ScienceMaster - Physical Science Homework Helpers
http://www.sciencemaster.com/physical/item/index_java.php
As part of the much larger commercial site ScienceMaster, the Physical Science page Homework Helper contains an interactive periodic table, scientific calculator and several glossaries of related terms. The site also provides length, area, mass, and temperature equivalency converters and even a weight calculator to determine how much you would weigh if you were on the moon or one of several planets. Students from junior high on will find these and the several other tools provided very useful and fun to explore. [JAB]
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ChemLab
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chemlab/
Dartmouth College's introductory chemistry course program has a Web site that is worth a look by students and professors of chemistry at other institutions. Visitors to the site can ignore the exam and grading sections and head straight to the Java applets. With these nine, nifty mini-tutorials, students can create a custom periodic table, play fill-in-the-blank periodic table puzzles, run virtual labs on anions and cations, construct a visible spectrum, practice least-squares regressions, and much more. Visitors to the site will also find the "Chemistry and Background" portions of the online laboratory manuals (filed under Chem 3/5 and Chem 6) useful and also should review the section on how and why to keep a chemistry lab notebook. [HCS]
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New Activities from Windows to the Universe:
Magnetometer
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/magnetometer_edu.html
Magnetometer Extensions Activity
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/extension_edu.html
Terrabagga Activity Using a Magnetometer
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/terrabagga_edu.html
Three Clouds Activity
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/3clouds_edu.html
The University of Michigan's educational site called Windows to the Universe (last mentioned in the January 6, 1999 Scout Report for Science and Engineering) has added many new lessons to their content. Highlights of these include two activities centered around magnetism and cloud formation. Clicking on the links to the Student Activity Sheet and reading the Notes to the Teacher are essential for getting the most out of the activities. To undertake the magnetism lessons, first follow the instructions to make the homemade magnetometer. Then, you can do neat activities modeling real-world uses of a magnetometer instrument, such as exploring Earth's magnetic reversals. You can explore how magnetic fields of the planets are measured by creating your own planet, with magnetic poles out of a paper bag and a few other simple items ("Terrabagga"). Once you've had enough of the magnets, put your head in the clouds with the Three Clouds activity. This set of three lessons uses items such as a jugs and jars, a plastic bag, an aquarium thermometer, and an overhead projector to explore how clouds form and the relationship between the hydrosphere and human activity. [HCS]
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Create a Graph
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/
Part of the National Center for Education Statistics' Classroom feature, Create a Graph is a simple, visual program in which kids can create a custom bar, area, line or pie graph. Clicking on the graph type from the menu leads to a brief overview about that type of graph, what sorts of data it is useful for, and links to the data entry page. On the data entry page, kids can enter up to 15 data values, type titles, select graph size and colors (12 to choose from), designate .png or .jpeg file type, and create a printer-ready graph. This is an excellent tool for homework assignments and educational play. [HCS]
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Ask ERIC - Lesson Plans
http://ericir.syr.edu/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science
Ask ERIC, or the Educational Resources Information Center, is a federally funded project within the Department of Education that hopes to "provide education information to teachers, librarians, counselors, administrators, parents, and anyone interested in education throughout the United States and the world." This portion of the site provides lesson plans in twenty-three science subjects, geared for students from K-12. Clearly and attractively presented, each lesson plan gives a suggested grade level, objectives, materials needed, and more. The site contains other worthwhile information, such as a writing guide, mailing list, newsletter, and a link to submit your own lesson plan. [JAB]
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The pH Factor
http://www.miamisci.org/ph/
The Miami Museum of Science's learning site, The pH Factor, gives teachers a fun and interactive way to teach elementary and middle school students some basics of science. Material is divided into seven learning areas: excite, explore, explain, expand, extend, exchange, and examine. Each contains an interactive screen that can be used directly in the classroom and lesson plans that correspond with each subject. For example, the excite area contains the "tasting tongue" that, when clicked, shows the location on the tongue where you taste bitter or sour things. The site's teaching style is based on the proposition that learners need to build their own understanding of new ideas. The unique material that is offered on this site provides educators with an excellent alternative for teaching these sometimes difficult concepts to grade school students. [JAB]
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Online Physics Experiments [Shockwave]
http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/Experiments.html
Colorado State University's Hands-On Science Outreach Program, Little Shop of Physics, contains several dozen online experiments that can be done at home, in the classroom, or directly on a computer. The Amazing Physics section offers directions on completing the classic imploding pop can experiment and other experiments using common household items. The other two sections, Computer Stuff and Shockwave Stuff, allows users to try interactive activities like the headshrinker experiment. After staring at the animation of moving circles for a minute and then looking at a friend's head, it strangely appears to be shrinking. Each detailed experiment provides clear and straightforward directions as well as an explanation of what is actually happening, making this site an excellent resource for teachers and parents in helping kids understand physics. [JAB]
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Working With Maps
http://info.er.usgs.gov/education/teacher/what-do-maps-show/index.html
The United States Geological Survey's Learning Web site Working with Maps contains a complete Web-based lesson for students between grades 5 and 8. The site introduces the basic concepts related to cartography, including the definition of a map, various map types, and information that you can find on them. Printable activity sheets are available for download, covering four lessons: Introduction to Maps, Some Things You Need to Know to Read a Map, What You Can Learn From a Map, and How to Read a Topographic Map. The tradition of quality material from the USGS continues with this well done, attractive site that gives educators premium content and ease of use. [JAB]
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