Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Science Friday includes a live science show, chat rooms, and a science desk for questions. Science links and mentors are also available. There are experiments to try, and an online library for users. The site features podcasts of broadcasts of the PRN Science Friday shows, and a weekly video. They can be listened to on the site or downloaded through iTunes. Broadcasts can also be listened to live from links on the site. This hands-on site was designed for the user to have a science experience like no other.
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ITSI-SU is a portal for using and creating interactive web-based labs and simulation activities. Brought to you by the research staff of the Concord Consortium, this free online programing uses an assortment of data collection tools from molecular modeling software and web-based simulations to computer sensors (which would need to be purchased if not already in the classroom). Interactives are standards based, thorough, and created with "backward design" in mind. Each activity begins with an inquiry question and a picture with real world relevance. One of the strengths of this program is that it can be used "as is," however all existing activities can be modified by the teacher using them. Any teacher can create new activities of their own as well. Once these activities are created and saved, they can be accessed by other teachers under the "DIY:Other activities area" of the Activities. This added value is something that is rarely found in online lab software. One warning for using this program: it is Java based so modules have to be downloaded. The download takes time and requires tat you "allow" it. Some school computers may block such downloads.

tag(s): modeling (8), problem solving (234)

See fascinating questions contributed to Discovery by actual people. View the multimedia answers to understand the facts about to the question. Apply to become an expert to help answer questions. Select subject topics along the bottom to view questions. Warning: there are sexually related questions. You will want to preview before sharing in class. And you may also want to make this site a teacher-lead activity only.
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tag(s): questioning (36), sexuality (15)

If you are looking for ideas to incorporate mathematical problem solving with fun, hands-on activities this site is for you! Well over 20 activities are offered covering Algebra, Trigonometry, Science/Physics, General Math, and Technology concepts. Choose a category, then select the activity and view all the materials offered. Titles include Color Sines, Right Triangle SAM, and Binary Signals. Each activity includes facilitator notes including 11 items from overview, setup, discussion questions, and troubleshooting. Most also include participant handouts in MS Word format and software needed for calculator programs.

tag(s): angles (52), critical thinking (136), electricity (61), light (56), logic (161), magnetism (35), stars (71)

Scirus is basically a science search engine. It only scans science only information The searches happen quickly and can be limited using the menu on the left of the screen.

tag(s): resources (83), search engines (48)

Use this free resource for an inside look at the general principles, methods, and motivations that underlie all of science. Take a site tour or view specific topics such as "Scientific Evidence," "Science and Society," and others. Don't miss the interactive pages of "How Science Works" that show scientific method as a dynamic, iterative process, not an oversimplified list of steps. Find other resources in the Resource Library. Find classroom activities, standards, and strategies in "Teaching Resources." Find "Frequently Asked Questions" about science process or even submit your own! Learn about what is science by clicking on "Science 101." Find great teaching resources and advice in the "For teachers" section. The Teachers area is divided into grade sections to find resources easily.

tag(s): data (150), environment (252), experiments (55), scientific method (48)

The New York Science Teacher Movie Sheet page offers fast help for turning good movies into academic endeavors. How many times do we find a regular movie that we would like to use for science class but do not have the time to create a good guide or question sheet for it? This is a good solution. Movie sheets, all submitted by teachers, are searchable by subject content and a few are searchable by series. The guides are printable, and they make a great "in-a-pinch" solution.

tag(s): movies (55), worksheets (71)

Physics Today is an online magazine of current physics topics. Although this site is not highly interactive, it is still a nice resource for contemporary physics reading. Be aware: you are able to comment on the articles. So you may consider previewing comments for appropriateness. Students can comment on the articles themselves without registering, however, an email address is required.

tag(s): news (226), newspapers (93)

eGFI Online Magazine is great nonfiction reading in science and math. It is completely portable as it is online. It can be shared to your Delicious or Diigo site or other social networking sites. Use this site to enhance cross curricular teaching and learning of reading and interpreting nonfiction text. Plus, this is current and exciting stuff to read for students who are even vaguely interested in science. There are also video links throughout the magazine connecting the text to different, relevant videos. There are lesson plans and activities for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Some of the recent entries (at the time of this review) included the topics of velocity, Earth Day, robots, sports physics,

tag(s): engineering (137), tornadoes (14), watersheds (8)

This is an extensive collection of ready to go, teacher-made SMART Notebook activities. This collection covers all grade levels and subject areas. Click Elementary, Middle School, Jr. High, or High School to find the many (MANY) resources). The topics vary greatly and the quantity is impressive. You must have Smart Board software installed on your computer to open these files. Some files will work using the SMART Notebook Express online viewer available here. (Download the notebook file from Longwood's collection to your desktop and then upload to SMART Notebook Express site.)

