The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of 22 exemplar NSDL links specific to teaching energy at the K-12 level from the more than 7,000 energy-related resources available at the National Science Digital Library.   These resources below address the topic of energy from the physical, life, and earth science perspectives.

TUTORIALS and INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES K-8

Energy Quest

This Web site includes various energy-related activities and learning links especially suitable for students in grades K-8. It describes what energy is, how it works, and how to save it. It includes simple definitions of energy and pictures, movies, and teacher resources to relate energy to everyday world.

Energy: An Introduction

An introduction to the forms and changes in energy. This lesson discusses potential and kinetic energy as well as introducing the 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamics.  It includes questions and quizzes as well as more links.

The Physics Classroom: Work, Energy, and Power

Lesson 1 of this resource describes work, kinetic, potential, and mechanical energy, and power conceptually and mathematically.  Lesson 2 addresses the Work-Energy Theorem.  The resource provides examples enhanced by illustrations, and problems for practice with drop down boxes for your answers and feedback.

Energy Flows

This activity introduces students to different forms of energy, energy transformations, energy storage, and the flow of energy through systems. Students learn that most energy can be traced back to nuclear fusion on the sun.

Sensing Energy

In this lesson, students will identify different forms of energy produced by the sun and perform simple experiments that will help them to explore unseen energy produced by the sun. Students will be exposed to the concept that the sun produces both visible and invisible forms of energy

Energy Flow

This cartoon depicts the transfer of energy in a food chain. The resource is an interactive illustration of a farm scene depicting the flow of  energy between the sun, a cornfield, a cow and a human.

Energy Tutorial

This tutorial includes the following topics: fossil fuels, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric, energy conversion, fuel cell, combustion, gasification, and environmental impacts and trends.

Kids: What is Energy?

This resource provides information about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy supplemented with diagrams, maps, and graphs.  It includes the energy timeline, fun facts, games & activities, classroom activities, and a tutorial that defines and gives examples of energy and energy change for K-8 teachers and their students.

Energy Conservation

This lesson is designed to help students apply the pollution prevention (P2) concept to the use of energy. It provides guidance and activities that explain renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, and how P2 concepts can be used to conserve energy. This site also offers a fact sheet with background information.

The Energy Game: Finding Energy Resources

This activity demonstrates that energy, the environment and economics are closely tied. Students will learn the concepts of scarcity, opportunity cost, net energy profit, law of diminishing returns, and that availability does not mean usefulness.

Home Energy Quiz

Students take a Home Energy Quiz to identify home improvements that could make their homes more energy efficient. The resource includes follow-up information about energy-saving activities, supporting the student examination of energy use, energy efficiency and conservation.

Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC’s website contains educational resources for children and adults, including workshops and courses about working with solar energy systems, energy gauge rater training, and building science training and certification. Also available are useful guides about home energy ratings, maximizing energy efficiency in the home, energy efficient home-design tips, and information about solar energy.

MEDIA

Energy Sources

This video points out that we are consuming fossil fuels at a rate far faster than they can be produced, and that combustion of these materials to produce energy releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. It also discusses some current and future alternatives for supplying energy, and describes some of the benefits and limitations inherent in each. The segment is about 6 minutes in length. A background essay and discussion questions are included.

Energy Flow

This feature follows the path of energy as it is transferred via the food chain (starting with photosynthesis) from one type of organism to another.

Energy in a Roller Coaster Ride See potential energy convert to kinetic energy in this interactive activity that shows a roller coaster in action.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Introduction to Energy

This document introduces the learner to the concept of energy. The reading will define energy and discuss topics such as (1) Potential energy, (2) Kinetic energy, (3) Conservation of Energy, (4) Energy Efficiency, (5) Sources of Energy, (6) Measuring Energy, (7) Energy use, (8) Who uses energy?, and (9) Energy use and prices. The document also depicts illustrations of energy transformations, efficiency of power plants, U.S. energy consumption by source, and percentage of energy use by industrial, commercial, residential, and transportation sectors.

Energy Resources

This reference provides an overview of current and alternative energy sources, including: fossil fuels, nuclear, solar, wind, tidal, hydro-electric, pumped storage reservoirs, wave, geothermal and biomass energy. Each section features a brief description of how the energy source works, a list of advantages and disadvantages, and a short explanation of whether the energy source is renewable. There is also a summary page and a quiz for each energy type.

Explore More: The Future of Energy

Sources, uses, and issues related to energy.  Videos and interviews with experts.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

This U.S. Department of Energy site provides access to more than 600 links and 80,000 documents about renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, including such topics as: bioenergy, hydrogen, power from the oceans, and wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroenergy.

