Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This oddly humorous website is all about the Octopus (cephalopods). There are articles about the octopus and other ocean animals, forums, features, videos and games. There is even an "octopodcast"! Some of the activities are more "fun" than "educational." But if you navigate through the website, you will find some great information and activities.

tag(s): marine biology (31)

Grab your winter coats, and let's head to Antarctica. This website is phenomenal and truly has a wonderful variety of information for students. This website provides information about Antarctica, video clips, lesson plan ideas, maps, news and much, much more.

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), environment (252), polar (10)

This site provides basic information about food chains. Included are examples of food chains in different environments. An interactive section allows students to create a food chain.

This site has separate sections of information on bioscapes and wildlife. Each article in the wildlife section describes the animal, its habits, habitat, and threats to survival. A curriculum section offers classroom ideas and resources, including lesson plans shared by teachers. Some sections of the site are also available in Spanish and Portuguese.

tag(s): animals (295), endangered species (27), habitats (92), species (16)

Find the perfect lesson plan for your grade level as you study water or plan for Earth Day. Each level has a several activities, many hands-on.

tag(s): conservation (102), earth (184), earth day (60), water (102), water cycle (22)

Learn all about oceans, aquatic life, and conservation on this wide-ranging site. Students and teachers alike will find rich resources and information. This site is an ocean biome web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit for grades 4-8.

tag(s): biomes (110), marine biology (31), oceans (149)

A page of facts about the Colorado River, this site is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit.

tag(s): biomes (110)

A site all about the Marian Trench, this is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit for grades 4-8.

tag(s): biomes (110), oceans (149)

A page of facts about leaves of the deciduous forest, this site is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit.

tag(s): biomes (110)

This simple site provides brief descriptions of the Life Cycle stages as well as printables. It would be most useful for primary teachers during the Life Cycle unit or Spring time. The beautiful Photograph Gallery would be a wonderful visual for young students. Portions of the site are available in several languages.

tag(s): life cycles (21)

Animal Diversity Web is an on-line database of animal natural history, distribution, and classification organized as an on-line encyclopedia. Users can search the Animalia Kingdom by Phylum, Sub phylum, Class, Order and Family. Choose the corresponding icons to view facts, descriptions, pictures, specimens and hear the sounds of the various animals. This site contains a lot of information. Younger students may need some assistance/instruction maneuvering through the site initially.

tag(s): animals (295), biodiversity (36), diversity (40)

Animal Corner offers facts and statistics for a multitude of animals. It is easy to maneuver through the categories of animals such as pets, farm, insects, wild life, marine, Galapagos, and rain forest. The site is user-friendly and filled with interesting information.

Be aware: the site says that it is "currently under construction" but all information and links work, they are simply adding additional material. There are some unobtrusive advertisements at this website.

tag(s): animals (295), insects (69), reptiles (12)

This on-line textbook contains an amazing amount of information regarding biology and botany. The in-depth detail is a bit overwhelming but the "diamonds in rough" and bits of interesting information are worth it, as is the factual data contained within the website. The site also includes on-line curricula for biology and botany 101.

tag(s): cells (82), plants (146)

The Gene Scene offers a vivid and creative way to explore genetics. The site provides interesting facts, interactive games, activities, and information about DNA, cloning, and more. Have you ever been on a Global Grocery Excursion? Students can do this in their cupboards at home or at their local grocery store. Using the Ology questionnaire, plan a genetic journey about curled tongues and wiggly ears.

tag(s): dna (43), genetics (80)

Besides identifying trees, users learn about forest ground layers, enrich their vocabulary, study tree anatomy and health, and hone their searching skills. When users are looking for the name of tree by looking at its leaf, this website will identify the leaf and then lead to so much more information! People who want to learn how to take care of trees learn about soils, types of land, and even how to plant (video included)!

tag(s): trees (18)

This webquest carefully examines the problem of possible wolf extinction, their re-introduction into the wild, the opposition of the ranchers in the area etc. By presenting small groups of students with a real issue, the quest will teach how to perform and evaluate research before developing a point of view on an issue. For the final project of the quest, users write an editorial stating their well-researched viewpoint. Students don't do original research but rather use the articles contained within the project. Contains a rubric for evaluation as well as a form for "pre-writing" so the process of research and final presentation is carefully controlled. Users need RealAudio to hear the howls of the wolves.

tag(s): conservation (102), endangered species (27), environment (252), species (16)

This site pulls together understanding of environment, geography, the earth and its setting in space, cultures, animals, and more. It forms a "core" for what social studies (and science)is all about. To figure out how the "Big Wide World" works, students will work with partners to investigate one area of the world (globe, plants, people, cultures, language, animals) and come up with rules about how this area works. The individual areas join with other areas and determine how the areas relate to each other. A teacher guide included. Active X is required on some website links.

tag(s): animals (295), cultures (180), environment (252)

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.

tag(s): amazon (11), architecture (75), bridges (11), cells (82), density (18), engineering (129), environment (252), forces (37), friction (9), heart (27), human body (93), latitude (10), light (56), longitude (9), map skills (63), marine biology (31), mars (26), medicine (57), motion (47), pollution (52), robotics (24), rockets (11), simple machines (19), space (222), STEM (297)

This website was developed by the University of Nebraska to teach students all about the hatching of chicks. Specific topics include incubation, candling and information for teachers. The website also provides interesting movie clips of the candling, breaking out of the chicks and more!

tag(s): embryos (2)

This comprehensive site includes lesson pans, interactive review tools, and online activities for every aspect of teaching cell biology to middle grades. There are complete teacher ages, concept maps, and even a Cells Are Us bingo game for review. You must log in (as a guest) to see the teacher pages. Some content may be useful even in a high school biology class.

tag(s): cells (82)