TeachersFirst Resource Listings

Subject Results by title Records 1 to 20 of 55

Arty the Part-time Astronaut - 3 pound media

Grades 0 to 8

Travel the solar system and explore using this colorful site. Choose from great missions such as "Travel the Solar system," "Space-pedia," "Space Shuttle," "A Flying Machine," "Comets," "Global Weather," and many others. (There are several pages, so don’t miss the arrows to check the others). Students can select a username from lists of Titles, first, and last names or have the name machine select one for them. View each mission for information about the topic and examples to choose from. Audio levels are easily controlled along the top right part of the screen.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Better yet, have students explore the site on individual computers. Be sure to remember the headsets! Use the missions for students to identify basic concepts to bring back to small group or class discussions. Students can use this information as springboards for further discussions or the start of new group or class projects.

Bad Science - Alistair B. Fraser

Grades 8 to 12

“Be very, very careful what you put into that head, because you will never, ever get it out” warns the quote at the start of this page. Bad Science is the site that debunks the "myths and legends" that are sadly distributed by the misinformed. It is a great site for checking understanding and pinpointing student misconceptions. Many popular ones are addressed in the links offered on this site. Learn about Bad Astronomy, Bad Chemistry, Mad Meteorology (including clouds, rain, greenhouses, and others), and the Pathetic Fallacy. The drawback to the site is that it can seem a little condescending but it may be a byproduct of the author's disgust with bad science.
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In the Classroom:
Students could be assigned different false science statements to research and design their own science news articles comparing fact and fiction. Why not make this a multimedia project and have students complete a podcast, online poster, or narrated photo! For podcasts, try PodOmatic (reviewed here). To create an online poster use a site such as Wallwisher, (reviewed here). Challenge cooperative learning groups to find a photo related to their topic (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo using Voicethread reviewed here.

A class could also be assigned a specific false science fact to research and participate in a class blog or message board discussion via the class web page or wiki site. Students could also use the fiction as the basis for their own "Myth busters" episodes. .

Reading teachers looking for passages to use in reading comprehension practice, such as finding main idea and supporting details will find these non-fiction passages informative and interesting for their students. Make a temporary copy of one of the explanations to display in your interactive whiteboard software as students highlight key ideas and separate out supporting details using the whiteboard tools. Your science teachers will LOVE you for it!

Blizzard Attack -

Grades 5 to 9

his simulation lesson casts students in the role of a city administrator facing an oncoming winter storm. Participants must figure out how to fight the storm, maintain city services, and ensure public safety, all while learning about how these storms form and spread. Lots of interesting "what if" discussion possibilities.
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CalcEnstein - Blaine Hilton

Grades 5 to 12

Looking for different types of calculators? Find them on this interesting site. Choose a button on the calculator corresponding to the subject. Examples of subjects include Medicine, Algebra, Weather, Phonics, Financial, HVAC, Engineering, Weather, and Rocketry to name a few. After the subject is chosen, click on a formula to enter values. Some of the topics offer reference information, not calculations. This is definitely an interesting site to peruse.
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In the Classroom:
There are many different calculators for students to explore as ways to apply math in real world situations. For example, choose weather and then wind chill. Enter the information and wind chill will be calculated. Enter the information, view the calculated answer, and then have students determine how it is actually calculated. This site is a great find for gifted students to use to further investigate specific topics beyond your “regular” classroom content. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students work with a partner to explore various “buttons” on this interactive calculator. Have the groups create multimedia presentations to share their findings or demonstrate them on the whiteboard as advertisements or infomercials! Have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Project Poster (reviewed here or PicLits (reviewed here.

Case Study - Hurricane Andrew - University of Illinois

Grades 6 to 12

A more detailed retrospective that examines the hurricane which did extensive damage in Florida in August, 1992.
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Earth Today - Smithsonian Institution

Grades 6 to 12

The Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum developed this site to gather a number of real-time imagery resources into a cohesive look and the earth's atmosphere and oceans.
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In the Classroom:
While teachers may need to provide the context for this content, the site does offer a number of real-time data sources all within a couple of mouse-clicks of one another.

Earthquake - Virtual courseware for Earth and Environmental Sciences

Grades 6 to 12

This site is an interactive computer program designed to introduce the concepts of how an earthquake epicenter is located and how the Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined. Choose "Demonstration" for background information. View the demonstrations of "Travel Time" and "Epi and Mag" to learn more about earthquakes and how to use the tools. By using the demonstrations, students create data that is graphed and can be analyzed. Problems are presented to the students to determine the epicenter of a specific event. If you wish to not use the demonstration, click on the animations to learn about "SP lag time" and "Latitude and Longitude." Instructors can also register for free on the site and students can take an exam when completed with the activity. Exams will be graded and results reported to the teacher. Click "Instructions" to walk through the registration and use. This site requires Java and Flash. Click the "System Requirements" button to test these programs on your computer before proceeding. If you need Java or Flash, you can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page. NOTE: the site opens slowly. Please be patient, and be sure to check the technical requirements.
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In the Classroom:
Use the data to determine epicenter as well as the magnitude of an event. Use data from other sources to determine the same. Use this demo on your interactive whiteboard or projector after discussing specific information about earthquakes and part of a final project. Use the simulations to learn more about how scientists determine where earthquakes start.

