The Temperate Rain Forest Canopy of the Northwest [.pdf]
http://192.211.16.13/n/nadkarnn/TRFwebsite/TRFhome.htm
Students and teachers can virtually explore the canopy of the temperate rainforest in this Web site from the faculty Web site of canopy biologist Nalini Nadkarni at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. The Web site includes six downloadable activities for grades 4-12 covering canopy hydrology, structure and ecology, a tardigrade lab, and more. The site also offers an interactive image for learning about 18 plants and animals that live within the canopy layers of a temperate rain forest; the Web pages provided for each organism include detailed descriptions and links for further information. Other features include instructions for making leaf and bark rubbings, a poetry writing exercise, and a number of Web links for information on recycling and sustainable forestry. [RS]
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PBS Newshour Extra: AIDS Today
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/health/aids/index.html
AIDS Today, a lesson plan for grades 9-12 form PBS Newshour Extra, "engages students in learning about the AIDS epidemic and focuses them on the importance of HIV prevention, at home and abroad." The lesson plan requires two 90-minute periods to complete and calls for nothing fancier than Internet access for materials. Links to PBS Newshour story transcripts are provided for use with the lesson plan, which consists primarily of questions for class discussion as well as small group and individual learning activities. [RS]
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AskERIC: Parts of a Spider
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Entomology/ENT0203.html
This Web site from AskERIC, the Internet-based service for the Educational Resources Information Center (U.S. Department of Education), contains a simple lesson plan for preschoolers and kindergarteners created by Cara DiFrango of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. With clay, paint, a short play, and a reading of "Are You a Spider?" by Judy Allen, students will have fun learning about the parts of a spider in two 30-minute sessions. The Web site includes a short vocabulary list and ideas for using computers with the lesson plan. [RS]
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Science NetLinks:Growing Vocal Cords [RealPlayer]
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=165
This Science NetLinks Web site contains an interesting lesson plan that has students explore the emerging field of tissue engineering, looking particularly at tissue engineering in the repair of scarred vocal cords. The lesson is based a 90-second feature from Science Updates, a radio program from Science NetLinks presenting current scientific research. Students listen to the program, which features an interview with Julie Andrews (who suffered vocal cord damage in 1997), and then test their understanding of tissue engineering and stem cell research using the provided questions. The site also includes Web links for further information. Altogether, this lesson plan offers an interesting look for covering stem cell and related research in the classroom. [RS]
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Mike Johnson Marine Natural History Photography [QuickTime]
http://www.earthwindow.com/
Mike Johnson, professional underwater photographer working in southern California, offers a fantastic collection of underwater and topside nature photography free of charge for noncommercial use. The image gallery includes gorgeous photos of blue whales, ocean sunfish, pelagic crabs, stingrays, marine fossils, and other marine animals of southern California and the northern part of Baja California. QuickTime video footage of blue whales is also available. Students may use any images from this Web site for written reports and classroom presentations if properly credited, while researchers and instructors may also use them for purposes covered by Fair Use under US copyright law (does not include use for Web sites). [RS]
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Buscope [DepthCharge, Steroscope]
http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/
The Bugscope project, offered through the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, allows K-12 classrooms to remotely operate a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in real time from a classroom computer to create incredibly cool images of insects and other "bugs" at high magnification. Detailed instructions for scheduling a session and using the SEM are provided. Classrooms design their own experiments and mail their own specimen(s) to Bugscope, which provides the imaging services completely free of charge. The only equipment required on the part of the classroom is a computer with Internet access. Users can also visit Bugscope's fantastic image collection: a 3D image gallery (requires Stereoscope Java applet or DepthCharge plugin) and a set of 42 psuedo-color stereograms for an up-close look at spider fangs, mouse stomach, and even "fly booty." [RS]
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Reciprocal Net: Common Molecules Collection
http://www.reciprocalnet.org/common/biochemical.html
Part of the Common Molecules Collection, this set of 3D biochemical molecule images is an educational feature from Reciprocal Net, a Web portal for crystallography research funded by the National Science Foundation and part of NSDL. The Common Molecules Collection currently offers a number of image galleries, but only a couple -- including the biochemical molecules set -- with direct life sciences application. Users can view and rotate a 3D image for each molecule provided (organized by amino acids, hormones, and nucleosides), accompanied by a brief explanation and other particulars such as chemical formula. It's a great tool for visual learners and a fun Web site to visit just for the 3D effects. [RS]
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Cuyahoga Valley Online Alphabet Book
http://www.nps.gov/cuva/kidstuff/alphabet/index.htm
This National Park Service Web site for contains an appealing online alphabet book based on the plants and animals found in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located near Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. The alphabet book offers great photos (mostly of animals) with personable, friendly captions from A (New England Aster) to Z (a baby opossum catching some "ZZZs"). It's geared toward little kids, but fun for not-so-little kids too! [RS]
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