Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

his is an extensive site that documents the watershed, habitats, creatures, and human inhabitants that have an impact on the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. There are detailed resources on each of these areas, and more than enough material to use either within the curriculum or as grist for student research at many levels. A little exploration should yield numerous instructional possibilities.

tag(s): ecosystems (83), habitats (92)

You'll probably find more than you ever wanted to know about whales, dolphins, and other cetaceans at this extensive site. The articles are extensive, and the visuals, while not extensive, are perfectly sufficient to get the job done.

tag(s): oceans (149), whales (11)

This physical geography site, a part of the Kapili Collection, presents a well-written, nicely illustrated introduction to physical landforms, biomes, climates, and dozens of other elements of physical geography. Written as a "tour" of the topic, the presentation invites browsing while delivering plenty of content in approachable form.This one's a winner.

tag(s): biomes (110), landforms (39)

A summary on the plants and animals of the Arctic Tundra.

tag(s): biomes (110)

A tracking resource from Terrapin Associates which provides current storm forecast tracks as well as animated tracks from past storms.

tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (160)

This is a detailed retrospective that examines the hurricane which did extensive damage in Florida in August, 1992.

tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (160)

At this site find an explanation of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, which measures the strength of storms.

tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (160)

This is the National Weather Service's home page for hurricane information, with links to satellite images, tracking forecasts, and storm warnings. This is the source for most of the commercially available storm data available on the web.

tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (160)

Here's a plan for a relatively simple study of how what we throw out affects the environment. This one's nice because it lets students collect "real data" without requiring a lot of complex equipment.

tag(s): conservation (102), ecology (103), pollution (52)

Our Canadian users will want to visit this starting page for Canadian Earth Day acvitivities and information, and others will also find the selection of information and resources useful.

tag(s): conservation (102), earth (184), earth day (60), ecology (103), pollution (52)

This site features information and research on volcanoes. Included are volcanic images, terminology, and monitoring of active volcanic sites. Excellent site for students, very text intensive.

tag(s): volcanoes (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.

tag(s): antarctica (30), arctic (40), biomes (110), chemicals (41), computers (109), cultures (180), earth (184), engineering (129), environment (252), fractions (160), geometric shapes (135), numbers (120), origami (15), planets (113), robotics (24), space (222), symmetry (27)

The weather wonks in your class will love this presentation from the University of Illinois about the blizzard that engulfed most of the northeastern US in March, 1993. The site shows how three storms converged to cause one mega-blizzard. Lots of excellent visuals combined with very understandable text.

tag(s): weather (160)

This site is the companion to the National Wildlife Fund's project to help schools construct wildlife-friendly habitats on school grounds. There are lots of tips on how to inventory a site ad determine what kinds of habitat might succeed. There are also lots of ways for schools to share their experiences. If you're interested in a class project, here's a great place to start.

tag(s): animals (295)

This site is actually an online booklet. A very clear and useful tool that reviews recent ocean research and encourages ocean conservation. Has six sections which cross disciplines. Can be used in Biology, Math, Geography and Social Studies classrooms. All of the six sections follow the same format. Users can download activities in Adobe Acrobat Format.

tag(s): oceans (149)

This site includes an online exhibit as well as educational resources. The online exhibition topics include: Phylogeny, Geological Time, and Evolutionary Thought. The exhibits are rich with information on the history of life on Earth. Have students make their own on-line guides to the virtual museum.

tag(s): fossils (41), paleontology (28)

This visually exciting site includes step by step presentations of more than a dozen meteorological concepts from water cycles to en Nino to hurricanes and blizzards. There are separate sections for hurricanes and severe storms, as well as a case studies section which highlights unusual weather events of the past decade. Many of the visuals use the Macromedia Shockwave player.

tag(s): weather (160)

This site provides images gathered during fieldwork at McMurdo Bay in the Antarctic from December 1993 to January 1994. Images could be used as part of a student hypermedia project. Image descriptions are quite technical.

tag(s): weather (160)

Designed primarily as a vehicle for sharing scientific data, this site also includes images and information on the study of climatic changes in the arctic region. Is the polar ice cap melting? You can find out what the scientists say here.

tag(s): weather (160)

This site provides resources for the study of the world's climates. Included are resources, images, and events related to weather. Use this site to teach about spreadsheets, probability, statistics, as well as weather phenomena.

tag(s): weather (160)