SCIENCE
MIT Tech TV is a collection of thousands videos produced by students and faculty at MIT. The videos are arranged into more than 600 collections covering topics in engineering, education, science, the humanities, and more. You can view the videos online and most of them are available to download. Roughly 300 of the MIT Tech TV videos are also available on a YouTube channel of the same name. There are a couple of playlists within the channel that could be of interest to high school and middle school science teachers. MIT Engineering K-12 is a set of twenty-six videos in which MIT students explain and demonstrate things like gas pressure, gravity, Boyle's Law, and the shape of sound waves. MIT Physics Demonstrations is a playlist of 44 short demonstrations. The videos don't have narration, just the demonstration. The explanation of the principle demonstrated is found in the description below each video.
NanoSpace Molecularium is a nice web resource produced by Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. The purpose of the site is to provide elementary school and middle school
students with an introduction to the properties of atoms and molecules. The NanoSpace
Molecularium is a virtual amusement park that students can click through to find videos, games,
and other short lessons about atoms and molecules. Students enter the NanoSpace Molecularium
through the "Hall of Atoms & Molecules." From there students can choose which of the four parts
of the amusement park they want to explore first. The four sections that students can explore are
DNA Land, H20 Park, Sizes of Molecules, and Molecular Materials.
Polytechnic Institute. The purpose of the site is to provide elementary school and middle school
students with an introduction to the properties of atoms and molecules. The NanoSpace
Molecularium is a virtual amusement park that students can click through to find videos, games,
and other short lessons about atoms and molecules. Students enter the NanoSpace Molecularium
through the "Hall of Atoms & Molecules." From there students can choose which of the four parts
of the amusement park they want to explore first. The four sections that students can explore are
DNA Land, H20 Park, Sizes of Molecules, and Molecular Materials.
The Spangler Effect is a YouTube channel from Steve Spangler Science. The Spangler
Effect videos offer longer (15 minutes or so) explanations of science experiments. The Spangler
Effect videos explain the science of do-it-yourself experiments and how you can recreate those
experiments at home or in your classroom.
Effect videos offer longer (15 minutes or so) explanations of science experiments. The Spangler
Effect videos explain the science of do-it-yourself experiments and how you can recreate those
experiments at home or in your classroom.
Study Jams is a Scholastic website designed to help elementary school students learn and review math and science information through songs and videos. To use Study Jams students search for a topic in the math or science category. Each Study Jam offers a short tutorial on that topic in the form of a video, slideshow, or song. When there is a song available Study Jams provides a karaoke format for kids to sing along if they like.
Biology
Code Fred is a free online game developed by the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.
The game helps players learn about the human body's responses to trauma. The object of the game
is to help "Fred" escape from the woods while he is chased by a wolf. To keep Fred running players
have to pump blood, increase the flow of oxygen, and send adrenaline through Fred's body. If a
player doesn't respond to the needs of Fred's body fast enough, he will get caught by the wolf that
is chasing him.
The game helps players learn about the human body's responses to trauma. The object of the game
is to help "Fred" escape from the woods while he is chased by a wolf. To keep Fred running players
have to pump blood, increase the flow of oxygen, and send adrenaline through Fred's body. If a
player doesn't respond to the needs of Fred's body fast enough, he will get caught by the wolf that
is chasing him.
The Human Heart. The Human Heart animation allows visitors to learn about the parts
and functions of the human heart by clicking on different parts of the heart to find short
explanations of that part's function.
and functions of the human heart by clicking on different parts of the heart to find short
explanations of that part's function.
Interactive Biology is a website offering a series of videos, quizzes, and study guides for biology students. The site offers study guides for sale, but there some good free resources available too. The best free resource found on Interactive Biology is the Interactive Biology YouTube channel. There are ten multiple choice quizzes based on information in the videos and study guides. Each quiz offers immediate feedback and provides a hint if you get a question wrong and want to try it again.
Chemistry
Crash Course in Chemistry
The Nucleus: Crash Course Chemistry #1
Unit Conversion & Significant Figures: Crash Course Chemistry #2
The Nucleus: Crash Course Chemistry #1
Unit Conversion & Significant Figures: Crash Course Chemistry #2
Environment
UNEP's Geo Data Portal
The United Nations Environment Program has developed a series of free posters based on data from
the UNEP's Geo Data Portal. These posters visually and graphically display information about
environmental data. Some of the topics covered in these posters include electricity production and
consumption, CO2 emissions, ecosystems management, and hazardous materials. Each fact sheet,
poster, and infographic is available as a PDF that you can download and print.
