Science Subjects/Discipline

Last updated: May 21, 2013

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Agriculture/Gardening Biology/Life Science (Including Health) Chemistry Earth/Space Energy Engineering Environmental Evolution Marine Science Math/Technology Physics

iTunesU: More than 600 universities — including Stanford, Yale and MIT — distribute lectures, slideshows, PDFs, films, exhibit tours and audiobooks through the iTunes Store. The U also includes content from public broadcasting outlets and public libraries. The Science section contains multimedia content on topics including agriculture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, ecology and geography. http://www.apple.com/education/itunes-u/whats-on.html

AGRICULTURE/GARDENING

Food Safety from Farm to Fork
This teacher guide provides fifth through seventh graders a better understanding of food safety through real-life examples and enjoyable activities. Students will learn that everyone has a responsibility in minimizing food-borne illnesses -- farmers, transporters, restaurants, grocery stores... and the consumer! Through reading, games, puzzles, math problems and science investigations, participants identify the roles each one of us plays to ensure the food we enjoy is safe to eat. Download this 16-page booklet from www.cfaitc.org or request a printed version by calling 800/700-AITC (2482) or e-mailing cfaitc@cfaitc.org.

Free Copies of Growing Space Magazine
Copies of the Growing Space magazine series, written especially for science and agriscience students and teachers, are available to interested teachers. Growing Space Vol. 1-3 will help students see the connection between agricultural practices on Earth that relate to space-based research, particularly in the plant sciences. Lesson plans and other educational resources are also available. To request your free copies of Growing Space, obtain lesson plans, and learn about other space education materials, please visit our website at http://www.spaceag.org. Space Agriculture in the Classroom is a joint project of USDA, NASA, and the University of Florida that is designed to boost student awareness of the space program and the role of agriculture in our economy and society.

Way to Grow! Gardening Awards
California youth groups involved in gardening programs can enter to win certificates and prizes as part of the second annual Way to Grow! Youth Garden Recognition Program. Contact Danielle Blacet at dblacet@wga.com.

Teacher Resource Guide for Agricultural Literacy
Developed by California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, the TRG is a must-have tool for educators and volunteers working toward agricultural literacy. http://cfaitc.org/trg/.

The nonprofit National Gardening Association's website for educators and parents, kidsgardening.com offers more than "how-to" advice, classroom stories, grant information and other resources to help kids grow. It is also a great place for learning from and with other educators who use plants and gardens to delight, engage and enrich learning. Through our Garden in Every School Registry, you can learn what's happening in nearly 1,000 school gardens, greenhouses and habitats, and swap ideas, seeds and more with those who share your interests. Our ambitious goal is to document and feature every school garden and habitat project in the country and beyond. What's your story? Be sure your program is counted by registering with us at http://www. kidsgardening.com/School/register.asp

The National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest conservation education organization and publisher of Ranger Rick Magazine, can help educational settings, including schools, daycare centers and after-school programs create gardens for wildlife. These exciting outdoor classrooms provide hands-on learning that is interdisciplinary, standards-based, inexpensive and inclusive of all learning styles. NWF has free information on planning your habitat, ideas for funding, gardening for wildlife, aligning your outdoor classroom to the National Standards of Learning and much more. NWF also has curricula available to make it easy for you to teach outdoors. Check out the website at http://www.nwf.org/schoolyard/.

BIOLOGY/LIFE SCIENCE (Including Health)

Did you know that he National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers FREE resources to K-12 science teachers?
MedlinePlus (Grades 6 -12+): Easy to read health information. An excellent source for all ages. Also available in Spanish.
PubMed (Grades 11 – 12+): A citation index for articles from medical and life science journals. View the PubMed tutorial for site navigation guidance.
Visible Human Project (Grades 6 – 12+): Complete, anatomically detailed, 3D representations of the normal male and female human bodies.
Genetics Home Reference (Grades 6 – 12+): Information about genetic conditions.
Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine (Grades 6 - 12+): Explore the genetics of the characters and the roots of the creatures and magic in the Harry Potter book series in terms of Renaissance science and historical lore. Lesson plans included.
Help Me Understand Genetics Handbook (Grades 6 – 12+): Basic information about genetics in clear language and links to online resources.
Science Primer (Grades 7 – 12+): A basic introduction to the science and technology of genetics and genomes.
AIDSinfo Homework Help (Grades 6 – 12+): Reliable homework help section to help students and teachers understand HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS Portal (Grades 6 – 12+): Links to journal literature, clinical trials and treatment information, meeting abstracts, and other scientific and consumer-related resources.

Scitable is a free science library and personal learning tool brought to you by Nature Publishing Group, the world's leading publisher of science. Scitable currently concentrates on genetics and cell biology, which include the topics of evolution, gene expression, and the rich complexity of cellular processes shared by living organisms. Scitable also offers resources for the budding scientist, with advice about effective science communication and career paths. http://www.nature.com/scitable.

Don't Let the Ticks Bite—Curriculum Guide for Teachers is relevant to the California science content standards pertaining to life cycles and ecosystems in the 4th and 6th grades. Brochures, bookmarks, and tick ID cards are available free of charge from the California Department of Public Health. To order, contact Claudia Erickson, claudia.erickson@cdph.ca.gov or (916) 552-9730. Visit http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/DLTTBCurriculumforTeachers.aspx. Allow two weeks for delivery.

Human Genetics Education Resources - the Aspiring Nurse web site offers a list of links to educational resources regarding human genetics. http://www.aspiringnurse.com/human-genetics-educational-resources/

Free Audubon Adventures Classroom Resource Kit for grades 3-5 is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Audubon Adventures is filled with great resources for students and teachers, including a standards-aligned chart identifying how it meets national and California science standards. For more information, check out http://www.audubon.org/educate/aa, and contact Phyllis Schmitt to apply for th free kit.

National Institutes of Health New Curridulum Supplement: Innovative Approach to Exploring Bioethics: Now high school science teachers will have an innovative approach for students to use in addressing these and other intriguing bioethical questions. “Exploring Bioethics” is the newest FREE curriculum supplement in the award-winning NIH series, available at http://science.education.nih.gov/p7. “Exploring Bioethics" covers six topics: genetic testing, the use of human subjects in research, vaccination policy, steroid use by athletes, organ allocation for transplants, and the modification of animals for human benefit. The lessons promote problem-solving and communication skills, critical thinking, and teamwork. The curriculum supplement presents six three-day lessons developed by leading bioethicists, scientists, and educators in a comprehensive, interactive resource that fits easily into the curriculum.

