100
Best Science Sites for Middle Years
| Chemistry | Science of Colors |
| Solar Eclipse | |
| Human Anatomy | Space Mysteries |
| Life on Mars? | Sun Safety |
| Lunar Eclipse | Volcanos |
| Microbes | Wind Power |
| Robots | Your Heart |
ABC's
of Acid Rain
"One
of the main causes of acid rain is sulphur dioxide. Natural sources which
emit this gas are volcanoes, sea spray , rotting vegetation and plankton.
However, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are largely to
be blamed for approximately half of the emissions of this gas in the world."
The blue rain-drop background does make this student research report a tad
hard to read, but the site's authors (from Queens University of Ontario, Canada)
gain points for including an extensive bibliography of print sources.
Acid
Rain
"Acid
rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages
the environment. Two common air pollutants acidify rain: sulphur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxide (NOX). When these substances are released into the atmosphere,
they can be carried over long distances by prevailing winds and return to
earth as acidic rain, snow, fog or dust.." This official Canada Environment
site is my pick of the day for the depth of its coverage and simple yet effective
design. Don't miss the do-it-yourself experiments in the Kids' Corner.
BBC Education: Forests' Environmental Problems
"Europe's
temperate forests have been under attack from polluted air and acid rain.
This was first noticed by the Germans and is known as 'forest death' or ‘Waldsterben.'"
This chapter on environmental threats to forests is just one of six that comprise
the Forests topic at BBC. With a short illustrative animation, this page serves
as a good introduction to the problem of acid rain for upper elementary and
middle school students. To view the rest of the site, follow along with the
"Continue" button. At the end, you'll be looped back to the table
of contents.
EPA:
Acid Rain
"‘Acid
rain' is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of
the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts:
wet and dry. Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. Dry deposition
refers to acidic gases and particles." In addition to the concise description
of the problems caused by acid rain, the best clicks are the glossary, science
experiments, learning activities and the Acid Rain Program Progress Report.
This Adobe document (which requires the free Adobe reader) details the progress
of the Acid Rain Program since it's enactment in 1990.
"How acidic is the rain where you live? Join the investigation to find out! Then add your local results and see how your community compares to others around the nation. Come back as many times as you want - every time you add your data, you'll update the national acid rain map.
Asteroids
Asteroid
Introduction
Asteroids
that are on a collision course with Earth are called meteoroids. When a meteoroid
strikes our atmosphere at high velocity, friction causes this chunk of space
matter to incinerate in a streak of light known as a meteor. If the meteoroid
does not burn up completely, what's left strikes Earth's surface and is called
a meteorite.
Asteroid
Science
"Quick
quiz: How many planets orbit our Sun? If you said nine, you're shy by several
thousand. Scientists consider asteroids to be minor planets - some are hundreds
of miles wide (and seldom round)." In addition to a great introduction,
best clicks here are the explanation of the Torino scale ("Used to categorize
the threat of asteroids, the Torino Scale is similar to the familiar ‘Richter
Scale' of earthquake measurement.") and the Asteroid News Zone.
Asteroids
In
the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, there are twenty-six asteroids
larger than 124 miles in diameter, traveling along with hundreds of thousands
of smaller asteroids. This page, created by amateur astronomer Bill Arnett,
nicely catalogs what is known (and unknown) about these minor planets. Links
to great NASA photographs are at the bottom of the page.
Asteroids:
Deadly Impact
"WARNING
! AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY! DEPARTMENT OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL PHENOMENA. COMPUTER
ACCESS RESTRICTED TO DEP AGENTS WITH LEVEL 4 SECURITY CLEARANCE." Are
you ready for your assignment as an investigator with the Department of Extraterrestrial
Phenomena? In order to solve the four real-life impact incidents in this National
Geographic simulation, you'll need to know a bit of asteroid science and history.
Tom Gehrels works the graveyard shift at an observatory in southern Arizona, searching for what he estimates are "1,700 potential Earth-killers in outer space. At this point only a small percentage of these rogue asteroids have been found by skywatchers such as himself (together with teammates he has identified 160 so far)." Learn about the possibility of a catastrophic asteroid impact at this Discovery.com site, and don't miss the interactive quiz titled "Launch a Fireball."
Astronomy
and Space Travel
Astronomy
Course for Middle/High School Students
"Astronomy
is Looking Up" says Jack Troeger, a 9th grade teacher at Ames High School
in Ames, Iowa who loves stargazing and Dalmatians. Backyard astronomers will
delight in his essays on "Light Pollution", "Observing the
Night Sky" and "Finding your Way Around the Sky".
Astronomy
Picture of the Day
This
site changes every day, offering a new image and a brief explanation.
Hubble
Space Telescope: Greatest Hits
This
photo gallery of the universe is a collection of Hubble's most spectacular
shots. Each is accompanied by a caption and a press release.
Jim
Lovell and the Flight of Apollo 13
Come
here to learn more about Jim Lovell, the NASA astronaut played by Tom Hanks
in Universal Picture's movie "Apollo 13". This biography is written
for middle school students, but can be appreciated by all ages. It covers
Lovell's life from childhood to through his career at NASA.
SEDS
Internet Space Warehouse
The
Students for Exploration is an independent, international student organization
that originated at MIT and Princeton in 1980 to promote the exploration and
development of space. This site contains more than 1.47 gigabytes of articles,
pictures, sounds, and movies. It is an awesome compendium on every aspect
of space exploration. Especially enjoyable is the Express Tour of the Solar System which travels to the author's
top ten planets.
Seltzer Tablet Rocket
In
1926 American scientist Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket
from his aunt's farm in Massachusetts, and the space age began. All rockets
operate on the same basic principles of propulsion. Visit this site to construct
a rocket that is fueled by a seltzer tablet.
This is a collection of NASA's best images from the planetary exploration program, extracted from the Planetary Data System CD-ROM. Great for school reports, this site contains lots of statistics.
