Education > Teaching Resources > Science > Earth Science Ed

Subject Specific Teaching Resources

K12 Science Education Resources
See our separate Asia Quake and Tsunami Resources page.

A+ Learning Galleries For Fun Science Learning
"...is a place to learn and explore science and nature, from the microscopic to the cosmic. Each Learning Gallery contains a collection of images relating to one science or nature topic with text annotations. Great for students. Lots of information and links to other sites for further exploration."

ALLSTAR Network [7-14]
Aeronautics Learning Laboratory for Science, Technology, and Research
Sections include: History of Aeronautics ; Aerospace Education and Careers ; Principles of Aeronautics.

American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

AMSER
Applied Math and Science Education Repository
"...is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges ñ but free for anyone to use."

Animal Pictures Archive (English or Korean)
Includes Images, Video Clips, Sound Clips, and Clip Arts.

APSnet - Plant Pathology Online
American Phytopathological Society

  • Education Center
    Sections include: K-12 Plant Pathways to Science ; Introductory Plant Pathology ; Advanced Plant Pathology ; Online Courses ; Short Courses ; Instructor Resources ; University Plant Pathology Home Pages ; Certification Program.
    • K-12 Plant Path-Ways to Science
      "The K-12 web-site was constructed to assist science and biology teachers in the K through 12 grades interested in developing interactive laboratories and demonstrations that teach the basic principles of science and the scientific method."

Art Institute of Chicago Museum

  • Science, Art & Technology
    "...began as a year-long course offered by The Art Institute of Chicago to Chicago Public School science teachers interested in exploring the relationship between science and art within a museum setting... Teachers used the information provided to create written guides for museum visits with their students and lesson plans for in-class instruction. The program's overarching goal was to show science teachers that an art museum may be used as a visual library to augment and to enrich established high-school science curricula in chemistry, earth science, or physics."
    Sections include: Intro to Science and Art ; Art and Astronomy ; The Chemistry and Physics of Light and Color ; Perception, Light, and Color ; Conservation: Light in the Making and Viewing of Art ; Careers in Science, Art, and Technology ; Lesson Plans ; Self-Guides ; Glossary.

Ask a Scientist!
- Cornell Center for Materials Research

Autodesk - Math, Science, and Technology for Girls - (dead link)
"Our mission is to provide practical, inspiring, hands-on opportunities for young women to become aware of, explore, and pursue math, science, and technology-based careers."

Berkeley National Library - Educational Sites

Biodiversity Counts
"...is a middle-school science program created by the American Museum of Natural History. It gets students out of the classroom and into the field to study biodiversity at a site near their school."

BirdCentral.net
"To promote education and enjoyment of birds. To be a source of information and a platform for K-12 students to share their interest, work, and questions concerning birds. To create science curriculum that promotes experience-based learning."
Includes photos and natural history of 406 of the 600+ species found in the lower 48 states, lesson plans, themes, and a glossary.
By Jim Rosso

BridgePros: Bridge Construction and Engineering - Learning Center
"This page will help by offering information about the types of bridges, building models of bridges, as well as those who design the great structures."

Butterflies North and South
"This website was produced by Museums and affiliated organizations in Canada and Peru, to give you a glimpse of the butterfly and moth wonders just waiting to be seen and appreciated."
Sections include: Gallery ; Conservation ; Teachers & Games ; Questions & Answers ; Amateurs' Corner ; Gardening ; Links.

The Butterfly Lab
An Online Interactive by The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
"...allows visitors the opportunity to explore The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, located in Chicago, IL...In the lab you will learn how to manage the lives of over two hundred butterflies. This includes breeding, feeding and maintaining the caterpillars and butterflies within the Haven's artificial environment."
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

California K-12 Science Standards

Carto Corner
The Fundamentals of Cartography
"The purpose of this module is to provide both students and teachers with on-line, interactive information on selected aspects of cartography. Self-contained units on the fundamentals of cartography are arranged in a logical order for individual learning purposes."

