Geosphere
| Site Name | Interactive U.S. Immigration Map |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | NY Times |
| Suggested By | GISetc |
| Description | “In 2009, the New York Times published a wonderful interactive map of immigration to the U.S. from 1880 to 2000. The spatial dimension of that immigration process is emphasized by showing a nicely projected map of the 50 states down to the county level. Lots of questions with spatial dimension could be asked after exploring the distribution patterns, even over time.” |
| Site Name | New Children's Book Introducing Young Kids to Plate Tectonics - Published by Geological Society of America. |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Charles Barker |
| Suggested By | Charles Barker |
| Description | From the Outside looking In is a new Children's Book published in Sept. by the Geological Society of America (GSA's first Children's Book). GSA book description: "Too sick to go to school, Sean is entertained when his fisherman puppet comes to life and they leave the Earth to see it from the outside looking in. This book, which is told mainly in rhyme, introduces young readers (ages 4–8) to plate tectonics. The detailed black-and-white pencil drawings are sure to delight readers of all ages." |
Water
| Site Name | Video Gallery - Videos of Various Sea Life |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | NEPTUNE Canada |
| Suggested By | Jim Rice |
| Description | “A high definition (720p!) video of the sensor technology, scientific exploration, sea floor, sea life, methane hydrates bubbling out and poly-metal sulfide spewing vents! You can find several interesting videos here.” |
| Site Name | Lab 1: Aquifer Model in a Tank |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Bureau of Economic Geology |
| Suggested By | Mark Francek |
| Description | “This simple model is intended for student inquiry into ground-water systems. Have your students try things (within the context of the model), observe what happens, and record and interpret their observations. After this inquiry they will better understand aquifers and the issues of climate, spring flow, environmental protection, and water use that are so hotly debated in Austin and elsewhere in Texas.” |
| Site Name | Ice Formations with Daily (Diurnal) Freeze/Thaw Cycles |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | James R. Carter |
| Suggested By | James R. Carter |
| Description | “When the temperature falls below freezing some very interesting forms of ice appear under the right conditions. A few species of plants produce ice flowers and ribbons from the stems, needle ice comes up from the soil, hair ice grows out from pieces of dead wood and a few rocks serve as conduits to move water from the wet soil to form interesting growths of ice at the surface. With digital cameras and the Internet, we are getting a good image of what is out there in nature and how, when and where it occurs. Spiral rods and ribbons of ice are seen to grow from steel pipes in gates, stair railings and playground equipment. Triangular wedges of ice have been seen in bird baths. The author has been able to replicate the process of such ice growths in some as-built environments. None of this is depositional ice or frost although it often occurs concurrently with frost. Some of these forms of ice were written about in the 19th Century. “ |
Weather
| Site Name | Educational Global Climate Modeling |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | EdGCM |
| Suggested By | Dave Smith |
| Description | “The EdGCM, Eductational Global Climate Model, is a true GCM (NASA GISS model) with a user interface that allows students to generate and interpret their own climate models. It even comes with a module to help students write up their results in the form of a scientific article. This is a great tool for inquiry.” |
Space
| Site Name | ScienceCast Short Science Videos from NASA |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | YouTube user: ScienceAtNASA |
| Suggested By | Bill Dicks |
| Description | “ScienceCasts are short videos about fun, interesting, and unusual science topics encountered by NASA’s science missions.” |
| Site Name | The Black Hole - Comical |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Phil and Olly |
| Suggested By | Heather Renyck |
| Description | “A video from 2008 where a man uses a black hole to get through things. Comical.” |
| Site Name | Comet Smashing into Sun Caught on Video |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Space Weather |
| Suggested by | Patricia H. Reiff |
| Description | “A comet discovered by amateur astronomers on Friday, Sept. 30th, disintegrated in spectacular fashion the very next day when it plunged into the sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the comet's last hours. The end was punctuated by an unexpected explosion: Watch the movie again. The timing of the CME so soon after the comet dove into the sun suggests a link. But what? There is no known mechanism for comets to trigger solar explosions. Before 2011 most solar physicists would have discounted the events of Oct. 1st as pure coincidence--and pure coincidence is still the most likely explanation. Earlier this year, however, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) watched another sungrazer disintegrate in the sun's atmosphere. On July 5, 2011, the unnamed comet appeared to interact with plasma and magnetic fields in its surroundings as it fell apart. Could a puny comet cause a magnetic instability that might propagate and blossom into a impressive CME? The question is not so crazy as it once seemed to be.” |
