http://www.oceanfutures.org/Nemo/mainlab.html

This Web site from Jean-Michel Cousteaus Ocean Futures Society offers a great way to learn more about the biology and ecology behind Disneys Finding Nemo. Visitors are invited to "go on an interactive adventure and visit Nemos home -- the coral reef, a busy city under the sea." The site contains six labs (narrated slide shows) coverings energy, cycles, living communities, biodiversity, adaptations, and connections in coral reefs. [RS]

http://nature.ca/genome/index_e.cfm

It's too late to catch the Geee! in Genome exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature, but virtual visitors can still check out the exhibit's excellent Web companion. The Web site, which is also available in French, is loaded with cool, interactive features on the everyday side of genomics. The Geee! in Genome Web site also contains a set of downloadable lesson plans and activities for grades 5 through 12. Together with the online features, these lesson plans offer a fun and engaging way to learn about genomics in the classroom. [RS]

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/index.html

The Urban Programs Resource Network from University of Illinois Extension presents My First Garden: A Guide to the World of Fun and Clever Gardening. This colorful Web site was created to teach 4th graders about "the beauty of gardens, and the care involved in planning, nurturing and enjoying the benefits of gardening in a variety of spaces and places." An educator's guide provides an overview of the Web site and tips for making use of it in the classroom. My First Garden is also available in Spanish. [RS]

http://wise.berkeley.edu/

The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) is "a simple yet powerful learning environment where students examine real-world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies." With WISE, students in grades 5-12 work on "exciting inquiry projects" covering a wide range of life sciences topics, such as genetically modified foods and plants grown in space. Everything you need is right there in the Web site, complete with notes and hints to help students make sense of the data. WISE is an NSF-funded project from the University of California - Berkeley, and is available in a number of languages. [RS]

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030826tuesday.html

The New York Times Learning Network offers an interdisciplinary lesson plan about microbes and other organisms found in extreme habitats. Designed for grades 6-12, the lesson plan focuses on new theories about the evolution and distribution of bacteria, which students can read about in a recent New York Times article (link provided -- no registration required). The lesson plan includes both classroom brainstorming and small group research. Extension activities, homework ideas, and useful Web links are also provided. [RS]

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/animaladaptations/

This lesson plan from DiscoverySchool.com is designed for grades 3-5 and uses a variety of exercises to teach students about scientific classification. Users will find detailed procedures, as well as discussion questions, extension activities, Web links, and more. A short vocabulary list comes with audio clips for pronunciation help. The lesson, which takes one class period to complete, should leave students with a better understanding of the use and purpose of classification in general, and why we group plants and animals the way we do. [RS]

http://www.apsnet.org/education/LessonsPlantPath/Fusarium/default.htm

The American Phytopathological Society Web site offers a new lesson on Fusarium head blight in wheat, based on research recently published in The Plant Health Instructor. No formal lesson plans are provided, but the Web site contains a detailed overview of the disease and the pathogen species that cause it, as well as its economic impacts and other issues. While the focus of the lesson is very specific, it could serve well in courses in agronomy and related subjects. [RS]

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=184

This Science NetLinks activity offers a brief but engaging look at the biology of teenage klutziness. After listening to or reading the Science Update radio segment, students then read more about the science behind the story in the Web site. A handful of discussion questions helps students review and think further about the material. The site also provides links to more information -- PBS Frontline's Inside the Teenage Brain is a site worth exploring, too. [RS]