Free Science Education Materials from the National Institutes of Health: NIH has new, free materials on biomedical topics. These print and online resources include:
A new edition of The Chemistry of Health that includes a full-color booklet featuring chemistry basics, short "Meet a Chemist" profiles, a companion poster, and an extensive online resource, ChemHealthWeb (http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/chemhealth/), with downloadable chapters, chemistry A-Z glossary, molecule gallery and chemistry-related puzzles and games.
Two full-color classroom posters available at http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/chemhealthwebposter.html and
http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/findingsposter.html. The latest issue of Findings magazine at http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/findings/issues.asp. This issue features Marc Zimmer, a biochemist who studies glow-in-the-dark proteins, and Lola Eniola-Adefeso, a chemical engineer who studies methods to improve heart disease drugs. These printed and online resources focus on medically relevant life sciences and are free of charge. Printed materials are available individually or in classroom sets. They are also downloadable from http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/classroom.html.

Dairy Council of California: The Dairy Council of California provides nutrition education programs for K – 12 classrooms aligned to California state standards, that have been field-tested for success and are available free-of-charge for California teachers. Their website includes free downloadable education handouts on topics such as healthy breakfast ideas, snacks and healthy eating for preschoolers as well as interactive learning tools, including the popular MyPyramid game for children. For more information visit http://www.dairycouncilofca.org/Educators/

BioQuick News-Life Science News From Around the Globe: BioQuick News is dedicated to the timely reporting of key life science advances from around the globe and is edited and published by long-time science writer Michael D. O'Neill. Check out the latest life science news at: www.bioquicknews.com

Biology Teacher's Lesson Plan Website: The site was created to help teachers find resources that are unavailable in most ancillary text materials. With so much available on the Web, it is often unnecessary to create new activities. It is more than likely that it already exists. In addition, there are many PowerPoint Presentations, Activities, Labs, Animations, Tutorials, Games, and Videos that enhance the learning or just make learning more fun. We hope you enjoy the site. http://www.biology4teachers.com

Entomological Foundation Interactive Web Site: The Entomological Foundation has created its first interactive, youth web site for children and educators. The site is a self-guided educational site for children, which contains learning activities designed to help children in grades 3 and 4 understand primary areas of entomology relating to the characteristics of organisms, life cycles, and the relationship of organisms to their environment. The site consists of three main sections, which correspond to the knowledge level of the user. Each section contains a set of activities and objectives with an assessment (in game format) of what the user learned from the activities. The site also contains a section for educators, which lists the names of the activities, their objectives, and the national science standard and entomology benchmark addressed by that activity. The site is located at http://www.cipm.info/entfnd/

MIT Open Courseware for Science offers free online material from MIT's introductory courses to support students as they study and educators as they teach the AP® Biology curriculum. Physics curriculum also available. Visit MIT at http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/biology/biology/index.htm.

ActionBioscience.org offers resources to enhance teaching in the biosciences. Peer-reviewed, easy-to-read articles on bioscience issues, which make excellent student reading material or content for case study activities, educator-written lessons to accompany many of the articles with handouts for middle school, high school, and/or college level students, NSES correlation charts that match articles and lessons to national standards, making lesson planning an easier process, Spanish translations of select articles, useful for ESL students who need to improve their science language literacy skills. ActionBioscience.org is an education resource of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. http://www.actionbioscience.org/.

Pioneer Middle School Virtual Zoo Project Animal Kingdom. The kingdom Animalia contains thousands of very different species belonging to various phyla and classes. The animal kingdom is diverse containing over 2 million different species. When you think of animals, you probably picture elephants, lions, tigers, and other large mammals. The animal kingdom is so much more. The mammals are only a small fraction of the total animal kingdom. Visit their website to navigate around their virtual zoo. Pioneer Middle School's Virtual Zoo now has 184 animal exhibits, and while many other zoo site claim to be the largest or best; the Pioneer Virtual zoo is the clearly the most comprehensive.

Free science and medical clip art. http://www.3dscience.com/3D_Science_Clip_Art.php

Biomedical Beat is a free electronic newsletter published monthly by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS.) In the current issue, you can read about the work of chemists who have made a synthetic version of a medicinally important extract from tree bark and the efforts of a group of scientists studying how trauma triggers a genetic response. Subscribe online or contact carlsone@nigms.nih.gov.

The Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP) provides teachers with tools to teach biology and chemistry using topics that captivate high school students such as the chemistry and biology of cocaine, nicotine, and steroids. In this partnership between Duke University Medical Center and the North Carolina School for Science & Math, students learn basic biology and chemistry concepts using various modules. The PEP modules were designed to address the National Science Education Standards. The PEP modules have been tested nationally (~3500 high school students) and the results show that the more modules used by teachers, the better the students performed on a multiple choice test of basic biology and chemistry principles, compared to the standard curricula. http://thepepproject.net.

For dissection alternatives, see PETA's online virtual dissection resources. The site includes Digital Frog International's Digital Frog 2.5, which has been evaluated by the California Department of Education's California Learning Resource Network and has been found to meet all of the state's scienc educational objectives for grades 5-12 for which dissection has been used. Visit PETA.org/dissection.

Animals in the Classroom: A Guide for Elementary and Secondary Educators, which offers advice for helping students develop responsible attitudes toward animals. The publication addresses issues related to classroom pets, live animal studies, dissection and science fairs. Contact the Center for Laboratory Animal Welfare at the Massachusetts Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130; 617-541-5081; e-mail ebirkholz@mspca.org.

WOW: Watch Out for Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is not only committed to protecting America's wildlife, we are committed to protecting our members and the driving public from the dangers of wildlife-vehicle collisions. For an activity book with information and games to teach kids about how they can help protect wildlife from cars and other highway dangers. Visit their website.

Raptors in the City -- Technology connects kids with nature. How do you catch a glimpse of the fastest creature on earth? Go online! "Raptors in the City" is a real-time, inquiry-based science and technology program for grades 4-6 that stars the peregrine falcon. The peregrine has recovered from near extinction and was removed from the List of Endangered Species in 1999, one of the great success stories in the field of wildlife conservation. The curriculum supports one semester of study, and the students learn environmental, biological, and technological lessons, as well as research skills, tied to national science and technology standards. Curriculum materials and books for falcon study are available at low cost. To subscribe to the free "Falcon Flash" e-newsletter, weekly bulletins and pictures from the program's study nest site during nesting season, and for more information visit: www.raptorsinthecity.org. Contact person: Deborah Mathies 177 W. Norwalk Rd. Norwalk, CT 06850 (203) 831-0855, e-mail: raptors@optonline.net.

Flinn Scientific offers a series of fun and exciting demonstrations and experiments for biology and life science teachers called BioFax! Two BioFax! are now available: Moving Microbes -- method of collecting microbes helps teach the concepts of microbial growth, sterile techniques and pathogens; and Isolation of Bacterial DNA-A Biological Polymer -- students can isolate DNA from E.coli bacteria. Request copies of Moving Microbes and the Isolation of Bacterial DNA by contacting: Flinn Scientific, Inc., Free BioFax!, P.O. Box 219, Batavia IL 60510 or email flinn@flinnsci.com; or call 1-800-452-1261.

