Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Did you ever worry when you couldn't find your car keys or your textbook? This website focuses on memory, mental capacity, the mind, Alzheimer's, and how to improve your memory. There is a unique interactive drawing activity (based on memory) that requires ShockWave. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): brain (56), psychology (65)

This informative website provides numerous science topics all involving the human body. The links are basically articles (some possess interactive features). Specific topics/articles include self-portrait silhouettes, your body in your mind's eye, watching the brain at work, and peering inside the body (specifically the common techniques used to look inside the human body). Some of the techniques highlighted include PET scan, angiography, CT scan, ultrasound, fiber-obtic imaging, and others.

tag(s): brain (56), human body (91), sound (72)

Funology.com provides a laboratory filled with experiments from physics, chemistry, biology and weather. The experiments are user-friendly and require only materials that are readily available at school or at home. They can be completed by the teacher or the students. Be sure to check out the on-line habitat and endangered species map.

tag(s): experiments (55), weather (161)

This site provides beautiful photographs of birds from around the world and displays the locations of many on a map in the sidebar. The birds are categorized alphabetically according to country. If you find yourself viewing information in French, click the small British flag at the top of the page to see it in English.

tag(s): biodiversity (36), birds (46), diversity (43)

This all-encompassing atlas site provides a broad variety of information and activities. The subject areas include agriculture, biology, boundaries, climate, environment, geology, government, history, mapping, transportation, people, and water. All of the subjects incorporate the United States (for example, the agriculture pages discuss the agriculture of the USA). The map features are phenomenal and include both printable maps and "dynamic maps" which are interactive and awesome! Some of interactive maps include topics such as relief and elevation, West Nile virus, volcanoes and more. This site is a perfect addition to any science class that is studying volcanoes, climate, biology and more. It is also useful in a geography class studying the various uses and types of maps.

tag(s): agriculture (52), climate (85), environment (252), geology (62), maps (224)

This site offers up-to-date news on conservation issues and incidents in Africa. Organized by reporters in the different regions of this large continent, the site gives users the option of selecting news, videos, or blogs with videos to keep themselves informed on the very latest events impacting animals, both good and bad. The fastest way to find the animal information is to click on "Find Blogs about Hippos, Gorillas, Colobus monkey, Rhinos, amd other Endangered Animals"

tag(s): africa (170), animals (293), conservation (102), environment (252)

This site provides a good introduction to science fairs to help teachers, students and parents. There are separate sections of information on getting started, choosing a topic, completing the project, displaying the project and the Scientific Method. The section and links on Scientific Method are quite useful, even if your school does not do a science fair.

tag(s): air (99), scientific method (48)

This website provides excellent descriptions for numerous biology concepts. Utilize the resource to simplify the complexities of biology. The site is designed for high school students and advanced biology classes, but some of the activities would be useful with the middle grades, also. The website features animation, interactive challenges, lessons, explicit details about the biology concepts, and other educational activities. Some of the topics include cells, respiration, nutrition, digestion, reproduction, genetics, DNA and many other science/biology topics. Some standards can be found at the "Teachers Lounge" link.

tag(s): cells (82), dna (43), evolution (88), genetics (79), molecules (43), nutrition (139)

This unique program is designed to provide opportunities for students to become more aware of our natural resources, how to keep "common" animals common, and how to read various maps. The website provides a great deal of information for teachers wanting to use this program with their students (see teacher information). The activities could be used in any states, although some of the states already have active projects. This activity could easily be done locally, too, by using a county map. The regional activities provide students with hands-on science activities, field observations, project design and data management. Don't forget to check out the learning modules that provide lesson plans and standards.

tag(s): animals (293), biodiversity (36), diversity (43), maps (224), natural resources (37), resources (83)

This website takes students up close to numerous microorganisms (found in tiny drops of pond water). The activity is examining freshwater microorganisms with an interactive microscope. The microorganisms examined include bacteria, flagellated protozoa, ciliates, green algae, crustaceans, desmids, diatoms, sun animalcules and amoebas, rotifers, worms, and insect larva.