Astronomy
for Kids
"Leave
it to adults to take something as exciting and beautiful as the sky and make
it boring! We are going to have a GREAT time exploring the universe we live
in. . . . Adults are welcome to join us as long as they behave." Best
clicks are Puzzles (for three astronomy-themed word searches) and Sky Maps
(for timely advice on what to look for in the sky tonight.) By clicking in
the Planets, where you'll find oodles of good stuff for school reports.
Expert
Advice for Backyard Stargazers
Tip
number three: "Don't rush to buy a telescope . . . Thinking otherwise
is the most common beginner's mistake. Half the people who call for help ask,
‘How do I see anything with this telescope?'
They assumed that making a big purchase was the essential first step."
To get the most out of your backyard stargazing, start by reading these helpful
tips from Sky and Telescope magazine.
Skywatching
from Earth & Sky
Ever
wish you had an experienced astronomer standing by your side to guide you
to tonight's sky? Meet Deborah Byrd — author of this monthly Skywatching column
(my don't-miss-it pick of the week.) "Each day's segment is designed
to guide your eye to something you can see that night, or the next morning
before dawn. It might be a constellation, a star, or a planet. Or it might
be a celestial event, such as an eclipse. Or, just for fun, on some days Deborah
might take you (in your imagination) on a trip to another planet, to give
you the view from there."
Star Journey National Geographic
The
Hubble Space Telescope has been our photographer-in-the-sky since 1990. Circling
the Earth every ninety-seven minutes, orbiting 370 miles above our atmosphere,
the Hubble sees "ten times more clearly into the cosmos than typical
Earth-based equipment; it can see objects one-billionth as bright as the human
eye can see." National Geographic's Star Journey is a three- pronged
look at the stars: the Hubble Space Telescope, Star Attractions (the constellations),
and Star Chart (sky maps superimposed with images from Hubble.)
What
Can I See?
"Actually
you can see lots of things by just using your eyes. You just have to know
where to look and when." Although this page seems to go on forever, and
blue on black is a tad difficult to read, there is lots here worth perusing.
Scroll down the page to find great info on the phases of the moon, and when
the next major meteor shower will occur. Other valuable clicks are Star Light
Star Bright, Fun Facts, and Take the Challenge!
Cell
Biology
BrainPOP: Cells & Body Basics
"What
is the process by which water flows through cells? A: hydrorefusion B: osmosis
C: pinocytosis" This fun page explaining cells is just one of dozens
that BrainPOP offers on science, technology and health — and I've recommended
them frequently over the years. BrainPOP Cells features a Flash movie, followed
by a quiz and a few printable activities. As for the answer to the quiz question,
you'll just have to log on, watch the movie, and take the self-grading quiz
yourself.
Cells
Alive!
The
best clicks for students (and adults) are found on the left-hand menu starting
with Plant Cells, Animal Cells and Mitosis. Each chapter includes a dozen
sub-topics (such as nucleus and cell membrane) that are covered with their
own illustrated page. Additional highlights of the site are the amazing photographs
found in Cell Cams, Cell Gallery and on free e-postcards to send to friends
from your biology class. Think you know your stuff? Try the three tough quizzes
on Cell Structure, Microbes and The Immune System.
I Can Do That: Cells
Created
specifically to encourage upper elementary and middle-school students to delve
into science, I Can Do That explains plant and animal cells with a cartoon-like
approach. "I'm Chloe the chloroplast. I'm a part of a plant cell. My
job is to turn sunlight into sugar! Isn't that a grand job? Plant cells, and
animal cells for that matter, are pretty sophisticated." Additional topics
include DNA, synthesis and cloning. Some students might find the comic book
approach annoying, while others will love it.
Kapili.com
Cells
The
imaginary Kapili Islands are home to a variety of research labs which produce
the wonderfully educational Kapili.com. Their site on cells is my pick of
the day! Great illustrations and a breezy writing style make this site a winner
for middle and high school students as well as us older learners. After cells,
check out the Topic List for more biology (biochemistry and ecology,) physics,
chemistry and astronomy.
Chemistry
Atoms
Family
How
big is an atom? Try this experiment to find out for yourself. Cut " .
. . a twenty-eight centimeter strip of paper in half as many times as you
can. If you can cut the strip of paper in half thirty-one times you will end
up with a piece of paper the size of an atom." Wow! Based on an energy
exhibit currently running at the Miami Museum of Science, each monster member
of the Atoms Family introduces a topic such as Atoms and Matter, Energy Conservation,
and Light Waves. Under each topic, you will find a variety of activities and
learning pages for grades four through twelve.
Chem
4 Kids
"So
you're asking, what is chemistry? Well . . . here's our best definition. Chemistry
is the study of matter and the changes that take place with that matter."
Written in a fun, conversational style, this fabulous site can be navigated
in several ways. Jump right to the subject that interests you (is it Elements,
Reactions, or Matter?) or navigate through the most important pages of each
subject with the Guided Tour. The tour can be found on the Key Topics page,
along with a glossary and profiles of famous chemists.
Chemical
Comics
Now
class, open your comic books. Today we are studying the periodic table --
and not just Superman and krypton, either. From hydrogen (H) to lawrencium
(Lr), clicking on most of the elements in this periodic table will transport
you to a comic strip reference. "I know you have no nerves, but my stinger
injects a chemical compound of the world's most potent elemental poisons .
. . from lead to arsenic, to chlorine, krypton, selenium, and strontium."
This very creative approach puts the fun back in chemistry.
CHEMystery
Center
"When
writing names of elements, a chemist usually uses abbreviations, since they
are quicker to write than the names. The abbreviations that we use are called
symbols. None of the symbols contain more than two letters; the first one
is always capitalized and the second, if any, is always lowercase." Thus
we get O for oxygen, C for carbon and He for helium. This virtual chemistry
textbook was created by a team of three high school students for the 1996
annual ThinkQuest competition.
