http://www.foodsci.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/findsci.html

Get the scoop on Ice Cream Science. Dr. Doug Goff, a professor of food science at University of Guelph, Ontario created this site to provide educators with supplemental information for a classroom experiment on ice cream making. This website provides information on many aspects of ice cream including the history, composition, manufacturing process, and structure. This site is designed for teachers from different disciplines and illustrates how ice cream making has applications to various scientific fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Dr. Goff includes an ice cream making experiment description and provides links to other recipes and experiment descriptions. The site even describes an alternative experiment using liquid nitrogen instead of ice! [NL]

http://wiscinfo.doit.wisc.edu/arboretum/earthpartprog/selectresources/snapcrac.htm

This website presents an educational Prairie Fire Survey that was developed by the Earth Partnership Program (EPP) of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, home to the oldest restored prairie in the world. The goal of the survey is "to help students understand the role and change fire plays in the prairie." To this end, the site provides background information on forces that have shaped prairies over time and reasons why fire benefits prairies. The website describes two activities, including necessary materials, instructions, and purpose for activity. EPP notes that the Prairie Fire Survey is a "research idea" that "has not been fully developed into an activity but has been tried in some workshops and classrooms." This site provides links to an elementary and middle school version of a related prairie fire study activity as well as links to other "research ideas." [NL]

http://www.indiana.edu/~anat550/embryo_main/

One of the most impressive ways to learn about biology, particularly that which we seldom see, is through modeling. Dr. Valerie O'Loughlin and her colleagues at Indiana University have created this thoroughly impressive set of animations so that "students could better understand the complex processes that must occur in embryologic development." The site is arranged into five main areas, including: Cardiovascular Embryology, Development of the Head and Neck, Gastrointestinal Embryology, Development of the Limbs, and Urinary and Reproductive Embryology. However, the only two sections currently loaded with animations are the first two. Presumably, the rest are coming soon. Also, because these animations are part of a study of teaching efficacy, Dr. O'Loughlin asks that users participate in an optional survey. However, all animations can be accessed without taking part. As a great addition to the site, users are presented with a few questions regarding the anatomy which they are about to see, prior to viewing the animation. Undboutedly, this is related to the Indiana University course that these animations are a part of, but they serve as a great addition for visitors other than students, too. [JPM]

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20031028tuesday.html

Why do those holiday cookies and candies -- placed conveniently at child height at the cash register -- get you drooling and entice you to fill your cart with unintended purchases? It might be neuromarketing at work. In this thought-provoking activity, created by Georgia Scurletis and Briget Anderson and offered through the New York Times LearningNetwork, students (grades 6 - 12) are challenged to think about how branding and marketing may influence their taste more than their taste buds themselves. The lesson includes a reading of There's a Sucker Born in Every Medial Prefrontal Cortex, by Clive Thompson of the New York Times, and has complete instructions for a one-period lesson. [JPM]

http://www.idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/bears/sleepbear.html

Each winter, bears hunker down, slow their metabolisms, and pretty much wait out the winter in the safety of some sort of den. This lesson plan, from Idaho Public Television, is a fun way to illustrate to children (probably elementary grades primarily) the process of hibernation. At this site, educators are given the complete lesson plan instructions as well as several links to all sorts of great resources, including links to information on: Bear Diet, Home Range, Reproduction, Bear Research, People and Bears, more Classroom Activities, and more. And, the great addition to the site is a link to a 30-minute video about bears. While the site is somewhat focused on Idaho-specific bear information, teachers should be able to easily integrate the lesson no matter where you are. [JPM]