tag(s): atoms (43), bacteria (21), microorganisms (10), organisms (15), water (105), worms (5)

This website brings students up close and personal with cell division. The website compares mitosis and meiosis with detailed, side-by-side graphics. The website also provides excellent explanations of mitosis and meiosis. Use the non Flash activities as Flash is no longer supported.

tag(s): cells (82), division (97), meiosis (8), mitosis (9), vision (42)

LEAF: Learning, Experiences, and Activities in Forestry was designed to help users identify the trees by their leaves. The dichotomous identification procedure makes it easy to narrow types of leaves by selecting certain characteristics. Although the site is designed for Wisconsin trees, it would be useful for any states in the same climate zone and region. Tree identification cards with color photographs in pdf format are available. A lesson plan for use with the tree identification tools available on this site is offered in both WORD and pdf format. For younger students, there is a link to a parallel, more cartoon-like kids page.

tag(s): trees (18)

This web page offers a long list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding butterflies and caterpillars. There is a lot of information listed but no real method by which to sort through the pieces of information.

tag(s): butterflies (13)

This web page offers links to lesson plans for butterfly and life cycle units. [Unfortunately, a couple of the lesson ideas are now dead links, but the remaining ones are good.] The lesson plans are user-friendly and geared toward primary grades. You can also obtain information on applying for grants to create a butterfly garden at your school. That would make a fantastic Earth Day project for a classroom or entire school to promote team work.

tag(s): earth (183), earth day (61)

This website is filled with wonderful information about our national bird, the American Bald Eagle. It is a detailed site, with topics ranging from nesting and migration to eyesight and hearing. The site is easy to read and simple to navigate. Be sure to click on the Myths and Legends to see how the Bald Eagle has been viewed throughout history. Students with reading disabilities or low reading levels may need to some assistance with Native American verbiage.

tag(s): endangered species (27), species (15)

This website is appropriate for any grade level interested in learning about birds. The Internet Bird Collection includes many "real life" videos, reference information, and much more. Fly on over and enjoy these great videos!

tag(s): birds (46)

Explore the sea on the Seasub Cousteau or the sky in Starship Sagan using this interactive site. Offerings include in-depth information, photos, links, and vehicle explorations about each of the two realms. Detailed descriptions of sea life forms as well as a virtual tour of the solar system accompany startling photos and accurate data. An additional feature provides links to the latest news about astronomy, space science, NASA, oceanography, marine biology, and coral reefs. Topics range from dark matter to deep sea creatures.This site requires Flash for the games only. There are some beautiful images with excellent information to learn from .

tag(s): coral (11), marine biology (31), nasa (28), reefs (6), solar system (107), space (220)

This great reference resource is an attractively packaged compilation of ways to get answers to questions about science. Offerings include a place to ask questions from K-college, access to a search engine, a list of FAQ's on common topics, a library with links to other relevant sites, a knowledge generator, an archive of lab experiments, and other assistance with science fair projects. The Mad-Sci labs also has a "Guided Tour of the Visible Human" section on human anatomy, with many images of cross-sections and internal organs.

tag(s): air (99), experiments (55), scientists (71)

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.

tag(s): air (99), animals (293), matter (45), periodic table (43), plants (147), solar system (107), water (105)

This online tool lets you create (or "share" someone else's existing) online calculations/spreadsheets. You can also display instant graphs of the spreadsheet contents. The spreadsheets are displayed in terms that ordinary people can understand and allow you to "plug in" numbers to see instant results. Some of the shared calculators already online are surface area and volume of geometric solids, interest calculators, body mass index, and more sophisticated business functions. The best way to see how the site works is to read through their "tour" then click to browse through the examples, especially the shared ones. Even if you never create your own, this tool is great!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (128), calculators (36), conversions (37), multiplication (121)