Clouds
A general page for elementary school science instruction.
by Carl Wozniak

Computing Research Association (CRA)

  • Women in Computer Science - (dead link)
    "...written for high school and early undergraduate students, profiles the life stories of successful women in CSE. Biographies include family and/or outside activities of the women as well as employment responsibilities and interests."

A Dictionary of Units
"This provides a summary of most of the units of measurement to be found in use around the world today (and a few of historical interest), together with the appropriate conversion factors needed to change them into a 'standard' unit of the S I."
By Frank Tapson

Discover Chimpanzees!
"Get ready to discover the wild world of chimpanzees at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania!"

Discover Magazine
Includes Educator's Guide

Discovery Channel Canada Online - (dead link)

DiscoverySchool.com - (dead link)

  • Discovery School's A-to-Z Science Encyclopedia - (dead link)
    "DiscoverySchool and World Book this month [October 2000] have teamed to launch A-to-Z Science, a free online science encyclopedia for students of all ages. The site is a searchable online science database with thousands of articles that cover a wide range of science topics - plants, animals, space, laboratories and more. Use it for in-school projects or to satisfy your curiosity. Look at photos and maps, listen to sound clips, watch short videos. Good, fast, fun for science buffs or for students with research projects to do. Great for any age."
  • Science Fair Central
     "...contains a comprehensive science fair handbook that provides step-by-step instructions - from choosing a topic to creating the project presentation. The site helps students, parents, and teachers find resources, tip sheets and ideas for science fair projects."

Doing Science: An Introduction to Physical Science (etext)
"This text concerns learning the fundamentals of physical science by doing science as science is done...This manual was developed to accompany a one semester introductory physical science course, Fundamentals of Physical Science (PHS 110), at Arizona State University."
By Susan Wyckoff, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Arizona State University

Ecological Society of America - Education Section, ESA-EdWeb
An extensive collection of online resources for K-16 Ecology education.
Maintained by Bruce W. Grant, Department of Biology, Widener University

ENC Online: A K-12 Math and Science Teacher Center
"The Best Selection of K-12 Mathematics and Science Curriculum Resources on the Internet."
- Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP)

ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education
"The Clearinghouse is a component of the Educational Resources Information Center, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Our goal is to provide access to the best information available for teaching and learning about science, mathematics, and the environment.

Evolution and the Nature of Science Institutes (ENSI)
"The main objective of ENSI is to improve the teaching of evolution in High School Biology courses by encouraging teachers to teach evolutionary thinking in the context of a more complete understanding of modern scientific thinking (see Nickels et al article on this site)."
Lesson plans include: Nature of Science Lessons ; Evolution Lessons ; Origin of Life Lessons.

Experimental Science Projects: An Introductory Level Guide
"This introductory level guide presents basic information for doing a science project. For a more detailed treatment see Experimental Science Projects: An Intermediate Level Guide."
David Morano, Assoc. Prof., Mankato State University

Exploratorium
The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception

  • Educator Digital Assets
    "Search our digital library of over 3,000 photographs, QuickTime movies, and other digital files, selected for educators."
  • Transit of Mercury 2006 (Video)
    "On November 8, 2006, Mercury slowly slid across the face of the sun during an event known as a transit. A transit of Mercury is relatively rare-there are only about a dozen a century."

Exploring the Nanoworld
"The objective of this website is to introduce you to the tools that let us "see" atoms, manipulate them, and create nano-architectural wonders. Investigate the frontiers of the nanoworld by learning how materials are customized to create everything from atomic trampolines to DNA to ferrofluids to semiconductors that give off blue light!"
- University of Wisconsin - Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces

Explorit Science Center
Sections include: Information ; Especially for Schools ; Interesting Science ; News.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence - Science
A large collection of free online educational resources.

Fermilab Education Office
Sections include: Lederman Science Center ; Teacher Resource Center ; Quarknet ; Physics Data ; LInC Online ; Fermilabyrinth ; Science Adventures ; Prairie Resources ; Online Instructional Material ; Friends of Fermilab.

