.

tag(s): mars (26), space (222)

NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which has been observing Saturn, was scheduled to land on Saturn's moon, Titan, on Friday, January 14, 2005. This NASA site provides complete coverage, including images, of this space exploration milestone. The news video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, it may not be viewable.

tag(s): moon (73), nasa (30), planets (113), solar system (110), space (222)

There is SO much to see and do on this site! Click on one of three main topics (Our Planet, Our Solar System, or Astronomy and the Universe), choose one of three levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced), and begin to browse through the rich collection of text, images, movies, animation, and more. Check out the array of interactive games, participate in a group on-line journal, or read some of the latest earth and space news. This is an excellent resource for earth and space science teachers and students. Also available in Spanish.

tag(s): animation (64), images (263), planets (113), solar system (110)

Find out what's up in space with this galactic twist on the Weather Channel. Find the latest information on solar winds, interplanetary magnetic fields, solar flares and sunspots, asteroids, and more. You can even sign up to receive Space Weather Alerts - phone calls and simultaneous emails that let you know about space weather events. Includes user-friendly text and impressive photographs.

tag(s): sun (71)

The NASA Space Simulator website, hosted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), allows users to explore the solar system and beyond through an interactive, 3D visualization tool. Students and educators can view planets, moons, and spacecraft from different perspectives, adjusting their vantage points and zooming in to examine celestial bodies up close. This tool provides an engaging way to understand planetary orbits, distances in space, and space missions. The simulator is a valuable resource for integrating astronomy, physics, and space exploration into classroom lessons, making complex space concepts more accessible and interactive.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110)