Energy consumption

The reading will explore energy consumption or energy usage in the United States and discuss specific topics such as (1) Who uses energy?, (2) Homes and commerce, (3) Heating and Cooling, (4) Lighting, (5) Appliances, (6) Appliance efficiency ratings, (7) Payback period, (8) Industrial sector, (9) Petroleum refining, (10) Steel manufacturing, (11) Aluminum Manufacturing, (12) Paper manufacturing, (13) Chemical Manufacturing, (14) Cement Manufacturing, (15) The Transportation Sector, (16) The Automobile, and (17) Commercial transportation. The document also depicts illustrations of energy use percentages, lighting efficiency, energy guide, percentage of petroleum products, U.S. oil refinery operating expenses, reduction in energy use 1973-2003, average fuel efficiency of passenger cars, air transport passenger miles per gallon, and tractor trailer truck mileage.

Energy

This web page provides an introduction and overview of potential and kinetic energy, and a discussion of transformations of other forms of energy. A lesson plan and related page on Work are also linked to this page.

Alternative Energy: Solar Energy

This site provides an introduction to the use of the sun’s energy. Topics include the history of solar energy usage and its more recent adaptations. There is also discussion of how the sun produces and radiates energy, what happens when it reaches Earth, types of solar systems, and the most common use of solar energy (heating).

The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of 25 exemplar NSDL links specific to teaching water quality at the K-12 level.

FIELD TRIPS AND LABS

Water Quality Testing in your Local Water Cycle  Students analyze local water chemistry by identifying and collecting local water samples, deciding upon questions they want to answer about their local water sources, and then performing simple water quality tests on their samples.

Water Quality  This is a field investigation in which students test water quality in 2-3 areas using their own testable question.

Water Quality Acquisition  Students practice their field water sample collection and water quality assessment skills (chemical indicators) and study acid mine drainage.

Water Quality Monitoring  This activity is designed to study the water quality of a stream in your area, by measuring the temperature, pH, alkalinity, conductivity and total dissolved solids. It lends itself to integrating biology with earth science when using the microscope to study the living organisms in the water.

Macroinvertebrates and Indicators of Water Quality  This activity is a field investigation where students can go to a body of water and collect the macroinvertebrates there and identify them. Based on what they find, they can assess the water quality by determining the biotic index.

Monitoring Water Quality: A Field Experiment  This lesson combines classroom work with a field trip to give middle school students hands-on experience in determining water quality.

The Effects of Water Quality on the Growth Rate of Freshwater Mussels, Margaritifera falcata  Students will participate in a field and laboratory study to determine if local freshwater mussels are environmentally stressed. Students will test the water quality of local streams/rivers using proper field techniques to determine the effects of water pollutants on the growth rate of freshwater mussels, Margaritifera falcate.

TOPS Water Quality Analysis Lab  This introductory lab gives students a chance to study water samples and the changes in water quality caused by biological demands.

Water Quality  Students use a microcomputer connected to a conductivity probe to measure the total dissolved solids in local area water samples.

SIMULATIONS AND MEDIA

Water Quality  In this online interactive, learners explore the various types of life that live in fresh water systems and how the presence of these organisms is a biological indication of the overall health of the water. Learners perform a water quality test that simulates tests performed in the field and use the data to determine the Cumulative Index Value.

The Watershed Game Interactive game that features two skill levels (novice and intermediate) that teach about water quality, watersheds, and management of this important resource. The intermediate level game is broken into four sections: National Parks, agriculture, neighborhood, and city, each with five questions. At the end of the quiz, the best choices for each question are explained.

Laura Triplett  This appealing video shows Laura Triplett, an environmental geologist who studies how people affect the water quality by studying layers of mud in the lake’s basin.  It also addresses some points related to the nature of science.

CASE STUDIES

Water Quality  This interactive case study presents a simulated situation where a client, who owns a catch and release fishing guide service, is upset over the fact that the fish in a stretch of “Bear Creek” have been dying. The client has called on the student’s firm to figure out what is killing the fish and how to stop it. Preliminary fieldwork has been done and is available for the student’s analysis. The biological, chemical, and physical data for this watershed are realistic values based on data found in similar situations. Guided lectures on the hydrosphere, water pollution, and water quality assessment (biological, chemical and physical) are provided, as well as a link to another module on a real watershed. For additional aides, a site glossary, reference information, a listing of related links, and a model outline of the steps to follow for the Problem Based Learning (PBL) situation are given.

Exploring the Environment: Water Quality  This site presents two case studies regarding the Wheeling Creek area of West Virginia. The scenario asks students to research problems and come up with answers to a fictitious local water board’s concerns over water quality in the watershed. The site provides students with extensive, yet easy to understand background information on the following topics: Importance of Water, Water Cycle, Hydrosphere, Forms of Pollution, and Methods for Monitoring. Graphs, charts, maps, and photos of the creek give students detailed information to help them in their investigations.