The
Ph Factor
"The
numbers on the pH scale run from 0 to 14. Substances with lower pH's have
much more hydrogen, or H+, than substances with higher pH's." Written
for both elementary/middle school students and teachers, this lesson on acids
and bases includes many hands-on activities such as cleaning pennies, making
invisible ink and mapping the tongue's taste buds. The seven E sections (Excite,
Explore, Explain, Expand, Extend, Exchange, Examine) can be used sequentially,
or in random order.
Electricity
BrainPOP:
Electricity
On
the subject of electricity, BrainPOP offers not just one of their educational
animations, but five. Topics include a general introduction to electricity,
static electricity, batteries, energy sources, thunderstorms and atoms. Each
topic page (geared toward upper elementary students) features an animated
movie, a quiz ("What are the three components of a circuit?"), a
printable activity sheet and a try-it-yourself experiment.
Electricity
Online
"Materials
may be classified into one of three categories depending on their electrical
conductivity (their ability to conduct a current). Conductors conduct electric
charge better than semi-conductors, which in turn conduct better than insulators."
This extensive site was created for the ThinkQuest Internet competition by
teens from three different countries: India, Netherlands and United States.
It is divided into Lessons (several dozen on topics such as circuitry and
electrostatics), Applications (including Solar Power and Telecommunications),
History and Activities.
Energy Story
An
outstanding article for middle and high-school students on energy sources
from fossil fuels and hydro-power to solar and nuclear power. Chapter Two
(What is Electricity?) and Chapter Eleven (Electricity Transmission System)
explain electricity from atoms to volts. Be sure to visit the comprehensive
Energy Quest site. You'll find its link at the bottom of any Energy Story
page. Built just for kids by the California Energy Commission, Energy Quest
includes games, quizzes, and experiments. If life has given you lemons and
you are tired of lemonade, try the lemon battery at http://www.energy.ca.gov/education/projects/projects-html/lemon.html
.
IPPEX
Online
"During
a thunderstorm, clouds become negatively charged relative to the ground (or
other clouds.) Since opposite charges attract, a lightning bolt will appear
as charges are exchanged between the cloud and the ground." Presented
for middle-schoolers in a fun, interactive format, this site was created by
a team at Stevens Institute of Technology to "demonstrate that the Internet
can be used for science education and participation in ways that are not possible
with a text book or a standalone computer."
"Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charges" explains the "Curious Kids' Science Newsletter." A wonderfully in-depth analysis of static electricity for middle and high-school students, along with an "I CAN READ" section for early elementary students. Terrific illustrations and at-home experiments make this a great site!
Human
Anatomy
Anatomy Crossword Puzzles
Anatomy
crossword puzzles? Just when I think I've seen it all, the Internet continues
to amaze me. These puzzles come from the Gross Anatomy (that's gross meaning
general, not disgusting) class at the University of Arkansas.. If you have
a Java enabled browser, you can complete them interactively. Otherwise you
can print the puzzles out, and fill them in the old fashioned way. These puzzles
are not easy
Preview the Heart
Starting
with the tiny pumping heart on the first page, I fell in love with this interdisciplinary
site. It can be explored in one of two ways. A complete tour begins at the
bottom of the first page, starting with a table of contents for the entire
collection. Alternatively, you can enter the various activities organized
into Do, See, Learn, Go and Hear. However you go, you will learn about the
anatomy and function of the heart, and it's role in popular culture.
Southern
California Orthopedic Institute
Excellent
anatomical descriptions of the knee, shoulder, ankle, spine, hand, elbow,
hip and toe, brought to you by a group of doctors that want to fix what ails
you!
Three
Dimensional Medical Reconstruction
This
dry looking medical site contains an amazing animation experience: three dimension
animated flights through various human organs. The animations are constructed
from real two-dimension images (or slices) that are connected together to
create the third dimension. Have you seen the "Magic School Bus Inside
the Human Body" where the school children travel inside Arnold's body?
Now you can experience the same trip created from real pictures. You will
need an MPEG player configured for your browser.
Life
on Mars?
CNN
Mars: Life Signs?
CNN
takes a multimedia look at what has been called "biggest discovery in
the history of science." Could that ancient meteorite discovered in Antarctica
be proof that microscopic life existed on Mars billions of years ago? With
movies, sound clips and a look at Mars in the arts, this site is informative
and entertaining. I suggest starting with the fun (but challenging) Mars quiz to test your knowledge of the red planet, then moving
on to learn more about the secrets discovered within that old rock.
Evidence
of Primitive Life from Mars
How
did the NASA scientists know the meteorite came from Mars? The conclusive
evidence was gases trapped in the rock's interior, which matched those found
in the Martian atmosphere. Direct from NASA, this site for high school students
(and adults, of course) contains the complete text of the original "Science"
magazine article announcing the Mars discovery, as well as audio coverage
of the original press release.
Microbes on Mars
Another
site for written expressly for elementary as well as middle-school kids, with
concise explanations of why Mars may (or may not) host life forms. Also summarized
are NASA's past Mars explorations and the upcoming 1997 Mars Pathfinder mission.
SEDS Mars
From
the Students for the Exploration of Space, here is a comprehensive overview
of Mars, the fourth planet. Underlined words are hyperlinked to definitions
in the glossary of terms, allowing all ages to understand the material. If
you read this first, you'll do much better on the Mars quiz found at the CNN site!
Lunar
Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse Computer
Want
to know exactly when a total lunar eclipse is coming to your town? Simply
enter your location and select a date from the drop-down list of recent and
upcoming lunar events. For international locations, use Form B to enter your
location using longitude and latitude coordinates.
Lunar
Eclipse Photography
"Photographing
an eclipse of the Moon is fun and easy. You don't even have to worry about
special filters to protect your eyes or your camera. Unlike eclipses of the
Sun, eclipses of the Moon are perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye."
Mr. Eclipse offers his expert photo advice ("Perhaps the simplest way
to photograph an eclipse is to use the star trail method.") and a collection
of his photos (scroll down the page to the Photo Gallery link.)
