Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Teach your students how an island is formed by watching this fascinating video and using the discussion questions provided. This video focuses on the Hawiian islands. This would be a nice addition to an oceanography lesson.

tag(s): geology (62), hawaii (9), marine biology (31), oceans (149), reefs (6), volcanoes (55)

It's one thing to look at a picture of an amoeba in the science text, but to actually see one in motion - living, breathing, eating, trying not to be eaten - well - that's another issue entirely. This site offers an entire digital video gallery of microscopic "pond scum" characters including Euglena rubra, Didinium, Acanthocystis, and many more.

Watch plants change and grow with these time-lapse movies that illustrate germination, circadian responses, tropic and nastic movements, and more. The images can be enjoyed by students of all ages -elementary kids will love watching the plants "dance" - but the text on the site is fairly high level and appropriate for high school biology classes.

tag(s): plants (147)

Genetics can be a fairly weighty topic, but this site breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand language. Click on each of the six topics - DNA, genes, chromosomes, proteins, heredity, traits - and walk through the videos that provide in-depth descriptions and helpful visuals.

tag(s): dna (43), genetics (79)

Discover the science behind optical illusions with these interactive activities that demonstrate how our eyes interpret images. Each of the two illusions is accompanied by an explanation of how and why the eye behaves as it does. The accompanying resource on the left, Not Fade Away, requires Flash, however, these two optical illusions are worth a visit.

tag(s): brain (56), optical illusions (10), senses (20)

The growing problem of antibiotic resistance is explored in this lesson plan that investigates how evolution is at the heart of this wide-spread health threat. Real-time videos demonstrate how disease-causing agents can rapidly become immune to our best antibiotic defenses. A second activity investigates how evolution affects our daily lives and can solve problems in medicine, agriculture, and the environment. Includes student instructions and teacher notes.

tag(s): diseases (66), evolution (88)

Students can safely explore and navigate through this site that lets them get up close and personal with dozens of wild critters. Each featured creature is introduced via an easy-to-read article, fun facts, video and audio files, and photos. Brainteaser questions and links to related sites are provided. A great resource for independent research on an animal of choice. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

tag(s): amphibians (17), animals (293), birds (46), dinosaurs (43), fish (18), mammals (22), reptiles (12)

From the very tiny, to the microscopic, this site offers close-up pictures and information about insects, spores, bacteria, cells, microorganisms, plankton, and more. The strangely beautiful, colorized images are accompanied by brief and sometimes entertaining explanations. Your students will gain new understanding and appreciation for the very tiny critters that surround us.

tag(s): bacteria (21), insects (67), microorganisms (10), organisms (15)

This site is filled with kid-friendly text and engaging interactive activities that introduce "ologies" and investigate topics including marine biology, astronomy, archeology, earth science, and more. Each topic section includes background information, virtual experiments and tours, and suggestions for in-class experiments.

tag(s): anthropology (10), archeology (30), biodiversity (36), brain (56), climate change (100), earth (183), genetics (79), marine biology (31), microorganisms (10), museums (53), paleontology (28), water (105), zoology (18)

Reinforce the parts of a cell with this interactive tour. Students can click on an area of the virtual cell, read a brief definition, zoom in or out, and perform certain functions - cutting, splitting, and rotating. The pronunciation guide will "speak" the words for you.

tag(s): cells (82)

ScienceBuddies offers a large variety of science resources including science fair projects and free STEM lessons. From the top menu bar, select Science Fair Project to find a Topic Selection Wizard. This tool uses a short questionnaire to guide students to recommended projects based on length of time needed to work on the project, grade level, and topic for research. Be sure to also visit the teachers' portion of the site to find STEM lesson plans for all grade levels, science fair tools, engineering design information, and much more.

tag(s): calories (6), earthquakes (47), electricity (61), energy (133), gravity (43), internet safety (114), recycling (46), robotics (26), science fairs (20), sound (72), STEM (306)

Use this animated site to help students visualize how blood circulates through the heart. Younger students can easily follow the well-labeled animation, and older students may be interested in the tutorials, which explain the various stages of the cardiac cycle in much greater detail.

tag(s): heart (27)

This online introduction to marine life, designed by and for middle school kids, is an excellent primer for field trip excursions to tidal pools. If traveling to the coast is not an option, the online slideshow provides photos and descriptions that are the next best thing to being there. Caution: the site contains several inactive links to videos and related resources.

tag(s): animals (293), habitats (92), oceans (149)

Science, health, and biology teachers can find a variety of resources on this site for helping students to understand the skeletal system, bone health, and nutrition. Students can play an interactive Bone-Yahtzee game, or participate in a question/answer page. The Teacher's Corner contains two printable worksheets that can be used to guide students through the site content. Some sections are still in progress, but there is still a considerable amount of information to explore.

tag(s): nutrition (139)

This collection of well-organized tutorials and interactive multimedia activities reveals how DNA technology affects our lives. From detecting inherited diseases and catching criminals, to improving agriculture, the site presents high-level information in an easy-to-understand format. Videos, simulations, and well-designed graphics place students in the role of scientist. Use this site with your AP science students. Any Flash information/interactive also comes in a text only format. There is plenty of information to learn from here.

tag(s): dna (43), genetics (79)

Introduce your students to the microbial worlds of bacteria, fungi, and viruses with this site that provides entertaining background information, ideas for classroom experiments, and a collection of "Microbes in the News" articles. Find out when hands should be washed and what happens when they are not! Interested students can even explore a "Careers" link that offers interviews with experts in the field, advice on finding a mentor, and tips on how to become a microbiologist. Available in English and Spanish.

tag(s): microorganisms (10)

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has built an impressive online collection of lesson plans and other instructional tools, including several nice interactive animations and virtual field trips. While much of the content relates to the aquarium's exhibits, the range of subjects includes most grade levels and many of the topics that might appear in a curriculum on ocean habitats.

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

While NOAA might be an unlikely source for information on sea turtles, this site offers a surprisingly detailed look at efforts to raise and release sea turtles in several different locations. This one would make an interesting sidebar to a unit on marine ecosystems.

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

Conserving the habitats of birds is an international concern. This United Kingdom site (RSPB) examines various conservation issues, including the habitats for birds. Most of the focus is on the UK; however, there are more than a few links to international efforts, such as the Albatross Task Force. This page is for the Resources for Teachers; however, the main site has a variety of searchable databases as well as these activities on the issues facing different species of birds. Check out their free lessons, including the ones on TES (the link is under the Activity Sheets). Finally, don't forget to look at the For Kids and For Families; you might find something you can adapt for your classroom or online learning.

tag(s): birds (46), conservation (102), environment (252)

Photography can be both an art form and a form of scientific inquiry. Photos of People and Cultures can promote human understanding better than any written words. This site from National Geographic can serve both ends if used properly. Art teachers "focus" on tips and techniques and photography advice areas, while science/social studies teachers will easily locate a wide range of plant, animal, culture, and geography images. As always, the photos themselves are exquisite. You will need to sign up for the free newsletter (with email) to view the photos.

tag(s): animals (293), photography (131)