Resources Provided by Government Agencies and Related Groups
FREE: Federal Reserve for Educational Excellence- Earth Science, by U.S. Department of Education
Find learning resources from more than 35 federal organizations. Resources
include teaching ideas, learning activities, photos, maps, primary documents,
data, paintings, sound recordings, and more -- on Earth
Science, Geology
, and Paleontology.
USGS Science Resources for Primary Grades (K-6), by United States Geological Survey (USGS)
This web site contains USGS educational resources that may be useful to
educators in primary school grades (kindergarten to grade 6). Many resources
can be used directly in the classroom, in lesson or demonstration activity
preparation, or as resources for teacher education and curriculum development.
Earth Learning Ideas
Earth-related teaching ideas, designed to be practical resources for teachers and teacher-trainers.
Smithsonian Education for Educators: Science and Technology, by Smithsonian
This web site is designed to help educators prepare, plan, and teach about
science and technology. A search engine enables you to sift through all
of the Smithsonian Educational Institutions for what you need. Find Earth
science lesson plans here.
Information on gems and minerals is here.
Smithsonian Education for Kids Science and Nature, by Smithsonian
On this web site students can learn about science and nature. The site
contains games, activities, information, and animations.
USDA Sci4Kids, by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sci4Kids offers a series of stories about agricultural research conducted at USDA.
Elementary GLOBE, by NASA
Elementary GLOBE is designed to introduce K-4 students to the study of Earth system science (ESS). Elementary GLOBE forms an instructional unit that comprises five modules that address ESS and interrelated subjects including weather, water, seasons, and soils. Each Elementary GLOBE module contains a science-based storybook, classroom learning activities that complement the science content covered in each book, and teacher’s notes. The storybooks explore a component of the Earth system and the associated classroom learning activities provide students with a meaningful introduction to technology, a basic understanding of the methods of inquiry, and connections to math and literacy skills.
Kids' Club, by NASA
NASA's Kids' Club Web site features animated, colorful educational activities
for children in K-4. Interactive games on the site teach children about
exploring space, building and launching rockets, keeping airplanes on
schedule and how a comet travels through the solar system. NASA's Educational
Technology Services team at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala., developed and maintains Kids' Club. The site was designed in accordance
with the 2004 National Education Technology Plan "Toward a New Golden
Age in American Education." Through the interactive site, content is aligned
with educational standards that are customized to student's individual
needs and interests.
NASA Educational Resources for grades K-4, by NASA
This site provides features and news, learning resources, and multi-media
and professional development resources for K-4 educators.
Practical Uses of Math and Science, by NASA
Practical Uses of Math and Science is a web site that offers more than sixty one-page examples of how science and math can be used in interesting settings and everyday life. The examples are written primarily by scientists and engineers, and are available to teachers, students, and other interested parties. Topics include clouds (why they float), social security benefits (algebra), Pythagoras theorem (cabinet corners), ice sheets and sea level, logarithms, matching birthdays (statistics), natural selection and a scavenger hunt, photons, traffic signals (probability), seasons (causes), volcanic clouds, wind chill (algebra), and more. The site is supported in part by NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, Education and Outreach Program.
Energy Quest, by California Energy Commission
Here you can find an energy story, games, library resources, science projects,
related news and art, resources for teachers and parents, and much more.
Environmental Kids Club, by EPA
The EPA Environmental Kids Club is the EPA Web site for kids. It will help students explore their environment and learn how to protect it. This site has got games, pictures, and stories.
Explore and Learn, by International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008
This section include links to the "NASA Polar Express," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's storehouse of multimedia information about the Polar Regions of the Earth, the Moon and Mars; a collection of images and illustrations of seals and whales maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Mammal Laboratory, and a link to NSF's award-winning web site on the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Other items include a link to the NSF-funded ARMADA Project, which allows K-12 teachers to participate in ocean, polar, and environmental science research; lesson plans about Antarctica for students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 developed by the Boston National Public Radio affiliate in conjunction with a reporter's visit to the Antarctic Peninsula; and a U.S. Geological Survey site that contains animations explaining how scientists track animal migrations in Alaska.
Fema For Kids, by FEMA
This site teaches students how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. Students can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories, become a Disaster Action Kid and learn about FEMA.
The Parents & Teachers page has activities, curriculum and safety information that can be used in the classroom or at home.
National Weather Service Playtime for Kids, by NOAA
This site teaches students about Hurricanes, winter storms, tornados, thunder & lightning and floods. This site also contains activities that teachers can use with their students.
NOWCOAST, by NOAA
A real-time, GIS layered mapping program. You can turn layers on and off on the right and get all sorts of crazy information out of the maps. It's the first GIS-type program that's even moderately student friendly.