Lunar
Prospector and the Eclipse
Although
the Lunar Prospector mission is now complete (it ended on July 30, 1999 with
a controlled crash into the Moon), this site has an excellent animation explaining
lunar phases and eclipses. Click on Launch to view it. During the Prospector's
eighteen-month mission, it faced two perilous lunar eclipses. What made them
risky? The Lunar Prospector relied on sunlight to recharge its batteries,
and scientists were concerned that during the eclipses, the Prospector's batteries
would drain completely.
Sky & Telescope: Lunar Eclipse
"Just
20 days into this millennial year, a spectacular total eclipse of the Moon
will occur over the Americas and Western Europe. Weather permitting, observers
will see all stages of the event unfold -- something not possible from most
of these regions since 1996 or earlier. Totality will be particularly dramatic
in North America, where the red Moon will burn high overhead in a dark and
crisp winter sky." Sky and Telescope is soliciting input from observers
on how bright the moon is during the eclipse. Learn the five-point Danjon
Scale (zero is darkest and four is brightest) and submit your report via email.
Experts, by the way, are predicting a very bright eclipse of three or four
on the Danjon Scale.
"An eclipse of the Moon can only take place at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where a some portion of the Sun's rays are blocked. In contrast, the inner or umbral shadow is a region devoid of all direct sunlight." This educational site is my pick of the day for its straight forward explanations of the three types of eclipses and the time-zone specific diagrams.
Microbes
Infection
Detection Protection
"Microbes
are the oldest form of life on Earth. Some types have existed for billions
of years. These single-cell organisms are invisible to the eye, but they can
be seen with microscopes. Microbes live in the water you drink, the food you
eat, and the air you breathe. Right now, billions of microbes are swimming
in your belly and crawling on your skin. Don't worry, over 95% of microbes
are harmless." This entire exhibit (from the American Museum of Natural
History) is fabulous, but the best clicks are the Shockwave games with names
like Bacteria in the Cafeteria and Infection!
Microbes:
Invisible Invaders, Amazing Allies
"On
one square-inch of our bodies, there are as many as 10,000 bacteria."
Everything on this fun, graphically-exciting site from Pfizer squirms. Based
on a traveling museum exhibit, the best clicks are Microbe Dictionary ("flagellum:
A whip-like structure on some cells that helps them swim."); the incredible
colorful photographs in Meet a Microbe; and Microbe Quiz (True or False: "Without
microbes there would be no farms to grow food.")
Microbe Zoo
Here's
one zoo I'm certain you've never visited before: it's the Microbe Zoo. "Microbial
ecology is a rapidly developing scientific discipline. The reasons for this
include the realization that microbes are essential for a healthy environment;
they are important in helping us understand the mechanics of evolution; and
they are important in biotechnology." The zoo is divided into sections
that include DirtLand (who knows what evil lurks in that dirt pile?), Snack
Bar, and Space Adventure (microbes on Mars?).
Science
in Action: Microbes
Who
first discovered microbes? "It turns out to be a Microscopist called
Antony van Leeuwenhoek (Born in Delft, Netherlands, 24 October 1632, died
26 August 1723). He had no formal training in science and from the age of
sixteen worked as a draper. This seems a bit of an unlikely background for
the person who discovered microbes. What's even more interesting is that Antony
van Leeuwenhoek's research followed no particular plan and was carried out,
largely, with microscopes constructed by himself."
Robots
Design Your Own Robot
"Robots
come in all shapes and sizes. But what does it take to design one?" You
are about to learn. First, you'll be assigned a mission for your robot. Will
it be to search a sunken ship for gold? Or to explore the surface of Mars?
Design your robot by choosing elements for six basic functions: sensing, movement,
manipulation, energy, intelligence and looks. When finished, you'll view your
robot and your design will be critiqued. This totally awesome exercise requires
the free Shockwave plug-in. Get it now.
Get
a Grip on Robotics
This
exhibit explores the jointed-arm robot which "looks similar to a certain
part of your body." Each direction a joint can move gives the robot one
degree of freedom. So, a robot arm with three degrees of freedom can move
in three ways: up/down, left/right, and forward/backward. Although some robots
have six, eight or even twelve degrees of freedom, six is enough for most
basic tasks, and therefore most working robot arms have six degrees of freedom.
The human arm, however, has seven. Find out which movement you have that most
robotic arms do not.
JASON@Fisher
Robot Mystery
In
1989, Dr. Robert Ballard used a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) called Jason
to explore the wreck of the Titanic. Now, over the Internet, you can use the
St. John Fisher College ROV to explore mock ocean depths and find answers
to the mystery questions. Fisher's ROV is actually a remote-controlled toy
truck with headlights and a digital camera mounted on top. It travels along
a glass platform which has clues hidden below it. To play (and control the
ROV over the Internet), you will need to organize and register a team of schoolmates,
family members or friends.
Net-Robot
From
Konstanz University in Germany, Net-Robot plays a game called Tower of Hanoi.
Invented by a French mathematician in 1883, Tower of Hanoi is played by moving
discs between towers. There are only two rules: never place a larger disc
over a smaller one, and only move one disc at a time. If you have a Java-enabled
browser, you can choose a destination tower and watch as Net- Robot makes
the seven moves needed to move the discs according to the rules. See the clock
with the sweeping second hand in the background of the Web cam image? That's
the time in Germany.
Robby the Robot is not the latest student project from M.I.T. He's a classic robot toy. Brian Hayes of England, shares with us his passion for collecting vintage robot and space toys. To view these gems from the fifties and sixties, visit his Robot Gallery and Classic Plastic.
Rocketry
Girl Scouts Blastoff
Women
have played an important role in space exploration. In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova
of the Soviet Union became the first woman to travel in space, orbiting the
Earth for over 70 hours. Twenty years later, the American physicist Sally
Ride became the first American woman to travel in space. She performed experiments
while orbiting the earth in the Space Shuttle Challenger. Written for Girl
Scouts, this site adds a women's perspective to the history of rocketry. In
addition to the history lesson and rocket science basics, this site describes
how to launch a hobby- store model rocket with your troop or family.
