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Another pre class video to get the classes intrest going in physics. The video is a clip from the T.V. show The Big Bang Theory that may help the younger students pay attention.

I would recommend starting the video at about 1:15 "What is Physics?" Also re-named the resources to be descriptive and added a tag for grades 9-12, for which I think this is actually more appropriate.

In the 1950's three new whale species were discovered, Waharoa ruwhenus, Tokarahia Kauaeroa, and Tokarahia Iophocephalus. Through the study of their fossils scientists have concluded that these three species of whales are part of a new family (species) of whale, Emysticetids. Emysticetids hold an important position on the evolutionary tree between primitive baleen whales and modern baleen whales. These marine creatures lived roughly 25-30 million years ago when the continent of New Zealand, Zealandia, was reduced to low islands and shallow seas. The article goes into great depth about these three new whale species. From their skeletal structure (elongated snout), size (adults were estimated to be 5-6 meters long), and even migratory patterns (continental shelf waters), it is all covered.

This article can be incorporated into a lesson about marine biology and evolutionary trees. It's a little too much for elementary students to grasp but I think it would be an interesting addition to a 6-8 or a 9-12 grade science classroom.

The Molecular Workbench provides an exciting opportunity for teachers and students. Students can choose which science they are interested in and then complete modules, which illustrate concepts through demos and asking questions to check for comprehension. Some of the questions are multiple choice and some are open ended, which will allow for curriculum differentiation. Teachers will be able to see not only if the students remember specific facts but also how deep their understanding goes. Plus, the demos and animations are interesting for the students!

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, or IUPAC, is a council made up of chemists from countries around the world. They have developed a system of naming elements and compounds. This website offers a variety of links to click on explaining the different rules. This website could provide a useful tool for teachers who need a refresher on some of the rules or for students who need additional clarification. Additionally, the site offers some suggestions about how to make the Chemistry curriculum more relevant to students by providing a more hands-on approach that requires a higher level of thinking and questioning.

This website provides a resource for students to learn Chemistry through playing interactive computer games. A teacher can register the class or the students can just login as a guest. Videos and songs are also posted to make Chemistry more interesting. Additionally, the site offers links to resources for getting tutoring help as well as safety rules and lab experiment suggestions for teachers. This website seems like a useful tool in the classroom and to refer students and parents to if they have questions or need additional information.

Exceptional website with multiple resources for teaching various lessons on evolution...30+ links to individual pages with everything from PPT presentations, handouts, assessment tools, photos, and lab projects. May be the most complete place for a teacher to go to get everything he/she needs when putting together a lesson.

This is a great lesson on various visual illusions used to engage and intrigue students, all raising the question "Why is this an illusion?" With interest piqued, students are engaged to answer this question about the T-illusion, proposing hypotheses to explain what makes it an illusion, then designing simple experiments to test those hypotheses. This is extended to a look at natural illusions, and how science effectively reveals their reality.

The Biology Corner is a site that contains tons of resources for biology teachers. It provides lessons, quizzes, labs, interactive websites, and general science information. This website even breaks down chapters and topics that should be covered in AP Biology, Freshman Level Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology classes. Within these chapters power-point presentations, review guides, reading worksheets, etc. are all provided and are encouraged to be utilized and modified. I selected this resource because I can use many of the resources provided on this website in my own classroom. I also think it will be valuable to compare my own teaching materials and methods to another individual's and modify my own if I feel that they can be improved from what I have seen from this website. 

This site will be extremely useful to the science teacher. Pages include PowerPoint presentations, review guides, reading worksheets, crossword puzzles and any other specific resources used for that chapter or unit within that subject. Especially nice is the owner and keeper of this website is working to integrate Common Core into a large number of the lesson plans, especially Biology. Whereas a lot of website do not actively update and change their content this one seems to do that.

Modern Biology Inc. supplements teaching biology laboratories. On the website they have free access to over one hundred experiments that correspond to many different concepts that are being taught in high school biology labs today. There is also the option to search by the class you are teaching for experiments. While access to their experiments is free, some of the experiments require equipment or additional materials that would more than likely need to be bought and Modern Biology, Inc. sells any piece of equipment or material that their labs mention. I selected this resource because labs are a critical part of any science classroom, and lab equipment and materials will inevitably need to be purchased. This is a good resource where all labs can be accessed and materials can be purchased in the same location. I will probably use some of the lab exercises from this website, and it is possible that I would need to purchase equipment and materials from this website as well. 

