Many of the helpful science web sites that are available also work well with interactive whiteboards. To find some of these science resources, I again searched three of my favorite sites that continue to add quality web sites to their collections: the Ohio Resource Center, TeachersFirst.com, and the Ohio Treasure Chest of Technology Resources.
OHIO RESOURCE CENTER FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND READING
http://ohiorc.org/
The Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading continues to add new resources to their collections. Their review process assures that their recommendations are worth considering.
The Thinkfinity site includes resources from several science organizations such as
• Science NetLinks, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• National Geographic Xpeditions and
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Each of these organizations offers lesson plans and teaching materials through their own websites and through Thinkfinity.
Nitrogen Cycling: Manure in the Mix
http://www.ecologycenter.org/tfs/lesson.php?id=13510
ORC Resource Number #9389
Grades 9-12
Use this resource to provide an overview of the nitrogen cycle. An accompanying article on the impact of animal waste on the nitrogen cycle and a diagram that asks users to identify components of the nitrogen cycle are useful.
Great Gravidity
http://insected.arizona.edu/gg/default.html
ORC Resource Number #10640
Grades 9-12
Students conduct a research project and analyze the data obtained. The project involves setting up and observing an aphid habitat.
Informal Science Education
Links are provided to botanical gardens, arboretums, science museums, zoos, aquariums, and planetariums found in Ohio.
Cleveland Botanical Garden
http://www.cbgarden.org/Learn/TeachersAndStudents.html
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
http://www.clemetzoo.com/learn.asp
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
http://www.cmnh.org/site/classesandprograms_schoolprograms.aspx
Great Lakes Science Center
http://www.glsc.org/visit/
Ritter Planetarium
http://www.rpbo.utoledo.edu/school.html
Toledo Botanical Garden
http://www.toledogarden.org/content/education/
Toledo Zoo
http://www.toledozoo.org/edzoocation/ed_inzooprogs.html
COSI Columbus
http://www.cosi.org/educators/
Dawes Arboretum
http://www.dawesarb.org/education/outreach.asp
Franklin Park Conservatory
http://www.fpconservatory.org/schooltours.htm
Perkins Observatory
http://www.perkins-observatory.org/
The Wilds
http://www.thewilds.org/education/education_programs.asp
The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, & Technology
http://www.attheworks.org/foreducators.html
Aullwood Audubon Farm
http://www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/aullwood/programs.html
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
http://www.cincyzoo.org/Education/index.html
Cox Arboretum & Gardens
http://www.coxarboretum.org/education/k12education.html
National Museum of the United States Air Force
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/education/
Newport Aquarium
http://www.newportaquarium.com/index.cfm?sectionID=74,0,0,0
TEACHERSFIRST.COM
http://www.teachersfirst.com/
TeachersFirst thoroughly reviews sites and makes suggestions for using those sites in the classroom. They also continue to add new, quality sites to their collections.
Planet Science
http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8920
Grades K to 12
This website has several components, including…
• News: weekly news updates and features
• Randomise: games and online fun
• Sci-Teach: resources for teachers
• Out There: activities, experiments, and online adventures
• Parents: science activities and ideas
• Under 11s: activities for pre-school and primary students
• Next Steps: career information
• Library: recommended web sites
Resources--many which work well with interactive whiteboards--are provided for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Science Literacy Maps
http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8798
Grades K to 12
See how science and mathematics concepts fit together and how they build upon each other through the grades. When you click on a specific concept, you will find resources for that topic.
Science Clips
http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8416
Ages 5 to 11
This site features interactive experiments and quizzes. Activities are provided for plants, sound, forces, health, electricity, magnetism, and other topics. These activities work well with interactive whiteboards.
Science Presentations
http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8138
Grades K to 12
This site has free PowerPoint presentations (provided by teachers) on science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and the arts topics for grades K-5 and 6-12.
Seeing Science
http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8401
Ages 11 to 16
This site provides lesson plans for six themes: life, space, materials, food, environment, and light. Topics include anthrax, forces, energy, space rockets, plastics, nanotechnology, microbe growth, acid rain, climate change, electromagnetic spectrum. Each lesson has a lesson plan, student worksheets, and a multimedia section. Many of the activities work well with interactive whiteboards.
OHIO TREASURE CHEST OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
http://www.ohiotreasurechest.org/
The Ohio Treasure Chest continues to add new resources.
EdHeads
http://www.edheads.org/
Grade 2
Interactive educational games and activities include crash scene, virtual hip replacement, compound machines, virtual knee surgery, weather, and simple machines. Multiple lesson plans are available for simple machines and weather. I had fun creating a weather map for the news program!
Weather Symbols
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/weather_symbols/eng/Introduction/default.htm
Grade 2
This interactive site helps students to identify and describe weather, to identify weather symbols and present information in a simple graph, to create a weather forecast, and to identify activities that can be done in different sorts of weather.