Flinn Scientific offers a series of fun and exciting demonstrations and experiments called ChemFax!, which are guaranteed to excite your chemistry students and teach valuable and sometimes difficult-to-learn chemistry concepts. Three ChemFax! demos are now available: Disappearing Ink, The Can Ripper, and Fountain of Light. ChemFax! are free to teachers only. Contact: Free ChemFax!, Flinn Scientific, Inc., P.O. Box 219, Batavia, IL 60510, 800-452-1261, flinn@flinnsci.com.

Vadlo is a new search engine for biology investigators and educators, created by two biology scientists with modest resources. It has search categories for biology protocols, online tools, databases, powerpoint lectures (a new category) and bioinformatics software. And there are daily cartoons for life in research. Visit http://www.vadlo.com/Daily_Research_Cartoon.html.

The Bugscope project is a free educational outreach program for K-12 classrooms. The project provides a resource to classrooms so that they may remotely operate a scanning electron microscope to image "bugs" at high magnification. The microscope is remotely controlled in real time from a classroom computer over the Internet using a web browser. Bugscope provides a state-of-the-art microscope resource for teachers that can be readily integrated into classroom activities. The classroom has ownership of the project -- they design their own experiment and provide their own bugs to be imaged in the microscope. The Bugscope project is primarily oriented towards K-12 classrooms, and there is no cost to participate in the project. If you would like to take part in the Bugscope project, our how-to-participate pages will guide you through the simple steps needed to apply, schedule a session and operate the microscope. Our other resources pages will provide helpful links related to electron microscopy and bugs. http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu.

Free Medical-Life Sciences Resources
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences has free and downloadable teaching resources, including: Findings magazine, which profiles vibrant scientists and includes puzzles and games; "Ask a Scientist" online feature; award-winning booklets on topics like cell biology, genetics, chemistry, pharmacology, structural biology, and computational biology; interactive games and crossword puzzles that teach science; scientific image galleries containing downloadable photos, illustrations and videos; video and audio interviews with scientists. Find it all at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Publications/ST0409.

CHEMISTRY

Did you know that he National Library of Medicine (NLM), one of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers FREE resources to K-12 science teachers?
ChemIDplus (Grades 7 – 12+): View and manipulate chemical structures for over 388,000 chemicals. Create SIS and TRANS models, conduct structure similarity searches, and view chemical synonyms.
Environmental Health Student Portal (Grades 6 – 8): Connecting middle school students to environmental health information.
Household Products Database (Grades 6 – 12+): Learn about the potential health effects of chemicals in common household products.
TOXMAP (Grades 9 – 12+): Uses maps of the U.S. to visually explore data from the EPA. Includes classroom materials.
ToxMystery (Grades 1 – 5): Interactive site teaching elementary school students about toxic substances in the home. Includes lesson plans and activities. Also available in Spanish.
Tox Town (Grades 6 - 12+): Guide to commonly encountered toxic substances. Includes classroom materials. Also available in Spanish.
ToxLearn and Toxicology Tutorials (Grades 9 - 12+): Written at the introductory college student level and teaches basic toxicology principles.

Middle School Chemistry - Big Ideas About the Very Small
At middleschoolchemistry.com, you can view and download fully developed lesson plans that you can use to teach an entire middle school chemistry unit. Each activity, as well as the entire 610 page book, is available for free download in PDF format. The website also has a multimedia section, complete with molecular model animations and videos, and information on upcoming workshops based on the book.

Chemistry Add-In for Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010
The Chemistry Add-in for Word makes it easier to insert and modify chemical information, such as labels, formulas, and 2-D depictions, within Microsoft Office Word. Additionally, it enables the creation of inline “chemical zones,” the rendering of print-ready visual depictions of chemical structures, and the ability to store and expose chemical information in a semantically rich manner. The add-in is free to download: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/chem4word/.

Animation on VSEPR Theory
Sophomore in Honors Chemistry Ashley Jennings, Horsham, PA, has developed a 3D computer animation on the different types of molecular structures for VSEPR theory. The video is posted on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3FCHVlSZc4&feature=fvw. Teachers are encouraged to visit and use it with their classes.

Northern California Chapter of the American Vacuum Society
The Education Committee of the Northern California Chapter of the American Vacuum Society (AVS is a member group of the American Physics Society) is pleased to announce a new free program for Northern California Science Teachers. This free program is a set of classroom experiments or demos of Vacuum Science in Physics and Chemistry. One or more of our committee members will bring in the vacuum apparatus to present the program in your classroom, with full student participation. The program can be modified to fit into the class’s work and the California Standards on pressure, etc. It’s length can be reduced or expanded from the ~40 minutes average, as required. If you are interested in having a free program in your classroom, please contact our chapter office, listed below. One of our committee members will contact you to set up a date. We look forward to being of service to you and your students. The web site for Northern California Chapter of AVS is www.nccavs.org. The office e-mail is della@avs.org and telephone is (530) 896-0477.

National Institutes of Health and National Institute of General Medical Sciences have new, free materials on biomedical topics. Resources include: • a new edition of The Chemistry of Health that includes a full-color booklet featuring chemistry basics, short "Meet a Chemist" profiles, a companion poster, an extensive online resource, ChemHealthWeb (http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/chemhealth/), with downloadable chapters, chemistry A-Z glossary, molecule gallery and chemistry-related puzzles and games; • Two full-color classroom posters, at http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/chemhealthwebposter.html, and http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/pubdescriptions/findingsposter.html;• The latest issue of Findings magazine at http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/findings/issues.asp. These printed and online resources focus on medically relevant life sciences and are free of charge. Printed materials are available individually or in classroom sets. They are also downloadable from http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/order/classroom.html.

Chemistry Test Question Bank offers over 7000 chemistry test questions covering 19 topics, two levels of difficulty, and five types of inquiry: multiple choice, serial multiple choice, matching, free response and serial free response. Compiled by retired chemistry teacher of over 39 years. Student-tested and FREE! http://www.boshf.org/chembank/.

Student Alternative Conceptions in Chemistry by Christopher Horton
An extensive review of literature highlighting students' misconceptions--or alternative conceptions--in chemistry. Includes detailed cross-referenced lists of alternative conceptions and extensive reference lists. An updated and expanded version of the article seen in California Journal of Science Education, Vol. VII, Issue 2 - Spring 2007. Full article.
Table 1: Key Student Alternative Conceptions in Science.
Appendix 2: The Alternative Conceptions in Detail with Notes.
Appendix 3: References

Free online chemistry games and quiz generator. Free lesson plans. Check out the Element Quiz game that is a fun and interactive way to learn element symbols, names, and facts. http://funbasedlearning.com/.

