Science Background

Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6

• For Teachers
• The Weather and You
  This site, created by preservice teachers, is designed to teach children about different aspects of the weather. There are also pages with different activities and links to other sites about the weather.
• K4 Modules: Weather, Seasons, and Climate
  The K–4 addition to Exploring the Weather Web site, this area provides topic overviews and hands-on activities for you and your classroom.
• For Students
• Billy and Maria Weather Coloring Book
  Do you want to learn more about weather? Here are some coloring books that you can print out.
• What Is Weather?
  Here is a fun way to learn about weather. This site comes from England.
• Our Weather Page
  Read poems about clouds. Read a book about weather. These were written by first-graders just like you!
• 2. The Warmth of the Sun
• For Teachers
• Bad Meteorology
  This site from Pennsylvania State University may enlighten and amuse you. It is designed to help teachers clear up common misconceptions.
• For Students
• Color Me! World Cloud Cover Pattern
  You can be an artist. Just click on any color and follow the numbers.
• 3. Measure Weather
• For Teachers
• Weather Forecasting: Online Meteorology Guide
  This site from the University of Illinois offers friendly explanations of forecasting methods using simple diagrams.
• For Students
• Make a Weather Station
  What happens when a storm comes? The Miami Museum of Science will show you. Just click on the picture to find out.
• What's the Weather?
  Cold, hot, warm, cool, what do these words mean to you? Help the bear decide what to wear. Make sure you read the thermometer!

• For Teachers
• All About Snow
  Facts, Q&A, Glossary, Gallery, and everything else you would want to know about snow.
• Make a Snowflake Finger Puppet
  Print out the patterns and have children make finger puppets. Use the puppets to illustrate the rhyme about snowflakes.
• For Students
• Make-a-Flake
  Make your own snowflake online! This site has everything you need.
• 2. Spring
• For Teachers
• About Rainbows
  April showers sometimes bring rainbows. This site from the National Center for Atmospheric Research will help you answer all kinds of questions about rainbows.
• School Gardens
  A school garden is a great way for children to interact with plants and the outdoors. This site has a step-by-step guide, ideas, curricula, and plenty of other help to grow one.
• KidsGardening for Teachers
  The National Gardening Association offers this site to support hands-on classroom learning. Here you'll find lesson plans, articles, and a variety of other teaching resources.
• CFAITC Lesson Plans
  The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom's mission is to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among California's educators and students. Here are their lesson plans for Grade 1.
• For Students
• The Avocado Tree Coloring Page
  Spring is the season for planting. Here is an avocado tree you can print out and color. It also has a quiz about growing avocados.
• How Well Do You Know Your Fruits and Vegetables?
  This quiz is a fun way to learn about fruits and vegetables. They are so good for you!
• New Plants
  Help Farmer Jane plant your garden. Then watch it grow!
• 3. Summer
• For Teachers
• EPA SunWise
  The SunWise Program is an environmental and health education program that aims to teach the public how to protect themselves from overexposure to the Sun. Learn about the classroom-based component of this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program here.
• Sun Safety Information
  Background on skin cancer, risk factors and principles of Sun safety.
• For Students
• SunWise Kids
  Click on Dressing SunWisely. Then help Lisa dress in the clothes that will protect her from the Sun.
• 4. Fall
• For Teachers
• Fall Foliage Facts
  Some areas of California don't get a showy display of fall colors. But here you can find fabulous fall colors from the Eastern states online.
• EEK! A Tree's True Color
  Part of Environmental Education for Kids, this site is geared toward older students. Yet, the explanations of where leaves come from, why leaves change color, and why they fall are so simple and clear, you may want to bookmark it for yourself!
• For Students
• Autumn Leaves Coloring Page
  Here is a fun fall coloring page. Color the leaves with the online paints!