Explanation of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale - US Government

Grades 6 to 12

Explanation of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, which measures the strength of storms.
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Exploring Online: Better Hair Through Chemistry - Exploratorium Magazine

Grades 6 to 10

Are you looking for a unique way to grab the attention of your teenage students? This interesting website explores the connection between hair and science. Correlations are made between bad hair days and the weather. Three of the "hands on" activities include building a hair hygrometer, the healthy hair test, and creating curls. Some of the articles feature interactive elements that require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
Although this website doesn't have many "bells and whistles" (it dates back to 1998), the content could be very interesting in a chemistry or other secondary science class. This website takes a "teenage friendly" topic and brings it into the science classroom. There are many higher-level science topics within the text of this website. Invite students to try the experiments and even to use technology to create more up-to-date illustrations of the concepts for a health or science fair display.

Extreme Weather Sourcebook - National Center for Atmospheric Research

Grades 7 to 12

How many severe weather events occurred in 2001? How much did the damage and clean up cost? Use this site to obtain monetary damages and numbers of events for "Hurricanes," "Floods," Tornadoes," "Lightning," and "others." Data is given both in table and chart form and is sorted by state.
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In the Classroom:
Use the data to determine where most severe weather events occur and to determine why they occur in those areas. Research the science behind the events and reasons for the devastation. Have students create an action plan in the event of severe weather or identify ways to lessen devastating effects of some of the events. Students can also research recent year's data and make comparisons of the numbers.

FEMA Hurricane Page - US Government

Grades 6 to 12

This is another route to government data on forecast information, storm tracks, disaster management information, hurricane preparedness, and related issues. FEMA also publishes a manual titled Surviving the Storm which can be downloaded as an Adobe Acrobat file using the link below.
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Geography at the Movies - blip.tv

Grades 0 to 12

This informative and interactive website provides short video clips on a variety of geography (and science) topics. General topic areas include agriculture, climate change, coasts, development, environment, industry, population, rivers, rocks, places, resources, weather, tectonics, settlement, and several others. Each topic area includes numerous videos about the subject matter. Use the videos to learn more about global warming, farming, sand dunes, international landmarks, Ghana, and countless others. This website provides an incredibly eclectic presentation of topics. WATCH the "how-to-use this site" video to see how you can show movies in class or download them for offline use. Online versions of the videos require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
What a fabulous resource for geography and science lessons. A high-speed connection is a must.Use your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and share these FREE video clips. Be sure you turn up the volume on your speakers. Or make the videos an individual or cooperative learning group project. Put the pertinent video titles on a list and allow each individual/group to choose one of the videos to view and share the information with the class.

Global Warming - Beloit College

Grades 9 to 12

Created at Beloit College, this slightly quirky collection of Quicktime movies and applets illustrates aspects of global warming and climate change from the last ice age to the present. Additional text explains many of the concepts, but the site is primarily a visual tool.
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In the Classroom:
Teachers may find this one an interesting tool kit to use when discussing global warming issues.

Global Warming Signs and Sources - Discovery Channel

Grades 5 to 12

Use this interactive resource to identify signs of global warming and its causes. Use the categories of "Signs," "Sources," and "Carbon Cycle" to view topics to understand how these point to climate change. Each topic brings up an interactive globe with headlines that can be clicked. Information, graphics, and graphs are presented in headline pop-ups. Click "Global Warming" on the blue bar above the map to move to Global Warming: What you need to know by Tom Brokaw. View supporting slideshows and additional information to understand climate change.

Be aware this site does have some minor advertising (some in the form of pop-ups). This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this resource for practical and easy to understand information in order to begin a dialogue in the classroom. Students should naturally have questions about what they read which will lead to additional inquiry and research. Students can research and present information to the class either in person or with multimedia projects that can be shared.

Google Guide - Google

Grades 5 to 12

Google has pulled together descriptions of how to use some of the new features available by just using the search box. In addition to searching and finding driving directions, users can now check flight times, do math problems, check the routes of packages, see travel conditions, obtain stock quotes, get definitions and more. At the bottom of the page, searchers can link to more shortcut offerings, including Google Guide's Cheat Sheet and Google Guide's Coffee page.
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In the Classroom:
Show your students how to quickly find definitions and do simple math problems in an instant!

Groundhogs Day - Vocabulary University

Grades 4 to 10

Will he see his shadow? This site makes this festive day an educational one! There are interactive word puzzles, class activity suggestions, a wordbank with 30 words, and more. Many of the puzzles are printable.
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In the Classroom:
Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students work with a partner to try out the puzzles on their own. Have students try to create their own word puzzles.

High School Science - BCISD

Grades 9 to 12

This website provides about ten lesson plans (PDF files) that incorporate technology into science lessons designed for high school students. Some of the lessons are interdisciplinary and include several subject areas. The lesson plans provide state standards (for Michigan), assessments and explicit details about the activities. There are interactive activities, printable worksheets, discussion topics and much more. Some of the specific topics include fossil fuels, the periodic table, density, climate comparisons, and lego robot competition. The technology activities provided require FLASH. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
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In the Classroom:
Do yourself a favor and check out this free website when planning your high school science lessons. Get your interactive whiteboards ready and utilize these ready-to-go activities.

Historical Hurricane Tracks - NOAA

Grades 6 to 12

Though its search interface takes a little practice, this internet resource allows teachers and students to view the tracks of over 150 hurricanes and tropical storms. Search the database by storm name, zip code, landing point, or latitude and longitude to learn about areas impacted by hurricanes. An interesting resource for climatology lessons, this site is also a good starting point for additional research into tropical storms.
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How Hurricanes Work - University of Wisconsin

Grades 4 to 12

The Why Files' "An Ill Wind" explains the science behind the formation and behavior of hurricanes using clear text and some neat, simple animations. This site is a great introduction to these huge storms for younger students.
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Hurricane & Tropical Storm Tracking -

Grades 6 to 12

A tracking resource from Terrapin Associates which provides current storm forecast tracks as well as animated tracks from past storms.
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