The Field Museum (Chicago, IL)

  • Biodiversity and Conservation: The Web of Life (English or Spanish)
    Sections include: Investigate Biodiversity ; Year of Biodiversity and Conservation ; Meet the Scientist ; Explore Global Diversity ; Events and Programs ; Take Action! ; Teaching Biodiversity ; Biodiversity Exhibitions.

The Flying Turtle
Science and Technology Education Exploration Site
"...is a fun award winning site that explores energy and other basic science principles and shows how the same fundamental principles control how things work in nature, living organisms, and human technology. The articles are carefully researched, accurate, easy to understand, and according to my e-mail responses, funny. In addition to providing good basic explanations, the creative thought-provoking approach helps to generate an interest in science and technology. It is a growing site that is added to regularly."

Gender & Diversity Institute

  • Gender and Science Digital Library (GSDL)
    "The primary objective of the GSDL is to create a high-quality, interactive library of gender and science STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] resources for K-12, higher education (community college and university), women's studies, teacher preparation programs, and informal learning environments."

Glenn Learning Technologies Project

  • Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics
    "The site was prepared at NASA Glenn by the Learning Technologies Project (LTP) to provide background information on basic aerodynamics and propulsion for secondary math and science teachers. In response to increased interest and visits by students and airplane enthusiasts, we are now including interactive animated versions of many pages."

Girls Go Tech
"Girl Scouts is challenging all corporations and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, government entities and policymakers, parents and families, and the media to take action to ensure that girls have full access to every opportunity for education and careers in math, science and technology."
Sections include: Resources by Age Group ; Activities ; Careers ; Links
- A Girl Scout Initiative

Hands-On- Active Learning Modules on the Human Dimensions of Global Change
- National Science Foundation

International Year of Freshwater 2003
Sections include: Get Involved ; Education Corner ; Water Library ; Facts & Figures ; Events Calendar.

JungleWalk.com
"We have a large compilation of links to animal movie and animal sound clips, categorized and arranged for easy reference. Learn about many different animals, big and small. Watch movies of protozoan animal cells and cheetahs hunting, explore bird sounds, and hear blue whale songs, right here at JungleWalk - your virtual Animal Encyclopaedia."

Kids Corner Endangered Species Program
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior

Kids' Science Page - National Agricultural Library
 "...containing lists of children's books and articles on specific agricultural subjects, science fair projects and supplies, careers and biographies of leading scientists, and "learn by doing" 4-H youth projects."

Learner.org
Teacher Professional Development Programming for K-12 Teachers
- Annenberg Media

  • Teacher's Lab
    "The goal of the Teachers' Lab is to provide teachers and educators with a deeper understanding of commonly taught math and science concepts...Each lab will combine online activities with background information, interactive polls or worksheets participants can use in their classroom, plus links to related material."

Lewis & Clark as Naturalists - (dead link)
"This site has been designed to be particularly useful for elementary, middle and high school education and includes a Teachers' Guide and several lesson plans, but the content should be interesting and informative to the general public, whether in North America or abroad...The site contains images of museum specimens, scientific drawings, and field photos of the plant and animal species observed and described by Lewis and Clark, along with journal excerpts, historical notes, and references for many of these examples as well as the date and location of observation."
- National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian

Mission to Mars - Athena Mars Exploration Rovers
Sections include: Mission Update ; Mars For Kids ; Educators ; Mars Facts ; The Mission ; Gallery ; News.

NASA - Mars Exploration Rover Mission Home (English or Spanish)
"NASA's Spirit Rover is starting to examine its new surroundings, revealing a vast flatland well suited to the robot's unprecedented mobility and scientific toolkit."
Sections include: Mars for Kids ; Mars for Students ; Mars for Educators ; Mars for Press ; Multimedia ; Overview ; Science ; Technology ; The Mission ; Features ; Events.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CalTech.

