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Free For All!

June 2010: Free For All!

As another school year comes to an end, there's no better time to sit back, relax, and start planning for the year ahead. With this annual Free for All issue of Science Class—the online companion to The Science Teacher (TST), NSTA's journal for high school teachers—we provide you with an array of free resources to help you do just that. Enjoy your summer!

Free for All From NSTA NSTA offers many resources and services at no charge; some are available only to NSTA members, but many are available to all.

Evolution Resources Looking for books and articles on evolution? NSTA has compiled a wealth of print and online resources on this very subject. There is even a Q&A section on teaching evolution in the classroom!

Lab Out Loud In this biweekly podcast, hosts and science teachers Brian Bartel and Dale Basler discuss science news and science education with leading scientists, researchers, science writers, and other important figures in the field. A selection of links and notes accompanies each episode, enabling the listener to dig deeper into the topics discussed.

Ms. Mentor Do you have a question you would like to ask a veteran science teacher? Ask Ms. Mentor! Ms. Mentor was a middle school life and physical science teacher for 16 years and a high school computer science teacher for 11 years. She had a brief stint in higher education before retiring as a regional administrator. "Retired" is a misnomer, however—Ms. Mentor continues blogging, reviewing technology, and birding wherever and whenever her fancy takes flight. Blog topics have included science kits, writing in science classes, and formative assessments.

NSTA Calendar The NSTA Calendar lists the science education events and programs for science teachers. Browse hundreds of events, searchable by date range.

NSTA Communities Want to enhance your professional development and growth as a science educator this summer? Check out this online professional networking and learning system! NSTA Communities connects NSTA members, conference attendees, and presenters with others who share similar interests, values, and professional needs. Users can create a group on virtually any topic of their choosing and invite others with an expressed interest in that topic to exchange ideas and resources. NSTA Communities also offer an internal messaging system, threaded forums similar to discussion boards, calendar events, and a place to post resources for collaboration.

NSTA List Server We want to help you keep in touch with your colleagues. NSTA's lists are group e-mail discussions that allow members to exchange information in a peer-to-peer forum. NSTA members who subscribe (at no extra cost) can now select from 12 topic areas: biology, chemistry, computer science, Earth science, elementary, environmental science, general science, physical science, physics, technology education, new teacher, and retired teacher. The lists remove geographical boundaries from member communication and are available to NSTA members—right now.

Colleagues on the list server can share ideas, get information, and ask questions on important issues. The list server is quick and simple to use, so you can easily stay current on trends in science education. The lists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so information from your peers is available when you need it.

NSTA News Digest Looking for the top stories in science and education? NSTA News Digest has the day's leading news at the click of your mouse! Search by News Categories (i.e., Top Stories, Science, Education, or Legislative News) or Science and Education Topics. Click on a story's link, and it will take you straight to the source for easy printing and class distribution.

NSTA Press Books Did you know that you can access a chapter of many new NSTA Press books online for free? Simply click on the book of your choice, and scroll down to the "Read a sample chapter" link.

NSTA Press Books Blog New in January 2010, the NSTA Press Books blog offers behind-the-scenes information and tips. Think you may have missed a lesson idea or teacher resource? Visit this blog to find out what the folks at NSTA press are up to, check out upcoming book releases, and read book excerpts.

NSTA Recommends Read reviews of the latest science-teaching materials, and take the guesswork out of purchasing. NSTA's online review service, NSTA Recommends, helps you find the best supplemental books, videos, DVDs, and computer software on the market. Our reviewers evaluate each product on the basis of classroom applicability, standards connections, and overall value. Search more than 4,000 reviews by grade level, subject, or keywords.

NSTA Reports NSTA Reports, NSTA's newspaper, is published nine times a year as a free member service. It is NSTA's timely source of news and information for and about science educators of all levels. It includes national news on science education and education in general; information on teaching materials; announcements of teacher programs; advance notice about all NSTA programs, conferences, and publications; and even a crossword puzzle!

