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Light Microscope - description of a variety of techniques used with light microscopes
Magnification Module - This interactive Java tutorial explores the effect of increasing magnification (equivalent to changing microscope objectives) on the ability to resolve features in a sample. [look at the onion root mitosis sample]
Microscope Slides - examples of three types of slides; prepared slides, fresh mounts, and stained fresh mounts
Science Lab - select Cells - after you see the register page select Maybe Later - at the cell lab you can get a microscope view of plant or animal cells
Stereoscopic Zoom Microscope - This interactive Java tutorial explores imaging control and zoom magnification of specimens. [take a look at the fly head]
Tissues of Life - select one of the four types of tissue to see each under a microscope
Virtual Scanning Electron Microscopy - examine fourteen different objects (most are animals) - students can change magnification and other factors
Major Cell Organelles - Identify the function of the major plant and animal cellular organelles 0707.1.2
Animal and Plant Cell Structures - a lesson plan in the form of a six-page Word document - includes a cell of each type to label and a one page quiz with both cells
Animal and Plant Cells - first select Similarities and then select Differences from the index on the left at this page.
The Cell Page - Click on the label for any plant or animal cell organelle to find out more about it. (great drawings) - [Note - This site is from the Internet Archive provided by the Wayback Machine. Many school filters block the archive so you might want to view this site at home. This is a great source of images for PowerPoint shows.]
Cell Parts - simple PowerPoint show comparing organelles of plant and animal cells
Cell Structure - an index of five interactive learning modules
Plant and Animal Cells - This real-time 3D model allows the user to inspect the structures of both plant and animal cells. The student is able to explore the entire cell from any angle as well as drill down to individual organelles of the cell for more information and a better view.
Make a Poster - Construct a poster that illustrates the hierarchy among cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms 0707.1.5
Basic Anatomy: Tissues and Organs - There are many different types of cells in the human body. None of these cells function well on there own, they are part of the larger organism that is called - you.
Tissues, Organs, Systems - Groups of different types of tissues are arranged together to form organs. Organs, in turn, are grouped into systems.
Virtual Body - explore the brain, skeleton, heart, or digestive tract
Cellular Organization - Apply the idea of the division of labor to explain why living things are organized into cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems 0707.1.8
Visit Cell City - this middle school WebQuest asks your students to explore a variety of systems [you may want to turn the sound off to avoid the cute little sound file]
Cell Division - Model the movement of chromosomes during plant cell division 0707.1.9
Cell Cycle Quiz - [advanced level] Correct each error by clicking on the incorrect word or phrase. Correct picks will result in the insertion of the correct word or phrase above the error.
Systemic Relationship - Interpret a chart to explain the integrated relationships that exist among cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems SPI 0707.1.2
Process of Photosynthesis - Associate the fundamental processes of photosynthesis and respiration with appropriate cell structures 0707.3.1
Corn and Photosynthesis - efficient photosynthetic system and a long period of seasonal growth allow corn to produce high yields (reading level is a bit high, but this is short and succinct)
Photosynthesis - the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce sugar (high reading level, but a large number of really good illustrations)
Animals Which Breathe Through Their Skin - large animals which breathe through their skin also use blood to transport oxygen to their tissues and to bring carbon dioxide to the surface of the body.
Breathing Underwater - Animals which live underwater have no problem in expelling carbon dioxide because it dissolves very easily in water. Their problem is how to obtain enough oxygen.
Carbon Cycle Game - In this game you will travel the carbon cycle. Your objective is to get to all the places that carbon is stored along the map on the game. or
Breathing Underwater - Animals which live underwater have no problem in expelling carbon dioxide because it dissolves very easily in water. Their problem is how to obtain enough oxygen.
Corn and Photosynthesis - efficient photosynthetic system and a long period of seasonal growth allow corn to produce high yields (reading level is a bit high, but this is short and succinct)
Photosynthesis - the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce sugar (high reading level, but a large number of really good illustrations)
Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide Exchange - Interpret a diagram to explain how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between living things and the environment SPI 0707.3.2
The Biology Classics: Paramecium [Reproduction] - One scientist calculated that if all the progeny of a single Paramecium survived, assuming a division rate of once a day, then after 113 days, the mass of paramecia would equal the volume of the Earth!
Meiosis - Illustration of the process by which a single parent diploid cell divides to produce four daughter haploids cells
Meiosis tutorial - This exercise is designed to help you understand the events that occur in process of meiosis, which takes place to produce our gametes.