National Academy Press (free online versions)

National Energy Technology Lab - Cool Science

National Geographic - Animals and Nature
Sections include: Conservation Maps ; Animal Profiles ; Sights & Sounds ; News ; Photo of the Day.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) - K-12 Science Education Site
A well organized collection of resources designed for both teachers and students

National Institutes of Health - Office of Science Education (OSE)
"...coordinates science education activities at the NIH and develops and sponsors science education projects in house. These programs serve elementary, secondary, and college students and teachers and the public."

  • NIH Curriculum Supplement Series
    "...are interactive teaching units that combine cutting-edge science research discoveries from the National Institutes of Health, one of the world's foremost medical research centers, with state-of-the-art instructional materials."
  • Women in Science

National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Smithsonian Institution

Natural History Museum, London

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

Nature - Alien Empire
"This special multimedia Web companion to the three-week [PBS] NATURE miniseries takes you into the bizarre, fascinating world of insects, with amazing graphics, sound and animation, enhanced video, and activities for kids. Read the articles to learn more about how insects reproduce, live together in society, migrate, and battle for survival. Check out our animated musical multimedia presentations on monarch butterflies, mayflies, and bee anatomy and behavior. View video clips from the programs, including an enhanced streaming video clip for higher-speed visitors. Solve our Insect Scramble puzzles -- we've created one for each section. Check out our list of insect resources in print and on the Web. And in a fun activity for kids, print out our cricket and butterfly mask patterns, then follow the directions to make masks you can really wear!"
- PBS Online

New Scientist - Global Warming Report
FAQ on the Science of Global Warming

North American Association for Environmental Education

NSTA Webwatchers' Science Guides
"Lists of pre-selected web sites to hep YOU teach key subjects."
Sections include: K-4 Science Guides ; 5-8 Science Guides ; 9-12 Science Guides.
- National Science Teachers Association

Ontario Science Centre

Pacific Coast Salmon Fisheries
"This site has been designed particularly for the use of Canadian teachers and school children, however, we are confident that everyone will find something of interest within the site. Please feel free to explore throughout this site and learn something about Salmon, their habitat, and the story of our relationship with these creatures, which are such an integral part of life on the Pacific Coast."
Jennifer Iredale Curator.  Produced under contract to the Canada's Digital Collections Program, Industry Canada.

PBS American Field Guide - Teacher Resources
"American Field Guide is a tremendous resource for you and your students. Embedded within this site you will find lesson plans that weave segments of video together into units of inquiry around specific topics. The lessons in the units of inquiry were all written by high school teachers and draw upon national and state standards for science learning."

PBS NOVA - Cracking the Code of Life
"This two-hour special, hosted by ABC "Nightline" correspondent Robert Krulwich, chronicles the race to capture one of the biggest prizes in scientific history: the complete letter-by-letter sequence of genetic information that defines human life -- the human genome."
Sections include: Watch the Entire Program ; Our Genetic Future (A Survey) ; Manipulating Genes: How Much is Too Much ; Understanding Heredity ; Explore a Stretch of Code (Hot Science) ; Nature vs Nurture Revisited ; Sequence for Yourself ; Journey into DNA (Hot Science ; Meet the Decoders ; Classroom ; Resources ; Teacher's Guide.

PBS NOVA - Forgotten Genius
Companion website to the February 2007 TV broadcast. Watch episode online. Includes Teacher's Guide and Library Resource Kit.
"Against all odds, African-American chemist Percy Julian became one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century...is a fascinating and largely unknown story of scientific triumph and racial inequality. It covers the extraordinary life journey of Percy Julian, one of the great chemists of the 20th century."

PBS NOVA - Life's Greatest Miracle
"...companion Web site to 'Life's Greatest Miracle,' scheduled for broadcast on November 20, 2001. A sequel to the most popular NOVA of all time, "Miracle of Life," the program once again uses the extraordinary microimagery of Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson to track human development from embryo to newborn."
Sections include: Watch the Program ; Great Expectations: A Woman's Journal ; Windows on the Womb ; The Stem-Cell Debate ; How Cells Divide ; How is Sex Determined? ; Resources ; Teacher's Guide.