• For Teachers
• Mathematics of Cartography
  Background about maps and cartography.
• Introduction to Latitude and Longitude
  This lesson from National Geographic Xpeditions introduces children to latitude and longitude. They will look at lines of latitude and longitude on a United States map and discuss the reasons why these lines are helpful. 
• Map Machine
  National Geographic's online atlas gives you the world—your way. Find nearly any place on Earth with their maps.
• For Students
• Chameleon Graphing
  How do you plot something's position? Here is help from Sam the chameleon.  Start with the first link. Click Next until you are done.
• Graph Mole
  This little game teaches you how to plot points on a graph.
• Measurement Mania
  Click on the game at the top to practice your measuring skills.
• 2. Motion
• For Teachers
• Describing Motion with Words
  A physics tutorial on speed and velocity.
• The Way Things Move
  The Explorit Science Center in Davis presents a question-and-answer session on the way things move -- including plants and animals.
• For Students
• Clay Animation
  Children at the Zeum Museum in San Francisco made clay animations. You can watch how they made their clay move. Click on the images to start the movies.
• Global Grover Grooves
  Dance and learn with Grover from Sesame Street in this online game about motion!
• You Can't Catch Me!
  Here is a story about motion from PBS Kids. It has pictures and words that you can read online.
• 3. Pushes and Pulls
• For Teachers
• Position, Velocity, and Acceleration
  This site from Fear of Physics helps you understand what it means "to be moving."  The online simulation allows you to play with the position, velocity, and acceleration of two objects at the same time.
• Forces and Motion (Pushes and Pulls)
  This page contains worksheets, online activities and other educational resources to help children learn the concepts involved with forces and motion.  Be sure to check out the Venn Diagram worksheet and interactive sorting activity.
• For Students
• Pushes and Pulls
  This site lets you test pushes and pulls on a rolling object.  See how you can make the horse move closer or far away. Then take the online quiz.
• Forces and Movement
  This activity lets you test forces and gradients on a rolling object. You can take a quiz after that.
• 4. Changing Motion
• For Teachers
• Friction
  Background information on friction from Sambal's Science Web.
• For Students
• Thinking Fountain: Friction
  The Science Museum of Minessota has an activity that you can do with an adult to investigate friction.  There are movies and some questions to think about.

• For Teachers
• Background Information for Simple Machines
  Find the answers to some commonly asked questions about simple machines at this site from Canada's National Museum of Science and Technology.
• Inventor's Toolbox: The Elements of Machines
  This site from the Science Learning Network provides background information on devices that make work easier to do.
• Professor Beaker's Learning Labs: Science of Simple Machines
  This site has description of simple machine teaching resources for primary grades, including assessment questions and problem-solving sets.
• Spotlight on Simple Machines
  The Franklin Institute Online explains the basics of each simple machine.
• For Students
• Edhead's Simple Machine Activities
  Edhead the robot will help you learn about simple machines. He'll take you on a tour of his house and tool shed!  Just click on Edhead's sign to begin.
• 2. Gravity
• For Teachers
• Amazing Space: On Gravity
  The Formal Education Group of the Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach presents an online exploration, Q&A, and myths vs. realities about gravity.
• Gravity Definition Page
  Windows to the Universe contains a basic definition of gravity. Choose from beginner, intermediate, or advanced definitions.
• For Students
• ReviseWise Science: Physical Processes
  Follow the space alien to explore gravity and friction. The British Broadcasting Company created this site.
• 3. Magnets Push, Magnets Pull
• For Teachers
• Background Information for Magnets
  This web site from the Canada Science and Technology Museum answers your questions about magnetism and magnets.
• The Force of Magnetism
  This site from Windows to the Universe uses simple diagrams to explain magnetic force.
• For Students
• ReviseWise Science: Magnets
  Explore magnets and magnetic materials with a space alien. The British Broadcasting Company created this site.
• 4. Sound
• For Teachers
• Musical Instruments: Pages, Activities, and Printouts
  Enchanted Learning (r) offers activities and worksheets to explore the movement of sound in various musical instruments.
• Introduction to What Sound Is
  This site, from Fear of Physics, explains sound using computer graphics and animations.
• How We Hear
  Fear of Physics presents a simple multimedia explanation of how we hear sound.
• For Students
• Sound Cards
  Send a sound card to your friend or family. First, click on the "Listen" button for the sound you want to hear. Then, choose a postcard and send it.
• New York Philharmonic Kidzone
  You can visit the game room, gallery, laboratory, and other fun places to learn about music and sound!
• Mysterious Melodies
  Here is a sound experiment from a site called Try Science. You can do this activity online or at home.

• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate.
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture notes about ecosystems developed over years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• Plant Activities
  Links to creative activities and quizzes about plants organized by grade and subject area, including activities that are cross-curricular (science/language arts, science/math, etc.).>
• The World's Biomes
  An introduction to five major biomes: aquatic, grasslands, desert, tundra, and forests.
• Wild World @ National Geographic
  The National Geographic Society has mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the world, each sharing a particular ecological feature, climate, plant and animal community for you to explore. You can also search for any ecoregion in the world.
• For Students
• All About Animals
  Click on any of the environments listed on this page. You will see what types of animals live in them. Click on "Fact Sheet" to learn more about these animals
• Biome Basics
  Read about the climate, plants, and animals of biomes around the world. This site comes from the University of Richmond.
• Climates of the World
  Learn about climates in different environments around the world by looking at what children wear.
• Geography4Kids.com
  Take a tour of a few different biomes. You can even access a 360 degree panoramic view of these biomes in North America.
• 2. Life in the Desert
• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate.
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture notes about ecosystems developed over years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• The World's Biomes
  An extensive introduction to five major biomes: aquatic, grasslands, desert, tundra, and forests.
• Wild World @ National Geographic
  The National Geographic Society has mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the world, each sharing a particular ecological feature, climate, plant and animal community for you to explore. You can also search for any ecoregion in the world.
• For Students
• All About Animals
  Click on any of the environments listed on this page. You will see what types of animals live in them. Click on "Fact Sheet" to learn more about these animals
• Animals on Defense
  Click on the links to learn about the four main ways animals stay safe and sound. You will learn the definitions of camouflage, hibernation, migration, and mimicry.
• Biome Basics
  Read about the climate, plants, and animals of biomes around the world. This site comes from the University of Richmond.
• Geography4Kids.com
  Take a tour of a few different biomes. You can even access a 360 degree panoramic view of these biomes in North America.
• Plant Adaptations
  Explore plant adaptations by clicking on each of the biomes. This site comes from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
• 3. Life in the Grassland
• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate.
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture notes about ecosystems developed over years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• The World's Biomes
  An extensive introduction to five major biomes: aquatic, grasslands, desert, tundra, and forests.
• Wild World @ National Geographic
  The National Geographic Society has mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the world, each sharing a particular ecological feature, climate, plant and animal community for you to explore. You can also search for any ecoregion in the world.
• For Students
• All About Animals
  Click on any of the environments listed on this page. You will see what types of animals live in them. Click on "Fact Sheet" to learn more about these animals
• Animals on Defense
  Click on the links to learn about the four main ways animals stay safe and sound. You will learn the definitions of camouflage, hibernation, migration, and mimicry.
• Biome Basics
  Read about the climate, plants, and animals of biomes around the world. This site comes from the University of Richmond.
• Plant Adaptations
  Explore plant adaptations by clicking on each of the biomes. This site comes from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
• 4. Life in the Forest
• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate.
• Educational In Nature
  Lesson plans, activities, words to know, and brochures about forests.
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture notes about ecosystems developed over years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• Rainforest Alliance
  The mission of the Rainforest Alliance is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them. The Learning Site features lesson plans, slide shows, news articles, posters and other resources for othe classroom.
• Temperate Rain Forest of the Pacific Northwest
  This site features the rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula including the western foothills and valleys of the Olympic Range. It describes the climate, trees, and animals.
• The World's Biomes
  An extensive introduction to five major biomes: aquatic, grasslands, desert, tundra, and forests.
• Wild World @ National Geographic
  The National Geographic Society has mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the world, each sharing a particular ecological feature, climate, plant and animal community for you to explore. You can also search for any ecoregion in the world.
• For Students
• All About Animals
  Click on any of the environments listed on this page. You will see what types of animals live in them. Click on "Fact Sheet" to learn more about these animals
• Animals on Defense
  Click on the links to learn about the four main ways animals stay safe and sound. You will learn the definitions of camouflage, hibernation, migration, and mimicry.
• Biome Basics
  Read about the climate, plants, and animals of biomes around the world. This site comes from the University of Richmond.
• Geography4Kids.com
  Take a tour of a few different biomes. You can even access a 360 degree panoramic view of these biomes in North America.
• Plant Adaptations
  Explore plant adaptations by clicking on each of the biomes. This site comes from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
• 5. Life in the Arctic Tundra
• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate.
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture notes about ecosystems developed over years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• The World's Biomes
  An extensive introduction to five major biomes: aquatic, grasslands, desert, tundra, and forests.
• Wild World @ National Geographic
  The National Geographic Society has mapped 867 land-based ecoregions across the world, each sharing a particular ecological feature, climate, plant and animal community for you to explore. You can also search for any ecoregion in the world.
• For Students
• All About Animals
  Click on any of the environments listed on this page. You will see what types of animals live in them. Click on "Fact Sheet" to learn more about these animals
• Animals on Defense
  Click on the links to learn about the four main ways animals stay safe and sound. You will learn the definitions of camouflage, hibernation, migration, and mimicry.
• Biome Basics
  Read about the climate, plants, and animals of biomes around the world. This site comes from the University of Richmond.
• Geography4Kids.com
  Take a tour of a few different biomes. You can even access a 360 degree panoramic view of these biomes in North America.
• Plant Adaptations
  Explore plant adaptations by clicking on each of the biomes. This site comes from the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