Weather Maker Simulation
http://www.iknowthat.com/ScienceIllustrations/weather/weathersim.swf
Grade 2
Create your own weather at this interactive site using the tropical and polar temperatures and the relative humidity. You can choose to read about weather and learn some of the related vocabulary.
The Great Plant Escape
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/gpe.html
Grade 4
Students can help Detective LePlant solve mysteries. In the process of solving the mysteries, the students will learn about plants. After the mysteries are solved, the students can participate in a variety of activities such as growing lettuce indoors or completing a crossword puzzle. The students will have fun learning at this site!
The Life Cycle of Plants
http://www.bgfl.org/plants
Grade 4
Well-done animations illustrate seed growth, parts of a flower, and seed dispersal. Some worksheets are printable.
Zip's Plants
http://www.bgfl.org/zipsplants
Grade 4
Growth of a plant, plant activities, links to plant web sites, pollination, parts of a plant, and a quiz to check what you have learned are the choices at this site. Simple text and illustrations do the teaching here. The site is easy for students to navigate.
Interactive Science Lab - Sound
http://www.iknowthat.com/ScienceIllustrations/sound/science_desk.swf
Grade 8
Create sounds by striking various sizes of glasses at this interactive site. You can choose to read about pitch and volume and learn some of the related vocabulary.
Waves Tutorial - Part 1
http://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/content/keystage4/physics/pc/lessons/uk_ks4_waves_1/h-frame-ie.htm
Grade 8
Learn about types of waves, reflection, refraction, diffraction, and seismic waves in this online tutorial which uses animations and audio explanations.
Interactive Science Lab - Earthquakes
http://www.iknowthat.com/ScienceIllustrations/earthquake/science_desk.swf
Grade 8
Test the effect of earthquakes of various magnitudes at this interactive site. You can choose to read about earthquakes and learn some of the related vocabulary.
Illuminating Photosynthesis
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/media/photosynthesis.swf
Grade 8
Photosynthesis is explained with animations that (1) show the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide between plants and humans and (2) explain photosynthesis at an atomic level. A short but interesting quiz finishes the lesson.
Image: http://flickr.com/photos/dullhunk/2382303603/
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Last week I shared some interesting mathematics and science web sites that teachers and students might enjoy examining and then trying some of the ideas offered. Sometimes, however, we just need some help with the everyday teaching and learning of the standards for mathematics and science. So, today I’m sharing some mathematics sites that you might find helpful… and next week I shall share some science sites. Many of these sites will work well with interactive whiteboards.
To find these resources, I searched three of my favorite sites that continue to add quality web sites to their collections: the Ohio Resource Center, TeachersFirst.com, and the Ohio Treasure Chest of Technology Resources.
OHIO RESOURCE CENTER FOR MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND READING
http://ohiorc.org/
The Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science, and Reading continues to add new resources to their collections, so even if you’ve visited previously, be sure to stop by to check the new additions! This is one of my favorite sites because their review process assures that their recommendations are worth considering.
Mathematics Problem Corner
http://ohiorc.org/for/math/problem_corner/default.aspx
One of the newest features for mathematics is the Problem Corner. It has rich problems for grades 3-12. Browse all the problems or browse by grade and topic.
Thinkfinity Web Site
http://www.Thinkfinity.org
The Thinkfinity site has been redesigned and now links to the ORC main page. It includes resources from Illuminations (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and Science NetLinks (American Association for the Advancement of Science). The site has lesson plans and teaching materials that are of high quality.
High School Mathematics Program Models
http://www.ohiorc.org/pm/math/math_intro.aspx
ORC, teachers, and teacher educators have created pacing guides for Ohio’s Mathematics Program Models (http://www.ohiorc.org/pm/math/math_intro.aspx). ORC describes the Guides as including “topics, teaching tips, links to best practice lessons, and problems that engage students” in mathematics and higher-level thinking. A sample is available at http://www.ohiorc.org/pm/math/math_pma.aspx.
TEACHERSFIRST.COM
http://www.teachersfirst.com/
TeachersFirst is another of my favorite sites because they thoroughly review all sites which they post. They also make suggestions for using these sites in the classroom. I’ve recommended this site previously, but--like ORC—they also continue to add new, quality sites to their collections.
RainForest Maths: Interactive Mathematics Activities K-6
http://www.teachersfirst.com/archives/newsource.cfm?id=7248
This site includes numbers and number systems, operations and calculations, strategies and processes, patterns and algebra, measurement, space and geometry, chance and probability, data analysis, and money… and good to use with an interactive white board.
AAA Math
http://www.321know.com/
Choose a grade level (k-8) or choose a topic to bring up interactive activities for practice.
CyberSleuth Kids
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/Math/
This site is listed as being appropriate for elementary grades. That’s true… however, there are also some very good lessons for middle school and high school. Navigate through the site to check out explanations, games, puzzles, worksheets, student practice opportunities. Both students and teachers can find helpful information here.
Teaching and Learning Elementary Mathematics
http://www.richmond.edu/~pstohrhu/urclasses/math/math.html
This extensive links page includes information about mathematics and about mathematics education for P-6.
