Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This is a site for earth science teachers. It offers a collection of resources, professional development opportunities, and a huge archive of data sources for earth science activities. The site itself assumes significant technical capabilities on the part of the user, especially for the use and implementation of the data sets. This site could be a gold mine for teachers with the appropriate technical skills

tag(s): data (151), maps (220)

Designed for elementary students, this introduction to rainforests is colorful, nicely designed, and easy to follow. There's plenty of good content, well illustrated, and assembled for easy access by students or teachers. The artwork is particularly strong for a site of this nature.

tag(s): biomes (110), forests (30), jungles (5), rainforests (18)

The San Diego Zoo's panda pages offer a plethora of photos and other information about China's most reclusive citizens. Besides being undeniably cute, pandas make a great preservation study with some interesting international overtones. It now includes a live webcam stream of the pandas 24 hours a day
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tag(s): animals (295), china (81), endangered species (27), species (16)

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)

Try this elementary science page if your curriculum includes the study of air, air pressure, and the effects of temperature on air, buoyancy, and the like. Much of the content is devoted to hot air and helium balloons, but there's plenty of science for the younger set here.

tag(s): air (102), temperature (35)

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)

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)

This is a thoroughly developed unit on Antarctica developed in Australia. Topics include landform origins, ecology, wildlife, a section on the extremes of climate, and a lesson on the international scientific efforts underway on the continent. There are also lesson sheets for students on various species that inhabit the region.

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), ecology (103), landforms (39)

Though not designed specifically for students, this site, containing a wealth of information on ways to minimize dangers to people from forest fires, includes many examples of how man and his environment can be at odds with one another. In addition to the scientific issues involved in fire control and prevention, this site would contribute to a discussion on ecosystems and encroachment into wilderness areas.

tag(s): ecosystems (83), environment (252), fire (22), fire prevention (16), fire safety (16)

This is a collection of downloadable historical images of life in Alaska. Image quality is adequate for either web or most publication use. The search feature - the only way to access images - finds species easily, but doesn't do as well with place names. The images are from several cultural heritage institutions across Alaska. Each institution has it's own policies regarding conditions for the use of its images. Some maybe used freely, and others may have restrictions. Be sure to check with the institute. Each image has an "identifier" number and you will need to contact the particular institute with that number to find out their "use" policies.

tag(s): air (102), alaska (21), copyright (44), states (124)

Here's a nifty tool that calculates the measurements you'll need for an exact scale model of the solar system. Just enter the size of the Sun and the page calculates everything else. Because of the vast size differences involved, it may be difficult to create a model in a small space, but just comparing the numbers can be instructive.

tag(s): planets (113), solar system (110), sun (71)

This site from San Francisco's Exploratorium chronicles the journey of a team of scientists in 2001 and from McMurdo sound to the South Pole. There is also a link to Ice Stories from 2007-2008. Study topics included everything from global warming to continental drift, and there are lots of reports and images to prove it. Even though this site is a bit dated, it still contains a lot of information to discover. This would be a nice background site for an Antarctica unit. Though the videos require Quick Time, there is plenty of information on this site to make your visit worthwhile!

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), climate change (99), ecology (103)

Upper elementary students will like this colorful introduction to dinosaurs of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. There are lots of images and information in the various "rooms" of this site. This one would be a nice starting point for a "report on your dinosaur" assignment.

tag(s): dinosaurs (43)

Much of the U.S. is experiencing mild to severe drought conditions. The wealth of charts and maps on this NOAA site will serve you well for a discussion of climates and long-term weather prediction. These graphics would also be a great study project for students who are building their skills at interpreting and analyzing graphical presentations of data. Try this one while you're waiting for the rain.

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

Here's a long page describing community-based activities around Earth Day themes. Some of these require extensive adult cooperation, but many are projects students could conduct mostly on their own. Some of the supplementary resources are unique to the Kansas City, MO area, where the page originated. Use this one as a resource when someone asks, "What can we do ourselves?"

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

Looking for a data-laden resource for a science project? This site offers tide tables for hundreds of locations around the world. It would be a great resource for an investigation of tide cycles, why tides are higher in some locations than others, or any project that requires comparing data from lots of locations.

tag(s): moon (73), oceans (149), tides (6)

Follow a team of scientists visiting Antarctica from December, 2001 to January, 2002. If you miss the live events, there are lots of reports filed on activities conducted during the visit. This site also has background sections on the Antarctic climate, the history of exploration, and the scientific tools and tasks involved in Antarctic science. From the Exploratorium.

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), explorers (64)

Here's a site from North Carolina that encourages schools and students to participate in a study of hummingbirds and their migrations. You can learn about the migration patterns of these tiny birds, submit your own data, and find out what other students have learned about the birds in their area.

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

Lots of small type, but this page offers a straightforward, detailed guide to identifying the minerals in that rock in your pocket. There are classification tables, hardness tables, and much more. Great for beginning rockhounds.

tag(s): geology (62), minerals (13), rocks (35)

National Geographic's presentation on Australia's Great Barrier Reef offers layer on layer of great content about the reef ecosystem and the individual creatures that live there. Tired of the reef? Move on to the deep ocean and learn how its occupants interact with the reef environment. This one takes a few minutes to load, but it's well worth the wait.

tag(s): australia (28), coral (11), reefs (5)