Flowers - many good images accompany this explanation of flower part functions
Life Cycles - [full screen version] Identify flower parts by dragging them to the right box at this interactive site from BBC. When you finish, try the quiz. [designed for younger students, but deals directly with this standard]
Extract Your Own DNA - You can see your own DNA with the unaided eye. Using this simple PowerPoint, your students will learn how to extract and view their own DNA. (easy-to-follow instructions for a great, hands-on learning experience)
Extract Your Own DNA - This experiment allows you to extract your own DNA in your own home! You will need the help of an adult.
Extract Your Own DNA - pdf document to print with the same instructions as the web site above
How to make a model of DNA - This model can be tough to make, but well worth the effort. You'll learn some great science along the way too!
Make a Candy Model of DNA - (learn how the nucleotides are formed, and how it all fits together) This model can be used to show replication, splicing, and other functions involving the DNA double helix.
Take a Tour of the Basics of Heredity - from the index at the top of the blue box, select What is DNA, then click Next to progress through the windows of this show.
Traits - Explain the differences between dominant and recessive traits 0707.4.5
Basic Genetics - dominant vs recessive traits from a ThinkQuest site
Punnett Square - Use a Punnett square to predict the genotypes of offspring resulting from a monohybrid cross 0707.4.6
Dragon Genetics - This activity explores the relationship between genotype and phenotype, using both sex-linked and autosomal dominant and recessive traits. By manipulating alleles (genotype), you create corresponding changes in the dragon's physical appearance (phenotype).
Dragon Genetics - In this activity students study the patterns of inheritance of multiple genes in (imaginary) dragons. Teacher Preparation Notes for Dragon Genetics
Genetics Puppets - use simple mouse puppets to facilitate an understanding of how genes are transmitted from parent to offspring in a simulated genetics experiment
Mendel's Peas Web Lab - "The Princess and the Wrinkled Peas." Try to duplicate some of Mendel's work.
Monohybrid Cross Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
[advanced] Dihybrid Cross Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Patterns of Inheritance - patterns which can be observed when traits are passed to the next generation [49 slides]
Probability and Heredity - You will simulate Mendel’s experiments by substituting coins for plant characteristics. You will then compare what you had expected with what actually happened.
Random Traits - Draw a phenotypically accurate picture of an individual whose traits are modeled by the roll of a die 0707.4.7
Investigating Inherited Traits - Lesson plan including procedure using coin tosses (rather than the roll of a die) for determining dominant or recessive traits as students build an imaginary offspring
Sex-Linked Inheritance Problem Set - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Sex-Linked Inheritance Problem Set 2 - The following problems have multiple choice answers. Correct answers are reinforced with a brief explanation. Incorrect answers are linked to tutorials to help solve the problem.
Using a Punnett Square - short slide show explaining the use of a Punnett square [the web link given on slide 9 does not work]
Working out Punnett Square Examples - Using Punnett squares, work out the probabilities that children of the parents in each example will have particular phenotypes and genotypes.
Meiosis - Illustration of the process by which a single parent diploid cell divides to produce four daughter haploids cells
Meiosis tutorial - This exercise is designed to help you understand the events that occur in process of meiosis, which takes place to produce our gametes.
Flowers - many good images accompany this explanation of flower part functions
Life Cycles - [full screen version] Identify flower parts by dragging them to the right box at this interactive site from BBC. When you finish, try the quiz. [designed for younger students, but deals directly with this standard]
Meiosis Interactive Lab - four experiments involving meiosis and fruit flies are included in this interactive lab
Mendel's Experiments - use this interactive lab to try some of Mendel's experiments and see what you can learn about inheritance
Interpret Punnett Square - Interpret a Punnett square to predict possible genetic combinations passed from parents to offspring during sexual reproduction SPI 0707.4.4
Gem and Mineral collection from the Smithsonian. Almost four dozen of the most beautiful naturally occurring minerals or polished gemstones from the collection.
Gemstone Gallery offers good information about the mineral to accompany excellent pictures.
Gemstone Index - an alphabetical listing, you can also search by color or by birthstone
Mindat.org is the largest mineral database on the internet. Currently there are 11,185 different minerals, varieties and synonyms listed, and information on 159,326 mineral occurrences worldwide, from 29,868 different sites.
The Mineral Gallery - A service of Amethyst Galleries,Inc., "The First Internet Rock Shop"
TheImage.com offers their own Mineral Gallery with good information about the mineral to accompany the picture.
Mineralogy Database in HTML Format. This mineral database contains more than 5,000 pages of mineral data. There are 3,968 individual mineral species descriptions with links
Minerals - See a photograph and get a description of physical characteristics of the mineral.
