Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Animal Diversity Web is an on-line database of animal natural history, distribution, and classification organized as an on-line encyclopedia. Users can search the Animalia Kingdom by Phylum, Sub phylum, Class, Order and Family. Choose the corresponding icons to view facts, descriptions, pictures, specimens and hear the sounds of the various animals. This site contains a lot of information. Younger students may need some assistance/instruction maneuvering through the site initially.

tag(s): animals (295), biodiversity (36), diversity (40)

This on-line textbook contains an amazing amount of information regarding biology and botany. The in-depth detail is a bit overwhelming but the "diamonds in rough" and bits of interesting information are worth it, as is the factual data contained within the website. The site also includes on-line curricula for biology and botany 101.

tag(s): cells (83), plants (146)

Besides identifying trees, users learn about forest ground layers, enrich their vocabulary, study tree anatomy and health, and hone their searching skills. When users are looking for the name of tree by looking at its leaf, this website will identify the leaf and then lead to so much more information! People who want to learn how to take care of trees learn about soils, types of land, and even how to plant (video included)!

tag(s): trees (18)

This webquest carefully examines the problem of possible wolf extinction, their re-introduction into the wild, the opposition of the ranchers in the area etc. By presenting small groups of students with a real issue, the quest will teach how to perform and evaluate research before developing a point of view on an issue. For the final project of the quest, users write an editorial stating their well-researched viewpoint. Students don't do original research but rather use the articles contained within the project. Contains a rubric for evaluation as well as a form for "pre-writing" so the process of research and final presentation is carefully controlled. Users need RealAudio to hear the howls of the wolves.

tag(s): conservation (102), endangered species (27), environment (252), species (16)

Engineering Resources is a K-12 website that contains a multitude of information including lessons correlating to national and state standards. Search for activities and ideas by grade level and curriculum topic using the Search and Advanced Search buttons. Narrow choices provided in the curriculum section by filtering options to include lessons, activities, complete units, and more. Maker Challenges offer a variety of experiences for hands-on learning with topics including titles like A Doghouse Design Project and Create and Control a Popsicle Stick Finger Robot. Other site options allow you to search by educational standards and provide information and resources for teaching engineering to students in grades K-12.

tag(s): amazon (11), architecture (75), bridges (11), cells (83), density (18), engineering (129), environment (252), forces (37), friction (10), heart (27), human body (93), latitude (10), light (56), longitude (9), map skills (63), marine biology (31), mars (26), medicine (57), motion (49), pollution (52), robotics (24), rockets (11), simple machines (19), space (222), STEM (297)

This comprehensive site includes lesson pans, interactive review tools, and online activities for every aspect of teaching cell biology to middle grades. There are complete teacher ages, concept maps, and even a Cells Are Us bingo game for review. You must log in (as a guest) to see the teacher pages. Some content may be useful even in a high school biology class.

tag(s): cells (83)

This bulletin board style site includes links to online tutorials, web resources, an online editable biology dictionary, and forums on various biology topics. The dictionary is much like wikipedia, with the public able to edit and change the entires, but the site is moderated by a team. You may not want to accept the dictionary as a formal "source," but your students will like the ease with which they can look up terms and review biology material on this online environment.

Try these outstanding, highly-visual online activities, quizzes, and demonstrations to teach and reinforce biology concepts, including: classification, mitosis and meiosis, how enzymes work, selection/mutation/evolution, and multiple physiological processes. Your students will love the animation, created by a college professor/game developer.

tag(s): body systems (40), evolution (89), meiosis (8), mitosis (9)

Find extensive, up-to-date information on Genome Biology Research, ethical issues in genetics, biofuels, microbial genome research, and much more. This site would be a fantastic resource for student biology and microbiology research projects and career explorations. Help your students see what is happening in the very real world of science today.

tag(s): biodiversity (36), energy (133), environment (252), sustainability (50)

This is an online simulation game focusing on sustainable fishing. Students can manipulate variables (numbers of fishing boats, catch quotas) and see how those changes affect both the bottom line and the environment. Each change results in a year's worth of data (up to 15 year's worth), and then reactions from different stakeholders. The game can be played as one, but other participants will need to be online, or as a group. Register with your school email to get a code to set up your class, which could take two business days.

tag(s): environment (252), financial literacy (93), fish (18), resources (84), sustainability (50)