Capitalizing on Baseball Fever
http://my-ecoach.com/online/webresourcelist.php?rlid=9341#3
Are you or your students into baseball? Check out the many ways it can be used in the classroom… webquests, economics, history, integration, mathematics, poetry, science…
OHIO TREASURE CHEST OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
http://www.ohiotreasurechest.org/
Have you checked the Ohio Treasure Chest recently? New resources continue to be added.
ICT Games: Numeracy Games
http://www.ictgames.com/resources.html
Online Math Games
http://www.mathplayground.com/
Basic Multiplication with Willie the Worm
http://www.dositey.com/muldiv/basmulex.htm
Rainforest Maths - Multiplication
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/rainforestmaths/RFMB/DIY1wds/DIY1mul1.swf
Image: http://flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/411182765/
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
The Ohio Resource Center and eThemes are two sources for high-quality web sites to use when teaching. I think you'll find some helpful and interesting sites in this list. Don't just skim past the titles of these web sites... Check out the nuggets buried in each one. You'll be pleasantly surprised. :)
The OHIO RESOURCE CENTER (http://ohiorc.org/) posts quality lesson plans for mathematics, science, and reading. Each plan include the title, URL, resource type, practice level, standards alignment (grade levels), topics, keywords, professional commentary (class activities), Ohio standards, and national standards.Mathematics: And Around We Go!http://ohiorc.org/ohiorc_resource_display.aspx?recID=5810Grades 5 - 6Instructional Resources - Best PracticesScience: What Parts Are There to a Plant?http://ohiorc.org/ohiorc_resource_display.aspx?recID=3602Grades Pre-Kindergarten - 2Instructional Resources - Best PracticesReading: Wired for Bookshttp://ohiorc.org/ohiorc_resource_display.aspx?recID=3420Grades 9 - 12Content ResourceseThemes (http://www.emints.org/ethemes/) is a database of resources organized around themes. The information provided is designed for teachers to use in their classrooms. Each site includes links to other related web sites. More than 1,000 eThemes are available at this time.ANIMALS __________________________________________________________________Animals: Catshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001907.shtmlHandouts, videos, and web sites provide information about cats as pets. Animals: Puffinshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001908.shtmlPhotographs, maps, and even a live web came (in summer) provide information about puffins and their habitat. During non-summer months, still photos from the web cam are available to view.Animals: Missouri Butterflieshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001094.shtmlThis site includes a video which shows a caterpillar changing into a butterfly.COUNTRIES ________________________________________________________________Africa: Social Issueshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001913.shtmlIncluded in this site is information about the Darfur conflict.Country: Canada
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000655.shtmlVideos and photographs help provide information about Canada.FAMOUS PEOPLE ___________________________________________________________Famous People: Helen Kellerhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001091.shtmlHelen Keller—deaf and blind herself—fought to help others with vision and hearing problems. Letters, photographs, and other items help provide information on how she communicated. Classroom activities are suggested.Famous People: King Arthurhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001895.shtmlLearn about King Arthur and the legends which surround him.LANGUAGE ARTS ___________________________________________________________Grammar: Subjects and Predicateshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001177.shtmlOnline quizzes, games, and a PowerPoint presentation help teach this topic.Writing: Prompts
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001233.shtmlHandouts, PowerPoint presentations, and a variety of writing prompts are provided to help students develop stories.LITERATURE _______________________________________________________________Literature: "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinsonhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000437.shtmlThe topics of kindness, cooperation, and bullying are included in addition to the book "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson. Reading and vocabulary activities are also available.SAFETY ___________________________________________________________________Safety: Winterhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001912.shtmlSafety tips for winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and bicycling are included. Lesson plans are also available.Safety: Outdoor Fun
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000370.shtmlSafety tips for bicycling, skateboarding, scooters, inline skating, boats, pools, lakes, and water parks are provided.Safety Signshttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001352.shtmlTraffic and safety signs are taught via interactive games, lesson plans, activities, coloring pages, and photographs.Safety: Electrical
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000271.shtmlStudents are taught to be safe around electricity both inside and outside the house.SEASONS __________________________________________________________________Seasons: Winterhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001371.shtmlActivities, interactive games, and information about winter are available at this site.SCIENCE __________________________________________________________________Solar System: Saturn
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001236.shtmlLearn about Saturn and its rings. Build a model of Saturn. View photographs and videos.Solar System: Rotation and Revolutionhttp://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000405.shtmlLearn about rotation, revolution, and the orbit of planets and moons. THANKSGIVING _____________________________________________________________Mayflower Voyage
http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000055.shtmlPhotographs, a map, and diagrams provide information about the Pilgrims’ trip on the Mayflower to Plymouth.
Many of the helpful science web sites that are available also work well with interactive whiteboards. To find some of these science resources, I again searched three of my favorite sites that continue to add quality web sites to their collections: the Ohio Resource Center, TeachersFirst.com, and the Ohio Treasure Chest of Technology Resources.