Rock Cycle - Label a diagram that depicts the major processes of the rock cycle 0707.7.2
Interactive Rock Cycle Animation - a cutaway view of Earth showing where some common rock-forming processes occur. Embedded animations will illustrate the path of a rock moving through the rock cycle. or
Rocky's Rock Cycle Games - Easy - Harder - drag the pictures into the correct place on the rock cycle drawing - from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History or
Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics - covers the following: The Earth's Interior, The Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics, Oceanic Lithosphere, Continental Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics.
The Earth's Layers - (slide show format - from Volcano World) click on the arrow (named Next) to move through the slides - move through the lessons at your own pace
Earthquake Provides Proof That Earth's Innermost Core Is Solid - A Northwestern University seismologist and a colleague at the French Atomic Energy Commission have provided the first direct evidence that - inside a liquid core - the very center of the Earth is solid. (a 1998 news story from Science Daily)
Seismic Waves - This real-time 3D application allows users to create seismic waves of any magnitude and pass them through a variety of terrains. The student can view the seismic activity in the terrain through both a textured and wire frame view.
Subduction - the birth place of a volcanic mountain range [good animation]
Renewable Energy vs. Fossil Fuels - Suggestion: create a Pro and Con list for each energy source. That will give you a a way to compare the various energy resources.
Renewable Energy Web Links - from the Texas Solar Energy Society (their slogan is “The Solution Comes Up Every Morning!”).
Human Activities - Evaluate how human activities affect the condition of the earth’s land, water, and atmosphere 0707.7.9
Climate Change - evidence is gathering that human activities are changing the climate
Coral Connections - a video which underscores the effects of uncontrolled development and personal behavior on the local society, the peninsula's water system, and the Mesoamerican reef. The film encourages viewers to spread the word and become a force for positive change.
Interactive Rock Cycle Animation - a cutaway view of Earth showing where some common rock-forming processes occur. Embedded animations will illustrate the path of a rock moving through the rock cycle.
Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics - covers the following: The Earth's Interior, The Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics, Oceanic Lithosphere, Continental Lithosphere and Plate Tectonics. [pop-ups here]
The Earth's Layers - (slide show format - from Volcano World) click on the arrow (named Next) to move through the slides - move through the lessons at your own pace
Earth Like a Puzzle - learn about plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes at this site from Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Earthquake Provides Proof That Earth's Innermost Core Is Solid - A Northwestern University seismologist and a colleague at the French Atomic Energy Commission have provided the first direct evidence that - inside a liquid core - the very center of the Earth is solid. (a 1998 news story from Science Daily)
Plate Movement - Recognize that lithospheric plates on the scale of continents and oceans continually move at rates of centimeters per year SPI 0707.7.5
Tectonic Forces - Describe the relationship between plate movements and earthquakes, mountain building, volcanoes, and sea floor spreading SPI 0707.7.6
Types of Simple Machines - Compare the six types of simple machines 0707.11.1
Compound Machine - answer a series of questions which require the selection of the most appropriate simple machine
Design and Test - This project simulates the Design and Test process through the development of a virtual paint ball catapult. The student must build catapults capable of performing a variety of tasks, stay within the allotted budget, and interpret test results to fine tune their design.
Lever - attach a new mass piece or put it to another place with pressed mouse button
Pulley - Investigate mechanical advantage of a pulley with this interactive java applet
Pulley System - (raise or lower the load with the mouse) If you click on the mouse button, a spring balance will appear showing the tension in the string.
Simple Machines Made Simple - interactive lesson about the six simple machines and how the machines make work easier
Speed or Velocity - Summarize the difference between the speed and velocity based on the distance and amount of time traveled 0707.11.3
The Galileo Games - In this PBS feature, you'll get a sampling of Galileo's thought experiments and conduct virtual versions of his experiments, including those using an inclined plane and a pendulum.
Newton's Second Law Experiment - During movement a red point in the t-s-diagram (time - displacement) indicates the present time and the covered distance. This Java applet allows students to collect data for graphing.
Passing Lane - an animation and graph of position vs time
Passing Lane - an animation and graph of velocity vs time
Ticker Tape Diagrams - A common way of analyzing the motion of objects in physics labs is to perform a ticker tape analysis. The practice problems included will help your students evaluate the time variable.
Net Force - Recognize how a net force impacts an object’s motion 0707.11.4
Waves - Create a graphic organizer to illustrate and describe the basic parts of a wave 0707.11.5
The Anatomy of a Wave - from the chapter on Properties of Waves at the Physics Classroom
Basic Electromagnetic Wave Properties - this java applet lets students change wavelength, frequency or amplitude of electromagnetic waves, thus changing the color of the radiation. or
Electromagnetic Spectrum - In this applet, you can click on the wavelength/frequency scale and change the wavelength and frequency by dragging the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Holding the shift key down while pressing the left or right arrow keys changes the wavelength by a factor of 10. or
Ocean Waves - This is a real-time 3D wave simulator which demonstrates the connection between wind speed and ocean particle motion depth. The student can modify the properties of an ocean wave and see the effect from any perspective.