LESSON PLANS

Water What-ifs: Lessons  The following water quality parameters will be addressed at this site: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrates/phosphates, and macroinvertebrate surveys. Three lessons are provided for each parameter to help teachers create a water quality unit to be used in conjunction with the water quality testing program.

Teacher’s Domain: Human Impact on Water Quality  In this lesson, students explore how human activity has impacted the quality of our water resources and consider ways to avoid further pollution. Using video and hands-on activities, they will first examine the causes of water pollution, then investigate the quality of their community’s water supply.

Water’s the Matter: Measuring Water Quality  This module will focus on five different measurable properties of water.

NCSR: Impact of Land Use on Water Quality  This module provides information on conducting a multiple session classroom, laboratory, and field-based experience to determining the impact of non-point sources of pollution on watersheds. The module is comprised of the following instructional sessions:(1) A preparatory activity in which students use remote sensing and Internet sources to understanding of the watershed; (2) A field experience in which students evaluate the impact of land use on water quality through direct observation and measurement; (3) An analysis laboratory in which students measure additional water quality parameters and evaluate the relationship between land use and water quality.

Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality - Data in the Classroom  This curriculum guide contains activities designed for grades 6-8 and is organized as a pathway with five lessons at increasing levels of sophistication. They incorporate real data from NOAA to help students understand how water quality parameters are monitored and how these factors affect biological systems.. Each level includes a pretest to check understanding followed by an activity to make graphs, use real data, and collect real water quality data. Included are a teacher’s guide, data sets and evaluation survey.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Important Water Quality Factors  This site provides basic information about chemical indicators commonly analyzed in water quality studies of drinking water, waste water and natural water. The factors are listed alphabetically with descriptions and explanations about what the results of measurements mean in environmental terms.

Monitoring Water Quality  This website consolidates information, programs, mapping tools, policies, and databases of the Environmental Protection Agency which pertain to and regulate water quality. The site includes volunteer and technical guidance on the different ways to monitor water quality, such as physical, biological and chemical indicators.  Students can find the profile for their local watershed.

A Primer On Water Quality  This USGS Fact sheet provides an overview of water quality considerations. Each brief section contains definitions and descriptions. The topics include how to measure water quality, why there are standards and guidelines, the effect of natural processes, the effect of human activities, pathogens found in water, and links to sites in USGS with additional information.

Indicators of Coastal Water Quality  Nutrients in run-off from land-based sources are altering coastal water quality globally. The Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center compiled global data on the concentration of chlorophyll in coastal waters to determine the biomass of algal blooms, which in turn indicates coastal water quality. Students can gain an appreciation of how agriculture and other human activities are affecting the environment and could potentially be suitable for teachers of environmental management classes.

Hurricane Isabel Water Quality Impacts  Hurricane Isabel swept through the east coast of the United States on September 18 and 19 of 2003. This site, created by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, discusses how this strong hurricane with winds in some areas up to 60 miles per hour affected the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays region.

USGS: National Water Quality Assessment Data Warehouse  This comprehensive and well-organized site from the USGS offers visitors all sorts of information on water quality studies from all over the United States. By clicking on a map of the US, users are taken to a list of study areas, with over fifty to pick from.

The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of 20 exemplar NSDL links specific to teaching atomic structure at the K-12 level.

The History of the Atom

1. Atomic Structure Timeline  This site explores discoveries related to atomic structure including the electron, proton and neutron.  Starting with the Greek era (Democritus) until the mid-20^th century, the timeline covers 37 scientists’ work. The site also links to original papers in chemistry.
2. Atomic Theory I: The Early Days and Atomic Theory II: Ions, Isotopes and Electron Shells  Atomic Theory I introduces J. J. Thomson’s discovery of the electron and E. Rutherford’s planetary model of atomic structure.   Atomic Theory II explains the presence of ions, isotopes and discusses N. Bohr’s theory on the quantum behavior of electrons.

Reference Material

1. An Introduction to Chemistry: Structure of Matter PowerPoint  This 45-page PowerPoint presentation uses atomic models to help novice learners visualize the structure of solids, liquids, and gases as matter composed of tiny particles in constant motion. As the lesson progresses, the author explores subatomic particles to explain how the periodic table is organized, and concludes with a brief discussion of ions and isotopes.
2. Atoms and Light Energy  At this site students are reminded of the structure of the atom and the meaning of the terms atom, element, atomic mass, atomic number, and isotope. The Bohr Model is used to review the energy levels, ground state, excited state and ionization. Absorption and emission along with the resulting energies are covered along with the quantum mechanical nature of atoms and photons. The site also includes three student exercises and links for more information.