EARTH/SPACE

CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network)

Free Online Climate and Energy Teaching Resources - Grades 6 - 16
Help your students become literate with topics surrounding climate and energy using the CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network) collection, which offers the following resources and support:

1. The CLEAN search engine directs you to annotations and links for 500+ vetted, online activities, videos, and visualizations on climate and energy for grades 6 - 16. These resources have been hand-picked and peer-reviewed by scientists for accuracy and teachers for classroom effectiveness.

2. The CLEAN site provides guidance on teaching climate and energy science using a set of essential principles to frame the science and inform teaching strategies. Learn more about these scientific principles, why they are important and challenging to teach, strategies for teaching age groups, and get directed to relevant activities, videos, and visualizations for each principle.

3. Join the vibrant CLEAN Network with updates on educational policies and science, discussions with experts, conference & workshop announcements, and weekly telecons (Tuesdays at 1 pm ET).

ACE, Alliance for Climate Education, offers free multimedia high school assemblies on climate science and solutionsis. A leader in high school climate education, ACE has presented to nearly half a million students and a thousand high schools nationwide. After the assembly, ACE helps students kick-start carbon-cutting projects at school—everything from starting a recycling club to solarizing their school. More than $130,000 in grants and scholarships were given to fund climate projects last year. Visit the website to view a trailer and book an ACE assembly.

Cool the Earth is an online climate change resource that engages kids and their families in climate change solutions by increasing awareness about global warming and inspiring people to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. Sign up for the monthly e-newsletter, The Barometer, which includes teacher spotlight, tip of the month, and more. For more information, visit http://www.cooltheearth.org.

Sign up for the Project WET Gazette from the Water Education Foundation. Includes lesson ideas, information on courses and workshops, and water education resources. Visit http://www.watereducation.org/doc.asp?id=1008 to subscribe.

National Marine Sanctuaries Media Library. The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has launched an online multimedia library offering public access to thousands of high-resolution, ocean-related photos and videos taken by NOAA scientists, educators, divers and archaeologists. The Media Library is a comprehensive database containing a collection of high-quality still images and video footage featuring all 13 national marine sanctuaries and the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument. The database is fully searchable by keyword, category and location, and all the images are tagged with relevant information including resolution and usage rights. The Media Library is part of a continuing NOAA effort to enhance public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the marine environment. It was created to provide a resource for numerous audiences, including students, educators, publishers, conservation organizations and individuals looking for compelling marine-related images. http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photos

Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS). LiMPETS is an environmental monitoring and education program for students, educators, and volunteer groups throughout California. This hands-on program was developed to monitor the ocean and coastal ecosystems of California's national marine sanctuaries to increase awareness and stewardship of these important areas. Through research-based monitoring and standardized protocols, students develop their problem solving skills, gain experience using tools and methods employed by field scientists, and learn to analyze data. Approximately 3,500 teachers and students along the coast of California are collecting rocky intertidal and sandy beach data as part of the LiMPETS network. Find out how to join this free environmental monitoring program at http://limpetsmonitoring.org.

Ocean Guardian Program. The purpose of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Ocean Guardian Programs are to encourage teachers and students to explore their natural surroundings to form a sense of personal connection to the ocean and/or watersheds in which they live. • Students can make a difference by becoming a member of our Ocean Guardian Kids Club. • Teachers can get their classroom involved in environmental conservation at their school or in their community to be an Ocean Guardian Classroom. • Everyone can download a free copy of the Ocean Guardian Activity Book to learn more about the ocean and why its important through word searches, games, and coloring pages. Find out more about the Ocean Guardian Programs at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/ocean_guardian_prog.html.

Earthquake Sensors for Your Classroom. Scientists at Stanford University and the University of California, Riverside want your help collecting earthquake data. The Quake-Catcher Network (QCN) provides easy-to-use sensors (free or $5) that connect to most computers, and mount to the floor. Free QCN software displays recent earthquake information and current sensor recordings in real time on the computer screen. QCN provides classroom activities to use with these sensors. Learn more at http://qcn.stanford.edu/K12/.

On Shaky Ground: Understanding Earthquake Activity Along Plate Boundaries. The “On Shaky Ground” unit and assessment focuses on what earthquake epicenter data can reveal about plate boundaries and earthquake hazard risks. Students complete a case study in which they compare the characteristic distribution of earthquakes, their depth, their magnitude, their frequency, and their location along the different plate types of plate boundaries—convergent, divergent, and transform. They develop inquiry skills —creating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing it, drawing conclusions, and communicating their conclusions. In addition to gaining skills of inquiring with data sets, students will become more expert at gaining a 3D visualization of plate boundaries and be able to relate how interactions of the plates result in the emergent pattern of earthquake locations along the plate boundaries. DIGS stands for "Data Sets and Inquiry in Geoscience Education". This project was conducted by SRI International's Center for Technology in Learning and the Concord Consortium, and was funded by the Gesocience Directorate at the National Science Foundation (GEO 0507828). Visit: http://digs.sri.com/

The United States Geological Survey has a wealth of resources for educators from K-12 and beyond. Resources range from teaching with GIS and GPS to obtaining maps for classroom use. The "What's New, What's Happening" section highlights earth science events in the news. Maps, photos, an image gallery and activities and lessons tied to California standards by grade level are availalbe. Most are of little or no cost to educators. Visit http://education.usgs.gov

Ground Rules: Mining Right for a Sustainable Future follows the development of new and operating mines as geologists, engineers and mine managers tackle complex problems and draw on the experiences and achievements of other mine sites to illustrate creative and core concepts of sustainable development and social responsibility. A free on-line video and lesson plans for ages 11 - 18 are available. Visit http://www.cat.com/groundrules.

Ready your students for Tsunami Awareness Week, March 22-26 with information and free materials from the California Geological Survey, in coordination with the California Emergency Management Agency: • a full-color poster that covers how tsunamis occur, how to recognize and be prepared for a tsunami, and pictures of notable tsunamis that have affected California. • a tsunami lesson plan that introduces teachers and students to online tsunami maps for California (aligned with 6th grade and high school earth science standards). • free copies of tsunami education videos produced by the U.S. Geological Survey and San Diego Office of Emergency Services. One of the videos, "Tsunamis: Know What to Do!" was endorsed last year by Jack O'Connell. Also on the website will be a revised education page that will also include a standards-based guide to online tsunami education information: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Pages/education.aspx. Teachers who are interested in any of the above listed materials should email Cindy Pridmore at cpridmore@consrv.ca.gov.

