MacGillivray Freeman: Coral Reef Adventure [pdf]
http://www.coralfilm.com/edu.html
This extensive educational resource from MacGillivray Freeman Films is aimed at assisting educators of grades 4-8 who are interested in teaching about the scientific and social aspects of reefs. Funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Wildlife Federation, among others, the film and the Teacher's Guide are not only very valuable, they are also linked to national science education standards. And, while there is an easy-to-use theater listing for teachers wishing to take their students, the seven lessons in the guide can be downloaded and used without needing to see the film first, or at all. Also included are resources on how to become a Coral Crusader as well as reading lists for books and field guides related to reefs which are separated into various reading levels, including adults. [JPM]
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University of Michigan Medical School: Gross Anatomy Learning Modules
http://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/coursepages/M1/anatomy/html/courseinfo/module_index.html
Students and instructors will benefit from this online tutorial of human anatomical terms. The modules feature brief and easy-to-understand introductions to basic anatomy. Included are the head and neck, the nervous system, the thorax, the abdomen, the pelvis, and joints. A great tool included in each module is a question at the end, reviewing what was covered in that module. By passing the question, the user then moves on to the next module or, by not passing, goes back to review and try again. Each one also features very detailed graphics -- diagrams, sketches, and photographs -- in order to easily demonstrate the given topic. While this resource may be helpful to pre-college students, teachers should be aware that there indeed are some photos of cadavers in the modules. [JPM]
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American Phytopathological Society: Plant Disease Lessons
http://www.apsnet.org/education/LessonsPlantPath/PineWilt/
If Citrus Canker or Apple Scab are on your syllabus -- or worse yet, on your trees -- then this is the Web site for you. The APS Education Center has organized this very helpful online guide of plant diseases. Each excerpt is more of an information card than a detailed description, but they are very easy to use and organized well. Each Plant Disease Lesson includes: the name of the disease, the pathogen(s), and the host(s), as well as a clear picture of what an affected plant looks like. There are 17 diseases covered under the subgroups of: fungi and fungus-like organisms, nematodes, prokaryotes, and viruses. [JPM]
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Franklin Institute: Curricular Companions and Kits [Macromedia Flash Player, JAVA 3D]
http://www.keystone.fi.edu/matrix1.shtml
The Franklin Institute Keystone Science Network seeks to "provide web-based support for K-8 teachers using inquiry science kits in their classroom." The resources cover life, earth, and physical sciences. Those specifically devoted to life sciences include curriculum companions and kits covering the human body, organisms, plant growth and development, and the environment. Each Curriculum Companion comes with background information, are many options. One background resource for the human body, the Virtual Body, is available in English or Spanish and takes the user through a beating heart or up-close with the digestive track, among many other offerings. A very well organized Kit Matrix helps the user find which resources are best for a given subject and grade level. This Web site is should be a gem for any K-8 teacher looking for immediately useful, and credible, science curriculum teaching resources. [JPM]
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Scientific American Frontiers: Worried Sick
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1310/index.html
This Web site is a companion to an episode of the PBS television series, Scientific American Frontiers, on the effects of stress on human health and happiness. A synopsis of the episode's segments are offered as well as four Web features that extend the information from the broadcasted show. In the features are a cultural history of stress in the 20th Century, a brief test to determine what flavor of aggression you might be, tips on relaxation, and finally an informative essay on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As with the style of this PBS television series, the writing and information are presented for the general adult viewer or teen in clear language without scientific jargon. The site would be useful place to start discovering the science of stress. [DJS]
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HIV Medicine: A Medical Texbook
http://www.HIVmedicine.com
HIV Medicine is an online medical textbook that provides comprehensive and timely information on HIV treatment. Chapters include background information on Acute HIV-1 Infection, and a detailed guide to HIV Therapy. There is also current information about side effects, Lipodystrophy Syndrome, and resistance testing. The online textbook includes an impressive, in-depth index of HIV drugs. Editors Christian Hoffmann and Bernd Sebastian Kamps have years of experience in the medical field and provide free and anonymous access of their text to the public. Collaborators include Nyasha Bakare, MD who has worked at the Research Institute for Genetic and Human Therapy (RIGHT) since 2001, and has been working on the clinical development of a therapeutic HIV vaccine. This Web site is easy to navigate and its layout nicely mirrors the organization of a paper textbook. It will be useful as a research tool for college and graduate students as well as for the layperson who desires more in-depth information on HIV and treatments. Join the mailing list to be notified of new chapters and updates. [TJS]
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Lewis and Clark as Naturalists [Macromedia Flash Reader, Adobe Illustrator, QuickTime]
http://web4.si.edu/lewisandclark/index.html?loc=/lewisandclark/home.html
Lewis and Clark as Naturalists, a Smithsonian Institution Web site, allows users to participate in the explorers' historic cross-country trek from a naturalist's point of view. The visually pleasing and well organized site provides a variety of access points to specimens culled primarily from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. An interactive map of the journey west provides links to everything from Ampelopsis cordata (heartleaf peppervine) to Cynomys ludovicianus (black-tailed prairie dog). The entry on the latter includes the ability to take a 360-degree "tour" of an actual prairie dog's skull. A well created browse feature also allows for exploration by species, date collected, or state. [RB]
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BAM! Body and Mind: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.bam.gov
BAM! Body and Mind was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for kids and teachers. The site offers a fun, interactive approach to raising kids' awareness of health issues, and ways to make their bodies and minds stronger. Topics covered include nutrition and fitness, disease, mental health, peer pressure and relationships. The site is also a resource for teachers who want to incorporate health issues into the classroom. In designing this site, the CDC collaborated with teachers to find out which health and science issues would be most applicable to their students and would complement their existing lesson plans. Kids and teachers can benefit from interactive features such as activity cards and online quizzes that utilize colorful graphics. BAM! is an educational and fun way for kids to learn about keeping their bodies and minds healthy, strong and safe. [TJS]
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