Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Library of Congress offers this searchable database of historical maps, which includes a large collection of city maps, maps of military battles and campaigns, maps related to transportation and communication, and maps focused on exploration and discovery. Within each category, you can search geographically or by time period. Each map accessed can be navigated using a zoom feature for better viewing. Maps cover a wide range of national and international subjects.

tag(s): battles (18), environment (252), maps (220), transportation (30)

Use this site to understand the ozone and how it affects our air quality and life here on Earth. Satellite imagery of ozone holes includes an updated daily picture and comparison over the last decades. NASA facts listed on the side include an opportunity to learn more about the information presented, watch satellite images from the last 7 days, view animations, compare year-to-date, and look at the annual records since 1979 using "Ozone Hole Watch." Information about the ozone and how it is measured is explained in detail here. "Explore the ozone with NASA" by viewing a short video that outlines the ozone and discusses new research and climate change. Use the "Resources for News Media" to view the Multimedia gallery for pictures of the largest ozone hole on record, the Arctic vortex, and Earth's Atmospheric Layers. Information about ozone depleting chemicals and ozone chemistry is also found here. View video of the ozone missions from NASA. "Ozone Hole 101" provides basic content about the ozone that is easy to understand for students. Read interesting information such as "Ozone levels drop when hurricanes are strengthening" and "Ozone hole is a double record breaker."

tag(s): earth (184), earth day (60), environment (252), ozone (7)

Footprints Science consists of simulations and interactives on many key concepts that are difficult to visualize and understand in Science. The site offers purchase of different modules or the complete collection. Samples, however, are free to use. Biology samples include "DNA drag and drop," "Kidney animation," "Fertilisation animation," and "Breathing animation." Chemistry samples include "Periodic Table interactive activity," "States of matter animation," and "Atomic structure activity."Physics samples include "Forces animation," "Power Station animation," and "Phases of Moon animation." Coursework includes "Variables," "Planning," "Graph," and "Line of best fit." More animations and interactives for each subject are available. The items are designed to be used with instruction to make the concepts more engaging. Interactives use drag and drop labeling with immediate feedback and allow pausing to stop the animation. Quizzes and games are also available. Graphics are very well done and easy to see, making difficult concepts much easier to understand. Interactives can be viewed as a large screen.

tag(s): charts and graphs (171), dna (43), forces (37), matter (47), moon (73), periodic table (46), variables (14)

This website offers information about volcanoes and the Ring of Fire. The website features maps and interactive graphics showing the Ring of Fire, printable pages, diagrams, a cloze activity, an interactive quiz, and directions for making your own volcano.

tag(s): fire (22), maps (220)

The Wilderness Classroom Organization brings educational adventures into the classroom through on-line expeditions. Students can follow expeditions through the Amazon, Peru, Bahamas, and even dog sledding through Manitoba. The site provides archived experiences along with photos, expedition maps and notes from the trail. There are lesson plans, printable pages, standards, podcasts, and more.

tag(s): amazon (11), mississippi (5), peru (5)

Jared Diamond's book Guns Germs & Steel won a Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction. This website presents an overview of some of the major threads of Diamond's thesis as presented in the PBS special based upon the book. Diamond suggests that geography may have been the single most important factor in the rise and fall of civilizations over the course of human history. The site examines some of the variables that have contributed to the success or failure of societies through history, including crops, animals, technology, and climate. There are lesson plans tied to national standards associated with each of the televised episodes. While viewing the series is an option, much can be gained by examining the lesson plans even without watching the series.

tag(s): cultures (180)

Learn the powerful forces that shape and change the Earth. Dynamic Earth explores the Earth's Structures, Investigating Plate Tectonics, learning about Plates and Boundaries, and how the plates Slip, Slide, and Collide. Read the information provided, click on the Interactive pictures for more details, and test your knowledge in each section with interactive activities. In the end, test your skills using an online assessment.

tag(s): earth (184), earthquakes (46), geology (62), mountains (10), plate tectonics (22), volcanoes (55)

This website takes students on a virtual "rock hunt." Throughout the journey, students learn about the three main types of rock - sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. Specific examples of each type of rock are highlighted. Other topics of interest include "How Rocks Change" and "The Rock Cycle Diagram." There are animations that demonstrate the effects of extreme heat or cold on a rock. Volcanoes are used to demonstrate some of the changes. Weathering, erosion, compacting, and cementing are also discussed. There are several interactive "rock" activities along the way. The final activity is a review "test" about the interactive "rock hunt."

tag(s): acting (19), erosion (15), rock cycle (12), rocks (35), volcanoes (55), weather (160)

The "Perfect Pearl" was created to coincide with a PBS broadcast. However, the information is useful and informative without viewing the program. The topics include "What's Killing the Oysters," "Culture of Freshwater Pearls," "How Many Pearls," and "The History of Pearls." The "How Many Pearls" activity combines the science of pearls with higher-level math skills.

tag(s): environment (252), japan (57)

This website allows students to view the air quality of any state in the USA. Choose a region of the US, a state, or a specific zip code. The site provides a detailed information sheet (Air Data Report). The website allows you to choose several states (or regions) to compare and analyze the data. Visit the Air Data Home Page to learn about the various features and information available at this website.