The United Nations Environment Program has developed a series of free posters based on data from
the UNEP's Geo Data Portal. These posters visually and graphically display information about
environmental data. Some of the topics covered in these posters include electricity production and
consumption, CO2 emissions, ecosystems management, and hazardous materials. Each fact sheet,
poster, and infographic is available as a PDF that you can download and print.
Climate Commons is an interactive map developed by the Earth Journalism Network. The map features weather data and emissions data related to climate. The map allows you to compare baseline weather data with anomalies and extreme weather events. The map also features articles about climate change. The articles are displayed on the map according to location.
Natural World
16 games and interactive videos about animals and other features of nature.
Who Pooped? is an interactive game in which students learn about various animals by
guessing which animal created which pile of poop. Believe it or not, there is actually some good
nformation about the animals that follows each round of guessing who created which poop.
guessing which animal created which pile of poop. Believe it or not, there is actually some good
nformation about the animals that follows each round of guessing who created which poop.
Wildlife collection on BBC Nature students can watch video clips about 41
animals, their habitats, and their adaptations to their environments.
animals, their habitats, and their adaptations to their environments.
Physics
Amusement Park Physics offers a great way to investigate principles of physics by
examining the laws as they occur in amusement rides
examining the laws as they occur in amusement rides
Minute Physics is a neat YouTube channel that provides short physics lessons (most of them are
actually longer than a minute).
actually longer than a minute).
Simple Machines is a game that is designed to help students learn about the basic physics
principals involved in the use of levels, pulleys, planes, axles, and wheels. The object of the game is
to help a robot character named Twitch gather the pieces needed to make a simple machine. In order
to gather the pieces students have to help Twitch climb over objects using inclined planes, roll to
objects as efficiently as possible, and lift objects by using pulleys and levers.
principals involved in the use of levels, pulleys, planes, axles, and wheels. The object of the game is
to help a robot character named Twitch gather the pieces needed to make a simple machine. In order
to gather the pieces students have to help Twitch climb over objects using inclined planes, roll to
objects as efficiently as possible, and lift objects by using pulleys and levers.
Space
3D Solar System Web
features a narrated tour of the solar system beginning at the sun and working out through all of
the planets. The tour explains the classifications of each planet, how long it takes each planet to
orbit the sun, and each planet's unique features.
features a narrated tour of the solar system beginning at the sun and working out through all of
the planets. The tour explains the classifications of each planet, how long it takes each planet to
orbit the sun, and each planet's unique features.
Asteroid Mappers is another NASA supported site on which you can learn about
asteroids. Asteroid Mappers gives students access to high resolution imagery of the giant asteroid
named Vesta. The site asks visitors to help map the asteroid which will in turn help scientists
determine the age and composition of Vesta.
asteroids. Asteroid Mappers gives students access to high resolution imagery of the giant asteroid
named Vesta. The site asks visitors to help map the asteroid which will in turn help scientists
determine the age and composition of Vesta.
Celestia is a free space exploration simulation program. Celestia is a free download that works on Mac, PC, and Linux systems. The advantage of Celestia over other satellite imagery programs is that in addition to seeing the Earth's surface, students can zoom in on moons, stars, and planets. The user controls what they see. Operating the program is easy enough to be used by students as young as six or seven. The user guides for Celestia are very thorough and available in four languages. There is a companion website to Celestia called the Celestia Motherlode that features add-ons to Celestia and educational activities that teachers can use in their classrooms.
Google Sky allows you view images of space in your web browser. Google Sky offers great images of outer space captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Google Sky has images that have captured x-ray and infrared wavelengths. The Google Sky web browser also has some more basic images in a collection referred to as "backyard astronomy."
How Solar Eclipses Happen This infographic provides short explanations of three types of solar eclipses, how they happen, and how often they happen on average.
Killer Asteroids: Science Fiction or Science Fact is a NASA
sponsored site for students. On Killer Asteroids students can learn where asteroids and comets
come from, their structures, and the odds of a large asteroid hitting the Earth. Killer Asteroids
offers a simulation that you can use to see the potential impact of various sizes of asteroids if
they were to hit the Earth. Students can also try their hands at moving asteroids off course in a
couple of games on the Killer Asteroids site.
sponsored site for students. On Killer Asteroids students can learn where asteroids and comets
come from, their structures, and the odds of a large asteroid hitting the Earth. Killer Asteroids
offers a simulation that you can use to see the potential impact of various sizes of asteroids if
they were to hit the Earth. Students can also try their hands at moving asteroids off course in a
couple of games on the Killer Asteroids site.