Listen to songs to teach important (and less important) science concepts. This collection of MP3 files was generated from an old set of records (yes, those round vinyl things that had scratches). While the actual copyright holder information is a gray area, you can feel safe in playing the songs from the site. Most likely, these songs from the 1950s and 60s are past copyright at this point. In any case, you can click to play from smaller or larger file versions. Be patient while they load, even over a broadband connection. It will be worth the wait to teach parts of plants, the water cycle, weather, motion, energy, electricity, and MANY other topics with just a computer and set of speakers to help students retain the information. Most of the content is elementary to middle school age, but some is high school level. Learning support teachers seeking alternate study strategies will love this one!

tag(s): animals (295), energy (133), mammals (22), motion (49), plants (146), space (222), water (102), water cycle (22), weather (160)

Living in an Alkaline Environment is a three-part activity that explores the ecology and diversity of life in alkaline environments. The activities feature Mono Lake, CA as an example of an alkaline, hypersaline ecosystem. The first two activities on this site are classroom lesson plans, and the third is an online investigation. Complete lesson plans and standards are included. The final activity asks students to draw upon their new knowledge to research organisms living in and around Mono Lake, and create field guide pages and a food web detailing the Mono Lake ecosystem.

tag(s): ecology (103)

Really excite your AP biology, ecology, and biochemistry students with these real-world applications of the sciences in solving problems. Each case is presented in a narrative, and the learner resources include advice on reading cases, collecting data, and all the steps to solve the problems. There are over two dozen problems across several biology, chemistry, ecology, and molecular biology disciplines. These are college-level problems, so you may want to use one as a whole-class activity to model the process and spur enthusiasm for further scientific study. The ideal is then to allow groups of students to continue with the investigations, if they have sufficient knowledge to do so on their own.

tag(s): genetics (81), scientific method (48)

AP Biology teachers will love these downloadable, advanced mathematical models (Excel and other) for many biology concepts in ecology, botany, genetics, biochemistry, and more. Created for college classrooms, the models are quite sophisticated and may be best used by advanced students or as a whole-class activity. These models provide real-world application of mathemetical and scientific concepts that are certain to excite budding scientists. The desciptions include computer software specifications for successful use. Some examples of applications include: a model for biogeography and the impact of mainland species pool, area of the island, and distance of the island from the mainland on the species available on the island; a 3D mathematical model of various factors' impact on the growth of tree branches; and a worksheet that simulates the population growth of two interacting species

tag(s): ecology (103), environment (252), modeling (8), species (16), statistics (121)

Here's a collection of pointers for students interested in keeping arthropods as pets - either at home or in the classroom. Not sure what to feed that Praying Mantis? The answers are here. There's even a special article on the details of keeping these critters in the classroom. Bookmark this one; it will come in handy one day.

tag(s): insects (69)

This highly visual site gives visitors simple information about the brain and explains the functions of its three main parts. Click the link at the top center titled Alzheimer's and Dementia to find the stages of Alzheimer's and a thorough explanation of the effect of Alzheimer's disease on daily life. Roll your mouse over the colored text on each slide to view the specific region described.

tag(s): brain (56)

This searchable site contains more than 1500 micrographs of scientific, biological and medical subjects photographed with light and electron microscopes. Categories include bacteria, crystals, slime molds, insects, protozoa, viruses, and much more. Includes a "Virtual SEM" that allows visitors to find out what it is like to load and zoom-in on specimens using an electron microscope. Please read the "Image Use" information before you reproduce or copy any of the images on this site!

tag(s): microscopes (10)

Cornell's Ornithology lab has created one of the most comprehensive bird species sites on the web. While parts of the site require a subscription, this online bird guide remains an effective, well illustrated online guide to bird spotting, habitats, and identification. Teachers will find many uses for the site as a reference tool, and as a resource for studying habitats and migration patterns

tag(s): birds (46), migration (45)

This online tutorial walks students through DNA basics, the cell cycle, and the process of mitosis. Each step of cell division is introduced with a brief description and illustration. Includes a short animation of mitosis, review quiz, and vocabulary list. Though the mitosis animation requires Flash, nothing else does. There is a lot to learn here through text, diagrams and quizzes.

tag(s): cells (83), division (98), meiosis (8), mitosis (9), vision (44)

This wonderful collection of high quality captioned photographs draws visitors into the mysterious world of microorganisms. After viewing these images, you will never look at pond scum in the same way again. The gallery - organized into three main sections featuring freshwater, marine and insect collections - boasts special exhibits tucked inside virtual rooms. Visit the Hall of Arthropods, Radiolaria Lounge, the Ciliate Center, and more. An eye-opening addition to a biology class.

tag(s): microorganisms (10), organisms (15), photography (130), radio (20)