It's free! And, it's for me! Session handout from the NSTA, 2004 Conference in Atlanta

It’s free! And, it’s for me!
April 2nd, 2004
NSTA, Atlanta

We provided attendees with a CD and a guide to the resources on the CD for this session. The initial discussion regarding the CD has been removed from this webpage version. However, the listing of sites and materials remains.

Adventures of Amelia the Pigeon
Source: http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/amelia/index.html
“This animated adventure engages children in a story-based scenario that emphasizes concepts of remote sensing and how NASA scientists use satellite imagery to better understand the Earth's environmental changes. The adventure introduces students to Earth science concepts, beginning with classifying objects in satellite images by shape, color and texture, building a foundation for interpretation and understanding of remote sensing. The story is set in New York City, chosen for its size, diversity and the visibility of prominent features in satellite imagery. Lesson plans to accompany the adventure are in development.”

Astrobiology Curriculum
Source: http://astrobio.terc.edu/overview/overview.html
Description:
“Astrobiology provides a fertile domain for students to struggle with fundamental questions of scientific knowledge. Students will learn that scientific knowledge is not a set of accumulated facts, but is a dynamic and, at times, confusing and amorphous set of current speculations. Students will observe and experience how this knowledge base evolves through the addition of new data and the emergence of new means of understanding the data. They will learn about, explore, and participate in the real processes of science research and discovery, including modeling, setting up experiments, testing hypotheses, making systematic field observations, and doing image and data analysis. Research activities such as WebQuests and long-term, independent experiments will enable students to DO rather than TAKE astrobiology.”

Auroras
Source: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2003/educators_guide2003/index5.html
Contents on CD: From NASA, this folder includes the complete teachers guide to teaching about the auroras, including such topics as sunspots, the sun, radiowaves, and magnetism. Activities range from early elementary to high school. The folder also contains the PDF file for the print version of the book, Mysterious Lights in the Sky, and the Flash version.

BioKids
Source: http://biokids.umich.edu/index.html
The resources come from the One Sky, Many Voices project which is now over. However, the material at the site is great and gives you plenty of teaching ideas for weather. Through the use of "keypals," it should be relatively simple to set up a partnership with one or two classes elsewhere in the world to share the data students gather and compare results.
Contents on CD: 5 Word Documents providing full information on the background of the project and all of the activities related to weather. Note that the BioKids site has recently moved and there are more ideas and activities online. The precise location for the download was: http://biokids.umich.edu/projects/kgs_downloads.html

Billy and Maria – A Series of Coloring Books for Children to Learn More About the Weather
Source: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/bm/bm_main.html

Build Your Own Solar Cooker from NASA
Source: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/NASA.Educational.Products/International.Space.Station.Solar.Arrays/ISS.Solar.Arrays.pdf

Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/edu/coloring_booklet.html
You'll find a "fun and exciting 24-page coloring and activity book [that] includes general information on X-ray astronomy, Chandra and the STS-93 mission. It also looks at the sources Chandra investigates: black holes, supernovas, galaxy clusters and even a mystery object. Each image is accompanied by a summary of information. Activities include a maze, word search, connect-the-dots and word jumble."

Chlorine Chemistry Council Free Materials
Source: http://c3.org/order_free_materials/index.php3
Variety of Brochures, etc. are available.

Consumer Information Catalog
Source: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/publicoutreach/landscapeposter.html
Educational Poster on Water Pollution (590L Free)
Walk on the Wild Side: Explore Your Public Lands Activity Book (594L Free)
Source: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/education/wild-side/intro.htm

Create a Graph
Source: http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/graphing/
Online resource where students can enter data and produce a downloadable chart: area, line, bar, pie.

Earth Observing System from Goddard Space Flight Center
Source: http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_educators/eos_posters/index.php
HTML page for ordering the posters available from the Earth Observing System, as well as the PowerPoint presentations that cover the material on each poster.

Educational Materials from the US Geological Survey
Source: http://mac.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/forms/educmat.html
Lesson plans and teach ideas are available at:
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/lesson_plans.htm

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Source: http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/waves3.html
Pictorial chart from the website showing the electromagnetic spectrum.

Forensics in the Classroom
Source: http://www.courttv.com/forensics_curriculum/

Image Collection from USGS
Source: http://www.usgs.gov/picturingscience/collections.html
An impressive collection of images that help you visualize the Earth in new ways.

Life of the Forest
Source: http://www.iplifeoftheforest.com/
This website is produced by International Paper. They have a variety of posters available on their website. These have been downloaded and are on this CD as PDF's. There are 10 posters and teaching guides. Note: International Paper will send you the complete set of 10 posters for FREE!!

