Hot websites

Teaching Pre K-8, Feb 2000 by Lindroth, Linda

Science includes such a vast series of topics - from the seemingly infinite universe to the multitude of organisms living on earth. There's a definite need for comprehensive indices or portals to help teachers find the plethora of science resources avail able on the Internet. This month, I've selected three outstanding portals for wonderful science curriculum.

Science/Nature for Kids http://kidscience.about.com/ kidsteens/kidscience

Here's a wonderful portal site for science for the K-12 classroom! This comprehensive site appears to have every science topic.

Netlinks organize the topics into well-planned categories that make it easy to find science resources. Every resource has been reviewed and only the best interactive, educational websites are listed. Each resource is annotated and many can be matched to national standards for science.

The topic categories include "Experiments," which contains a generous array of hands-on science for both the classroom and home. "Field Trips" provides in-depth tours of popular topics across the Internet "Parents/Teachers" is replete with dozens of additional databases which are filled with lessons and experiments to enrich the science education curriculum.

The Science Spot

http://kato.theramp.net/ sciencespot/

This well-organized middle school database of lessons, projects and online resources is compiled by topic. Whether you're using resources from the "Nature Center" or one of the other excellent categories, The Science Spot probably has the science topic you're looking for!

In the "Science Classroom," teachers will find lessons and projects which are ready to use in the classroom. Record sheets for most lessons guide students during experiments, helping them to organize their observations and data supporting the scientific process. Topics cover general science, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, astronomy and weather.

'The Nature Center" has dozens of lessons and links for the creation of a butterfly garden and an Adopt-an-Insect project Each activity is interactive and many integrate Internet resources.

There are some great science challenges in the "Science Club" and "Daily Science Trivia," as well as the real-life challenges in the "Career Center." This is truly a not-to-be-- missed web resource!

American School Directory www.asd.com/

Here's a true portal to education - a database of all 108,000 schools in the United States. What better way to find resources than directly from the schools?

More than 70,000 of the schools have interactive websites updated with local links. ASD also contains a searchable "School Product Guide" which reviews and categorizes many educational products.

A link to the free "Federal Resources to Educational Excellence" and a link to "Gateway" give teachers hundreds of FREE lessons and materials for the classroom. And don't miss the "Education Connection," which contains links for science and every other content area, conferences and more!

Spotlight on Technology

IntelPlay QX3 Computer Microscope

Here's a science resource that every school can use! Mattel and The Learning Company have teamed up to introduce this exciting new science tool for the classroom. The school edition includes a multimedia microscope, CD-ROM software, USB cable to connect to your computer and an extensive Teacher's Guide. The QX3 requires a Windows 98 machine with USB port. The microscope magnifies at 10X, 60X, and 200X on a 15" monitor. The microscope will work on the stage base that comes with it, or in handheld mode to allow for viewing objects in the classroom. Software imaging tools allow students to add text, use drawing and stamp tools and edit images. Images can be saved as graphics, video clips or as time-lapse movies. Put images in slide shows or use in posters and presentations. For more information, call 800-847-5455 or visit www.learningcompanyschool.com Cost $99.95.

For more ideas & activities, visit our newly-enhanced website at www.Teaching K-8.com

Linda Lindroth is a part-time K-5 School Technology Teacher in Lexington, KY, and Technology Editor and Website Coordinator for Teaching K-8. E-- mail: Linda@TeachingK-8.com