Tutorials

1. Molecular Logic: Atomic Structure (SAM)  Download this interactive, scaffolded activity that allows students to build an atom within the framework of a newer orbital model. It opens with an explanation of why the Bohr model is incorrect and provides an analogy for understanding orbitals that is simple enough for beginners. As changes are made, the model displays the atomic number, net charge, and isotope symbol.
2. Teachers’ Domain: The Atom  In this Flash interactive activity learners follow the tutorial to understand how individual atoms-the basis of all matter-are composed of subatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons. They investigate the three types of particles, their properties (such as mass and charge), and relative locations.
3. An Introduction to Chemistry: The Structure of the Elements  This interactive animation gives students a taste of atomic/molecular structure by exploring four elements: oxygen, neon, bromine, and iodine. These elements represent four very different structures — a noble gas (neon), a diatomic gas molecule (oxygen), a diatomic liquid molecule (bromine), and a diatomic solid molecule (iodine). Each element is represented in illustrations and animations that model the molecular motion.
4. Annenberg Learner Interactives: The Periodic Table  This web site introduces the periodic table and the basics of atomic structure within a framework of interactive activities. It takes the learner on a journey to understand the modern orbital model of the atom. It progresses to illustrated tutorials that explore the organization of the Periodic Table, characteristics of isotopes and ions, and how the placement of electrons determines the atomic composition of an element. Throughout are game-like simulations: build an atom by dragging virtual electrons into orbitals, explore ionic bonding by dragging individual ions to create a compound, calculate an atom’s average relative mass with scaffolded help, and more.

Simulations

1. Models of the Hydrogen Atom  How did scientists figure out the structure of atoms without looking at them? Learners try out different models by shooting light at the atom and check how the prediction of the model matches the experimental results.
2. PhET Simulation: Build An Atom  This simulation is designed to help learners visualize atomic structure, as they drag protons, neutrons, and electrons to construct an atom. As particles are moved into place, the simulation automatically displays the net charge, mass number, atomic symbol, and name of the element.  These is a  lesson plan developed specifically to accompany the PhET simulation PhET Teacher Ideas: Build An Atom - Lesson Plan.  The lesson contains a complete student guide in printable pdf format, and pre-lab/post-lab assessments.
3. PhET Simulation: Neon Lights & Other Discharge Lamps  This interactive simulation allows users to understand atomic excitations due to electron scattering. The user can set the voltage of the electrodes in a simulated discharge tube and view the energy level transitions and spectra of photons emitted from atoms excited by the electrons in the tube.

Questions and Activities

1. Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table  17 WebCT exam/quiz questions that focus on the various aspects of the electronic structure of atoms.  Correct answers are included and explained.
2. Atomic Structure Webquest  This web page outlines a student activity on atoms and the periodic table. The assignment includes instructions about how to write a children’s book for 3rd and 4th graders on the topic of the elements. It is a performance-based activity designed to promote critical thinking about atomic and molecular structures as students characterize and model the structures in a storybook format. Grading rubrics are also included.

Periodic Tables

1. Periodic Table Live!  This interactive resource allows learners to explore a broad range of information about the elements and their reactions, properties, structures, and histories. Click on any element to view its description, physical properties, and selected properties of its atomic structure.
2. Chemical Elements.com  This is an online interactive periodic table of the elements which includes all elements up to 118. There are several different options for viewing, such as date of discovery, electron configuration, number of neutrons, etc. Elements can also be viewed by element groups.

For more advanced learners

1. Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table  This section of the online textbook “Chem 1 Virtual Textbook” on General Chemistry is designed to provide a thorough, in-depth treatment of this topic with a special focus on the underlying concepts.
2. Primer on Quantum Theory of the Atom  This question-and-answer tutorial provides an introduction to quantum theory and the electron structure of the atom. This “quantum catechism” presents the basic concepts in an easily understood way and with a minimum of mathematical detail.
3. Rutherford Scattering  How did Rutherford figure out the structure of the atom without being able to see it? Simulate the famous experiment in which he disproved the Plum Pudding model of the atom by observing alpha particles bouncing off atoms and determining that they must have a small core.
4. Why Doesn’t the Electron Fall into the Nucleus?  This tutorial offers a conceptual and non-mathematical answer to this question. The explanation covers the application of quantum theory and points out that a particle such as an electron cannot be treated as a classical particle; discusses the balance between the electron’s kinetic and potential energy; and points out the impossibility of determining simultaneously the precise location and momentum of an electron. The tutorial is part of a virtual textbook for a full-year General Chemistry course.
5. Atomic Spectra  In this Flash animation the user can view the atomic emission spectra (400-700nm) of eight different elements. A dragable marker allows the user to approximate the wavelength of the various spectral lines. The effect of resolution can be examined in the sodium spectrum in the region 550-600nm.

