Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

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)

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.

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Learn basic facts about each element, including what it costs (!) using this interactive site. You can also learn how elements are named and much more. The site requires good reading skills, since the element names are quite challenging.

tag(s): elements (33), periodic table (44)

This site is all about matter. Detailed descriptions and graphics prepare students for the topic's "quiz". The interactive quiz reviews all of the topics discussed. Examples of the topics include solids, liquids, evaporation, solutions, mixtures and more! There is a well-done, detailed lesson plan on teachersfirst that incorporates this website "Scientific Method Experiment: Factors Affecting How Ice Melts".

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 (294), energy (133), mammals (22), motion (47), plants (146), space (222), water (102), water cycle (22), weather (160)

This site is filled with kid-friendly text and engaging interactive activities that introduce "ologies" and investigate topics including marine biology, astronomy, archeology, earth science, and more. Each topic section includes background information, virtual experiments and tours, and suggestions for in-class experiments.

tag(s): anthropology (10), archeology (28), biodiversity (36), brain (56), climate change (99), earth (184), genetics (80), marine biology (31), microorganisms (10), museums (52), paleontology (28), water (102), zoology (18)

Complete a free online registration and begin to explore an impressive collection of learning modules that address chemistry, general science, physics, math in science, process of science, earth science, and scientists and research. Many modules contain interactive animations, a glossary, related current events, practice exercises, and biographic information about scientists who worked with that particular concept. Members can personalize each module with comments, links, or notes.

tag(s): acids and bases (8), carbon (17), cells (82), darwin (13), earth (184), energy (133), gravity (43), light (56), matter (45), molecules (43), optics (11), paleontology (28), periodic table (44), photosynthesis (21), planets (113), reading comprehension (149), rock cycle (12), rocks (35), scientific method (48), scientists (67), space (222), water (102), waves (14)

Designed by Dr. Nigel Saunders, Head of Chemistry, Harrogate Granby High School, UK, this site is loaded with "outside of the box" approaches to understanding and applying principles of science and chemistry. Interactive crossword puzzles, games, "missions," PowerPoint shows, and quizzes can be used as entertaining and productive review tools for students. Structured worksheets are also provided to guide hands-on experiments on a variety of chemistry-related topics. Many of the ideas provided on this site would be ideal for use with a Chemistry Club. (Java, Javascript, and Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher required.)

tag(s): experiments (55)

Who better to offer an online periodic table than the American Chemical Society? Theirs offers links to a full complement of background information and resources on each element. There's a wealth of information in this one.
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tag(s): periodic table (44)

The American Chemical Society offers a complete series of activities for grades K-8, all based on hands-on experience. Click Education in the middle of this opening page find programs and units for Elementary through Graduate School. Also offered is a section for careers in science. This is a great resource for science teachers who need additional chemistry content or activities.
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tag(s): chemicals (39), energy (133), experiments (55), inquiry (24), matter (45)

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)

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 (80)

This Australian site offers a collection of quality science experiments, some fairly simple, others more complex, all clearly presented. The activities include explanations of scientific principles and are grouped by subject matter. A great site for sparking a student's interest in the world of science.

tag(s): experiments (55)

This is a collection of science and math lessons and web resources ranging from how the Internet works to nanoscience, engineering, biology, and principles of physics and chemistry. The content is predictably detailed, "real science" based on topics and phenomena that will interest students. These are the best of the best lessons and resources with applicability to lots of settings.

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This site offers an introduction to three areas of bioology: cells, microbes, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, and animal systems, along with a set of study materials. Though the concepts are "real science," the language is approachable and interesting enough to keep students engaged. This site is well worth a look for use as either a self-study or a resource to accompany an introduction to biology.

tag(s): animals (294), cells (82), plants (146)

Created at Los Alamos National Laboratory, this site offers a colorful periodic table with detailed scientific information on each element, along with notes on the uses of many of the elements listed. The result is far more engaging that one might initially believe.

tag(s): periodic table (44)

What a find! Chem4 Kids contains six sections ranging from Matter, to Math in Chemistry, and Chemical Reactions. Information on each topic is presented clearly. Hyperlinks are included to assist students in understanding terms.

tag(s): atoms (43), chemicals (39), elements (33), matter (45), periodic table (44)

Here's a site which offers answers to imponderables such as, "Why is the ocean blue?" The site offers numerous articles of interest. You can join (for a fee), but the articles are available for free. The site is published by the British periodical New Science.
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tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (147)

Another periodic table site. This one has pictures of crystal structures, atomic weights, and lots of other data.

tag(s): periodic table (44)

This site focuses on chemical-related sciences. It is geared to chemical professionals in industry, and professionals in both education and government. Click on "Education" then scroll down to "K-12" for classroom resources divided into "K-8" and "High School Chemistry".