Red Gold: The Epic
Story of Blood
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/2002/r0802-05.shtml
The facts and myths
about blood.
Internet Scavenger
Hunt: Hurricane Warning!
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt042.shtml
What do your
students know about hurricanes? Work sheet included.
Great Sites for
Teaching About Meteor Showers
http://www.educationworld.com/a_sites/sites039.shtml
More than a dozen
sites for teaching about the Perseids, the most famous
meteor shower, which
peak on August 12.
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Science, Tobacco & You
http://scienceu.fsu.edu/fl/content/
GRADE LEVEL: 3-8
CONTENT: A+
Science, Tobacco & You is a
multidisciplinary, multimedia, science curriculum resource developed by the
Center for Integrating Research and Learning at the National High Magnetic
Field Laboratory at Florida State University.
AESTHETICS: A+
This well-designed site features informative
graphics and a pleasing layout. Users will need a Java-enabled browser.
ORGANIZATION: A+
The content is organized into four major
areas and easily navigated from the left-side menu. Each area has graphical
links to the detailed information. There is also a Navigation Help section.
REVIEW: A+
Science, Tobacco & You educates students
on the issues of tobacco with the hope of reducing tobacco use. Resources are
available for teachers and students. Engaging activities help students explore
the harmful effects of tobacco on the body, strategies for handling peer
pressure, and how advertising promotes tobacco usage. Teachers will find a
wealth of information in the Teacher/Student Guidebook, which can be
downloaded, and lesson plans from the Best Practices 2001 competition. Included
is an area for sharing lesson plans with other teachers, a bulletin board for
discussions, frequently asked questions, and tobacco-related news stories.
RELATED REVIEWS:
P.E. & Health: Substance Abuse
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/pe.shtml#Substance%20Abuse
Science: Life Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Life%20Science
Social Sciences: Life Skills
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/soc_sci.shtml#Life%20Skills
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Ask the Answer Worm
http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/squirm/skworm.html
GRADE LEVEL: K-5
CONTENT: A+
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural
Resources Conservation Service created the Answer Worm to teach students the
facts about soil.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site is well designed with a clean
interface and cute graphics that will appeal to young students.
ORGANIZATION: A+
The site is divided into 13 questions that
are listed in the index. Users can move through each question by clicking on
the Next button at the bottom of each page or can randomly choose the questions
by using the index on the left side of each page.
REVIEW: A+
"It's a dirty job but someone has to do
it," and "Skworm" is up for the task. Young students will enjoy
worming their way through the easily read content as Skworm teaches them about
soil. Children can follow Skworm through a series of 13 questions that explore
such topics as how soil is made, how water stays in the soil, how air gets into
the soil, why plants like soil and soil conservation. At the end of the
questions, students can download a diploma. This is a great earth science
resource, and you could use it as a reading-for-information lesson. It is
organized and written in a way that elementary students could easily explore on
their own to answer teacher-created questions.
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: Earth Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Earth%20Science
Language Arts: Reading
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/lang_arts.shtml#Reading
OVERALL GRADE: A+
NASA Connect
GRADE LEVEL: 6-8
CONTENT: A+
"NASA Connect is an annual series of
free integrated mathematics, science, and technology instructional distance
learning programs for students in grades 6-8" that can be viewed right
from your desktop computer.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site features an easy-to-navigate format
that has a nice mix of color and graphics. RealPlayer is required for viewing
the broadcasts.
ORGANIZATION: A+
A left-side menu on the main page and a top
menu on subsequent pages make the site user-friendly. There is also a helpful
site index.
REVIEW: A+
Students and teachers will find that this
site is a natural for teaching and learning critical-thinking and
problem-solving skills. The NASA Connect programming is available free to any
school, and provides lessons in math, science, and technology competencies for
grades 5-8. By registering at the site (free) teachers can fully involve their
students in the broadcasts. Registrants receive program schedules and lesson
guides via e-mail. The programs are transmitted via satellite hookups and PBS
stations but are also available on the Web through NASA's Learning Technologies
Channel. Accompanying each broadcast is a teacher's guide with hands-on
activities and an interactive Internet activity. Additionally, teachers can
request a mentor to help students complete the work. All the shows for the past
three years are archived in the library, and there is an extensive list of
additional resources.
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: General
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml
Educational Technology: Miscellaneous
Technology
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/ed_tech.shtml#Misc.%20Technology
Math & Finance: General Math
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/math.shtml
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Ocean.com - Everything Ocean
GRADE LEVEL: Pre K-12
CONTENT: A+
Just as the name implies this deep resource
offers a multimedia look at any and everything that has to do with the ocean
from sea animals to scuba gear.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site is appealing and user-friendly. A
variety of options are available for viewing such as small or large video
files, modem or broadband and QuickTime or Windows Media Player formats.
Required plug-ins can be downloaded at the site.
ORGANIZATION: A+
Ocean.com presents the six major sections of
the site as links on the homepage. There is a top navigation bar for easy
steering through the site from any area.
REVIEW: A+
Anyone with an interest in the ocean will
find Ocean.com an exciting site to explore. As visitors dive deeper into the
main areas of the site they will find information on everything from marine conservation
to ocean sports and ocean travel. For classroom use, teachers and students will
want to visit the Ocean Channel, Poseidon's Library and the Ocean Gallery. High
quality streaming video of sea animals in their natural habitats, documentary
films and public service announcements on conservation as well as multimedia
presentations using Flash technology and wonderful photographs are available in
the Ocean Channel. For report writing, students will find quick facts and
images of ocean creatures or may send their questions to a marine scientist in
the library's Creature Feature or Ask Poseidon sections. Selected photos from
the gallery could be used to take students on a virtual tour of "the world
beneath the waves". Professional and amateur filmmakers and photographers
are given the opportunity to submit their work to the site for publication.
