Bucket Buddies
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/bucketproj/
The Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) has developed this online project to allow students around the world to compare the organisms found in water samples they collect from local ponds. This year's project will run from March 15 - June 1. Classes will develop a hypothesis, collect data to be shared with other participants, analyze the shared data, and complete a final report to be posted online. The Teacher Area includes instructions for submitting reports and lesson plans about topics like macroinvertebrate identification. Check out the Student Area to see the reports completed last year. This is a neat project to get students actively involved in questioning the world around them and to introduce them to collaborative scientific experiments. The main CIESE Web page has other projects that are worth investigating as well. [AL]
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Artificial Anatomy: Papier-Mache Anatomical Models
http://americanhistory.si.edu/anatomy/index.html
This Web site from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History highlights the use of papier-mache anatomical models as a learning tool. Major sections of the site include the history of anatomy teaching; preservation of the Smithsonian collection; and photos of various human, veterinary, and botanical models. A fun addition to the site is the Body Parts game, where users test their anatomical knowledge. With plenty of photos and historical information, this site offers a unique perspective for anatomy teachers. [AL]
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DNA from the Beginning [Flash, Real Player]
http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/
Maintained by the Cold Spring Harbor Research Laboratory and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation, this animated DNA primer (last mentioned in the February 19, 1999 Scout Report) now has three major sections -- Classical Genetics, Molecular Genetics, and Genetic Organization and Control. Each section covers several concepts by description and in animation, along with interviews and biographies of scientists, a quiz to test your understanding, and related Web links. This is a well-organized site with a lot of valuable information for high school and beyond. [AL]
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Planet Ocean
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/planetocean/
From DiscoverySchool.com, Planet Ocean is a Web site developed for students in grade 5-8 to learn about the abundant life found in the world's vast marine environments. Students are introduced to oceanography, marine biology, food chains, and ecosystems. Teachers will appreciate the tips for using this site in the classroom and related resources, and almost anyone will appreciate the Amazing Facts found under each topic. [AL]
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Life Science Safari
http://www.vilenski.org/science/safari/index.html
Life Science Safari is developed by Jennifer Vilenski, a 7th Grade Life Science teacher at Roger Ludlowe Middle School. Arranged into the five categories of bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals, the Web site allows students to learn about the cellular structure and classification of many living organisms. In particular, the animal kingdom section has a lot of information. Students can then test what they've learned by taking their own expedition. By answering a series of questions, students can make their way to the gumbolino tree in South America or a particular herd of African zebras. This award winning site is a fun presentation of a broad base of biological knowledge. [AL]
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Ask the Experts
http://www.sciam.com/askexpert/
Scientific American's Ask The Experts Web site (last mentioned in the October 15, 1997 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) is worth mentioning again as a great resource for mid and upper-level science classes. Divided into categories like Astronomy, Biology, Environment, and Medicine, students can submit their own questions or read answers to questions posed by other inquisitive minds. Some of the more recent questions include "If T. rex fell, how did it get up, given its tiny arms and low center of gravity", "How do seedless fruit arise and how are they propagated?", and "How do you get laryngitis?" The site is continually adding answers to a variety of interesting questions. [AL]
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Microbe Zoo
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/
The Microbe Zoo is a product of the Digital Learning Center for Microbial Ecology (DLC-ME), a collaboration between Comm Tech Lab and Michigan State University to make tools for learning about microscopic organisms more readily available to students and teachers. This Web site is a fun way to learn about these communities of microbes, where they live, and how they help support life on earth. Students can learn about the microbes that inhabit diverse places like farm fields, toxic waste dumps, cow rumen, our homes, and even our food by clicking on words or pictures. This site is an entertaining way to learn about a subject that is often overlooked. [AL]
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Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination [.pdf]
http://educate.si.edu/resources/lessons/siyc/pollen/start.html
This Web site is just one of the many lesson plan categories available through the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. Designed for grades 3-8, three pollination lesson plans are available for online viewing or .pdf download, along with a page of further teaching resources. Objectives include identifying the parts of a flower, describing the complimentary relationships between pollinators and plants, and identifying adaptations that allow pollination to occur. Teachers will find this and the larger Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies site helpful with these complete and detailed lesson plans. [AL]
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