The Nature of Waves - a 36 slide show with excellent images and a fairly complete discussion of the basic parts of a wave as well as other wave properties
Parts of a Wave - the wave and its parts are discussed here, including a nice java applet which allows your students to change wave frequency
Pulley - Investigate mechanical advantage of a pulley with this interactive java applet
Pulley System - (raise or lower the load with the mouse) If you click on the mouse button, a spring balance will appear showing the tension in the string.
Simple Machines Made Simple - interactive lesson about the six simple machines and how the machines make work easier
Speed and Velocity - Apply proper equations to solve basic problems pertaining to distance, time, speed, and velocity SPI 0707.11.3
Distance, Rate, and Time - this four part lesson includes an introduction, in-depth explanation, examples and practice problems
Mass, Force and Acceleration - Watch as you fill out the chart to see how mass, force, and acceleration are related. When you are done, see if you can write a rule.
Wave Parts - Compare and contrast the different parts of a wave SPI 0707.11.5
The Nature of Waves - a 36 slide show with excellent images and a fairly complete discussion of the basic parts of a wave as well as other wave properties
Control and Variable - Design and conduct an open-ended scientific investigation to answer a question that includes a control and appropriate variables 0707.Inq.1
Bird Sleuth: Investigating Evidence - this module consists of five investigations which give students the chance to learn science by doing science
How Science works--Variables - Explains the meaning of 'independent', 'dependent' and 'control' variables, with examples from typical practicals.
Tools and Techniques - Identify tools and techniques needed to gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data collected from a moderately complex scientific investigation 0707.Inq.2
How Science works: Types of Variables - Explains the difference between 'categoric', 'ordered', 'discrete' and 'continuous' variables, with examples.
Evidence - Use evidence from a dataset to determine cause and effect relationships that explain a phenomenon 0707.Inq.3
How Science works: Taking measurements - Explains the ideas of 'variation', 'range' and 'mean (average), and explains the difference between 'accuracy' and 'precision'
Experimental Design - Review an experimental design to determine possible sources of bias or error, state alternative explanations, and identify questions for further investigation 0707.Inq.4
Teaching Measures - links to length, mass, or capacity activities and printables - good for using on an interactive whiteboard for a whole class activity or
Transparency Master - use this high quality picture of a block of metal on a triple beam balance as a review for your students
Using a Graduated Cylinder - [L and mL] a whole class activity for reading a scale, estimating and converting between units or
Using a Graduated Cylinder - [mL only] a whole class activity for reading a scale, estimating and converting between units or
Using a Platform Scale - practice using scales like the one in a doctor's office, five Gregs will drop on the scale, waiting to be weighed, see how quickly you can weigh them or
Using a Ruler - [15 cm ruler] a whole class activity for reading a ruler, estimating and converting between units or
Using a Ruler - [30 cm ruler] a whole class activity for reading a ruler, estimating and converting between units or
Tables, Graphs, and Diagrams - Interpret and translate data into a table, graph, or diagram SPI 0707.Inq.3
Bar Graph - Enter data to create a bar graph, then manipulate the graph's maximum and minimum values
Circle Graph - Enter data categories and the value of each category to create a circle graph (similar to "Pie Chart" but the user can define the data set)
Data Interpretation Games - Numerous activities on using and interpreting data - Activities include bar, pie and line graphs, data collecting and much more
Data Interpretation Practice Test - [25 questions] practice reading tables and a variety of charts; column, pie, and pictogram - answers at the end of the test
Data Picking - students collect data, enter tally marks or numbers and then select which graph is appropriate
Fun and Sun Rent-a-Car - students use tables, graphs, linear functions to solve a real-world problem
Graphing Skills - What's the point? find the point on Quadrant I of a coordinate plane
Heads I Win - predict the likelihood of tossing heads or tails and graphs the results of coin tosses (Author - Michaél Dunnivant)
The Hot Tub - This is a fun activity where students tell the story behind a graph and relate slope to rate of change.
Interpreting Data - survey a small group by clicking on each of the children, turn the tally marks into two types of graphs and then go back and take a different survey
Let the Games Begin - Olympic Trials in Data Analysis - [Note - This 29 page document is from the Internet Archive provided by the Wayback Machine. Many school filters block the archive so you might want to print this at home.]
Long Distance Airplanes - a stem-and-leaf plot lesson from Iluminations (rated 3rd-5th grade, but quite useful)
Make a Stem-and-Leaf plot of the data you enter into the text area (ignore the warning about Internet Explorer, it works fine).
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