Create your own motivational posters easily and simply. Choose a random picture (one from Flickr or Facebook) or use one already on your computer. Choose colors and other options as well as the type of text to be used. Enter your text and preview the result. Once complete, save to Flickr, your computer, or print. Remember you can use a saved image in PowerPoint shows and on a class wiki, as well as blogs and other sites.
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tag(s): collages (17), images (263), photography (131), posters (43)

Become part of space exploration via The Planetary Society's activities, the place to go for space enthusiasts. The society's mission is "To inspire the people of Earth to explore other worlds, understand our own, and seek life elsewhere." Although the site is text-heavy, the society offers many ways to engage with the latest space news, images, and experiences related to space and space exploration. The various projects range from working with space images to following blogs and news of various space projects. The content is quite up to date and covers projects rarely reported in mainstream media. Click the dropdown Explore menu at the top to see featured projects and more. Check out the Multimedia drop down tab at the top for a Weekly Planetary Radio Trivia Contest. If Carl Sagan is one of the founders, you know the society is serious!

tag(s): inventors and inventions (82), nasa (28), planets (113), space (220)

Find a variety of science resources on this great site. Explore the Tricks, Conundrums, Demos, Lesson Plans, and Videos about Science. Many of the resources include an Adobe PDF file that can be downloaded.

tag(s): experiments (55)

Crash two cars safely in this simulation. Change parameters such as mass, velocity, and bumper material. Click "Go" to see the result. View the current velocity after the collision.

tag(s): motion (47)

Looking to excite your students about space and its possibilities for life? Want to push them to think beyond their own imaginations? Try having them listen to a radio program from SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). For the skeptics, the site is partially sponsored by NASA's Astrobiology division. However, this is not about teaching students that there is life or "aliens" out there, but rather to open their minds to some possibility thinking. Don't miss the "Archives" link where you find mind countless topics of interest.

tag(s): brain (56), cells (82), geology (62)

This do-it-yourself activity from the wonderful folks at Scientic American' Science Buddies is a neat way to have students think about how a thermometer works. Many times we just expect that they understand these things, just like using a calculator, there is a process to understanding how a thermometer works. This activity has students create their own thermometer with everyday, reusable materials.

tag(s): temperature (34)

Find excellent videos about a variety of physics and astronomy topics with this great site. Choose a symbol and view the video that explains and depicts the meaning of the symbol. View a variety from total solar eclipse to pressure and vacuums to magnetic susceptibility. Videos are hosted on You Tube. Schools that have this resource blocked will need to ask for it to be unblocked to use in class. Click on planets to view great videos of each of those in our solar system. View information on scientists and the sixty symbols project by clicking on the tabs across the top.

Caution: Be sure to preview the videos before sharing them with your students. Our editors found one that included alcohol in the experiment, all others appeared appropriate.

tag(s): magnetism (35), motion (47)

Use chromoscope to identify what types of materials (stars, etc) are visible at various wavelengths. View the universe through a range of wavelengths from gamma rays to radio waves. Move the slider in the upper right to change between the different wavelengths. Use the help feature in the lower part of the screen or the quick video tour before you start. Double click on an area of space to zoom in further. Move around the map by using the mouse. Use the "L" key to turn labels on and off. Turning on labels in the Visible spectrum causes a labeling of constellations. View what is visible at each wavelength. Chromoscope uses public domain data sets to create the interface. Chromoscope can be downloaded to your computer and run without being connected to the Internet.

tag(s): light (56), space (220), waves (14)

Use this resource site to find curricula, lessons, and other material for use in the classroom. Find your science class under the classes section. Find worksheets by topic as well as images. Be sure to check out posts such as "How to measure with a microscope" as well as spotlight lessons. Print worksheets directly from the site or download to edit in Word. Ignore the advertising as this site is worth it.

tag(s): worksheets (71)