NASA Rocket Activities
This
is the place for knock-your-socks-off homemade rockets. Make a soda
can engine, a pencil and rubber band rocket, or a balloon and Styrofoam cup
rocket. You'll find eleven do-it-yourself rocket experiments here, as well
as an excellent tutorial on the principles of rocketry and the history of
rockets. Educators will like the teacher's guide that contains a cross-reference
of subject areas (chemistry, physics, math, history) covered in each activity.
Irving
Family Rocketry Page
The
Irving family of San Jose, California loves rockets and has built a web site
to prove it. These pages are an excellent introduction to the world of model
rockets and group launches. If you are considering buying a model rocket kit,
be sure to tour the Irving's arsenal of fifteen rockets for their photographs and comments
on the performance of each model.
Model
Rocket Safety Code
"1.
Material: My model rocket will be made of lightweight materials such as paper,
wood, rubber, and plastic suitable for the power used and the performance
of my model rocket. I will not use any metal for the nose cone, body, or fins
of a model rocket." No discussion of model rockets would be complete
without an understanding of the safety guidelines. Here are fourteen rules
for model rocket safety written by the National Association of Rocketry.
This web site provides all the information you need to complete the Boy Scout Space Exploration Merit Badge, including building and launching a model rocket. The best parts of this site are the behind-the-scenes science explanations such as Newton's Laws and How Orbits Work. Don't miss the Flight of the Rocket for its excellent diagram illustrating the flight path of a model rocket.
Rocks
and Minerals
Cape
Cod Rocks
Paul
and Patricia Dauphinee, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have photographed, labeled
and alphabetized their personal rock collection. And these are not your usual
museum photos. Most are taken on the beach, with the Atlantic ocean as a backdrop.
Doing a school report? The Dauphinee's allow students to use their mineral
photographs. What's missing is a bit more annotation about each specimen.
Gallery of Mineral Photographs
These
awesome mineral photos literally jump off the screen with clarity and color.
The rocks are placed on black glass, lit with two fifty-watt flood halogen
bulbs, photographed with a Sony digital camera and then edited to give them
a colorful halo. "All specimens in this gallery sold and no longer available.
Many customers request to see what they have missed, so the best are presented
here for your review."
Natural
Gemstones
"A
natural gemstone is a mineral, stone, or organic matter that can be cut and
polished or otherwise treated for use as jewelry or other ornament. A precious
gemstone has beauty, durability, and rarity, whereas a semiprecious gemstone
has only one or two of these qualities." The resource site from the U.S.
Geological Survey contains definitions and reference material such as the
Chemical Formulas of Gemstones and the hardness of gemstones. "Hardness
of a gemstone is its resistance to scratching and may be described relative
to a standard scale of 10 minerals known as the Mohs scale."
Managing
Your Rock Collection
"Photographers
and artists have a secret. Don't show your less-than-best pieces. And even
then, you don't have to show them all at once. Sure, we have a zillion rocks
and minerals at our house, but most of them are in drawers or packed in boxes
and labeled on the outside of the box. Only the most special and showy pieces
are in the glass display cabinets." Great advice for anyone who wants
to be a "collector and not just an accumulator."
The Mineral Galleries offers a comprehensive rock collection organized in several ways. The alphabetic listing gives you rocks from acanthite to zoisite, while Minerals by Class organizes them by their chemistry such as Silicates (quartz, garnet and topaz) and Sulfides. "The silicates are the largest, the most interesting and the most complicated class of minerals by far. Approximately 30% of all minerals are silicates and some geologists estimate that 90% of the Earth's crust is made up of silicates." And last, but not least, are the Interesting Groupings, which include Birthstones, Gemstones and Biblestones (minerals referenced in the Bible.)
Satellites
EUVE Satellite Dataflow Demonstration
NASA's
Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Satellite revolves around the Earth every
ninety-six minutes in a circular orbit at an altitude of 330 miles. It was
launched in 1992 to study extreme ultraviolet sources in space. How does it
transmit its findings to scientists back on Earth? By sending its data to
a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) which circles above the
Earth in a 24-hour rotation. If you have eight friends in a room, you can
simulate these rotations and revolutions by each taking a role as a satellite
or a planet. To help you visualize the problem, be sure to view the Java animation first.
How
Satellites Work
Start
your exploration by clicking on the large title image How Satellites Work.
"Man-made satellites circle the Earth in many ways including polar and
geostationary orbits." A satellite in a polar orbit travels over the
North and South Poles at a height ranging from several hundred miles to several
thousand miles above Earth. A satellite in a high-altitude, geostationary
orbit (also known as geosynchronous) circles the earth once every twenty-four
hours, the same amount of time it takes for the Earth to spin on its axis.
To maintain this rotation, a geostationary satellite must travel exactly 22,237
miles above the Earth's equator.
Hypervelocity
Impact Technology Facility
Not
only is your room filled with it, but space is also crowded with junk. "The
problem is that the near-earth space environment - where most satellites,
the Shuttle, Mir, and the coming International Space Station orbit the earth
- is cluttered with man-made debris and naturally occurring meteoroids."
These NASA scientists study space junk and analyze high-speed space collisions.
They perform crash tests in their laboratory and develop shields to protect
our expensive spacecraft.
The Satellite Site
Would
anyone mind if I gave this site six stars? From The Tech Museum of Innovation,
comes this beyond-wow introduction to satellites, suitable for all ages. After
you've learned the what, why and how of man-made satellites, the don't-miss-it
click is the Java-based Satellite Construction Set. First, choose a mission
for your satellite. Will it be direct broadcast television, remote sensing
or scientific research? Then correctly install each of five subsystems (from
a list of eight) by clicking and dragging them into place.
Science
Experiments
Bill
Nye Demo of the Day
This
page from media science guru, Bill
Nye, offers a random experiment with each mouse click. After reviewing the
experiment, use your browser's back button to return to the Demo of the Day
site. Click again and you'll be served another experiment. If you are going
to want to return to a particular experiment, be sure to either bookmark it
or print it out. Otherwise you will have to take your chances going through
a random series of experiments to find it again.