Journey To Plant Earth, the highly acclaimed PBS series hosted/narrated by Academy Award winner Matt Damon, is being offered for a 30-day free preview. Strongly recommended by The School Library Journal, Booklist, The Journal Of Academic Librarianship and the California Instructional Technology Clearinghouse and People Magazine, Journey To Planet Earth correlates some of the National Science Education Standards. For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth, and to receive the 30-day free preview of the entire 10-episode series, contact Marilyn Weiner at screenscope@screenscope.com or (202) 364-0055.

400 Years of the Telescope. A website to accompany this new PBS series includes background information, classroom and family activities, and practical tips for everyone who is teaching about the development of telescopes, the history of astronomy, or the exploration of the universe. Information on the site includes: * An Introduction to Telescopes * Getting Your Family Involved with Astronomy * The Expanding Universe Explained * The Astronomy of Many Cultures * How Astronomers Search for Intelligent Life in Space * Science Fiction With Good Astronomy * Telescopes of the World (a table and database) * Frequently Asked Questions about Galileo * Video Clips of Interviews with Noted Astronomers * An Activity for Observing the Cycles of Jupiter's Moons * A Glossary of Astronomical Terms * Teaching Ideas for 14 Key Topics Related to the Show * A "Toolkit" for Demonstrating Ideas in Optics * A Guide to the Changing Role of Women in Astronomy and many other resources and tools. At: http://www.pbs.org/soptv/400years/.

The Mineral Information Institute (Mii) provides free teacher and student resources, including a homework help section, a booklet on careers in the minerals industry, photographs of minerals, classroom activities, and a new PowerPoint presentation with several pages of supporting teacher notes. This presentation received very favorable reviews at its premiere at the Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop in August 2010. For a free download click on "Importance of Mining" in the right-hand panel on the mii.org home page.

Astronomy audio recordings of ten public lectures by noted astronomers are now available as free MP3 downloads at the web site of the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP): http://www.astrosociety.org/education/podcast/index.html. Recorded at Foothill College as part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, each hour-long lecture on some exciting development in our study of the universe is followed by an extensive question and answer period, in which the speaker gives further details and personal glimpses about the topics under discussion. Among the talks available so far are: Dr. David Morrison, NASA Ames Research Center, "Taking a Hit: Asteroid Impacts and Evolution"; Dr. David Grinspoon, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, "Comparing Worlds: Climate Catastrophes in the Solar System"; Dr. Bruce Margon, University of California, Santa Cruz, "Glimpsing the Edge of the Universe: Results from the Hubble Space Telescope"; Dr. Frank Drake, SETI Institute, "Estimating the Chances of Life Out There."

The Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar promotes skywatching for people of all ages. The sheet for each month takes the form of a calendar. Diagrams in the boxes invite the reader to track the moon's rapid motion past the planets and bright stars of the zodiac, as well as to follow the more leisurely pace of the planets in their gatherings with bright stars and other planets. The reverse side consists of a simplified star map of the month's evening sky. The sky maps are designed for use at a convenient time in mid-evening, for a latitude useful for the entire continental U.S. (40 degrees north). This and other great evening sky resources at http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/SkyCalendar/Index.html.

A new quarterly magazine for teachers of astronomy, The Classroom Astronomer, can be found at http://classroomastronomer.toteachthestars.net. Contributions are welcome. See the findings of a survey on high school astronomy at http://www.hermograph.com/highschool/highschoolastronomy.htm.

Track spring migrations, climate, and more with Journey North, a free Internet-based citizen science project which enables 11,000 schools to watch the wave of spring as it unfolds. Students monitor migration patterns of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, whooping cranes, and other animals; the blooming of plants; and the changing sunlight, temperature, and other signs of spring. Share local observations with classmates across North America and beyond, and look for patterns on real-time maps. Each Journal North study features many entry points and resources that address learning standards: Journey North for Kids reading booklets and lessons, stunning photos and video clips, weekly migration updates, interactive maps, instructional units, and compelling migration stories. Participation is free, thanks to funding from Annenberg Media. Take a glimpse of the projects at http://www.learner.org/jnorth/season/spring2009

The Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) is a free resource that supports teaching and learning about the earth system. Resources in DLESE include lesson plans, scientific data, visualizations, interactive computer models, and virtual field trips—in short, any web-accessible teaching or learning material related to earth system. All resources in DLESE have been contributed by educators, students, and scientists, are relevant to earth system education, and are checked periodically for technical stability. The Reviewed Collection includes those DLESE resources that have been more closely examined and are considered exemplary. DLESE provides easy access to quality teaching and learning resources about the earth as a system for a wide range of learners; services to help users effectively create, use and evaluate digital learning resources; and interfaces and tools to allow student exploration of Earth data Development of DLESE was funded by the National Science Foundation, and DLESE serves as the geoscience node in the National Science Digital Library (NSDL). Find DLESE resources at http://www.dlese.org/library/index.jsp.

New resource guide on Women in Astromony is an updated, expanded resource guide to the role women have played and are playing in the development of astronomy. The guide includes both printed and web-based materials, and has general references on the topic plus specific references to the work and lives of 32 women astronomers of the past and present. All the materials are at the non-technical level and thus appropriate for student papers, curriculum development, or personal enrichment. This resource guide is part of a series that can be found on the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's website, on such topics as the astronomy of many cultures, debunking astronomical pseudoscience, and resources for astronomy education.
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/womenast_bib.html.

Blog on the Universe is a free resource dedicated to helping teachers of science and math make science an adventure. Every week it provides powerful teachable moments for the classroom and home. The site includes resource pages on the nature of the universe, human exploration, the nature of science, and resource lists for teachers, parents, and community leaders. Visit http://blogontheuniverse.org and read "About This Blog."

The Universe in the Classroom is a free quarterly electronic newsletter for educators who want to help children of all ages learn more about science, astronomy and the universe. From the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, each issue of the Universe in the Classroom contains information on a topic of current astronomical interest, classroom activities to make the topic come alive for students and resource links to take you deeper into the subject. Visit http://www.astrosociety.org/uitc to sign up.

"Astronomy Education Review," the web-based journal/magazine for anyone involved in astronomy education and outreach, announces its 13th issue is now online at the web site: http://aer.noao.edu. There is no charge for reading or downloading full articles in the journal.

In support of the successful debut of The Zula Patrol television series on PBS, sample science and astronomy outreach materials have been developed for children in preschool through second grade. These "master activities" are made available for free to schools, educational organizations, community groups, after-school programs and outreach departments. Some materials, such as activites, games, background information and songs, are available for download at http://www.zula.com. For more information, contact Andrea Tompkins at (818) 508-1668 or atompkins@zula.com.

