The Shape of Life [Real Player, .pdf]
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife/
This new companion Web site to the PBS series The Shape of Life allows visitors to trace the "dramatic rise of the animal kingdom" through the research efforts of current scientists. The body of information is divided into eight different evolutionary "episodes" that include video clips, biographies, and research of leading scientists. Each episode also includes a featured animal page with facts, photos, and links to related Web sites. Although the content of the site seems to be aimed at a middle or high school level, teachers may appreciate the activity guide that contains several downloadable activities and questions for all ages to explore. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Way Cool Surgery
http://www.waycoolsurgery.com/
Offered by Ohio's Mount Carmel Hospital and COSI, the hands-on science centers in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio, this Web site is cool. Designed for middle and high school students, the site allows visitors to watch video clips of six different stages of a coronary bypass surgery. Written descriptions of the key steps accompany the video; so, those who prefer not to watch the video clips will still learn from the information. Students can also learn about the risk factors associated with heart disease and read follow-up reports on patients recovering from heart surgery. Another feature that may be of interest to some students is the profiling of various health care professionals and some of the specialized training required for a career in these fields. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Astro-Venture [Real Player, Shockwave]
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/astrobiology/astroventure/avhome.html
NASA's Astro-Venture helps students explore NASA careers and astrobiology research by offering activities that allow them to "search for and build a planet with the necessary characteristics for human habitation." Astro Ferret and NASA scientists guide students through these interactive activities where they make changes to the solar system and see how those changes impact the earth. Designed for students in grades 5-8, the site includes a substantial section for teachers and parents that includes lesson plans and suggestions for incorporating this site into the classroom, as well as more information for students interested NASA careers. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Everglades National Park: Educational Resources
http://www.nps.gov/ever/ed/index.htm
This educational resource from the Everglades National Park provides a variety of activities for grades K-6. Covering a wide variety of life science subjects, lesson plans include habitat, food chains, biodiversity, and more. A geography lesson is included, but is most applicable for those living in Florida. There are lots of additional teacher resources for honing up on Everglades-related topics, as well as reading lists for students and teachers. These lesson plans provide some good information that can be incorporated into science or geography classrooms, regardless of where the students live. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Journey Into Amazonia
http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia/
This companion Web site to the PBS series Journey into Amazonia explores the changing seasons and the effects on the ecosystem of the annual flooding of the Amazon River. A variety of animal species that live in the river, the floodplain, and the rainforest canopy are introduced, along with a selection of plant species that are useful to humans. The Sacred Ground page is brief, but focuses on the important topic of conservation science. What makes this site most valuable to teachers, however, is the Teacher Resources section that includes seven different lesson plans for students in grades 5-10, focused on Amazonia. The lesson plans are designed to incorporate video clips from the series (videos can be ordered online) or as stand-alone activities. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

The Last Straw [Shockwave]
http://cycas.cornell.edu/ebp/projects/laststraw/ise/entrance.html
Developed by a group of programmers, teachers, plant experts, students, and staff at Cornell University, this interactive Web site allows visitors to model the effects of water stress on plants "based on current research being done by scientists at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research." Students first navigate through a set of tutorials and quizzes teaching them about the basic requirements of plants. After that, students perform an online experiment. By modifying the types of plants, and the conditions under which their plants are grown, students use the simulated growth chamber to test what they have learned and answer their own experimental questions. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

The Greatest Places [QuickTime]
http://www.greatestplaces.org/book_pages/top.html
Associated with the Science Museum of Minnesota, this Web site is a companion to the large-format film "The Greatest Places." Each of seven geographically diverse areas are featured, along with selected aspects of their culture and biological resources. The Okovango Delta and Madagascar sections have a stronger focus on the flora and fauna of the areas, while the others focus more on the culture and geography. This site is an interesting taste of seven unique areas and includes plenty of links for those who are looking for more. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Curriculum Resources
http://www.jburroughs.org/science/resources/resources.html
Offering science curriculum resources, this Web site is from John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Missouri. Designed for middle and high school classes at John Burroughs School, the resources focus on anatomy, life cycles, and plant identification. Many of the photo tutorials are arranged in a sequential order that makes them useful for students reviewing for an exam. Several of the tutorials may also be appropriate for college level courses. [AL]
[Back to Contents]