Exploratorium Hands On Science
"Make
a portable cloud in a bottle. Now you see it, now you don't!" These science
snacks from the San Francisco Exploratorium can be accessed in two ways. Click
on one of the four science books at the top of the page, and follow the links
from the book's Table of Contents. Alternatively, you'll find a handful of
these snacks listed on the main page. Enjoy!
Kinetic
City Super Crew
From
the weekly science radio show of the same name, this web site archives experiments
from six months of shows. To participate in the current experiment, follow
the Home Crew link found in This Week's introductory paragraph. You can either
email your results or phone them into their 800 number. Be sure to visit the
Home Crew archives. For each topic, you'll find an audio clip (you'll need
the Real Audio plug-in) and a written description of the activity. Recent
subjects have included Sleep, Memory, Fire and Whales.
Newton's
Apple
"Fill
a dish with water. Sprinkle pepper all over the top of the water. Put several
drops of dish detergent into the center of the dish. What happens?" This
is a Science Try It from Newton's Apple. Designed for teachers as an accompaniment
to the PBS television show, these hands-on experiments are terrific. You'll
find links to five Try Its pages, one for each of the show's seasons. Each
Try It page has six illustrated experiments, followed by an explanation of
the science of each activity.
Science
Fair Projects
BrainPOP:
Scientific Method
Before
you begin your project, you'll need a good understanding of the scientific
method. And this fun Brain Pop animation is the perfect place to start for
an example of how the four steps of the scientific method (observation, hypothesis,
prediction, experiment) are used to solve real-life mysteries. ("Who's
been eating my peanut butter?") After the movie, try your hand at the
quiz.
Kids
Guide to Science Projects
"So,
you've been assigned a science project and you don't know where to begin.
Well, a science experiment is nothing more than a way to solve a problem.
These pages have been created to give you some ideas and resources, show you
how to start, and take you step by step through the scientific process."
Joan Tindell, a middle-school science teacher from Arizona, explains it all
– very well.
Science
Fair Central
Although
there's lots of fun science stuff to peruse here, you'll find the meat of
the matter in the Handbook section written by Janice VanCleve, author of more
than forty books on science and science fairs. "A science project is
like a mystery in which you are the detective searching for answers. Science
projects let you practice and exhibit your detective skills. You not only
get to select which mystery to solve, but you can creatively design methods
for uncovering clues that will lead to the final revelation of who, what,
when, where, how, and why."
Science Hunt
Science
Hunt is produced by Hunt, the company that makes those cool stand-all-by-themselves
project display boards. So in addition to sections on picking and planning
a science project, it has a good chapter on how to display your finished work
including design tips and lots of examples from other kids. You can even send
in a photo of your own science project (using a Hunt display board) for posting
on the site.
"Students are advised that getting the right answer is NOT the purpose of a science fair project. It is the intent of a science fair project that you go through the process of asking questions and performing experiments in an attempt to find answers. Making the attempt without answering the question still satisfies the intent of your discovering knowledge on your own." From the California State Science Fair, comes this useful discussion of quality in a science fair project.
Science
of Colors
BrainPOP
Rainbows
"What
is it called when white light spreads out into many different colors? A: diffraction
B: reflection C: rejection" This fun page explaining rainbows is just
one of dozens that BrainPOP offers on science, technology and health. It features
a Flash movie, followed by a quiz and printable activities. As for the answer
to the quiz question, you'll just have to log on, watch the movie, and take
the self-grading quiz for yourself!
Color
Matters
"Color
plays a vitally important role in the world in which we live. Color can sway
thinking, change actions, and cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your
eyes, raise your blood pressure or suppress your appetite." This incredibly
extensive site is my pick of the day for high school students and adults.
It includes sections on the science, sociology and art of color with titles
such as Color & Vision, Color & The Brain, Color & Design and
Color & The World.
Colors of Light
"The
color of an object depends on what happens as light hits it. Objects absorb
some colors and reflect others. The colors you see are the colors reflected
by the object. A green leaf absorbs all colors except green. It reflects green,
so green is the color you see." This McGraw-Hill site addresses the difference
between the primary colors of light (red, blue and green) and the primary
pigment colors used when painting (magenta, cyan, and yellow). It concludes
with a multiple-choice quiz appropriate for mid to upper elementary grades.
Make a Splash with Color
"The
eye is a very complicated machine with lots of special parts. Light enters
and travels through our eyes, and then messages go out the back of the eye
to the brain. These messages create colors in our mind." This color tutorial
from The Tech Museum of Innovation is my pick of the day for middle school
students. My favorite click is the Talking About Color chapter on hue (the
color of a color), saturation (the pureness of a color) and brightness (the
strength of a color.) Still confused? Try the interactive experiments and
discover hue, saturation and brightness for yourself.
"This site is designed to provide you with information on how color plays a role in our lives by examining the properties, theories, meanings and effects of color. It offers a cross-curricular approach by making connections between the art, the science, the psychology and/or sociology of each aspect of color." Written by anonymous high-school students for the ThinkQuest Internet Challenge, Understanding Color includes student activities and lesson plans for teachers.
Solar
Eclipse
Exploratorium:
Solar Eclipse
"Eclipses
appear often in the mythology and literature of different cultures and different
ages, most often as symbols of obliteration, fear, and the overthrow of the
natural order of things. The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning
‘abandonment.' Quite literally, an eclipse was seen as the sun abandoning
the earth." This fabulous Exploratorium site is my pick of the day. Come
here for the live Webcast on August 11, for eclipse mythology, for an illustrated
scientific explanation of solar eclipses, and for important safety information.
Kidseclipse
"Sometimes
during their orbits, the moon and the Earth form a line with the Sun. When
this happens, an eclipse occurs. A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves
between the Sun and the moon, blocking part of the Sun's light from reaching
the moon. During a lunar eclipse, you will see the Earth's shadow on the moon.