The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of eleven NSDL links to more than 10,000 resources specific to teaching math at the K-12 level.

To browse resources by standards or domains

1. The NSDL Math Common Core collection has math interactives and lesson plans, organized by grade level and domain, that address the Math Common Core State Standards.

2. The NSDL Science Literacy Maps tool includes two math-related strandmaps that address math benchmarks: The Nature of Mathematics and The Mathematical World.  Each of these two chapters organizes the resources by mathematical domains.  Clicking on the selected domain produces a map that illustrates connections between concepts and illustrates how concepts build upon one another across grade levels.  Clicking on a concept within the maps will show NSDL resources relevant to the concept.  On the upper left corner, teachers can also find documented students’ misconceptions related to the mathematical domain.

3. Our partners at the Computational Science Education Reference Desk Pathway hold the Interactivate collection, that includes interactive Java-based resources for math and science at the 3-12 grade levels.

4. Our Teachers’ Domain partner holds more than 200 resources, mostly videos and lesson plans, for K-12 Math.  These resources are organized by mathematical domains and concepts.  In this library, users can create their folders for free to save and share resources.

Resources by school level

5. For the elementary school level, one of our newest partners, the MathLanding digital library offers over 400 high-quality digital mathematics content and contexualized resources that utilize Web 2.0 capabilities.  In this interface, users can also refine their searches for grade level and topic.

6. For the middle school level, the Middle School Portal Math & Science Pathways (MSP2) library has Math Resource Guides that include lesson plans and a variety of activities, assessment, reading and writing in math, quantitative literacy, integration of math with social studies, teaching strategies. You can create your own free account and exchange information with other members.

Bilingual Math resources

7. Specifically for students not proficient in English, the NSDL has a great number of bilingual math resources, mostly in Spanish, that include content and simulations.  In this interface, users can also refine their searches for grade level and topic.

Find Math resources by advanced searches

8.  An advanced search for Mathematics and K-12 grades at the SMILE portal results in over 750 resources  of various types.  This advanced search can be further refined to the math topic desired.  In this portal, you can also create your own free account to save your favorite resources, rate them, and share them with colleagues.

9. An advanced search for Mathematical Sciences at the K-12 level in our Engineering Pathway partners resulted in over 150 resources that include a brief description and the aimed-for grade level.  This advanced search can be further refined to the math topic desired.  The resource types include a question and answer service, experiments, simulations, games, visuals, case studies, lesson plans, discussion forums, and reference material.

10. Another new partner, the iCPALMS Pathway, provides access to 523 widget-based resources.  These resources are aligned to the Florida’s K-12 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.  In this interface, users can also refine their searches for grade level and topic.

11. Finally, an advanced search for Math at all K-12 grades on the NSDL results in over 4500 resources, some of which are included in the above collections and others that live in additional NSDL collections.   This advanced search can be further refined to the math topic desired.

The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of the more than 300 resources specific to teaching invertebrates and 4400 resources specific to teaching plants at the K-12 level that you can find by conducting a simple search on nsdl.org.  You can also browse for resources in our interactive Living Environment AAAS Science Literacy Map to find resources for the whole K-12 spectrum. Specific for K-6 teachers, you can find professional development resources related to Life Science in our Science Refreshers page