Moon Mania. Louisiana Public Broadcasting, as part of EduConnect, has developed Moon Mania, a module of 12 technology-rich, cross-curricular lessons designed for use with K-4 students. Lessons include strategies for incorporating the material into instructional planning, rubric assessment techniques to measure student performance and evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of the technology integration in the classroom. Moon Mania lessons can be used in science, social studies, art, math and language arts. The 12 lessons are: Haiku, Readers' Theatre, Art Project, Moon Folklore, Moon Phases, Moon Craters, Astronauts Trading Cards, Ask an Astronaut, Moon Trip, Space Meal, Design a Plaque and Moon Festival. These lessons are available free of charge and are aligned with national curriculum standards. Moon Mania lessons are available on the LPB web site: http://www.lpb.org/education/classroom/MoonMania/.

MarsQuest Online. Join the rovers on their historic exploration of Mars. The Mars Quest Online website provides easy access to the full set of images from the Mars rovers, in an intuitive point-and-click exploration environment. Explore the glorious full-color panoramic views of Gusev Crater and Meridiani Plain http://www.marsquestonline.org/mer.

JPL/NASA. Take a virtual tour of Jet Propulson Lab: http://virtualfieldtrip.jpl.nasa.gov. NASA has numerous resources for teachers, students, and informal science educators. Check it out on the NASA home page, http://education.nasa.gov/home/index.html.

ENERGY

CLEAN (Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network)

3. Join the vibrant CLEAN Network with updates on educational policies and science, discussions with experts, conference & workshop announcements, and weekly telecons (Tuesdays at 1 pm ET).

Power Shift: Energy + Sustainability, hosted and narrated by Cameron Diaz. Astronauts in the Space Station. Villagers in the Amazon. An actress in Hollywood. What do these people have in common? Circling the globe, Power Shift explores the remarkable ways that energy touches our daily lives. Designed to open a conversation about energy and sustainability, this 26-minute PBS special serves as an excellent thought-starter and discussion tool. Primary themes include solar and wind power, energy efficiency, green buildings, and global climate change. Power Shift provides vital context to the issues, guiding students from a global perspective to individual action steps. Forty percent discount for CSTA members. Produced by WorldLink Media, 415-561-2141 or www.powershiftnow.org.

D&R International’s School Energy Efficiency (SEE) Program offers a variety of free educational resources to teach students about energy and provides technical support to assist schools in evaluating and implementing energy-efficiency facility upgrades. These services are available to K-12 school districts in select areas of Central and Northern California. Please visit www.SchoolEnergyEfficiency.com to learn more.

Renewables Are Ready: A Guide to Teaching Renewable Energy in Junior and Senior High School Classrooms
This newly revised teacher's guide provides all the necessary tools for teaching a unit on renewable energy. The guide illustrates basic scientific principles and includes hands-on activities, games, action projects, and a resource guide. To download or purchase the guide, visit the Union of Concerned Scientists website. Any further questions or comments please contact Jeff Deyette cleanenergy@ucsusa.org.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has recently coordinated with an organization in California called Educators for the Environment. Their newest resource is called, "Energy for Keeps -- Electricity from Renewable Energy." It is one of the few quality comprehensive renewable energy publications for middle and high school education available. http://www.energyforkeeps.org.

Get Energized! The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is offering California science educators a package of free material, including CD, DVD, videos, and teachers' guide on energy use, production, conservation, and the role of public lands in energy production. Contact Jan Bedrosian at janet_bedrosian@ca.blm.gov; mention you saw this offer on the CSTA website. A brochure entitled "A Teacher's Guide to Energy on Public Lands" produced by the NEED (National Energy Education Development) Project is also available online at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/energy.html.

ENGINEERING

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Ultimate Guide to Weather and Climate Resources Online is a compilation of resources for teaching about weather and climate. Most (if not all) are free. Check it out at http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/library/weather-resources

CSI: Climate Status Investigations: The Keystone Center’s curriculum website contains over 65 lessons developed to introduce middle and high school teachers and their students to the topic of climate change and to provide new ways of thinking about the problem and potential solutions. The curricula provide teachers with a non-biased framework for investigating climate change. The Keystone Center, in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), and The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), presents interdisciplinary curricula modules for middle and high school level students on the topic of global climate change, entitled CSI: Climate Status Investigations. Visit: http://www.keystonecurriculum.org/

The Heat Is On: Understanding Local Climate Change is a curriculum "module" composed of a 5 day unit and 1-2 day performance assessment. The module supplements instruction about the differences between weather variability and climate change, the concept of microclimates, the urban heat island effects, and human influences on the greenhouse effect and global warming. Hence, depending on the course syllabus, it may be relevant in courses devoted to Earth, Physical, or Environmental Science. The purpose of the unit is to prompt students to think critically about what challenges accompany the use of real publicly available data sets, with all of their limitations, for drawing evidence-based conclusions about the complex phenomenon of climate change. DIGS stands for "Data Sets and Inquiry in Geoscience Education". This project was conducted by SRI International's Center for Technology in Learning and the Concord Consortium, and was funded by the Gesocience Directorate at the National Science Foundation (GEO 0507828). Visit: http://digs.sri.com/

The Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) will make FREE climate education presentations to your classes. The presentations (45-60 minutes) are geared toward high school students and can be tailored for either a large assembly or for the classroom setting. The interactive and age-appropriate program imparts a science-based understanding of climate change and explains the solutions and tools young people have to help create a cleaner, cooler future for our country and the world. Financial assistance is available for both your school and for your students. ACE is offering up to $20,000 in grant funding to high schools that have participated in an ACE presentation and demonstrate a school-wide commitment to curb global warming. Additionally, students can apply for $2500 college scholarships. To learn more or to schedule a presentation, contact presentations@climateeducation.org or phone (510) 251-5990. You can also visit www.climateeducation.org for more information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to release its latest edition of the Acid Rain Teacher’s Guide. With feedback and contributions from teachers across the nation, EPA has updated and enhanced this educational resource for the 2008 school year. Designed for middle school teachers, Learning About Acid Rain: A Teacher’s Guide for Grades 6 through 8 provides a basic overview of acid rain, its effects on ecosystems, and ecosystem recovery. The guide includes nine laboratory-based science experiments to enhance the students’ understanding of acid rain and the problems it causes, as well as create a greater interest in its resolution and in applied environmental science in general. To obtain a copy of the Learning About Acid Rain: A Teacher’s Guide for Grades 6 through 8 visit www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/teachersguide.pdf or request a printed copy by calling the Acid Rain Hotline (202.343.9620).

Taking the Heat, a booklet on Bay Area ecosystems in the age of climate change, is available for free download at http://baynature.org/uploads/TakingTheHeat.pdf.

