Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This website is filled with wonderful information about our national bird, the American Bald Eagle. It is a detailed site, with topics ranging from nesting and migration to eyesight and hearing. The site is easy to read and simple to navigate. Be sure to click on the Myths and Legends to see how the Bald Eagle has been viewed throughout history. Students with reading disabilities or low reading levels may need to some assistance with Native American verbiage.

tag(s): endangered species (27), species (16)

This website is appropriate for any grade level interested in learning about birds. The Internet Bird Collection includes many "real life" videos, reference information, and much more. Fly on over and enjoy these great videos!

tag(s): birds (46)

Explore the sea on the Seasub Cousteau or the sky in Starship Sagan using this interactive site. Offerings include in-depth information, photos, links, and vehicle explorations about each of the two realms. Detailed descriptions of sea life forms as well as a virtual tour of the solar system accompany startling photos and accurate data. An additional feature provides links to the latest news about astronomy, space science, NASA, oceanography, marine biology, and coral reefs. Topics range from dark matter to deep sea creatures.This site requires Flash for the games only. There are some beautiful images with excellent information to learn from .

tag(s): coral (11), marine biology (31), nasa (30), reefs (5), solar system (110), space (222)

This great reference resource is an attractively packaged compilation of ways to get answers to questions about science. Offerings include a place to ask questions from K-college, access to a search engine, a list of FAQ's on common topics, a library with links to other relevant sites, a knowledge generator, an archive of lab experiments, and other assistance with science fair projects. The Mad-Sci labs also has a "Guided Tour of the Visible Human" section on human anatomy, with many images of cross-sections and internal organs.

tag(s): air (102), experiments (55), scientists (67)

This website truly has something for every science teacher. If you are teaching a new science topic or want to review an already introduced science concept - you must visit this website. This website provides free PowerPoint presentations on over 100+ science topics. There are presentations for grades K-5 and 6-12. If you do not have PowerPoint software, some of these presentations may not open, depending upon how the site-creators saved them. This site has heavy advertising at the top of the landing page. Scroll down to find the presentations.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): air (102), animals (295), matter (46), periodic table (46), plants (146), solar system (110), water (102)

This online tool lets you create (or "share" someone else's existing) online calculations/spreadsheets. You can also display instant graphs of the spreadsheet contents. The spreadsheets are displayed in terms that ordinary people can understand and allow you to "plug in" numbers to see instant results. Some of the shared calculators already online are surface area and volume of geometric solids, interest calculators, body mass index, and more sophisticated business functions. The best way to see how the site works is to read through their "tour" then click to browse through the examples, especially the shared ones. Even if you never create your own, this tool is great!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): addition (129), calculators (36), conversions (37), multiplication (122)

This oddly humorous website is all about the Octopus (cephalopods). There are articles about the octopus and other ocean animals, forums, features, videos and games. There is even an "octopodcast"! Some of the activities are more "fun" than "educational." But if you navigate through the website, you will find some great information and activities.

tag(s): marine biology (31)

Grab your winter coats, and let's head to Antarctica. This website is phenomenal and truly has a wonderful variety of information for students. This website provides information about Antarctica, video clips, lesson plan ideas, maps, news and much, much more.

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), environment (252), polar (10)

This site provides basic information about food chains. Included are examples of food chains in different environments. An interactive section allows students to create a food chain.

This site has separate sections of information on bioscapes and wildlife. Each article in the wildlife section describes the animal, its habits, habitat, and threats to survival. A curriculum section offers classroom ideas and resources, including lesson plans shared by teachers. Some sections of the site are also available in Spanish and Portuguese.

tag(s): animals (295), endangered species (27), habitats (92), species (16)

Find the perfect lesson plan for your grade level as you study water or plan for Earth Day. Each level has a several activities, many hands-on.

tag(s): conservation (102), earth (184), earth day (60), water (102), water cycle (22)

Learn all about oceans, aquatic life, and conservation on this wide-ranging site. Students and teachers alike will find rich resources and information. This site is an ocean biome web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit for grades 4-8.

tag(s): biomes (110), marine biology (31), oceans (149)

A page of facts about the Colorado River, this site is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit.

tag(s): biomes (110)

A site all about the Marian Trench, this is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit for grades 4-8.

tag(s): biomes (110), oceans (149)

A page of facts about leaves of the deciduous forest, this site is a web resource for the TeachersFirst interactive Biomes of the World Unit.

tag(s): biomes (110)

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)

Animal Corner offers facts and statistics for a multitude of animals. It is easy to maneuver through the categories of animals such as pets, farm, insects, wild life, marine, Galapagos, and rain forest. The site is user-friendly and filled with interesting information.

Be aware: the site says that it is "currently under construction" but all information and links work, they are simply adding additional material. There are some unobtrusive advertisements at this website.

tag(s): animals (295), insects (69), reptiles (12)

The Gene Scene offers a vivid and creative way to explore genetics. The site provides interesting facts, interactive games, activities, and information about DNA, cloning, and more. Have you ever been on a Global Grocery Excursion? Students can do this in their cupboards at home or at their local grocery store. Using the Ology questionnaire, plan a genetic journey about curled tongues and wiggly ears.

tag(s): dna (43), genetics (80)

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)