General
| Site Name | NOAA Photo Library's Photostream |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Flickr |
| Suggested by | Nancy Ridenour |
| Description | “NOAA has launched the social media photo sharing website "NOAA Photo Library's Photostream" on Flickr, the premier Internet photo sharing website. Selections of over 4,000 photos have been uploaded onto the NOAA Flickr website, a subset of the 47,000 public domain images presently on the NOAA Photo Library. The photos can be viewed in collections, sets, in slideshow format, and by using the Flickr search engine to search for imagery thematically on this website.” |
| Site Name | World's Highest Webcam brings Everest to Internet |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Italian Ministry of Education |
| Suggested by | Jim McNally |
| Description | “The world's highest webcam has been installed in the Nepalese Himalayas, beaming live images of Mount Everest back to scientists studying the effects of climate change on the planet's tallest peak. The solar-powered camera, set at 5,675 metres (18,618 feet) on Kala Patthar, a smaller mountain facing Everest, will withstand temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) and operates during daylight hours. The webcam operates from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Nepalese time (0015 to 1215 GMT) from the Kala Patthar summit, recording stunning images of 8,848-metre Mount Everest as well as the South Col. The image is updated every five minutes, allowing climatologists to track the movement of the clouds around the mountain's summit.” |
Environment
| Site Name | Radiation Dose Chart |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Randall Munroe |
| Suggested by | Jay Sinclair |
| Description | “XKCD has a radiation dose chart (with the appropriate disclaimers) that puts the concerns over the Fukushima power plant in perspective. The harm caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami far outstrip the damage from the nuclear power plant. This is not to suggest that the situation there is trivial, or to minimize the heroic efforts of those who have put themselves at great personal risk to contain the situation. Proximity to the source of radiation obviously increases the danger.” |
Teaching
| Title | Snowglobe Strategy – Tying Concepts to Images |
| Contributor | Molly M Pritchard |
| Description | “ Students are either given an outline of a snow globe or asked to draw one on a blank piece of paper. Students then are asked to draw symbols or figures (can also use some words) to capture the essence of the concept or story. For example students might create a snow globe of photosynthesis, a constitutional amendment; the scientific method; or the story of The Three Little Pigs. This activity can be done as a group or individually. It is a great way to help students visually summarize what they have read or heard regarding a piece of text or a more abstract concept. It forces students to identify graphic symbols that help them convey the concept or text. It also matches Robert Marzano’s research on the importance of teaching students to summarize in all subjects. AND, it is also a timely strategy for winter in Michigan!” |
Demo
| Site Name | A Glacier in a Milk Jug And Creation of Landforms |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | EDUfy |
| Suggested By | Philip Cooke |
| Description | “Instructions to demonstrate the creation of landforms by replicating a retreating glacier, and glacial movement. There is a list of various materials including sand water and gravel which are needed to show students how landforms move. The sites are complete with objectives, notes and the procedures.” |
Humor
| Site Name | The Lion Whisperer - If you are on a safari, definitely don't try this! |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | Sky News |
| Suggested by | Larry Claypool |
| Description | “Kevin Richardson, zoologist and animal behaviourist, raises and trains some of the most dangerous animals known to man. To do this he does not use the common methods of breaking the animal's spirit with sticks and chains, instead he uses love, understanding and trust. With this unusual method of training he has developed some exceptionally personal bonds with his students. He sleeps with lions, cuddles newborn hyenas, swims with lionesses. Kevin can confidently look into their eyes, crouch to the their level and even lie down with them - all taboos in the normal world of wild animal handling - yet he has never been mauled or attacked. Some call him crazy; others shake their heads at his unique method of interacting with the animals. And Kevin's secret - get to know the particular personality of each animal, what makes them angry, happy, upset, irritated - just like a mother with a child.” |
Computer Tips
| Site Name | Science On a Sphere for Google Earth |
| Site URL | |
| Site Author | NOAA |
| Suggested by | Brian Tuckett |
| Description | “NOAA's Science On a Sphere has datasets you can download for free that can be placed in Google Earth for use in the classroom. There are over 250 datasets available. Check it out, and you can always request more KML files.” |