INVERTEBRATES 

1. Soft-bottom Shores  Natural history information on some of the organisms found on soft-bottoms mainly in the coasts of Washington. Good pictures and highlights on common invertebrates and plants species, with scientific names provided. Special emphasis on evolutionary adaptations of feeding and other interesting physiological issues. Information on sampling devices also included.
2. Water Retention - No Problem With The Key (Vertebrates&Invertebrates) Investigation  This lesson helps grade 3 students understand the difference between Vertebrates and Invertebrates.
3. Investigating Macroinvertebrates: How Clean is Our Lake?  This 3-part lesson begins with a field activity beside a lake or stream where students collect and identify macro invertebrates. During the second and third portions of the lesson, students conduct research to answer questions that they have regarding the macro invertebrates that they have identified and then based on the types of macro invertebrates found make a general determination of the cleanliness of the lake.
4. Investigative Case - “Holy Starbucks Batman!”  Students will investigate caffeine as a potential new pollutant in a northwest river system. Effects of caffeine on invertebrates and salmon fry will be explored through field work and lab work.
5. Ecowatch: A Community-Based Project About Insects and Their Allies  Ecowatch is “a community-based project for the assessment of habitat quality in the riverland of South Australia.” The educational resources available on the Ecowatch are an excellent introduction to invertebrates, as well as more detailed information on major invertebrate groups (down to the class level, generally). An easy-to-use pictorial key makes invertebrate identification (again, to class level) fun and simple — and valid for any region. The For Teachers section “outlines activities that students can undertake to learn more about invertebrates and the environments they live in,” and includes instructions for building two types of invertebrate traps.
6. Hunting Invertebrate Fossils in the Classroom  This lesson plan is designed to provide a general knowledge about paleontology and its intimate relationship to sedimentary geology. It will introduce the student to fossils with an emphasis on the invertebrate phyla. As a result of this activity students will acquire a general knowledge of fossils and paleontology, be able to identify the major invertebrate groups commonly found in the fossil record, and learn how fossils tell us about the history of the earth.
7. The Science and Engineering of Composting  The Cornell University Center for the Environment provides this site as a one-stop source of composting information.  The content is divided into four categories: invertebrates, microbes, chemistry, and physics. Composting Experiments offers ideas for projects to investigate factors influencing the composting process, such as temperature, pH, and invertebrates.
8. University of California Museum of Paleontology: Invertebrate Collection thousands of specimens of invertebrates (including over 15,000 type specimens) of most groups of invertebrates from many geologic ages and geographic regions. The invertebrate catalog contains data on invertebrate localities and both type (published) and non-type specimens. It is searchable by specimen number, family, genus, and species, and by location and/or geologic age. Data available through type specimen searches includes both taxonomic (genus, species, and subspecies names) and publication (author, date, citation) information. Locality searches provide information on both location and age. Photos are available online for some specimens.

PLANTS

1. From Seeds to Plants  This activity is a classroom activity to investigate seeds and plants.
2. Plants-in-Motion  Watch plants move in time-lapse videos in this interactive activity adapted from Indiana University that shows that plants are not stationary, they are in constant, though very slow motion, as they respond to environmental factors.  Included are discussion questions and a background essay.  Also alignment to standards if signed up.
3. Light Plants and Dark Plants, Wet Plants and Dry Ones  Students plant sunflower seeds in plastic cups, and once germinated, these are exposed to different conditions of light levels and/or soil moisture contents. During exposure of the plants to these different conditions, students measure growth of the seedlings every few days using non-standard measurement (inch cubes).
4. Polar Plants: Virtual Bookshelf  This article features children’s literature about plants and the plants found in the polar regions.
5. Plants  Children will learn about spring and how to grow plants while incorporating core related material.  The children will also learn about different qualities of flowers while learning shapes, counting, and colors.  The children will learn how to plant and take care of a garden. The children will learn that gardens need rain to grow. Students will also learn about evaporation.  A Flower Story is also available.
6. Pollinating Fast Plants This webpage explains the steps for pollinating Fast Plants. This activity is aligned to National Science Education Standards
7. Plants  In this project, students will identify the relationship of the structure of plants. Students will also understand the cycle of plants and their role in the food chain. Why are plants important? How do they affect the cycle of life? This resource includes a video, handouts, and online quiz, and a link to planting a seed experience.
8. Growing Plants  In this activity, learners will be working with predictions with a time frame of one week, or longer. Start by planting seedlings. Once they begin to sprout, make predictions: How tall will the plants be in a week? in a month? Each week, children measure and record the height of their plants.
9. Carnivorous Plants  In this video adapted from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, learn about carnivorous plants that act as both producers and consumers in an ecosystem. See sundews and blatterworts capture and digest insects. Included are discussion questions and a background essay.  Also alignment to standards if signed up.
10. Aquatic and Wetland Plants and Invasive Plants  Aquatic plant enthusiasts will enjoy this image-rich (videos) website from the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (APIRS) at the University of Florida. The site features images of nearly 400 native and non-native plant species found in Florida.

Selections for teaching other topics: 

Digital Resource Package for Teaching Evolution

The National Science Digital Library has a wealth of high quality digital resources to teach almost any topic in K-12 math and science.  Following is a sample of the more than 9000 resources specific to teaching evolution that you can find by conducting a simple search on nsdl.org.  You can also browse for resources in our interactive Living Environment AAAS Science Literacy Map to find resources for the whole K-12 spectrum. Specific for K-6 teachers, you can find professional development resources related to Evolution in our Science Refreshers page