PBS NOVA - Secrets of Lost Empires - Pharaoh's Obelisk
"...NOVA brings together a team of Egyptologists, engineers, stonemasons, and timber framers to probe the mystery of how the ancients shaped, transported, and erected their elegant obelisks."
Sections include: How Big Were They? ; Cutting Granite with Sand ; NOVA Raises an Obelisk ; Lever an Obelisk ; Explore Ancient Egypt ; Mysteries of the Nile ; Resources ; Teacher's Guide.

PBS NOVA - Tales from the Hive (June 2002)
"In this NOVA program, our cinematographer literally filmed inside a hive and followed bees in flight to capture closeups to honeybee behavior."
Sections include: Anatomy of a Hive ; The Buzz About Bees ; Dances With Bees ; The Making Of ; Resources ; Transcript.

PBS NOVA - The Last Great Ape
Companion website to the February 2007 broadcast.
"An expedition into the Congo examines one of our closest living relatives, the peace-loving bonobo."
Sections include: The Bonobo in All of Us ; Kanzi the Bonobo ; Read My Lips ; Our Family Tree ; Links & Books.

PBS NOVA Online - Teachers
Sections include: Program Contents ; Printable Activities ; Online Activities ;  Teacher's Ideas ; Web Site Overviews.

PBS - Red Gold
The Epic Story of Blood
"Delves into the facts and myths about human blood and its impact on everything from religion and medicine to commerce and popular culture throughout history. This four-part series address the ways in which we have understood and misunderstood the substance so crucial to our world."
Sections include: Blood Journey ; Blood History ; Blood Basics ; Innovators & Pioneers ; Education ; Ask the Experts ; Education ; Resources ; Glossary.

PBS - The Secret Life of the Brain
Companion site to the winter 2002 five-part PBS series.
"...informs viewers of exciting new information in the brain sciences, introduces the foremost researchers in the field, and utilizes dynamic visual imagery and compelling human stories to help a general audience understand otherwise difficult scientific concepts."
Sections include: History of the Brain ; 3-D Brain Anatomy ; Mind Illusions ; Scanning the Brain.

Robotics Education Project
"...is dedicated to encouraging people to become involved in science and engineering, particularly robotics. REP works to capture the educational potential of NASA's robotics missions by supporting educational robotics competitions and events, facilitating robotics curriculum enhancements at all educational levels, and maintaining a web site clearinghouse of robotics education information."
- NASA

Science, Tobacco & You
"...is a multidisciplinary, multimedia, science curriculum resource. The goal of Science, Tobacco & You is to encourage students to use science to ask and answer questions to promote scientific literacy: In this case, the medium used is the issue of tobacco use and prevention."

The Secret Life of the Brain
Companion site to the winter 2002 five-part PBS series.
"...informs viewers of exciting new information in the brain sciences, introduces the foremost researchers in the field, and utilizes dynamic visual imagery and compelling human stories to help a general audience understand otherwise difficult scientific concepts."
Sections include: History of the Brain ; 3-D Brain Anatomy ; Mind Illusions ; Scanning the Brain.
PBS Online

SEED: Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development
"...initiative in educational development, where scientists and engineers share their expertise with learners from around the world. It is a place dedicated to science educationña source of knowledge for teachers and students."