Mars 3D This is a NASA website that features a gallery of images of Mars that can be viewed with 3D
glasses. The gallery contains dozens of images to explore in 3D. If you don't have 3D glasses
NASA directions for making your own 3D glasses at home or at school.
glasses. The gallery contains dozens of images to explore in 3D. If you don't have 3D glasses
NASA directions for making your own 3D glasses at home or at school.
Microsoft WorldWide Telescope makes very detailed, high resolution images (scientific quality) from space available to anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection. The goal of the WorldWide Telescope is to enable users to use their computers as virtual telescopes. The WorldWide Telescope can be downloaded and run on Windows-based computers.
NASA has an excellent interactive timeline tracing the history of astronomy and space
exploration from the Greek philosophers through today. Planet Quest is actually three timelines
combined into one. The three timelines cover technology, discovery, and culture as it relates to
astronomy and space exploration. Each element on the timeline is narrated. Users can select
individual elements on the timeline or choose autoplay to hear the narration of each item in sequence.
exploration from the Greek philosophers through today. Planet Quest is actually three timelines
combined into one. The three timelines cover technology, discovery, and culture as it relates to
astronomy and space exploration. Each element on the timeline is narrated. Users can select
individual elements on the timeline or choose autoplay to hear the narration of each item in sequence.
NASA 360 is a series of videos about NASA's work. The episodes examine NASA's
technological and scientific work. The episodes discuss how NASA's work is used not only
in space exploration but also in elements of our modern everyday lives. The episodes can be
downloaded from the NASA 360 page or viewed on Hulu.
technological and scientific work. The episodes discuss how NASA's work is used not only
in space exploration but also in elements of our modern everyday lives. The episodes can be
downloaded from the NASA 360 page or viewed on Hulu.
NASA Space Place is a sizable collection of fun projects, games, animations, and
lessons about Earth, space, and technology. Before playing the games or attempting one of the
projects, students should explore the animations and facts sections to gain some background
information. The projects section of NASA Space Place provides teachers, parents, and students
with directions for hands-on projects like building a balloon-powered rover, building relief maps,
and building a moon habitat. The games section offers thirty games covering all of the subjects in the animations and facts sections.
lessons about Earth, space, and technology. Before playing the games or attempting one of the
projects, students should explore the animations and facts sections to gain some background
information. The projects section of NASA Space Place provides teachers, parents, and students
with directions for hands-on projects like building a balloon-powered rover, building relief maps,
and building a moon habitat. The games section offers thirty games covering all of the subjects in the animations and facts sections.
Scale of the Universe 2 features a huge selection of objects in the universe that
are arranged according to size and scale. You can zoom-in on the image to objects as small as
neutrinos and quarks or as large as planets, constellations, and galaxies. When you click on an
object in The Scale of the Universe 2 a small window of information about that object pops up.
are arranged according to size and scale. You can zoom-in on the image to objects as small as
neutrinos and quarks or as large as planets, constellations, and galaxies. When you click on an
object in The Scale of the Universe 2 a small window of information about that object pops up.
Station Spacewalk Game is designed for middle school students to learn about
the purposes and functions of the International Space Station. In the game students go on
extravehicular Activities modeled after real EVAs performed by astronauts. Station Spacewalk
can be played online or downloaded for free as a Windows game or as a Mac game.
the purposes and functions of the International Space Station. In the game students go on
extravehicular Activities modeled after real EVAs performed by astronauts. Station Spacewalk
can be played online or downloaded for free as a Windows game or as a Mac game.
We Choose the Moon is a project put together by the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library. We Choose the Moon has eleven stages that viewers can follow as the mission
progresses. If you visit We Choose the Moon you can explore image and video galleries capturing
the sights and sounds of the lead-up to the launch. Included in these galleries are videos of
President Kennedy talking about the goal of putting a man on the moon.
Library. We Choose the Moon has eleven stages that viewers can follow as the mission
progresses. If you visit We Choose the Moon you can explore image and video galleries capturing
the sights and sounds of the lead-up to the launch. Included in these galleries are videos of
President Kennedy talking about the goal of putting a man on the moon.
Why The Solar System Can Exist. This short video explains why the planets
stay in orbit without crashing into each other or spinning off without any direction. Take a look at
the video below.
stay in orbit without crashing into each other or spinning off without any direction. Take a look at
the video below.