Science Objects You are teaching a subject for the first time, or for the first time in a long time. You need a content refresher now. Where can you find help that is engaging, high-quality, easy to access—and affordable, too? From NSTA's latest ready resource: Science Objects! Science Objects provide all teachers of science open access to these valuable new resources—at no cost. Resources can be filtered by subject and grade level.

SciGuides NSTA's online resource, SciGuides, will transform the way you use the internet to plan and provide science instruction to your K–12 students. SciGuides enable you to quickly and easily locate targeted science content information and teaching resources from NSTA-approved websites and provide instructional tools and strategies to put them into practice.

SciLinks SciLinks is an exciting partnership between progressive U.S. textbook publishers and NSTA. If your textbook has SciLinks, you and your students will have the best internet science sources at your fingertips, including

• websites to extend and expand students' understanding;
• science news to add context to classroom learning;
• activities to bring science alive; and
• experts to answer questions and satisfy curiosity.

SciPacks SciPacks are 10-hour online learning experiences that you can use to help better understand the content you teach. SciPacks are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Each SciPack contains:

• Up to five self-paced interactive online learning experiences called Science Objects that use an inquiry-based approach with engaging simulations and embedded questions.
• An e-mail content wizard to address your individual questions; knowledgeable content experts respond via e-mail within 48 hours.
• A pedagogical component to assist you in translating the content for your classroom.
• The opportunity to pass a final assessment and print a certificate from NSTA demonstrating your understanding of the content addressed within the SciPack.

Free for All From the U.S. Government

Kepler's Star Field Lithograph Kepler's Star Field Lithograph was created by NASA's Kepler Mission, which is looking for planets the size of Earth in the galaxy's habitable zone. The lithograph shows where the spacecraft is looking and includes a description of the mission, the location of the star field in the sky, and an explanation of why this field was chosen. An image illustrates the distance this star field lies from the galactic center and the size of the field of view. The website also contains a poster, fact sheets, and a bookmark.

Science Nation Science Nation is a series of video programs offered by the National Science Foundation. The videos examine breakthroughs and the possibilities for new discoveries about our planet, our universe, and ourselves. Download the free videos from the website!

Education and Outreach The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service offers Education and Outreach programs. K–12 lesson plans that incorporate agriculture are available in English, math, geography, science, and social studies.

LifeWorks Targeted to middle and high school students, LifeWorks—from the National Institutes of Health's Office of Science Education—profiles individuals currently working in the medical sciences. Search more than 100 medical science and health careers by title, education required, interest area, or median salary. The varied responses show how careers in medical sciences are diverse and appeal to a wide range of people.

Environmental Education Games The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers more than 20 online games focused on environmental education. Topics addressed include nautical charts (boat safety), humpback whale migration, correct disposal of marine debris, ocean literacy, recycling, pollution and invasive species, and a virtual ocean expedition to track gray whales.

The Water Sourcebooks The Water Sourcebooks is a comprehensive environmental education program created by the Environmental Protection Agency for grades K–12. The program explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach, showing how it affects all aspects of the environment. Activities are categorized by grade level (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12), and each grade level offers age-appropriate lessons on an introduction to water, drinking and wastewater treatment, surface water, groundwater, and wetlands and coastal waters.

Moon Math Moon Math offers two ninth-grade math units that center on the theme of lunar habitat design. Unit I contains three case studies that can be used together or as stand-alone modules. These case studies focus on area, volume, and proportion and are provided at three levels of difficulty: whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Unit II goes a step beyond lunar habitat design with three lessons addressing the calculation of human weight on the Moon, the optimization of cargo hold volume, and the optimization of cargo weight for a lunar mission.

ChemHealthWeb ChemHealthWeb is the online companion to the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of General Medical Sciences' publication The Chemistry of Health. It includes six downloadable chapters: "Actions and Reactions," "You Are What You Eat," "Cool Tool," "Nature's Products," "Chemistry for a Healthier World," and "Chemistry Meets Medicine." It also offers information about chemistry careers, chemistry images (Molecule Gallery), chemistry-related puzzles and games, and a glossary of chemistry terms.

Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide Schoolyard Habitat Project Guide was published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and outlines the steps for creating a wildlife habitat on school grounds. It begins with a comprehensive "Getting Started" section with organization and planning steps required for students and teachers. Succeeding sections provide teacher and student instructions for creating forest, wetland, and meadow schoolyard habitats.

Scientists in Action Scientists in Action is a publication created by the U.S. Geological Survey that is filled with stories and photographs of scientists in the field. Meet geologists, seismologists, micropaleontologists, cartographers, wildlife biologists, and a preparator—a scientist who handles museum specimens, in this case at the American Museum of Natural History's Department of Vertebrate Paleontology in New York.

Free for All Teachers of Science

Ho'ailona's Journal Ho'ailona's Journal is a Hawaiian monk seal education resource for students from the University of California, Santa Cruz. It provides information about a young seal named Ho'ailona, ongoing research about him, conservation observations, and student projects. A Facebook page, "Ho'ailona Monk Seal," offers short updates and "conversations" with the seal. Students and teachers can help in the important conservation work of this monk seal project by getting involved in the Call for Action through class or school projects all over the United States.

Project Atmosphere Canada Teacher's Guide Project Atmosphere Canada is a collaborative initiative of Environment Canada and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society. The project's goal is to foster the teaching of atmospheric sciences and related topics in Canada across grades K–12. The teacher's guide covers topics such as acid rain, jet stream, and hazardous weather and the accompanying activities can be used in science classrooms globally.

2010 Morrison Planetarium Pocket Almanac 2010 Morrison Planetarium Pocket Almanac is published by California's Morrison Planetarium. It includes timelines for tracking the phases of the Moon, the planets in the night sky, and lunar and solar eclipses.

Continuously Changing Plant Growth Continuously Changing Plant Growth is an activity on the Public Broadcasting Service website that demonstrates how the growth rate of a plant depends on many factors, including the amount of water and light it receives. Students in grades 10–12 use graphing to determine an equation that represents a plant's growth.

Safe Food Lessons These safe food lessons were developed by the Food Safety Project at Iowa State University to provide future consumers with the tools they need to avoid harmful pathogens in the food supply. These lessons will help middle and high school students understand how knowledge about pathogen reduction, time and temperature abuse, and cleanliness will help decrease their incidence of foodborne illness.

Archeology's Interactive Digs Archeology's Interactive Digs, produced by Archaeology Magazine, takes middle and high school students on virtual excavations to Pompeii; Waka,' a Maya site; and Mount Vernon, where George Washington distilled whiskey. Each dig site offers facts, field notes, interviews with archaeologists, and a panoramic view.

The Butterfly Lab Designed for students in grades 7–12, The Butterfly Lab offers online activities and materials covering butterfly anatomy, life cycle, behavior, and related topics. Detailed information is accompanied by colorful diagrams and photographs. Teachers will also find three activities involving butterfly anatomy, movement, identification, handling, and more.

Geotechnical, Rock, and Water Resources Library The Geotechnical, Rock, and Water Resources Library Project from the University of Arizona won the 2003 MAX Award in Education Experiences for applications created by educational institutions in K–12. The project's website contains links to lesson plans and activities for all grade levels.

CREATE for Mississippi CREATE for Mississippi provides lots of great resources for integrating technology into core subjects. It was developed to support Mississippi teachers as they "advance technology in education." The site features a virtual community where teachers can share ideas, resources, and best practices.

Sustainable Footprint Sustainable Footprint is a Netherlands-based project aimed at making students aware of the consequences of their lifestyles. The website has teacher programs for "problem-oriented learning" and a series of thematic lessons and guidelines for internationalizing the project and relevant links. The site also offers a footprint quiz for younger students (ages 12–15) and a "design for the future" assignment.