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: Life Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Life%20Science
Science: Earth Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Earth%20Science
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Kids Go Wild
GRADE LEVEL: K-5
CONTENT: A+
The Wildlife Conservation Society,
headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York, offers this site full of fun
activities and information about animals and conservation for children.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site is cute, colorful, and very
appealing to its young audience. Games require Macromedia's Shockwave plug-in,
which can be downloaded at the site.
ORGANIZATION: A+
The content is divided into four
"wild" categories: Animal Facts, Arcade, News, and Conservation. each
of the main areas can be accessed from the top navigation bar on all pages.
REVIEW: A+
Animals have always been a favorite topic for
children, and this site offers information on everything from "survival
habits to the weird and wacky ways" of familiar animals. When finished
browsing the facts about the animals, kids can take a break and play one of the
games, such as Wildlife Concentration, Nature Paint, or Amazing Trivia. Don't
miss the virtual tour of the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Bronx Zoo's newest
naturalistic exhibit. Additionally, there is a section on wildlife news that
includes stories on new discoveries and what is being done to rescue endangered
wildlife!
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: Life Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Life%20Science
Students: Games & Fun Sites
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/students.shtml#Games%20&%20Fun%20Sites
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Office of Naval Research Science and Technology
Focus: Oceanography
http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/default.htm
GRADE LEVEL: 3-12
CONTENT: A+
This site is a rich resource for the study of
oceanography that includes facts, photos, and information about experiments and
naval discoveries.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site has a simple, user-friendly layout
with spectacular photos and informative charts, maps, and animations.
ORGANIZATION: A+
Navigating this ocean adventure is easy with
the left-side menu that gives access to all the major sections. Each section
has a topical index for locating the information quickly.
REVIEW: A+
This oceanography site is one you won't want
to miss if you teach or study any aspect of the ocean. Visitors will find
lessons and quick quizzes on topics ranging from ocean currents to habitats to
ocean life to ocean regions and research vessels. The Cybermail section gives
students the opportunity to browse the archives for answers to others'
questions or to send in their own questions and have them answered by a
CyberScientist. There are even tips for writing a research paper. Information
on submarines (history, how they work, and current fleet) is available in the
Blow the Ballast! section. Be sure to check out the hands-on experiments with
the CyberScientist in the Resources section to find out why ships don't sink or
how much of an iceberg lurks under the water.
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: Earth Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Earth%20Science
Science: Life Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Life%20Science
OVERALL GRADE: A+
EcoKids Online
http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/index.cfm
GRADE LEVEL: K-5, Parents
CONTENT: A+
EcoKids Online is an
"innovative, interactive environmental Web site for children, their
families, and educators in Canada and around the world."
AESTHETICS: A+
The site uses animation,
sound, and bright graphics to engage children. FlashPlayer is required and can
be downloaded at the site.
ORGANIZATION: A+
Content is organized into
six major areas. Users can access pages through the top and bottom navigation
bars as well as the main page interactive image map. Each section has a sub
menu for moving within that area.
REVIEW: A+
EcoKids Online provides
children an opportunity to learn about taking care of the environment through
engaging educational games and activities. Visitors to the site will find
information about wildlife, environmental issues, energy, science and nature,
and more. Children are encouraged to become aware of the environment and the
impact of their actions through lively, interactive storybooks that give the
reader choices as they read through the text. There is also a gallery for
sharing pictures, a forum, a glossary, printables, and downloads. The EcoKids
Player can be downloaded to your personal desktop to deliver an environmental
fact each day. This is a great resource for teachers and parents interested in
teaching children to become good stewards of the environment.
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science: Earth Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Earth%20Science
Students: Games & Fun
Sites
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/internet.shtml#Games%20&%20Fun%20Sites
Internet: Interactive Web
sites
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/internet.shtml#Interactive%20Websites
Earth and Sky
Rating: A
http://www.education-world.com/awards/past/r1197-06.shtml
As the weather changes, tune
into this great website for all the unique changes in the air and on the
ground!
OVERALL GRADE: A+
Astro-Venture
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/astrobiology/astroventure/avhome.html
Grade Level: 5-8
CONTENT: A+
Astro-Venture, by NASA
Quest, is an interactive multimedia site that gives students in grades 5-8 the
opportunity to search for and create a planet suitable for human habitation
while role-playing NASA occupations.
AESTHETICS: A+
The site is colorful and
engaging. Special plug-ins are required, so be sure to check out the technical
requirements. Scripts are provided for the content of the animations in an
effort to make the experience accessible to everyone, whether or not you have
access to computers with multimedia capabilities that are up to the task.
ORGANIZATION: A+
The site is well organized
and user-friendly. The various sections of the site are listed in a table of
contents on the main page. Students are guided through the modules by both text
and audio presentations of the instructions.
REVIEW: A+
Students are sure to enjoy
the interactivity of this adventure. They will be guided through four training
modules as they learn how astronomy, geology, atmospheric science, and biology
affect a planet's ability to support human life. After each training session,
students are given a mission to complete, using scientific inquiry, to select a
planet and star system that meets the requirements for human habitation. The
final mission requires students to use all of the knowledge they have acquired
to create a simulated planet that has all the characteristics in each of the
four areas required to make it habitable to humans. Additionally, there is a
Teacher/Parent section with lesson plans and suggestions for use, career fact
sheets, and other related resources. This is a web site you don't want to miss!
RELATED REVIEWS:
Science : Space Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Space%20Science
Science : General Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#General%20Science
Science : Earth Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Earth%20Science
Science : Life Science
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/science.shtml#Life%20Science
Counselors : Careers
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/counselors.shtml#Careers
Students : Career
Exploration
http://www.educationworld.com/awards/past/topics/students.shtml#Career%20Exploration