1. Evolution This role-play activity demonstrates how natural selection plays a large role in the evolution of species.
2. Evolution game  This is an interactive application suitable for upper elementary students and older to experience how evolution works. It’s based in the real example of the butterfly Biston betularia as were reported in the UK.
3. Evidence for Evolution In this Evolution WebQuest from Teachers’ Domain, high school students will investigate a variety of types of evidence for evolution.
4. Darwiniana & Evolution This site offers links to articles, essays, papers, letters, and photos related to Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary biology. Topics include evolution, theology, race, and natural selection.
5. Evolution Revolution From the Evolution Web site, explore the rise of a revolutionary idea and the controversies that surround it. This is an interactive resource for high school students from the Teachers’ Domain collections.
6. Protein Evolution In this interactive activity for advanced students, students explore the evolution of proteins by comparing 2D and 3D alignments of orthologs and paralogs.  It includes an assessment component.
7. Evolution of Camouflage This video segment for grades 3 to 12 from Evolution: “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea,” illustrates the remarkable camouflage of a praying mantis against its leafy backdrop.  This resource includes discussion questions and transcript.
8. Evolution on Double Time  This document, excerpt from Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, by Carl Zimmer, describes how gene duplication may have been the key to the rapid evolution of the early stages of life on Earth.
9. Evolution Outreach Projects  This collection of materials and suggestions is intended to appeal to younger students and to biology teachers who may have met resistance when teaching evolution. These materials, some humorous or satirical in nature, include posters, stickers, and slides; online resources for teachers; a tutorial on the evolution of the Galapagos tortoise; and links to pro-evolution websites.
10. Microbial Evolution and Systematics   This resource includes a simulation of the evolution timeline.  The major topics included in the set of undergraduate course notes are: Physical Evolution of Earth; Origin of Life on Earth; Early Evolution of Organisms with Increasing Complexity; Atmospheric Oxygen; Classification; Molecular Approaches to Phylogeny; and an Overview of Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. The notes include several outlinks to additional sources of information. (Takes awhile to download; but worth the wait…).

Misconceptions and how to address them

1. Misconceptions about Evolution and the Mechanisms of Evolution  This resource will help teachers deal with several common misconceptions about evolution.
2. Voices for Evolution  Some forms of creationism hold that natural biological processes cannot account for the history, diversity, and complexity of life on earth. Such “anti-evolution” creationists have been leading opposition to the teaching of evolution since the 1920s. This section of the National Center for Science Education website offers articles about anti-evolution creationist movements, critiques of creationist writings, and collections of materials on the leading lawsuits over efforts to teach creationism or to undermine the teaching of evolution in public schools.
3. Understanding Evolution for Teachers  This website was designed to teach evolution to teachers and explain common misconceptions, while providing guidance and tools for teaching evolution in the classroom and avoiding some of the pitfalls of the evolution “debate.” Topics include the history of evolution, the evidence for evolution, evolution in the news, and lesson plans and conceptual frameworks that can be used by educators.

Lesson plans

1. Understanding Evolution  This site provides access to basic and advanced online resources (K-16) for teaching the science and history of evolutionary biology. The resources are organized by topic: the mechanisms of evolution; the relevance of evolutionary theory to everyday life; lines of scientific evidence; and the history of ideas, research, and contributors in the study of evolution. For teachers, there are searchable databases of lesson plans, activities, and conceptual frameworks on the history of life, evidence for evolution, mechanisms of evolution, and the nature of science. Other materials include links to news items and highlighted features on specific evolution topics.
2. Evolution Lessons This collection of middle and high school lessons from the Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute (ENSI) focus on evolution. Each title is an active link to the named activity. The site also contains links to synopses for all of the lessons and a statement on the appropriate grade level for the lessons.
3. Evolution Teaching Modules  These are stand-alone modules (lesson plans) that incorporate principles of evolution into other disciplines of biology.

Human evolution

1. Human Evolution  This resource from Bruce MacEvoy links to documents “summarizing the hominid fossil record and hypothesized lines of human evolution from 5 million years ago to the present.” The site is divided into five parts: Chart of Human Evolution, Tour of the Human Fossil Record, The Hominid Brain, Hominid Tools, Hominid Fossil Sites and Patterns of Hominid Dispersal.
2. Human Evolution  The first Web site is an article from the New York Times (1) detailing some recent fossil discoveries that are shaking the paleontological world (free registration is required). Another relatively recent article from Guardian Unlimited (2) discusses a scientific debate surrounding the question of whether “a Western lifestyle now protects humanity from the forces that used to shape Homo sapiens.” The third resource (3) includes a likely timeline of events in the history of hominids and a tour of the fossil record. A second timeline from the Huntarian Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Glasgow (4) is less detailed, but links to many major fossil discoveries of human and pre-human history. An “overview of the study of human evolution, and of the currently accepted fossil evidence” (5) is used to inform arguments for creationists and evolutionists. An interesting site from the University of California Santa Barbara (6) presents 3-dimensional views of “modern primate relatives and fossil ancestors of humans.” The interactive documentary from the Institute of Human Origins (7) is a great resource for those with the Flash plug-in and a high speed connection. Lastly, a resource from PBS.org (8) focuses on human evolution in a format aimed at kids.
3. Human Evolution  This radio broadcast discusses the process of human evolution, pointing out that it is a complex story with diverse species appearing and dying out, some of whom walked the Earth at the same time. Topics include the hominid split from chimps 6 million years ago; the molecular clock and DNA changes; the hominid fossil record and what can be determined from it; and why there were so many different species of hominids and what reasons they might have had for migrating out of Africa. There is also discussion of the characteristics of Homo erectus and Neanderthals; when modern humans emerged and developed culture and language; and what genes may be responsible for speech. The broadcast is 41 minutes and 45 seconds in length.
4. Evolution of the Eye  In this video appropriate for high school students and older, zoologist Dan-Erik Nilsson demonstrates how the complex human eye could have evolved from simple light-sensitive cells. From Evolution: “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea.”  The resource includes discussion questions and a background essay.

