Marine Reserves: Where Do You Fit In? [.pdf, Flash]
http://www.jason.org/digital_labs/CINMS/
Environmental conservation is seldom a straightforward endeavor. With this well-designed, interactive simulation from the JASON Foundation for Education, students get a taste of the complexity involved in designing a marine reserve using the case study of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary located off the California coast. In the simulation, students familiarize themselves with the background and concerns of various stakeholder groups, and then explore the issue from a particular viewpoint. The end goal is a marine reserve -- presented in map form -- that addresses the needs of all stakeholders while achieving the primary conservation aim. The site also provides an 11-page classroom activities guide, offering detailed lesson plans that make full use of the simulation and even have students design a management plan for area on school grounds or nearby. Suggested grade levels for the simulation and supplementary activities are not provided, but the activities are rated by level of complexity. [RS]
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Exploring Caves [.pdf]
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/explorecaves.htm
This Learning Web unit from the US Geological Survey offers an engaging, interdisciplinary exploration of caves for grades K-3. Although Exploring Caves is listed as a life science unit, it encompasses a wide range of fields: earth science, hydrology, mapping, biology, and anthropology. The unit is linked by an original read-aloud story about the adventures of two kids who get lost in a cave and are helped out by a talking bat (why not?). Each chapter comes with a set of lessons and activities "designed to stimulate thinking and new ways of looking at the world." [RS]
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Brookfield Zoo: In Search of Ways of Knowing [Flash]
http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/pagegen/wok/index_f4.html
In Search of Ways of Knowing is an online Adventure Trail from the Brookfield Zoo in Illinois. The Adventure Trails each offer an "interactive journey to explore conservation efforts worldwide." Visitors to this Web site -- geared toward kids but fun for anyone -- will find a lively, virtual journey to the village of Epulu in central Africa's Ituri forest. With a choose-your-own-adventure-style educational game format, players hide from a rampaging elephant, snack on beetle grubs, and identify animal sounds in the dark of night. Players also learn about the people and wildlife of the area (with help from your Forest Factbook and the four local kids you meet on the way). Moral of the story: have respect for other ways of knowing. Great graphics and diverse story options make this fun Web site worth a repeat visit. [RS]
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Two Human Development Lesson Plans from Science NetLinks
Growth Stages 1: Infancy and Early Childhood [.pdf]
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=346
Growth Stages 2: Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence [.pdf]
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?Grade=3-5&BenchmarkID=6&DocID=347
These lesson plans from Science NetLinks form a two-part series designed to introduce students (grades 3-5) to human growth and development from infancy through puberty. Each lesson contains detailed background information, discussion questions, and other resources that help students learn about the "key physical stages or milestones, which are research and science-supported indicators that help to track the progress of a child's physical development at different stages of life." Using these lesson plans in the classroom could prove a popular choice, as "research shows that children are fascinated by films and stories about early stages of human development and they are particularly intrigued by comparisons of themselves now and earlier." Each lesson plans comes with a comprehensive teaching guide. [RS]
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Daily Lesson Plan: Gasping for Truth
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030403thursday.html
This timely lesson plan from the New York Times (NYT) Learning Network has students explore current global responses to the SARS epidemic. Designed for grades 6-8 and 9-12, the lesson plan has students evaluate what they already know about infectious respiratory diseases, and then read and discuss a recent SARS-related NYT article to learn how international governments are responding to the crisis. The Web site provides in-depth discussion questions for class activities, homework ideas, links to Web resources, and evaluation guidelines for teachers. [RS]
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Antigen-Antibody Testing: A Visual Simulation or Virtual Reality
http://www.apsnet.org/education/K-12PlantPathways/TeachersGuide/Activities/AntigenAntibody/top.htm
Don't let the title of this Web site mislead you... this lesson plan contains a good, old-fashioned lab exercise, not an online simulation. Provided through the American Phytopathological Society, the exercise "demonstrates the biological phenomenon of the formation of a precipitate when an antigen reacts with an antibody," but uses inorganic salts in lieu of real (read expensive) viruses and antibodies. Detailed background information and lab procedures are provided, and the materials required are those commonly found in chemistry stockrooms. The Web site also includes study questions (answers provided) and a list of useful resources. A FAQ page may be forthcoming. A specific grade range is not mentioned, but this lesson plan could be a great addition to any life science course that covers the concepts of viruses, antigens, and antibodies. [RS]
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AskERIC: Germs, Germs, Everywhere! [.pdf]
http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Process_Skills/HPS0203.html
Created for students in kindergarten through second grade, this AskERIC lesson plan submitted by R. Hoffman of the University of Pittsburgh teaches students how to properly wash their hands and how germs affect the human body. The exercise starts with a round of the ABC song, which lasts about as long as a proper hand washing should, and continues with hand-washing practice using lotion that glows under black light to check for missed spots (who could resist that?). Discussion questions help students further explore the concept of germ prevention. The Web site also includes extension activities, useful links, and a downloadable tip sheet for teachers. [RS]
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Adelaide Zoo Education Service [.pdf, Flash]
http://www.oac.schools.sa.edu.au/oes/zoo/
This colorful, animated Web site comes from the Adelaide Zoo Education Service -- a partnership between the Zoo and Australia's Department for Education, Training, and Employment. While much of the site's content is designed to complement a field trip to the Adelaide Zoo, the Species List offers photos and descriptions of animals found in deserts, grasslands/ woodlands, rainforests, and aquatic environments around the world. The Species List may be accessed from the menus for students, teachers, or the public (which are all fun to visit for the graphics alone). Visitors may also download a 4-page introduction to zoo careers. Beware of the rude hippo guarding the public menu. [RS]
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