Resources Provided by Government Agencies and Related Groups

USGS Science Resources for Primary Grades (K-6)
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.

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FREE: Federal Reserve for Educational Excellence- Earth Science
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.

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USDA Sci4Kids
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Sci4Kids offers a series of stories about agricultural research conducted at USDA.

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NASA Educational Resources for grades K-4
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
This site provides features and news, learning resources, and multi-media and professional development resources for K-4 educators.

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Smithsonian Education for Kids Science and Nature
Smithsonian
On this web site students can learn about science and nature. The site contains games, activities, information, and animations.

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Smithsonian Education for Educators: Science and Technology
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.

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Energy Quest
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.

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Kids' Club
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.

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Environmental Kids Club
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.

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Fema For Kids
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.

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National Weather Service Playtime for Kids
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.

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ACT Now for Educators
NASA
Act Now for Educators section features information about upcoming workshops, grants, online activities, faculty fellowships and conferences in one location, making it easy for educators to find opportunities that interest them.

The information in the Act Now sections is listed by the expiration date and is posted in an easy-to-follow format. Targeted grade levels are highlighted along with a brief description and a link for more information. Act Now is updated on a regular basis as new items are added when opportunities become available.

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Practical Uses of Math and Science
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.

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Elementary GLOBE
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.

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NOWCOAST,
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.

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