National Energy Foundation Resources for Education
"With the support of various energy companies, the NEF Academy for Natural Gas Education is
pleased to provide free instructional materials to teachers. These materials are related to natural gas safety, energy sources, energy conservation, transportation, and other topics. The free materials are available only to current K-12 classroom teachers (recognized public and private schools only). Supply is limited and materials are available only when the local natural gas utility is providing sponsorship."
Source: http://www.nef1.org/ngfm.html

Nurturing Young Scientists - Activities from the National Gardening Association
Source: http://www.kidsgardening.com/themes/scientists1.asp
DragonflyTV from PBS
Source: http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/teachersguide.html

Our Very Own Sun Storybook from NASA
Source: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Curriculum.Support/Space.Science/Educator.Guides.and.Activities/Our.Very.Own.Star.the.Sun/.index.html

Out of the Rock
Find out how metals are used
Source: http://www.nef1.org/outoftherock/teachers/index.html
There's free instructional materials available to classroom teachers from the National Energy Foundation.
Source: http://www.nef1.org/ngfm.html

Owlie’s Safety Tips for Weather
Source: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/owlie/owlie.htm

Science and Our Food Supply Investigating Food Safety From Farm to Table
This is a free curriculum kit for middle school and high school levels. Fill out the application at the website noted to receive your own free kit.
Source: http://www.nsta.org/fdacurriculum

Solar System Lithograph Set
“This set includes 15 educational lithographs. Each one contains images, fast facts, significant dates and background information about a planet or solar body. They can be downloaded as individual lithographs or as a complete set.”
Source: http://spacelink.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/Curriculum.Support/Space.Science/Educator.Guides.and.Activities/Solar.System.Lithograph.Set/.index.html

Teachers' Domain: Multimedia
Resources for the Classroom and Professional Development
Quote:
“High-quality multimedia resources from public television”
“Correlations to national and state curriculum standards”
“Media-rich lesson plans”
“Customizable resource folders”
Source: http://www.teachersdomain.org/

Testing the Waters by Mary Slack from the Toyota Exemplary Lessons Section of the NSTA Website
Source: http://www.nsta.org/programs/laptop/lessons/i5.htm
Quote from the overview: In this activity, students test the quality of a local body of water. Students collect water samples to study pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, particle suspension, plants, macroinvertebrates, and vertebrates. The class compiles the data and evaluates the overall biological water quality of the study area. Students also examine the land around the sampling area to study the effects of human impact. This activity uses the Calculator Based Laboratory system with a variety of probes and graphic analysis computer software. Testing the Waters should be conducted at least twice during the school year and can be used for a long-term project.”

Watershed Biology Study from the Toyota Exemplary Lessons Section of the NSTA Website
Source: http://www.nsta.org/programs/laptop/teach/exemplary.htm
Contents on CD: PDF file on watershed biology by Frank Maier which outlines a complete study for you and your students to use. Here’s a quote from the overview at the site:
“Students test local watersheds for possible sources of pollution. Groups of students survey a small watershed in their area, testing the water for specific chemicals including dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrate, ammonia, chlorine, and phosphate. Students determine if there are pollution problems in the watershed, identify the types of pollution, and determine if the pollution originates from point sources or non-point sources. After analyzing data, the class makes recommendations to town or city planners on steps to correct the pollution problems.”

Webwatcher Guides from NSTA
Source: http://webwatchers.nsta.org/
Locate lessons that fit your science needs. Sites have been vetted by members of NSTA.

Where to find NASA Educator Resources
NASA has regional centers, as well as centers in every state.

Staff Development
Life Science for Elementary Teachers
Quote: “Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science is a content course designed to help K-6 teachers enhance their understandings of “big ideas” in the life sciences. The main goal of this course is to provide teachers with learning opportunities that will directly inform their own classroom practice.”
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/life/

Learning Science Through Inquiry
Quote: “Inquiry-based teaching, central to the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, should not be an isolated occurrence, but a comprehensive and ongoing approach. However, many teachers did not learn this way themselves, as children or during their preparation to become teachers. This eight-part workshop shows inquiry teaching and learning in action in real classrooms. Whether you have already experimented with inquiry teaching and want to enhance your practice, or are new to the approach, this workshop will show you how to make it work in the classroom and how it benefits students.”
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/inquiry/

Science in Focus: Energy
Quote: “ Understanding the concept of energy is crucial to the comprehension of many ideas in physical science, Earth and space science, and life science. The video programs, print guide, and Web site of this workshop for elementary school teachers provide a solid foundation, enabling you to distinguish between the way "energy" is commonly understood and its meaning in science.
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/energy/

Science in Focus: Force and Motion
Quote: “Explore science concepts in force and motion and come away with a deeper understanding that will help you engage your students in their own explorations.”
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/force/

Shedding Light on Science
Quote: “This series uses light as a theme through which to explore topics in physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth and space science.”
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/sheddinglight/

Session Notes:
The science probeware we are using in the session is from PASCO Scientific. You can find them at http://www.pasco.com

The multimedia software we are using is from eZedia. You can find out more about them at http://www.ezedia.com

Revised: April 5th, 2004

Contact: Jane Madden