Two recent publications are featuring National Science Digital Library (NSDL) resources and services:

Check out Daniel Toomey’s article in the November School Library Monthly: The National Science Digital Library: STEM Resources for the 21st Century Learner.  Dan is a 7th and 8th grade teacher at Edgewood Campus School in Madison, WI. He also co-teaches a secondary science methods course at Edgewood College. He loves to include using video to enhance classroom teaching and curriculum development—especially integrating technology in the science classroom—and creating standards-based middle school level curriculum.Dan learned of NSDL while exploring how technology can be used for student learning and teacher content knowledge, as part of his professional development goals. He began using NSDL often, and has been a strong proponent ever since. “I am on a personal mission to share this outstanding resource with as many teachers as I can,” says Dan.   Many thanks for being such a great ambassador for NSDL!<br><br>

Another notable example of NSDL in the news is the November/December issue of Knowledge Quest (Vol 39, No 2). Focused on STEM for our Students, the issue is guest edited by Marcia Mardis, assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University, and Kaye Howe, Director of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Resource Center, in Boulder, Colorado. The issue contains a wealth of valuable articles that feature many NSDL resources and services, as well as others that are sure to meet multiple needs for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education:

• School Librarians, Science Teachers, and Optimal Learning Environments, by Barbara Schultz-Jones
• Speak Up! Students Embrace Digital Resources for Learning, by Laurie Smith and Julie Evans
• Teachers’ Domain: Digital Media (Including Video!) Resources for the STEM Classroom and Collection, by Daniella Quinones
• Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Bringing the Polar Regions Closer to Home, by Jessica Fries-Gaither
• Cook Up Curriculum with Content Clips, by Lois McLean
• Using Social Media to Build an Online Professional Learning Network of Middle Level Educators, by Kim Lightle
• NSDL as a Teacher Empower Point: Expanding Capacity for Classroom Integration of Digital Resources, by Eileen McIlvain
• Making Science Learning Available and Accessible to All Learners: Leveraging Digital Library Resources, by Anne Marie Perrault
• School Librarians as Digital Librarians: The Michigan Teacher Network Project, by Laura Stroup, Mary deWolf, and Margaret Lincoln
• President’s Column: Start the Conversation with Science Teachers, by Nancy Everhart
• Guest Editor: STEM for Our Students: Content to Co-conspiracy? by Marcia Mardis and Kaye Howe
• CBC Column: Bringing Science to Life with Readers Theater, by Melissa Stewart

This issue of KQ is available online to current members of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL); via the ERIC database, and educational libraries.

See (or listen to) the Saturday, October 23, 2010 article/podcast from Bob Edwards Weekend show (distributed to public radio stations by Public Radio International (PRI)). Edwards talks with Keith Curry Lance, who focuses his research on the connections between student achievement and school libraries: “He’s found that students perform better in schools with well-stocked, well-funded libraries, as well as certified librarians who are actively involved in instruction.”

How can you teach about climate change in your classroom? This podcast from the June issue of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears Cyberzine might help. Get a sneak peek here:

Next month’s issue on climate change will have a host of information for teachers to understand climate change issues. In this podcast, we feature Mark McCaffrey, scientist and educator for the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He advises teachers to think twice before teaching a unit on global warming to younger students and focus rather on understanding ideas on climate itself, to know what climate is before delving into how it is changing. For some more ideas, go to the CIRES website.

Check out the list of resources from the NSDL/NSTA Web Seminar: Biotechnology: Resources for Teaching and the Career Pipeline (February 17th). Featured are resources from WGBH Teachers’ Domain and their new collection on Biotechnology, including videos related to careers, applications of biotechnology, and lessons you can use right away in your classroom