The Discovery of Pluto The Discovery of Pluto is a part of Astronomy Beat, a series of articles written by noted scientists, amateur astronomers, and educators that gives behind-the-scenes looks at how astronomy is actually done. The Discovery of Pluto tells the story of how the author, Clyde Tombaugh, discovered Pluto. Tombaugh passed away in 1997 and his ashes are en route to Pluto inside the New Horizons spacecraft.

Discovery of Sound in the Sea Discovery of Sound in the Sea introduces the science and uses of underwater sound to K–12 teachers and students. It provides easy, efficient access to timely, peer-reviewed content on the effects of underwater sound on marine animals. This newly redesigned website uses interactives that allow visitors to quickly immerse themselves in content—from the songs of humpback whales, to interviews with cutting-edge scientists, to the use of acoustics to measure waves.

Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin's On the Origin of Species Evolution of Evolution: 150 Years of Darwin's On the Origin of Species is an interactive multimedia report from the National Science Foundation. The report presents resources on evolution and Charles Darwin, including interviews and essays by a team of international evolutionary experts and a clickable timeline summarizing intellectual and technological achievements that advanced our understanding of evolution. Appropriate for teachers and students at a range of grade levels, the report shows how On the Origin of Species drew attention to anthropology, biology, geosciences, polar sciences, and even astronomy, and why it likely will continue to serve as the organizing framework for the sciences.

Lasers: Transforming Life Lasers: Transforming Life is a video that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser. The video demonstrates laser applications in a compelling yet easy-to-understand manner and shows laser research that may lead to future clean energy sources or understanding of such mysteries as black holes. Download the video or request a DVD for your classroom.

Not Exactly Rocket Science Not Exactly Rocket Science is a blog written by Ed Yong, an award-winning British science writer. The blog seeks to make the latest scientific discoveries interesting to everyone and is a great place to catch up on the latest science news. Visit the website for in-depth analysis of interesting scientific reports and explorations of science news.

What You Need to Know About Energy What You Need to Know About Energy is a new website that communicates essential information about America's energy situation based on the vast holdings of reports from the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. The website provides an overview of our current energy system and covers four main topics: energy uses, sources of energy, the cost of energy (in terms of the environment, national security, and sustainability), and energy efficiency. The site's producers are also developing curriculum-based materials for high school and middle school classrooms.

Reading the Landscape Reading the Landscape is a workshop being held July 26–31, 2010, in Maine. Participants, led by ecology professor Tom Wessels, can investigate Acadia National Park, hike the historic property of Medomak Camp, and explore the forests outside Camden in the Coastal Mountains' Land Trust-Fernald's Neck Preserve. Join like-minded individuals seeking knowledge and a chance to recharge.

SETIcon SETIcon is a conference being held August 13–15, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Santa Clara, California, for the SETI Institute. This year's theme is "Our Search for Life in the Universe in Science Fact and Science Fiction." The conference features noted scientists explaining new developments in everyday language; stars of science fiction TV series and movies; and panels to air controversial issues and share perspectives.

P–12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit Join researchers, policy makers, and engineers for the P–12 Engineering and Design Education Research Summit taking place August 11–13, 2010, in Seaside, Oregon. The theme is "P–12 Capacity Building Through Community of Practice" and the summit is designed to be a "catalyst for combining scientific argumentation and collaboration that would enhance research in P–12 engineering education." The interdisciplinary approach will link research, teaching, policy, and engineering practice.

21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education Taking place August 1–5, 2010, at the University of North Texas in Denton, the 21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education is a national meeting sponsored by the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Education. The conference is designed for secondary school chemistry teachers, graduate students, and chemistry professors. Both new and experienced chemistry teachers will find this conference to be an excellent source of materials, techniques, and content.

Coming next month... Summer Sampler: Ideas for the New School Year

• Kick Off Summer With Reading
• Frontloading Classroom Management
• From Generation to Generation: Oral Histories of Scientific Innovations from the 20th Century
• Robotics on Water
• A Virtual Circuits Lab
• Generate an Argument: An Instructional Model

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Patti Duncan

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