• For Teachers
• Neptune's Web - Ocean Quest
  This site from the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command contains a wealth of information about sea water, marine life, and more.
• Oceanography Lesson Plans for Creative Art
  Neptune's Web has several lesson plans to help you teach your students how scientists and laymen interact with the ocean environment in an interactive, hands-on method.
• For Students
• Neptune's Web - Ocean Trivia
  You'll find plenty of little known facts about the ocean and marine life at this Student's Sea of Knowledge page.
• Underwater Puzzler
  This puzzle is from a Canadian site called EcoKids Online. Complete the whole puzzle and see the lake come to life. Then roll over all the animated underwater animals to find out what they are. 
• 2. Life in an Ocean
• For Teachers
• Ocean Writing Activities
  From the Treasures@Sea pages, here are some writing activities you can use for this lesson and throughout the chapter.
  
• Whales and Our Oceans
  This site has facts about whales and a variety of activities for the classroom.
• For Students
• Coral Reefs - Ocean World
  Come aboard Ocean World and learn about one of the most colorful places in the ocean.
• The Whalesong Project
  Hear a whale singing in Hawaii's ocean!
• 3. Life in the Wetlands
• For Teachers
• U.S. EPA: Wetlands
  What are wetlands? Why protect them? This site from the Environmental Protection Agency answers those questions and more.
• The Fragile Fringe: A Guide for Teaching About Coastal Wetlands
  The U.S. Geological Survey has background information on coastal wetlands plus activities that you can do with students.
• For Students
• Wetland Facts
  Learn all about wetlands at this site from Dialogue for Kids.
• All About Habitats
  Click on Wetland Habitat to see all the animals that live there. This site is hosted by the Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago.

• For Teachers
• What Is a Healthy Forest?
  This site from the Idaho Forest Commission provides background on changing ecological conditions that affect forest health, including exotic introductions.
• For Students
• Alaska Animals - Our Wild Neighbors
  Explore Alaska's habitats with this National Park Service. Click on Wildlife Detectives for photographs of how living things change their environment.
• 2. Changes Affect Living Things
• For Teachers
• Ecosystems Background Information
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a diverse menu of topics about changing environments.
• What Are Ecosystems?
  Read about what ecosystems are and how they are changing at this Journey to Planet Earth site from PBS.
• For Students
• Frogs Can Tell You If the Environment Is Healthy
  Three main things make frogs good at telling us if an environment is sick. Find out what they are by answering three questions. You will need Macromedia® Shockwave™ Player for this game.
• Polar Bear - White Giants of the Arctic
  Use the EcoKids hand-held computer to learn about polar bears, where they live, and the threats to their environment.
• 3. Living Things of the Past
• For Teachers
• Plant Fossils and Their Preservation
  This site's goal is to help you understand the processes that preserve plants in the fossil record. It is part of the University of California, Berkeley, Virtual Paleobotany Lab.
• How Fossils Form
  EnchantedLearning.com presents a concise explanation and a flow chart of fossil formation.
• For Students
• Life Has a History
  This site will help you understand the history of life and the diversity of living things we see today. Click on Level One. Use the arrows at the bottom of the screen to find your way.
• Getting Into the Fossil Record
  These animations help you learn what a fossil is and how something becomes part of the fossil record.

