Free Science Internet Resources - March 2012

http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/curriculum-and-activities
National Green “Week” Curriculum with curriculum, activities and posters for grades PreK-middle school. Themes include Recycling; Trees and Land Conservation, Litter; The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Energy Reduction; Shopping Green; and Landfills.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_shall7162.Aeroplans&feature=search_result
A free aerospace simulation app for anyone who wants to have fun learning. This free phone app makes learning about math and science fun.

http://www.arkive.org/apps/survival
A free endangered Animals app that introduces young people to the world’s most endangered animals. Packed full of stunning photos, this fun educational app tests speed, agility, endurance and intelligence, essential skills needed to become a Top Survivor.

http://forensics.rice.edu
A collection of adventure games for middle level students based on the popular CSI television series. The CSI Web adventures are a series of interactive cases featuring the characters from the CBS TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. These cases allow players to experience several different types of forensic analysis while they receive their “Rookie Training” (Case One) and eventually solve mysteries with the CSI team (Cases Two and Three).

http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair
The Google Science Fair is an online science competition seeking curious minds from the four corners of the globe. Anybody and everybody between 13 and 18 can enter. All you need is an idea. Simply upload your project here to win some life changing prizes. All entries must be submitted by 1 April 2012.

http://istf.ucf.edu
The Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) was created to afford pre-college students in grades three (3) through twelve (12) an opportunity to experience the excitement of researching solutions to real-world problems involving science, engineering and other technical fields of study.

http://virtualsciencefair.com
12th Annual Online Science and Technology Fair - Everyone in Grades K - 12 Welcome - Absolutely Free - Research a Topic of Interest - Perform Experiments and Descriptive Studies - Students Build Websites to Display Results - Projects Due April 30, 2012 - Registration open until March 20, 2012.

http://sites.google.com/site/2010naisvsfsite
National Association of Independent Schools Virtual Science Fair! In this unique forum, middle school teams of 1-3 students, research a topic of interest within the sciences.

http://www.discoverwater.org
For students ages 8-12, this website presents the world’s most precious resource through illustrations, videos, interactive animations, and student activities.

http://www.wetlandsandstreamrestoration.org
Learn about the importance of wetlands and how to build a schoolyard wetland.

https://simaero.rti.org/pages/MODSIM_Lessons.aspx
Lessons for grades 6-12 with real-world applications in the mathematics and science.

http://www.nimbios.org/education/teacher_collaboration
A program from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis pairs K-12 science and math teachers with scientists and mathematicians in education partnerships.

http://beetlebusters.info/beABeetleBuster_educators.php
Help stop the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) from destroying U.S. forests. Information about this invasive pest along with a curriculum guide and poster for grades 4-12 focus on identifying the beetles and affected trees and then spreading the word about the problem in the community.

http://www.bioedonline.org/resources/hivaidsindex.cfm
A teaching module for students in grades 5-12 that explores viral biology, exponential growth, and epidemiology featuring student activities that help students understand the virus that causes AIDS, the ways infectious agents multiply in organisms and the worldwide spread of HIV/AIDS.

http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2011/10/how-to-create-qr-code-in-3-easy-steps.html
A comic showing educators how to create QR Codes in three simple steps. QR codes are barcodes that store more information than the traditional “vertical line” barcode.

http://www.carefresh.com/pet-ownership/critter-college
For students in grades 4-7 shows teachers and students how to care for small animals. Eight lessons cover various topics related to small pet care, such as feeding and safe handling. Student activity sheets a video and related materials are included for each lesson.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/budget-hero
A federal budget-balancing computer simulator for your high school economics and integrated science and social studies courses. Classroom applications of the program allow students to experience firsthand the challenges of balancing the federal budge and the give-and-need take of compromise needed. This program provides and experience for students to help build decision-making and critical thinking skills.

http://filamentgames.com/store
Three life science games for middle school students with topics including cell theory, plant genetics, and how bacteria and viruses transmit diseases. Students can play initial levels of the games for free.

http://www.bytesizescience.com/index.cfm/2011/9/15/The-Scoop-on-Solar-Power
Four podcasts exploring solar power from the American Chemical Society (ACS).

http://www.facebook.com/Fraknoi
Astronomy professor shares the excitement of astronomy with students, teachers and the public. On his facebook page, he shares astronomical images, news and resources.

http://www.tenmarks.com/tmother/teacher-index
A customizable program for grades 2-12 providing students with practice in mathematics and can be used for classroom, computer lab, or homework assignments. The program includes video lessons and hints.

http://encountersnorth.org/wildexplorer
Explore the natural history of Alaska and the Far North offering K-12 teachers links to the public radio program episodes as well as resources such as slideshows, lesson plans, videos and sound clips introducing the animals and habitats of the region: beavers, bears, caribou, humpback whales, boreal forests, moose, beaver, bird migration, and others.

http://www.iiseagrant.org/NabInvader
An interactive website for students n grades 4-10 featuring games and activities in which student detectives must “nab” critters in each locale that are damaging the environment including extensive background information on each species for teachers.

http://www.jes2s.com/index.html
The first professionally reviewed academic journal dedicated to high school student research.

http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/education/index.cfm
Resources for teaching geology with National Park examples including K-12 curriculum guides with activities based on specific park programs. Educators can access learning modules with lessons that incorporate the use of 3-D views of national parks.

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/about/edu/dynamicplanet
Lessons on plate tectonics for students in grades 6-college.

http://women.nasa.gov/a2i
Women @ NASA website is aimed at increasing middle school girls’ interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics including short films describing the careers and backgrounds of young women who currently work for NASA in each of the STEM areas.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/trainlikeanastronaut/home/index.html
This program uses the excitement of space exploration and astronaut training to challenge, inspire, and educate students ages 8-12 to set physical fitness goals and practice fitness and proper nutrition.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Johnny_Airport_Adventure.html
An educator guide for K-4 students to promote interest in air transportation through role play and other activities.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NIHSciEd 
The NIH’s Office of Science Education (OSE) Facebook page where teachers, students and scientists can learn about and discuss NIH science education resources, events, health and medical science career and issues related to science.

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.scied028
High School and College level students read an article about food safety and prepackaged produce, then conduct an experiment with the provided lesson summary, background information and student worksheets.

http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.scied027
High School and College level students read an article about the chemical perchlorate and the health risks of the chemical in food with the provided lesson summary, background information and student worksheets.

http://estuaries.noaa.gov/Teachers/Home.aspx
Designed to be used by teachers in grades 6-12, the Estuaries 101 Curriculum deepens students understanding about estuaries and how estuaries affect their daily lives. Estuaries offer an exciting context for learning about math, geography, chemistry, marine science, among other fields.

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/teachers.htm
The National Weather Service has provided a variety of teacher materials on lightning safety for grades K-8. Teaching materials include lesson plans, activities, slide presentations, videos, game, interactive lightning show and links to related materials.

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/outreach/pdfs/fairfax11.pdf
A presentation from NOAA which defines and shows photographs of marine debris, tells us where it comes from, relevant maps, and impacts of marine debris.

http://www.epa.gov/wastes/education/kids/gremlin
An EPA publication in a comic book presentation for grades K-5 to learn about recycling and waste reduction including word games and puzzles.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/school.html
A climate change kit in which students increase their climate-change awareness to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

All Links have been verified and are working as of March 11, 2012.
© Lisa Michalek
The Lesson Guide