Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This site presents teachers with a searchable index of natural sciences resources contained within the museum's site. Scroll down the page and click Resources for Learning. You can browse the web-sites, activities, and experiments by sub-topic, grade level, or resource type. Current subtopics include anthropology, astronomy, biology, earth science, and paleontology. Special collection exhibits present theme-based activities that cover additional topics and change occasionally. Be sure to check out the the Past Exhibitions for topics such as Biodiversity, Antarctica, and deep sea explorations, and much more. This is a great site for sorting out all the wonderful resources the museum has to offer. There are over 1,000 resources currently available on countless subjects.

tag(s): amphibians (17), biodiversity (36), brain (56), climate change (99), darwin (13), dinosaurs (43), diseases (67), diversity (40), fossils (41), light (56), mammals (22), natural disasters (18), oceans (149), paleontology (28), poisons (2), space (222), volcanoes (55)

An online resource for understanding the basics of genetics research, as well as related topics such as the Human Genome project and Gene therapy treatments. A good site for High School Biology classes. There is also an interactive children's cartoon helpful for introducing the topic for younger students.

tag(s): genetics (81)

This site has up-to-date information on the current international debate over genetically modified foods (GM). The site might be worth a look for biology teachers looking to link their classroom lessons to current events. Some articles are more applicable than others.

tag(s): genetics (81)

UCSD has created an interactive flash site that explores Giant Kelp in its ocean habitat, diagrams of the plant itself, and all the many unexpected places you can find kelp all around you in every day life. This site is a creative and kid-friendly with good information for studying undersea life.

tag(s): marine biology (31), oceans (149)

This main portion of this site is best suited for High School Biology and Biochemistry students looking to expand upon their in-class curriculum with virtual labs on DNA, chromosomes, and gender testing. The Animation Console has animations of basic and advanced body system functions and sex determination processes that can be downloaded for in-class demonstrations.

tag(s): dna (43), human body (93)

This web site from a consortium of several thousand environmental organizations offers a great collection of resources to build awareness of ecological issues and inspire both individual and collective action. These include several games that let students discover how well they and their families conserve resources. Find out how much you know about Earth. Try the Quizzes!

tag(s): earth (184), earth day (60), ecology (103), environment (252)

Developed at Cornell University, this site offers a framework to help high school students conduct environmental science research and participate in communities of fellow student scientists. There are research protocols and discussion groups for a number of topics, as well as links to newly published text materials. The web content, however, seems to stand independently of the print materials. Secondary science, biology, and earth science teachers will find this one interesting.

tag(s): ecology (103), environment (252), habitats (92)

Plants with very fast growing cycles can be very useful in classroom demonstrations and lab activities. This site from the University of Wisconsin explains how to use these "fast plants" and offers a significant collection of lessons and resource ideas involving them. There are also collections of pointers for students and teachers. This site may be just the thing for teachers who have limited outdoor resources or whose climates aren't in sync with their curricula.

tag(s): experiments (55), plants (146)

The K-12 education section of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution offers a collection of extensive online education tools. Students can search for toxic algae, join one of several expeditions, even learn about women with careers in oceanography. Depending on age level, these exhibits will work for either individual or group use.

tag(s): marine biology (31), oceans (149)

MIT's online course materials for many Biology courses.

tag(s): advanced placement (26)

This extremely well-organized site from U.C. Berkeley introduces students to the history of life and how it results in today's biodiversity. The site includes two different levels for grades K-4 and 5-12, making this an introduction that can be used in virtually any classroom setting. There is a Teacher Guide with lesson plans, handouts, assessments, related activities and much more. Created with support from the National Science Foundation.

tag(s): biodiversity (36), diversity (40), evolution (89), fossils (41)

This large metasite offers a well-organized collection of scores of links relating to the study and categorization of insects. Like most sites of this nature, there are no explanations of the links, so you may have to hunt to find what you're after. We've included this one because of the number of resources the authors have found.

tag(s): insects (69)

Designed as "a comprehensive resource on phylogeny and biodiversity," this site offers descriptions, images, and characteristics of all manner of animals. Try "popular pages" for a chart showing various species. Click on any of these to retrieve very complete information and descriptions. Secondary students will find plenty of information for biology and science reports in this one.

tag(s): animals (295), species (16)

This companion site to the November, 2001 PBS Nova program by the same name offers a look at the history of bioterrorism (it goes back hundreds of years), the question of prevention, and the ways in which scientists search for an develop vaccines to combat these diseases. The site includes several interactive Flash demonstrations that encourage users to do their own experimenting with vaccine research.

tag(s): terrorism (41)

Here's a collection of science lesson plans covering disciplines from geology to earth science, chemistry, and general science. Each includes complete procedures, standards references, and discussion. Some of these lessons use video clips as an integral component, so teachers will want to plan accordingly.

tag(s): dna (43), evolution (89), genetics (81)

The Exploratorium's climate change site is a data analysis goldmine. There are dozens of examples of how the earth's climate has or has not shifted over the past 100 years, and most of these have detailed graphs illustrating the data. Middle and high school teachers will find this one a great tool for illustrating both the science and the math behind the efforts to monitor the earth's climate.

tag(s): climate (84), weather (160)

While West Nile isn't likely to be a specific curriculum element anytime soon, the Centers for Disease Control's page about West Nile offers good content showing how public health officials monitor and respond to the emergence of new infectious diseases. Try this one in a current events discussion, asking the question, "How big a problem might this actually be?"

tag(s): diseases (67)

Learn about the life and ecosystems that support the California Sea Otter at this site dedicated to the preservation of these creatures. Besides being undeniably cute, otters occupy a complex niche in marine ecosystems. Learn more here.

tag(s): animals (295), california (17)

Here's a factual information site about sharks that offers a strong dose of reality for those concerned about shark attacks. You can find details on the species most common on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Hawaiian coasts, along with explanations on why many of these species are threatened or endangered.

tag(s): oceans (149)

Try this one if you're interested in a site offering "what's happening right now" content. NOAA uses this space to chronicle dozens of past and current ocean research projects - providing daily logs and images for each activity. You can read daily dispatches from researchers and follow along to see how "doing science" on a daily basis works.

tag(s): marine biology (31), oceans (149)