• For Teachers
• Boston Museum of Science
  Background information for teachers, and activities to explore static electricty with students.
• EIA Kids Page: Electricity
  A kid-friendly site about energy, which may also be useful for teachers.  Featuring energy facts, games and quizzes, energy history and timeline, classroom activities, links and a glossary. The "Energy Facts" section is full of information.
• Energy Quest
  Energy education from the California Energy Commission. Includes a comprehensive "Energy Story" with extensive background information. Check out chapters 2, 3, 4, and 7. 
• ScienceMaster
  ScienceMaster brings you an extensive gallery of lightning photographs and links.
• For Students
• Dialogue for Kids
  Learn about the atom, static vs. current electricity, and how electricity moves from power sources.
• Simple Circuits Flash Animation
  Watch a movie about how a circuit works and try an activity to learn about the difference between a conductor and an insulator.
• Super Sparker
  A simple experiment to make "very, very, very tiny" lightning using a pie pin and styrofoam.
• The Electric Avenue
  Here is a Web site all about energy and electricity. Learn what electricity can do and how it works. You'll also find information about fuel cells, conserving energy, and different types of energy.
• 2. Electric Circuits
• For Teachers
• EIA Kids Page: Electricity
  A kid-friendly site about energy, which may also be useful for teachers.  Featuring energy facts, games and quizzes, energy history and timeline, classroom activities, links and a glossary. The "Energy Facts" section is full of information.
• Energy Quest
  Energy education from the California Energy Commission. Includes a comprehensive "Energy Story" with extensive background information. Check out chapters 2, 3, 4, and 7. 
• For Students
• BBC ReviseWise Science
  Fun animations and activities, fact sheets, tests, and worksheets. Have students investigate "Physical Processes: Electricity."
• Dialogue for Kids
  Learn about the atom, static vs. current electricity, and how electricity moves from power sources.
• Simple Circuits Flash Animation
  Watch a movie about how a circuit works and try an activity to learn about the difference between a conductor and an insulator.
• The Electric Avenue
  Here is a Web site all about energy and electricity. Learn what electricity can do and how it works. You'll also find information about fuel cells, conserving energy, and different types of energy.
• 3. Using Electrical Energy
• For Teachers
• EIA Kids Page: Electricity
  A kid-friendly site about energy, which may also be useful for teachers.  Featuring energy facts, games and quizzes, energy history and timeline, classroom activities, links and a glossary. The "Energy Facts" section is full of information.
• EIA Kids Page: Uses of Energy
  Pie charts with shares of energy consumed by major sectors of the economy: residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation.
• Energy Quest
  Energy education from the California Energy Commission. Includes a comprehensive "Energy Story" with extensive background information. Check out chapters 2, 3, 4, and 7. Also click on "How Things Work" to learn about how transformers work.
• For Students
• Florida Power and Light
  Getting electricity to your home, school, shopping centers, movie theater and even your favorite ball park is called transmission and distribution. Just click on each picture and start your electric journey.
• Frankenstein's Lightning Laboratory
  Click on the characters to find out what they're doing wrong. You'll learn how to use electricity safely in your home.
• Roofus' Solar and Efficient Home 
  Find out how to make your home energy-efficient with Roofus as your guide.
• The Electric Avenue
  Here is a Web site all about energy and electricity. Learn what electricity can do and how it works. You'll also find information about fuel cells, conserving energy, and different types of energy.

• For Teachers
• Background Information for Magnets
  This web site from the Canada Science and Technology Museum answers your questions about magnetism and magnets. Find out more about terrestrial magnetism, superconductors and compasses. Click on the Kid’s Zone” link on the left side for a variety of science games.
• Explaratorium Snacks
  Exploratorium Science Snacks are miniature versions of some of the most popular exhibits at the Exploratorium that teachers can make using common, inexpensive materials.
• Discovery School Curriculum Center
  Part of Discovery School's Curriculum Center, this site about magnetism has quick facts to pique students' interest, hands-on activities, creative project ideas, games and puzzles, a glossary, and a multiple-choice test.
• For Students
BBC ReviseWise Science
Fun animations and activities, fact sheets, tests, and worksheets. Have students investigate "Forces: Magnetism.">
• The Science Place
  Read this Web page to learn more about magnets and their uses. This Web site comes from The Science Place, a museum in Dallas, Texas.
• Ology: Create a Compass
  Easy instructions for creating a homemade compass, from the American Museum of Natural History's Ology site.
• 2. Electromagnets
• For Teachers
• Molecular Expressions
  A mini-tutorial about Michael Faraday's electromagnetic induction experiment. Browse other parts of this website for additional tutorials about electricity and magnetism.
• Windows to the Universe
  A site that explores the Earth and Space sciences and the historical and cultural ties between science, exploration, and the human experience. Includes images, movies, animations, and data sets.
• For Students
• How Electric Motors Work
  By understanding how a motor works you can learn a lot about magnets, electromagnets and electricity in general. In this edition of How Stuff Works you will learn what makes electric motors tick.
• Socket to Me! How Electricity Came to Be.
  Here you will explore the history of electrical motors. You can find out more about Thomas Davenport and other early inventors. A society of engineers created this site as a virtual museum. There is even an animation that shows how magnets make a motor work.
• 3. Motors and Generators
• For Teachers
• eMints National Center
  A collection of links that include photographs, animations, and experiments. Find out how relationships between magnets and electricity were discovered. Learn about motors and generators.
• Molecular Expressions
  An explanation with diagrams of basic magnetic fields, alternating currents, direct currents, generators and motors.
• For Students
• How Electric Motors Work
  An explanation of how motors work, and their relationship to magnets, electromagnets and electricity. Plus a chance to take a tour inside an actual electrical motor.
• Socket to Me! How Electricity Came to Be
  Here you will explore the history of electrical motors. You can find out more about Thomas Davenport and other early inventors. A society of engineers created this site as a virtual museum. There is even an animation that shows how magnets make a motor work.