BAY NATURE Magazine is an independent, nonprofit quarterly magazine dedicated to exploring, understanding, and celebrating the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area. BAY NATURE magazine is hard at work producing a special supplement about the importance of soils in ecosystem health. "From Backyard to Back Country: Soil Matters" explores the nature of soil and the importance of healthy soils for healthy gardens and wildlife habitat. Visit http://www.baynature.com for more information.

Earth & Sky radio programs feature stories for teachers and students about conservation and earth stewardship. Learn about forests, climate, the atmosphere, oceans and other environmental topics by clicking on: http://www.earthsky.org/shows/earthcare.

The California Water Board has a program to help educate students about a major environmental and public health issue now facing California--polluted runoff. Their free Water Quality Service Learning Program and the Water Quality Detectives After School Program meet stringent academic requirements. Both of these free programs are located at http://www.waterlessons.org. The service learning program is designed for grades 4-6, while the after school program is for all grade levels.

Climate Change Resources are available at http://www.climatechangeeducation.org and http://www.globalwarmingCalifornia.org.

The David Suzuki Foundation Nature Challenge. The Foundation has researched the 10 most effective ways we can help conserve nature and improve our quality of life. Students can sign up to take the challenge at http://www.davidsuzuki.org/WOL/Challenge/.

Download the winter 2006-07 issue of Green Teacher magazine FREE until July 1st. To celebrate the launch of an electronic edition of Green Teacher, we invite you to download a free copy of the Winter 2006-2007 edition of our non-profit magazine. Please share the following website URL (address) with your friends and colleagues. http://www.greenteacher.com/freeIssue80.html.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science for Schools offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge. The site is available in English http://water.usgs.gov/droplet/ or Spanish: http://water.usgs.gov/gotita/.

The California Environmental Education Interagency Network (CEEIN), a consortium of environmental educators representing California state departments, boards and commissions of the Department of Education, California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Resources Agency. http://www.calepa.ca.gov/education/CEEIN.

Environmental education/action materials from Global Response. Young Environmentalist Actions bulletins (grades K-8) and Eco-Club Actions bulletins (grades 9-12) inform students of specific urgent environmental problems occurring in the world, scientific aspects of these problems, and local people and organizations that are working to protect their environment. Students then write personal letters to appropriate officials, urging them to make environmentally sound decisions. For sample bulletins, contact Global Response-Environmental Action and Education Network, PO Box 7490, Boulder, CO 80306-7490; 303-444-0306; fax 303-449-9794; e-mail globeresponse@igc.org; or see www.globalresponse.org.

Drawing from Nature: A Science and Art Lesson for Children is a series published the first Sunday of the month in the Los Angeles Times, featuring artwork by children 5-12. Children must do research on a subject from nature and apply what they have learned in an illustration. http://www.latimes.com/features/kids/readingroom/.

John Muir's Science Lesson Plans
Developed by the Sierra Club and aligned to the California Science Content Standards, the lesson plans are inspired by John Muir's adventures and explorations. http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/lessons/science/

Campus ecology guide from the National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Program. The guide offers resources for greening the campus: information that is available through NWF resource packets, publications and membership services. While geared toward the higher education campus, the material can also be applied to K-12 institutional settings. Contact NWF, Campus Ecology Program, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22184; 410-516-6583; www.nwf.org/campusecology/.

The California Forest Products Commission has free videos available to lend for educators. Several topics are available. For more information, call 877-replant, or visit www.calforests.org.

Service Learning Unit on Conservation and Snow Leopards from Facing the Future, in collaboration with the Snow Leopard Trust. Engaging Students in Conservation: Protecting the Endangered Snow Leopard, is an interdisciplinary 1-2 week unit that includes five dynamic lessons and culminates with a service learning project. The unit is designed for 5-8th grade students in science and social studies. This unit, valued at $14.95, is available for FREE download at http://www.facingthefuture.org/Home/CurriculumDetails/tabid/131/Default.aspx?ItemID=ESC. Includes: * Five hands-on lessons * An introduction to snow leopards and their ecosystem * An exploration of the human-wildlife conflicts that exist where people and snow leopards overlap * Opportunities to develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and global perspective * An examination of community-based conservation * A service learning project related to the protection of snow leopards in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan.

The Water in Your Life Ecowater Educational Program, which offers materials that explain some common water problems, such as acid water and hardness, to middle school students. Materials also describe ways students can get involved to make the water in their communities safer. Call 800-869-2837.

The Wyland Foundations offers the Wyland Ocean Challenge, "Clean Water for the 21st Century," featuring lesson plans (K-3, 4-6) available online to teachers, a nationwide art contest, and will conclude with a Wyland-created "Underwater Village" tour. The new online curriculum and teacher's guide meet all national science standards and are downloadable from any classroom computer. Information about the first stage of the program, oceanic habitats, is now available for grades K-6 and can be found at www.wylandoceanchallenge.org.

Project Learning Tree, leading environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation, has developed new instructional tools for educators of PreK-8th grade students that focus on energy concepts and conservation. "Energy & Society," features a music CD and video written and performed by well- known children's performing artist and songwriter Bill Brennan, with step-by-step dance instructions. The kit also includes an activity guide and complimentary energy posters. Order your kit at www.plt.org.

Microdocs—Short Attention Span Science Theater website (http://www.microdocs.stanford.edu) presents a unique combination of web technology and environmental science and is a new way to communicate the wonders and knowledge of science. Over 30 2-4 minute eye-catching micro-documentaries full of the latest science have been written by leading scientists for the website. Supporting each microdoc is text expanding on the concepts introduced by each ffilm and links to further reference material. One section lists the National Education Standards and the microdocs that address each point. The main topic explored is ecological sustainability, with a quick trip around coral reefs from Fiji, Samoa, the Caribbean, Micronesia, and other locations. The first section asks questions such as: What is sustainability? What promotes it? Threatens it? What are the tipping points that push an ecosystem into ruin or keep it functioning forever? The second section provides examples of the problems facing coral reefs and how they can recover and grow. This section shows the kinds of reefs, the species that live on them, and the efforts by local people all over the world to preserve them. The viewer can also control the content flow and the sequence of topics explored in a more informal way.

EVOLUTION

Attn: High School Science Teachers - How would you like to receive a FREE Evolution Wall Poster for your classroom? To apply for this five-foot wide, unique teaching resource offered by The Brights' Net all you have to do is fill out a simple form, and while supplies last, we’ll send it directly to your school for display. We’ve had several educators from around the globe expressing their satisfaction. If you are interested in receiving “Earth and Life: Changes Over Time”, please visit the link and complete the application.http://www.thebrights.net/images/TeacherRequest%20Form.pdf

The National Academy of Sciences' latest publication on evolution, Science, Evolution, and Creationism, can be downloaded for free. http://www.nap.edu/sec. A printed copy can also be ordered from that site.