This is an interactive 3D Brain application for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. This application allows individuals to use touch screens to navigate 29 interactive structures of the brain. It allows individuals to learn haw brain regions operate, what happens if they are damage, how it is linked to certain mental illnesses, etc. This is a valuable resource because I have heard of schools already using iPads in the classroom, so different biology based applications can be incredibly useful if this type of technology is available to you. If I had iPads available to be utilized by my class, this would be a great way for my students to really visualize and explore the brain if I was covering brain structure and function in my classroom. 

WOW! I love this because a large amount of students are very fluent in their technology. Having these types of apps available for students to use at all times is fantastic. Now even though it does cost, some students do have the option to purchase it at home. In classrooms with apple products, it can be used all the time for every student. This is going to be something of the future. It beats still images and allows students to interact as if a brain is right in front of them.

This is a technology-based tool in which students can build a DNA molecule. Based on your rate of construction it calculates how long you would have to work in order to successfully transcribe the DNA in one human cell (my rate was 50 years day and night). Underneath this graphic tool there is also a large amount of material on the structure of DNA. I selected this resource because it is a great interactive tool for students to use, and I think it will help them in conceptualizing DNA related material. This tool can be used to help students understand and appreciate how rapidly and accurately DNA processes, such as transcription, occur within a cell. 

I love the fact that this tool will help students understand how rapidly this process really works. It is mind boggling that these things happen and we aren't even conscious of it. Having students perform activities like this opens their eyes to the wonders of the human body, and to some may even motivate them to ask more questions!

This page follows the textbook, Modern Biology, providing PowerPoint presentations, review sheets, and activities. I selected this resource because this is the text that is used in the class I am observing. This page has helped me create my own presentations and has given me ideas when creating lessons to go along with the topics the class is covering.

This app allows students to overview the cell as a whole, as well as the individual structures and their functions. I selected this resource because it can act as an interactive diagram and quiz on the cell. Having just created a lesson over the cell, I thought this would be a great tool if the class had iPads.

This site was originally published as a book to provide resources for new Chemistry teachers. It describes lab experiments that the author has done with classes. It seems very useful because it goes beyond describing the experiments by explaining common problems students have and how to anticipate or resolve them. Other helpful information includes: estimated time, equipment needed, safety concerns, special clean up information, answer keys, and where these labs fit into the curriculum. While the link and all the information provided are free, the labs do require supplies. For some of the labs, the author discussed cost and how to save money when purchasing supplies. Overall, this resource seems very valuable, especially for new teachers. Even though we have the content background, anticipating mistakes and dealing with problems comes from experience.

Visual depicting geological time. Good visual for a review or to pinpoint a particular period of time under study withing historical perspective.

Beautiful depiction of the history of space travel. May be used to show trends in technological advances and the history of space exploration.

This website could be used as a personal cheat sheet for me if the students ask me a question that I dont know the answer to right there. It can also be used for the students because it has all of the basic formulas the students will need.

Seems pretty advanced for middle school.

Any questions a student might have about physics from real world applications to career opportunities can be accessed on this website

Here is an in-depth introduction to the Solar System and the planets that are in it. From the sun to why poor Pluto is no longer considered a planet, come along for a ride across the Solar System. FreeSchool is great for kids! I like this video for a number of reasons. One thing I really like about this video is how it gives the students an accurate perspective of the size of the different bodies in our solar system. It's also jam packed with a lot of great information about the solar system and builds on possible vocabulary words such as matter and mass. The narrator also has a soothing voice, which is a plus. I would use this video after spending a little time defining the necessary vocabulary of our solar system. We could follow up the video by making our own solar system that we could hang in the hallway.

Good resource. Try tagging using K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and/or 9-12 as grade level options. For this one, for example, K-2 AND 3-5 rather than K-5. Thanks!

Short and sweet videos on science concepts by a student. Could be used to solidify a concept or as an example for a similar assignment for students to make videos on concepts from class. DNA extraction demo is so simple and would be easy for students to replicate in class.