• For Teachers
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Marine Ecosystems
  This Web site from the Missouri Botanical Gardens features a discussion on marine ecosystems, including shorelines, temperate oceans and tropical oceans.
• For Students
• Diving for Ocean Facts: Waves and Currents
  Virtual oceanography for kids
• 2. The Water Cycle
• For Teachers
• EPA: Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids's Stuff (For Teachers)
  Student and teacher resources, including games and lesson plans, about water--the water cycle, how to build an aquifer, how people get water, water purification. Site is tailored for both teachers and students.
• For Students
• EPA: The Water Cycle
  Student and teacher resources, including games and lesson plans, about water--the water cycle, how to build an aquifer, how people get water, water purification. Site is tailored for both teachers and students.
• EPA: Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids's Stuff
  Student and teacher resources, including games and lesson plans, about water--the water cycle, how to build an aquifer, how people get water, water purification. The site is tailored for both teachers and students.
• Earth Science Explorer: The Water Cycle
  The Earth Science Explorer is linked from the ETE online series. This site provides a concise tutorial on the water cycle. 
• 3. Fresh Water Resources
• For Teachers
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Fresh Water Ecosystems
  This Web site from the Missouri Botanical Gardens features a discussion on fresh water ecosystems like rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, and wetlands.  
• For Students
• NOAA: Great Lakes
  The "Great Lakes" portion of the NOAA Web site features a student activity and a list of useful links.
• 4. California's Water Supply
• For Teachers
• California Department of Water Resources
  This California Department of Water Resources site provides links to sites about the environment, water use and planning, and public safety.
• The California Water Awareness Campaign (For Teachers)
  This Web site from the California Water Awareness campaign provides teachers with educational materials like books and activities. 
• For Students
• The California Water Awareness Campaign: Interactive Activities
  This Web site from the California Water Awareness campaign has six tutorials about water that require a flash plug-in, including "Water Sources of California" and "Aquifer." 