Understanding Evolution!
The UC Museum of Paleontology, in Partnership with the National Center for Science Education, is pleased to announce a new website on evolution developed especially for teachers, grades K-12. It's purpose is to provide content and resources for teachers at all grade and experience levels. In addition, strategies for overcoming resistance and potential "roadblocks" are addressed. http://www.evolution.berkeley.edu.

National Center for Science Education
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit, membership organization providing information and resources for schools, parents and concerned citizens working to keep evolution in public school science education. We educate the press and public about the scientific, educational, and legal aspects of the creation and evolution controversy, and supply needed information and advice to defend good science education at local, state, and national levels. http://www.natcenscied.org

Institute of Human Origins - Becoming Human
Becoming Human is an interactive documentary experience that tells the story of our origins. Journey through four million years of human evolution with guide, Donald Johanson. Transcripts are available in English, Spanish, and Italian. On-line you will find a interactive documentary video, classroom materials, games, and activities. http://becominghuman.org/

Find additional evolution resources on the CSTA website at Evolution Resources.

MARINE SCIENCE

Whale Times is an award-winning website designed for kids. Teachers can take advantage of the WhaleTimes website to introduce accurate marine science information and curriculum ideas and other possibilities that meets state, national science (STEM) and other standards for other disciplines. WhaleTimes programs work as one-time events, an enhancement to your curriculum, or a culmination to units on oceans, conservation, adaptations, climate change, ecosystems, food webs, geography, habitat, physics, predators, prey, reefs, technology, and more. Visit http://www.whaletimes.org/teachers.htm for more information.

Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association provides support to teachers and students in the field of marine science through the ongoing Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students (LiMPETS: find out more at http://limpets.noaa.gov/), bringing students onto sandy beaches and into tide pools to help the National Marine Sanctuaries monitor wildlife as students learn about the marine environment. FMSA also provides teacher training workshops, curriculum, and materials to support science education and the marine sanctuaries. More information can be found at www.farallones.org.

Sea Otter Education Unit
From Defenders of Wildlife, the lesson plans in the Sea Otter Unit are geared to middle school students in California, Washington and Oregon, but can be easily modified for older and younger students and for students in other states. The lessons include both individual and group learning activities and are designed to integrate reading, writing, social studies, and technology into your science curriculum. Teacher notes and materials lists are provided at the beginning of each lesson. Available in Spanish and English.
http://www.kidsplanet.org/tt/seaotter/home.html.

Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds is a classroom activity guide for teachers from the California Coastal Commission that addresses California's critical coastal and marine issues such as endangered species, marine debris, coastal geology, water use, and much more. It is carefully aligned to the California State Science Content Standards for grades 3 through 8, and includes Community Action lessons adaptable for all ages up to and beyond grade 12. The connection between inland areas and the ocean is emphasized throughout, so the lessons are relevant for students living in all regions of California. The book can be ordered for free online at
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/waves/waves1.html.

MATH/TECHNOLOGY

Instant HOBO Data Logger Loaner program loans HOBO portable probeware free for two months to K-12 teachers and students. Request a free loaner class set of (8) HOBOs and download any of our 100+ free labs for every grade level to use with your HOBO. Loaner packages will include the software and cable which will need to be returned. Visit www.iscienceproject.com.

The Math Explorer Kit is a collection of creative, hands-on mathematics activities designed to engage young people in standards-based mathematics learning while also meeting teachers' needs. The Math Explorer Kit includes all supplies required for activities and is available at http://explo.stores.yahoo.net/mathexplorer.html.

Go Engineering! is a new, free electronic newsletter from the American Society of Engineering Education(ASEE). A valuable resource for anyone in the K-12 community. To sign up, e-mail j.douglas@asee.org.

Microsoft DreamSpark offers students access to Microsoft Professional tools at no charge. For more information visit https://www.dreamspark.com/.

PHYSICS

Physics Central: The American Physical Society represents some 45,000 physicists, and most of our work centers on scientific meetings and publications-the primary ways that physicists communicate with each other. With PhysicsCentral, we communicate the excitement and importance of physics to everyone. We invite you to visit our site every week to find out how physics is part of your world. We'll answer your questions on how things work and keep you informed with daily updates on physics in the news. We'll describe the latest research and the people who are doing it and, if you want more, where to go on the web. So stick with us. It's a big, interesting world out there, and we look forward to showing you around. http://www.physicscentral.com/

The Science of Speed
Produced for the National Science Foundation (NSF), The Science of Speed is a 12-episode video series that explains the scientific principles essential to the NASCAR experience. Viewers learn how science makes cars powerful, agile, fast, and safe--and how these same principles affect their own cars. The video series uses the elements of NASCAR to show that a racecar really is a science experiment on wheels. Episodes include Drag & Drafting, Friction & Heat, Tires & Pressure, Heat, Load Transfer, Momentum, and more. View the series free at http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/sos/?WT.mc_id=USNSF_51. You can't win NASCAR races without getting the science right!

Northern California Chapter of the American Vacuum Society
The Education Committee of the Northern California Chapter of the American Vacuum Society (AVS is a member group of the American Physics Society) is pleased to announce a new free program for Northern California science teachers. This free program is a set of classroom experiments or demos of vacuum science inphysics and chemistry. One or more of our committee members will bring in the vacuum apparatus to present the program in your classroom, with full student participation. The program can be modified to fit into the class’s work and the California Standards on pressure, etc. It’s length can be reduced or expanded from the ~40 minutes average, as required. If you are interested in having a free program in your classroom, please contact our chapter office, listed below. One of our committee members will contact you to set up a date. The web site for Northern California Chapter of AVS is www.nccavs.org. The office e-mail is della@avs.org and telephone is (530) 896-0477.

Perimeter Explorations
Offers series of in-class educational resources is designed to help teachers explain a range of important topics in physics. Perimeter Explorations is the product of extensive collaboration between international researchers, Perimeter Institute’s outreach staff and experienced teachers. Each module has been designed with both the expert and novice teacher in mind and has been thoroughly tested in classrooms. Perimeter Explorations are being made available to teachers as a service by Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) situated in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. PI is an independent, non-profit organization that has the twin mandates to conduct scientific research and educational outreach at international levels. The DVD, Teachers Guide and Student Worksheets can be viewed online and are free to order (by teachers only), while quantities last. Their first offering, The Mystery of Dark Matter, is available on-line: http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/Perimeter_Explorations/General/Perimeter_Explorations/

MIT Open Courseware for Science offers free online material from MIT's introductory courses to support students as they study and educators as they teach the AP® Biology curriculum. Biology curriculum also available. Visit MIT at http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/physics/physics/index.htm.

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