In a solar eclipse, the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. When this
happens, part of the Sun's light is blocked. The sky slowly gets dark as the
moon moves in front of the Sun. When the moon and Sun are in a perfect line,
it is called a total eclipse. These are very rare. Most people only see one
in their lifetime." This is another awesome site with live Webcam coverage,
a great photo gallery and lesson plans for teachers.
McGlaun's
Total Solar Eclipse Page
Meet
Dan McGlaun: "I am a total, complete eclipse junkie. I go to every total
solar eclipse I can, which after the turn of the century won't be too many,
unfortunately. But I've had a pretty good decade in the 1990s, and I thought
I'd write a sort of memoir-type book of my experiences." Although he's
not a professional astronomer, Dan has a way of conveying his enthusiasm for
the subject. Read the stories from his seven eclipse treks, and stay tuned
for his dispatches from Turkey, where he will be celebrating both the total
solar eclipse and his thirty-sixth birthday!
Solar Eclipses
"The
last flash of light from the surface of the Sun as it disappears from view
behind the Moon gives the appearance of a diamond ring and is called, appropriately,
the diamond ring effect. As totality begins, the solar corona (extended outer
atmosphere of the Sun) blazes into view. The corona is a million times fainter
than the surface of the Sun; thus only when the eclipse is total can it be
seen; if even a tiny fraction of the solar surface is still visible it drowns
out the light of the corona." Best clicks are the solar eclipse animations
that illustrate how the moon blocks the light of the sun.
"The gentle beauty of a lunar eclipse pales in comparison with the truly awesome spectacle of a total solar eclipse, which occurs when the new Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth. In the narrow path of totality swept across the Earth by the Moon's complete shadow (the umbra), daytime briefly turns to an eerie darkness, and during these few precious minutes the wispy halo of the Sun – the corona – comes into view as the dark disk of the Moon totally obscures the bright Sun. Outside the path of totality, in the Moon's partial shadow (the penumbra), some portion of the Sun's bright disk remains visible."
Space
Mysteries
Earth
Impact
"Small
space rocks enter the earth's atmosphere on a daily basis. Most burn up but
some make it to the surface. In either case they make little impact and are
certainly not life threatening unless you are unlucky enough to have one fall
on your head. Of concern are the larger interplanetary bodies - asteroids
and comets - which we now know have collided with the earth in the past and
which pose a real threat to human life." Be sure to read about "massive
pale blue fireball" that exploded above the Tunguska River valley in
Siberia in 1908.
Life
Beyond Earth
"Perhaps
the best way to search for life on the trillions of planets circling other
suns is through communication... if there are intelligent beings out there
who want to communicate with us. Today we have the means to broadcast messages
to the planets and stars... but is anybody out there listening?" Which
brings us to the next question. If you knew an alien was listening, what would
you say? Click on "Write to an Alien" to pen your own message or
read those of selected experts.
Mystery
of Space: Stars
This
Thinkquest entry created by two middle school students is simply marvelous!
It is divided into two tours: one for twelve and under, the other for older
students. "You may have seen the picture of the Galaxy M16 before, but
not known what it was. It is an embryonic star cloud. Embryonic star clouds
are huge cocoons of dust grains, gas, and molecules, and are the birthplace
of stars. These star clouds can be so huge that some of them are measured
in light years."
Stephen Hawking's Universe: Strange Stuff Explained
"For
decades, black holes were the darlings of science fiction writers but treated
with perhaps a little less respect by physicists. Although general relativity
predicted that black holes could exist, many scientists thought they were
too bizarre to exist in the real universe. That's all changed." British
physicist and best-selling author Stephen Hawking explains black holes (objects
with infinite density), quasars (the brightest objects in the universe), wormholes
(a short cut through space time) and other mysteries of space.
What if you were hired to lead a team searching for extraterrestrial intelligence? How would you search? Where would you search? And what would you look for? Design your own research project by answering these questions, and then test your alien-searching skills in this online game from the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute. For teachers, there is a resource guide to concepts and vocabulary linked from the opening page.
Sun
Safety
Ozone
Kidzone
About
fifteen miles above the Earth is a "giant umbrella made of a layer of
ozone gas." This protective ozone layer (usually about twelve miles thick)
blocks us from much of the sun's harmful radiation. Unfortunately during the
last fifty years, parts of the ozone layer have thinned, leaving us more exposed
to the sun's UV rays than we were years ago. This Canadian site explains what
the ozone layer is, how it was damaged, and what is being done about it.
Science
under the Sun
This
marvelous site has separate tracks for teachers and families. In either section
you'll find a Glossary, a Sun Safety Quiz and Twelve Sun Safety Tips ("Pucker
up! Use a lip balm with sunscreen for your lips.") For families, there
is also a science activity page, titled At Home Fun, that is equally valuable
for classroom or youth group use. And just for teachers, there are elementary
lesson plans, a printable poster, and ideas for creating a Sun Safety newsletter.
Sun
Protection
Sun
Protection, from the research department of L'Oréal cosmetics, is my pick
of the day. Divided into five sections, Sun Protection starts with an excellent
explanation of the short- and long-term effects of sun exposure. Next it delves
into our body's natural defenses (the production of melanin, the tanning pigment,)
skin types, and sun solutions. This site is so good, every page is a best
click! If any of the scientific words stump you, you'll find a glossary link
at the bottom of every page.
Sun
Safety Info
Skin
cancer caused primarily caused by sun exposure is the most common type of
cancer in the United. "Someone dies of melanoma every hour in the United
States. In 1930, an American's lifetime risk of developing melanoma was 1
in 1500. Today, it is 1 in 75." But skin cancer is largely preventable,
and you and your school can do something about it. Download the free twenty-page
Sun Safe School Guide that outlines how your school can become sun safe. You'll
also find a single page handout for elementary students filled with tips and
puzzles. Both are found under Fun Free Sun Safety Downloads. American Sun
also sells a Sun Safety CD-ROM game and K-5 curriculum.