• For Teachers
• Air Now: Air Quality Guide for Ozone
  This air quality guide for ozone from AIRNow provides a quick reference source for unhealthy air levels.
• For Students
• Earth Science Explorer: Atmosphere
  The Earth Science Explorer is linked from the ETE online series. This site features a discussion on spheres, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, hyrdrosphere and biosphere.
• For Kids Only: Earth Science Enterprise: How Air Pressure Affects You
  This Web page from NASA features a tutorial on air pressure, air pressure experiments and discussion questions.
• 2. Air Currents and Wind
• For Teachers
• JetStream: The Online Weather School
  JetStream: An Online Weather School provides a list of topics on weather study.
• Windows to the Universe: Can Earths Spin Be Changed by Wind?
  A rich, award-winning site that explores the Earth and Space sciences and the historical and cultural ties between science, exploration, and the human experience. Includes images, movies, animations, and data sets. Students will be able to create a journal and take a guided tour through space. The site includes teacher resources and professional development.
• For Students
• The Weather Classroom: Backyard Observations
  A Weather Channel site for students, with a chance to explore the weather studio behind the scenes, ask a metereologist questions, and create an interactive weather forecast.
• 3. Oceans and Air Temperature
• For Teachers
• NASA Comparing Oceans
  This Web site from NASA, "Comparing Oceans," features activities on ocean temperature.
• For Students
• NOAA Research: Ocean Temperature
  The goal of the site is to provide science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using online resources. The research process is broken down into steps and covers the following topics: El Nino, Storms, Fisheries, Atmosphere, Great Lakes, Oceans.
• 4. Severe Weather
• For Teachers
• Lightning & Atmospheric Electricity Research at the GHCC (Global Hydrology and Climate Center): Lightning Detection from Space
  The Global Hydrology and Climate Center Web site primer describes the characteristics of a storm, lightning, thunder, hail, etc. There is also an audio file so students can listen to the sound of thunder.
• For Students
• NOAA Research for Kids: Lightning
  The NOAA Web site features an activitiy where students are asked to get information about lightning and apply their knowledge. There are also additional links about lightning.
• The Weather Classroom: Severe Thunderstorms
  A Weather Channel site for students, with a chance to explore the weather studio behind the scenes, ask a metereologist questions, and create an interactive weather forecast.
• NOAA Research: Hurricanes
  The goal of the site is to provide science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using online resources. The research process is broken down into steps and covers the following topics: El Nino, Storms, Fisheries, Atmosphere, Great Lakes, Oceans.
• 5. Predicting the Weather
• For Teachers
• Wonderful World of Weather
  This standards-based Real Time Data Module allows students to investigate weather phenomena both locally and around the world. By using hands-on activities and real-time data investigations, weather can be described in measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind and precipitation. Lesson plans have been designed to allow teachers flexibility in implementation into their curriculums.
• NOVA & Frontline: What's Up with the Weather?
  NOVA and Frontline team up to answer questions about global warming in this Web site.
• For Students
• Web Weather for Kids: Tips for Forecasting the Weather
  Tips for teachers and activities to incorporate into lessons about weather. This site gives suggestions on how to make convection currents, hot air ballons, a twister in a jar, etc. All activities are correlated to National Science Education Standards.
• Weather Or Not
  Monitor the weather environment and make predictions about the weather up to 48 hours before special outdoor events.

• For Teachers
• NASA Eclipse Home Page
  The NASA Eclipse Home Page provides teachers with data on past, present and future eclipses of the Sun and Moon from 2004, 2005, and 2006.
• For Students
• NOAA Research for Kids: Solar Events
  The NOAA Web site features an activity that requires students to gather data and apply their knowledge. There are also links to NASA Web sites.
• Science@NASA: Fun and Games: The Solar System
  Find several interactive games about the solar system on this Web site from Science@NASA.
• 2. The Structure of the Solar System
• For Teachers
• NOVA: Runaway Universe
  This NOVA Web site describes the history of the Universe and the birth of a supernova. Teachers can also take a 3-D tour of the Universe.
• Structure and Evolution of the Universe Forum
  The Universe Forum focues on explaining the structure and evolution of the universe. Teachers can take a tour of the Universe using the "Our Place in Space" feature.
• How Stuff Works: The Solar System Explained
  The solar system is explained briefly on the "How Stuff Works" Web site. 
• For Students
• Orbit For Kids: Journey to Jupiter
  The Journey to Jupiter page from the Orbit for Kids Web site documents the Galileo spacecraft's six-year exploration of Jupiter. There are photos of Jupiter and the Galileo flight path.
• BBC Science: The Earth and Beyond
  Find out about the "Earth and Beyond" in this tutorial from BBC Science. Topics include gravity and orbit, the movements of stars, and moons and artificial satellites.
• BBC Space Picture Gallery
  This BBC photo gallery features images of comets, planets, meteor showers, the Sun and the Moon.
• 3. Gravity and Orbit
• For Teachers
• BBC Science: SOS Teacher:
  Teachers can look for answers to their questions in the BBC Science SOS Teachers section.
• BBC Science: SOS Teacher
  Teachers can look for answers to their questions in the BBC Science SOS Teachers section.
• For Students
• BBC Science: Forces and Motion 1
  This brief BBC Science Physics tutorial on forces and motion covers topics like motion and gravity, friction, and levers.