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science
The On-line Journal of Math and Science Examples for Pre-College Education

Resources in Science and Engineering Education
"There are well-defined instructional techniques that make teaching more effective...This Web site offers guidance on what those techniques are and tips and resources for using them. If you have a specific aspect of teaching in mind, click on the link to 'Education-related papers' on the left and then click on your topic if it is listed. Otherwise, just enjoy browsing."
By Richard Felder, Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University

Sci-Math World
An Interactive Internet Workshop
"...designed for all teachers and librarians who wish to expand their knowledge of science and math education Web resources.  The accompanying Web site contains many resources that today's searchers need, whether they are K-12 or higher education students, educators, or parents.  Together, this hands-on class and Web site will provide many of the tools to help locate valuable, reliable science and math information on the ever-changing and rapidly growing World Wide Web.
By Robert J. Lackie, Assistant Professor I-Librarian, Rider University

Science Magazine

Science Snacks Online
"Exploratorium Science Snacks are miniature versions of some of the most popular exhibits at the Exploratorium."
The Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception

ScienceMaster.com
"Our goal is to provide the best science resources for teachers, parents, hobbyists, and life-long learners. The ScienceMaster web pages include links to research sites, lesson plans, activities, and project ideas."

Scientific American: Ask the Experts

The Search for Ancient Sharks
"Join the Discovery expedition to the Falkland Islands in search of the fossil remains of the ancient shark Pucapampella. Tour the ancient seas to meet some of Pucapampella's closest friends. Or visit the prehistoric shark gallery for illustrations of sharks beyond your imagination."
- Discovery Channel School

The Second Law of Thermodynamics
 A general and fun introduction to entropy.
By Frank L. Lambert, Occidental College

Smithsonian Education
Includes: Lesson Plans ; Field Trips ; Websites ; Publications & Products ; Professional Development.

Southeastern Michigan Math-Science Learning Coalition & Michigan Reach Out!
Sections include: Science Lessons & Quick Activities ; Wandering Wizards ; Science Mentoring ; Tech Clubs ; Career Presentations ; Job Shadowing ; Tours ; Career Fairs ; College & Career Planning ; Tutorials ; Summer Camps ; Study Skills ; Classes & Programs.
Engineering & Computer Science Dept., University of Michigan

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Education Information
 - Department of Energy

Teaching Evolution in the States
By Lawrence S. Lerner, Prof. Emeritus, California State University, Long Beach
Published by The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, 2000.

Temperature Conversion Calculator
Units include: Kelvin ; Celsius ; Fahrenheit ; Reaumur ; Rankine.

TERC
"...mission is to improve mathematics, science, and technology teaching and learning. TERC works at the edges of current theory and practice..."

U.S. Department of Education

Water On the Web (WOW)
"WOW lessons are designed for infusion into the existing science curriculums for college freshmen and advanced high school students. The lessons use the aquatic environment and real lake data to explore basic science concepts..."
- University of Minnesota

WhaleNet
"...offers students and teachers curriculum resources and support, a source of data for interdisciplinary classroom activities, and interactive informational support through WhaleNet utilizing telecommunications...WhaleNet provides a system where students, teachers, and researchers collect and then compile their data on the WhaleNet server. The data is then shared, via WhaleNet, with schools for interdisciplinary curricular activities and student research in their respective classrooms world-wide."
By J. Michael Williamson, Wheelock College in Boston and others.

WISE - The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment
"WISE is a simple yet powerful learning environment where students examine real-world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies. Our curriculum projects are designed to meet standards and complement your current science curriculum, and your grade 5-12 students will find them exciting and engaging. A web browser is all they need to take notes, discuss theories, and organize their arguments... they can even work from home!"

World Book - Women in Science and Medicine
"To celebrate the achievements of these women, World Book editors have compiled a series of articles about some of the most influential women in science and medicine and how their efforts have helped explain how the world works."

Women in Chemistry - Her Lab in Your Life
- Chemical Heritage Foundation

XPLORA - European Gateway to Science Education
"Xplora is the European gateway to science education. It is aimed at teachers, pupils, scientists, science communicators and science educators."

zeroBio
"This is a website for high school science students. You'll find a variety of interactive quizzes, games and puzzles to practice what you're learning in Grade 9 Science, Grade 11 Biology and Grade 12 Biology. There are also some specific student resources for each course."
By Elliot Kimmel

See also our separate Earth Science Education page.



 

 

Maintained by Mike Madin.
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Academic Info 

Created by librarian Mike Madin