Volcanos
Cascades Volcano Observatory Pictograms
These
annotated photo stories combine photography with illustration and explanatory
text to deliver their message. Choose from nineteen pictograms, mostly starring
Mount Saint Helens before, during and after her big eruption in 1980.
Kids
Door of Volcano World
Every
so often I come across a site that delivers more than it promises. This is
one of those sites. Don't be fooled by the simple text menu with it's nondescript
choices. Behind each selection is an array of interesting material. Be sure
to visit Volcano Fun. What makes this site great? It's educational (you'll
learn all about volcanos). It's animated (watch volcanos erupt). It's interactive
(build your own volcano, and watch its pattern of eruption, or submit your
own volcano artwork and stories). It doesn't take too long to download (it
uses Java instead of slow loading graphics). And it's written for kids. If
you're hankering for more, visit the "grownup" Volcano World .
Stromboli:
A Virtual Climb
Stromboli
is a continuously active strato volcano, one of the volcanic Aeolian Islands
off the southern coast of Italy. There are two settlements on the island:
Stromboli in the Northeast and the tiny village of Ginostra in the Southwest.
The total permanent population of the island is 361, with seasonal tourism
increasing that number in the summer. I wonder if they count virtual tourists.
Join guide Pamela Alean on a climb to the top, with a view of the smoking
summit all along the way.
Volcano
Cam
"Forget
Java, we've got lava" proclaims Volcano Cam from New Zealand. What is
an Internet cam? Here's the scoop. Someone focuses their video camera on a
fish tank, an ant farm, the San Francisco skyline, or the door to the men's
room and invites you to watch via a live Internet feed. In this case, you'll
be watching the Ruapehu volcano. Since nothing much usually happens, you can
sign up to be notified by email as soon as she starts to erupt.
Wind
Power
Blustery
Beginnings
A
gentle breeze floats a kite above our heads, but a hurricane can destroy whole
communities. Is the wind our ally or foe? Explore the many faces of the wind
in this gallery of windy images, videos, and windy words. The best click is
the Windy Things to Make section, for instructions on making a wind vane (also
known as a weather vane) from cardboard and an empty soda bottle, or a wind
direction indicator from a plastic straw and pencil. For teachers, I recommend
The Wind: Our Fierce Friend for complete lesson plans and
even more Web activities.
From Windmills to Whirligigs
Meet
Vollis Simpson, who exploits the power of the wind to make art. His whimsical
windmill- powered whirligigs stand guard over his yard, twirling in the wind
like giant robotic pinwheels. This virtual tour, created by the Science Museum
of Minnesota, showcases a "unique science and art connection to wind."
After you've visited the yard (you'll need Quick Time VR to view the movies)
don't miss the Try These activities for instructions on making a soda-can
whirler or parachuting pinwheel.
Wind Energy
To
convert wind to electricity, the blades of a wind turbine (a modern windmill)
turn a shaft that is attached to a gear transmission box. This transmission
box increases the turning speed of the shaft that connects to the generator
that creates electricity. California produces more electricity from wind than
any other state. And even though California's wind turbines do not operate
year round (winds must be blowing at least twelve miles per hour to generate
electricity), California's wind turbines generate enough electricity to power
a city the size of San Francisco for a year.
Wind Power
"Uneven
heating of the Earth's surface causes the wind to blow. Many societies have
long taken advantage of this energy to travel great distances and perform
diverse tasks such as grinding, sawing and pumping water. Modern wind turbines
using advanced technologies are able to produce electricity for homes, businesses,
and even utilities." For middle- and high-school students, this overview
of wind power presents the history, theory and application of wind power today.
Windmills
Since the seventh century, man has built windmills to grind flour and pump water. As steam power developed, however, it became less and less economical to rely on the fickle wind. Today we are left with a "tiny fraction of the elegant structures that once extracted power from the wind. These remaining windmills, scattered throughout the world, are a historic, and certainly very photogenic, reminder of a past technological age." Although this site focuses primarily on the windmills of England, it includes extensive links to windmills around the world.
Your
Heart
Biology Education Interactive WebLast summer five Washington, D.C. high school students spent their vacation at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute developing these fabulous online multimedia biology demonstrations, many of which deal with the heart. Start at Size Principle of the Heart in Mammals (ever notice the fast heart beat of your small furry pet friends?) move onto A Primer on Electrocardiogram and then visit Factors Affecting Heart Rate (does your heart rate increase or decrease at high elevations?) These amazing Java and Shockwave animations are simply amazing.
How Your Heart Works
"About
a hundred times a minute, 100,000 times a day, 36.5 million times a year,
your heart keeps the beat . . . the beat of life. That familiar thump, thump,
thump tells you that your heart is doing its job pumping blood from the veins
to the heart and lungs, where it is replenished with oxygen and then distributed
back to the body through the arteries. How does the heart work? Read on."
This single-page illustrated introduction to the heart includes links to advice
on how to keep your heart healthy.
InnerBody
Start
your cardiovascular adventure by clicking on the heart. From here, you can
navigate two ways. First, as you move your mouse over the human body image,
clickable hot spots will appear. Clicking will display explanatory text in
the right-hand frame. Second, you can change the main image by choosing any
of the related subjects listed below the current illustration. Want to wander
beyond the heart? You'll find a search tool near the bottom of the page.
Preview the Heart
Starting
with the tiny pumping heart on the first page, I fell in love with this interdisciplinary
site. The tour (with a complete table of contents) begins at the bottom of
the first page or you can enter the various activities organized into Do,
See, Learn, Go and Hear. However you go, you will learn about the anatomy
and function of the heart. For a fun look at the heart's role in popular culture,
don't miss The Heart Goes Pop.
What
is the Heart?
"To
work, to play, to do anything at all, the human body needs energy. This energy
is provided by blood, which runs within tubes called arteries and veins. The
body draws fuel in the form of chemicals and oxygen from the blood, and turns
it into energy for work. At the same time, the waste materials produced in
the body are dumped in the blood to be carried away and destroyed in other
areas." Learn all about the heart from Dr. Mani.