• For Teachers
• Online Biology Book: Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
  Lecture outlines developed over many years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor. For Students
• EcoKids On-line: Eco-Field Guide
  The EcoKids On-line site from Canada has games and activities about wildlife, a fact of the day, and an eco-field guide. 
• EPA Student Center: Ecosystems
  The EPA Student Center page on "Ecosystems" provides a list of links for further study on biomes and endangered species.
• 2. Photosynthesis: The Basic Process of Life
• For Teachers
• Online Biology Book: Photosynthesis
  Lecture outlines developed over many years of teaching by a college-level introductory biology instructor.
• For Students
• BBC Science: Photosynthesis
  This brief tutorial from BBC Science covers photosynthesis and related topics. 
 
• 3. Microscopic Organisms on Earth
• For Teachers
• ActionBioScience: Bacteria: More Than Pathogens
  Peer-reviewed articles and links about seven bioscience challenges: biodiversity, the environment, genomics, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers, and education.
• UCMP: Life History and Ecology of Bacteria
  The University of California Museum of Paleontology Web site describes the life history and ecology of bacteria.
 
• For Students
• Biology4Kids: Microorganisms
  Biology made simple, covering topics like cells, microorganisms, plants, and animal systems. 
• Microbe Zoo
  The Microbe Zoo helps students study microorganisms. Visitors to the zoo can check out "Dirt Land," "The Animal Pavillion," and "Water World."
• 4. Earth's Food Chains, Webs and Pyramids
• For Teachers
• Cycling Through the Food Web
  The Web site, "Cycling Through the Food Web," features a tutorial for teachers. For Students
• Orbit for Kids: Desert Food Chains
  The Orbit for Kids Web site provides a simple explanation of the "Desert Food Chain." 
• BBC Science: Ecology 1
  The BBC Science Web site features a tutorial on habitats and food chains called "Ecology 1." 
• Geography4Kids.com: Food Chains
  Geography4Kids.com covers basic Life and  Earth Science concepts like food chains, populations, soil, and erosion. 
• 5. Earth's Cycles for Life
• For Teachers
• Science@NASA: Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
  This Science@NASA Web site features a discussion on the carbon cycle and ecosystems. There are a variety of links to related topics.
• For Students
• Geography4Kids: Cycling Water
  Geography4Kids.com covers basic Life and  Earth Science concepts like food chains, populations, soil, erosion and the water cycle. 
• Geography for Kids: Carbon Cycle
  Geography4Kids.com covers basic Life and Earth Science concepts like food chains, populations, soil, erosion and the carbon cycle. 
• Geography4Kids.com: Nitrogen Cycle
  Geography4Kids.com covers basic Life and  Earth Science concepts like food chains, populations, soil, and the nitrogen cycle.
• EPA Kids Site: Carbon Cycle
  This global warming site from the Environmental Protection Agency has an animated movie about the carbon cycle.

• For Teachers
• Blue Planet Biomes: World Biomes
  A look at the world's biomes, and their plants, animals, and climate. For Students
• Geography4Kids.com: Biosphere: Land Biomes
  Take a tour of a few different biomes. You can even access a 360 degree panoramic view of these biomes in North America.
• Earth Science Explorer: Biomes
  The Earth Science Explorer is linked from the ETE online series. This site provides a concise tutorial biomes.
• 2. Earth's Water Ecosystems
• For Teachers
• NOAA: Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
  This Web site includes two lessons and activities on the ocean for teachers, "Ocean Temperatures" and "Ocean Current." 
• National Marine Sanctuaries Education
  This marine life field guide features photos and videos of animals. There is also a map of marine life sanctuaries, including one in Monterey Bay, California.
• For Students
• reefED Students: Great Barrier Reef Explorer
  This Web site has a section for students called reefED: Students. There is a Great Barrier Reef Explorer that provides a graphic overview of the plants and animals that live in the Great Barrier Reef. 
• NOAA Photo Library
  NOAA catalogs and albums feature over 20,000 images of space, sea life, and storms.
• 3. Ecosystems in California
• For Teachers
• Monterey Bay National Sanctuary
  The Monterey Bay National Sanctuary was established to research and protect marine wildlife, including mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates, and plants. The Web site provides an overview of the Sanctuary's purpose and services.
• For Students
• National Marine Sanctuary Web Page: Monterey Bay: Encyclopedia of the Sanctuary
  Students can click on the following categories to view  information and photos on mammals, fish, birds, invertebrates, plants and reptiles. Students can also conduct a "Creature Search" in any of the eight sanctuaries.