tag(s): air (102), data (151), environment (252), pollution (52)

Celebrate NASA's 50th anniversary with 50 historic images. Browse through the presentation to find spectacular pictures of planets, astronauts on the moon, and much more. Download images in full size, original quality, or other options. Each image includes a short description of the content. Select the link to the original 50th-anniversary site for additional but limited content, including a postcard gallery and the original 2008 Folklife Festival webpage.

tag(s): gravity (43), moon (73), nasa (30), solar system (110), space (222), STEM (297)

Wow, this website is amazing! Exploring Africa brings Africa into your classroom through numerous interdisciplinary lessons. There are 20 modules (within 4 general units of study). The general units include "Why Study Africa," "Studying Africa Through the Social Studies," "Studying Africa Through the Humanities," "Regional Perspectives," and "Country Case Studies." Each module contains a teacher version that includes objectives, focus questions, activities, background information, and more. These teaching and learning activities all follow the "5 E's" format: Engage, Explore, Explain, Expand, and Evaluate. The website also provides links for specific country information and current events.

tag(s): africa (148), diversity (40)

This eclectic website from the National Weather Service offers a multitude of lesson plans, online quizzes, and other pertinent information related to the weather. The mix of topics includes thunderstorms, lightning, tropical weather, Doppler radar, the ocean, the atmosphere, and many others. This website also allows users to type in a zip code to find out the local weather forecast.

tag(s): atmosphere (22), weather (160)

Find multimedia content and lessons ready to go, and customizable by your preferences on this incredible, free, online learning site. Whether you need a comprehensive curriculum for selected high school courses, a way to differentiate instruction, or materials to reinforce challenging topics, this site has it. The current subjects include Algebra, American Government, Biology, Calculus, Environmental Science, Physics, English, Religion, Economics, U.S. History, among others. The subjects extend through high school and into AP and college level material. Open a course at the left and browse the topics, especially the multimedia offerings. A free instructor account allows you to select the modules you want your students to see and share them via a unique URL for assignments or at-home review. Since the content is offered collaboratively from multiple sources, the courses each have their own "look." The ones our review team explored all included audio-- a real plus for ENL/ELL or low level readers.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): environment (252), OER (43)

This simple site provides a comprehensive tutorial that can be used for practice or review of map skills. There are sections on latitude, longitude, map scales, topography and more. Most sections offer quizzes that can either be printed or taken online.

tag(s): latitude (10), logic (161), longitude (9), maps (220)

This all-encompassing atlas site provides a broad variety of information and activities. The subject areas include agriculture, biology, boundaries, climate, environment, geology, government, history, mapping, transportation, people, and water. All of the subjects incorporate the United States (for example, the agriculture pages discuss the agriculture of the USA). The map features are phenomenal and include both printable maps and "dynamic maps" which are interactive and awesome! Some of interactive maps include topics such as relief and elevation, West Nile virus, volcanoes and more. This site is a perfect addition to any science class that is studying volcanoes, climate, biology and more. It is also useful in a geography class studying the various uses and types of maps.

tag(s): agriculture (49), climate (84), environment (252), geology (62), maps (220)

Users can find average temperature readings by clicking on common locations or entering any world city into a search box. Answers show three readings, Average Maximum Temps, Average Minimum, 24 hour readings, as well as longitude and latitude.. Depending on the area, other data includes rainfall, sea-level pressure, station level pressure, and general information about the area's geography. Searchers must use native language spellings of larger cities and must settle for information about the main cities of the world.

tag(s): climate (84), earth (184), earth day (60), environment (252), temperature (35), weather (160)

This user-friendly site provides a detailed explanation of the carbon cycle and its relationship to climate change. Students will be able to visualize the cycle by using the pictures and diagrams in conjunction with the reading. Students can follow up with the quiz/review at the end of the reading. Print size is small, and attention to detail is a necessity while reading this site.

tag(s): carbon (17)

This site provides a good introduction to science fairs to help teachers, students and parents. There are separate sections of information on getting started, choosing a topic, completing the project, displaying the project and the Scientific Method. The section and links on Scientific Method are quite useful, even if your school does not do a science fair.

tag(s): air (102), scientific method (48)

Hours of exploration of the ocean or atmosphere await you at this site. From tornado and hurricane preparedness to working an oceanographic puzzle with participants around the globe, there is something here for kids and kids-at-heart. Students can attend the online weather school, then explore the Fish FAQs link.

Teachers will find a wealth of resources for classroom use at several subsections. Don't miss the Marine Life and Exploration section with added teacher resources. The NOS Education section has Discovery Kits: a wealth of lesson plans and onine activities for middle and high school. The NOAA's Ark gallery has marvelous photographs of wildlife, oceans, and more that you and students MAY dowload and use (they are in the public domain). The only requirement is that you give proper credit (read "about" the gallery). Portions of the site require Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

tag(s): animals (295), coral (11), hurricanes (32), images (263), oceans (149), tides (6), waves (14), weather (160)