Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Despite its untimely crash to earth, the Genesis spaceship still managed to bring back tiny samplings of raw material from the sun for eager scientists to analyze. This site provides an overview of the entire mission, video clips, photographs, and descriptions of the processes scientists are using to investigate the Genesis canister and its contents. Younger students will enjoy the interactive games and activities related to the mission and follow-up investigation by NASA. Be sure to check out the Creator's Kitchen for teacher resources and suggestions. A few resources on this site require Flash or QuickTime, however, there is so much more here that doesn't that it's worth a look by you and your students

tag(s): nasa (30), solar system (110), space (222), sun (71)

This creative awe-inspiring site examines Earth's life history and offers interactive modules, slide shows, and articles that take visitors back to the beginning of everything. Visitors can decide for themselves if life exists on other planets, explore the role played by galaxies, and the most recent scientific discoveries of life's origins. Your students will be amazed as they analyze the fingerprints of a star, see how the Eagle Nebula was assembled from raw Hubble Telescope data, or check our where in the world scientist are finding their greatest discoveries in origins research. Stay tuned for a soon-to-be-developed teacher's guide.

tag(s): planets (113)

It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA site recreates that Apollo 11 mission, from its launch to its splashdown. Students can view vintage photographs, listen to the mission's audio recording, browse news articles, and tour the video gallery.

tag(s): moon (73)

Complete a free online registration and begin to explore an impressive collection of learning modules that address chemistry, general science, physics, math in science, process of science, earth science, and scientists and research. Many modules contain interactive animations, a glossary, related current events, practice exercises, and biographic information about scientists who worked with that particular concept. Members can personalize each module with comments, links, or notes.

tag(s): acids and bases (8), carbon (17), cells (82), darwin (13), earth (184), energy (133), gravity (43), light (56), matter (45), molecules (43), optics (11), paleontology (28), periodic table (44), photosynthesis (21), planets (113), reading comprehension (149), rock cycle (12), rocks (35), scientific method (48), scientists (67), space (222), water (102), waves (14)

This website provides short and sweet information that can come in handy during an astronomy lesson. "What's a blue moon?" "How many eclipses will occur this year?" "How do you figure out your longitude or latitude?" - are just a few of the questions that can be quickly addressed with a click of the mouse.

tag(s): latitude (10), longitude (9), moon (73)

On October 15, 1997, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, headed for Saturn. In July of 2004, the craft is scheduled to reach the ringed planet. This site will provide you and your students with daily mission updates, images, and information about the science behind the mission.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), space (222)

Astronomical history is about to happen! On June 8, 2004 the planet Venus will cross the face of the sun, an event that has not occurred since 1882. Tune into this site to view a live Internet webcast of the transit and an interactive timeline detailing Venus transits throughout history (only six have occurred since the invention of the telescope in the 1600s). Basic information on what a transit it, why it is important, and how to see it is also provided. Some areas of this resource require Flash, however there is plenty of important information to learn from that doesn't.

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

Let your students do some serious staring into space with guidance from this site that provides helpful information on how and when to observe celestial events. Click on the link to Week's Sky at a Glance to find out what you can expect to see on any given night. Helpful tips are offered on how to observe space phenomena like auroras, asteroids, and star clusters. An on-line gallery provides amazing images from ground-based and space-based observatories. Encourage older students to explore the site independently in the computer lab. Elementary teachers may want to consider projecting the site in class and guiding students through selected topics.

tag(s): stars (71), telescopes (11)

Look to this site for any questions you may have about everything from blue moons, to quasars, to leap years. Find out the exact dates when spring, summer, fall, and winter arrive, and discover if there really is a connection between equinoxes and eggs. The clear and detailed discussions of astronomical events provide an outstanding on-line reference or refresher for teachers and high school students, but the information is a bit technical and lofty for independent use by younger students.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), stars (71)

Tap into the latest astronomical news and learn about the coldest, most distant object in our solar system - Sedna. Astronomers from Caltech, Gemini Observatory, and Yale University officially announced Sedna's discovery on March 12, 2004. Read the actual scientific documents describing the discovery; learn about its size, location and composition; and view images of this distant planetoid, named for the Inuit goddess who rules over the seas!

tag(s): dna (43), planets (113), solar system (110)

Think about creating a curriculum link between art and science using this site as a foundation. Original sketches and chromolithographs of celestial events created by French-born artist and amateur astronomer E.L. Trouvelot are contrasted with contemporary photographic images from NASA.

tag(s): stars (71)

This site presents the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of the planets and moons within our solar system. Take an express tour or select the specific section of the solar system you wish to investigate. The site contains an astounding amount of information that is well organized and ranges from the basic to the complex. Text images, movies, and audio clips make this an entertaining as well instructive site. Use as a teacher refresher or as a comprehensive source for student research. Because of the sheer volume of information, make sure you design a basic Web hunt to guide younger students.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), sun (71)

Take an interactive 3-D tour of the solar system or the International Space Station, investigate the latest images from Mars, or use amazing images of auroras, galaxies, meteor showers, and other phenomena to enrich an astronomy unit. Click the Collection tab on the top menu bar to find more. This highly animated site explores a wealth of space-related topics from the past, present, and future. Games and quizzes for fun and learning are also provided.

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

Terra is an Earth Observing System designed by NASA to monitor, measure, and protect the Earth's environment and climate system. This site contains breathtaking, up-to-date satellite images of our planet, and interactive experiments that can be done in the classroom to illustrate how NASA uses Terra's remote sensing to understand how and why the Earth changes. Comprehensive and extensive information on the earth's atmosphere, oceans, land, life, heat and energy is provided. Because the site is updated daily, it can serve as a continually evolving visual aid for earth science classes.

tag(s): maps (220)

Britain's Open University offers this very nice interactive astronomy tool that shows the night sky in the northern hemisphere on whatever date you choose. From there, you can zoom in to view details on stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial objects, all with printed annotations. It's a star-gazing tool with lots of possibilities.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), stars (71)

The home page for the mission of the Sprit and other rovers offers a variety of up-to-date mission reporting, background material for all user levels, and a collection of current images. If NASA is true to form, additional sections will appear as the missions progress.

tag(s): mars (26), planets (113), solar system (110)

Want to learn a LOT about leap year? This is the place. There's an extensive explanation of the math and science behind when we do and do not observe leap years, and it's not as simple as every fourth year. Try linking this one to a secondary discussion about the solar system, or use it as a supplement during leap years.

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

This site from Cal Tech's Jet Propulsion Lab offers an extensive reference (at least for student purposes) on the principles, environment, and problems associated with space flight. The jargon is technical, most suitable for motivated secondary students, but there is a wealth of content available here.

tag(s): flight (34), rockets (11), space (222)

Secondary physics and astronomy teachers may want to take a look at NASA's primer on cosmic rays, astrophysics, energy particles, and magnetic fields. The site offers lots of drill-down options providing additional detail. A surprisingly useful feature is an "in the news" section that offers current information about many of the topics.

tag(s): energy (133)

This one's far better than first appearances might indicate. Click one of the many links to see surprisingly detailed, documented images of earth and the moon, complete with full data on location and time. Many of the images include zoom capabilities and other nifty features.

tag(s): latitude (10), longitude (9), maps (220)