sites for...teachers

Amazing Space
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Amazing Space allows you to play with the building blocks of galaxies and explore our solar system. This is a site which will give you a great insight into all things celestial.

Bad Astronomy
http://www.badastronomy.com/
Fed up with not being sure just what information is correct and what isn't on the Internet? Bad Astronomy is the website for you! Read movie reviews where bad astronomy is exposed or look at the flawed science behind the conspiracy theories.

Cool Cosmos
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/
This is a great educational site courtesy of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Its idea is to show how the Universe can be explored using infrared and other light sources invisible to the human eye.

Earth and Moon Viewer
http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
This technically excellent site will be enjoyed by the most able students at Key Stage 4. View different parts of the Earth and the Moon. But be warned, this is a very popular site so can be slow at times, but it is well worth the wait.

NASA
http://www.nasa.gov
Huge website and not very easy to navigate, but once you find what you are looking for the quality of material is excellent.

NASA Thursday’s Classroom
http://www.thursdaysclassroom.com
Site to provide connection between emerging research from NASA and the classroom. Weekly lessons are prepared by professional educators. Really interesting fun space related stuff, for younger or older children and their teachers or parents.

The National Schools Observatory
http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk
This is a brilliant resource which offers UK schools the chance to observe the nightsky via robotic telescopes located in astronomically drool-worthy locations such as the Canary Islands, Hawaii and Australia. Pupils can even take live control of one of these faraway telescopes to scan the sky for themselves.

Sea and Sky
http://www.seasky.org/sky.html
Choose to investigate the last two great frontiers – the sea or the sky. Take a trip aboard the Starship Sagan for an exciting voyage through the Universe or join the Seasub Cousteau for a journey to the depths of the sea.

Solar System – Images
http://samadhi.jpl.nasa.gov/
Examine maps and surface features of planets or satellites in this superb resource of Solar System-related material from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Solar System in Action
http://www.harmsy.freeuk.com/orrery.html
If it’s information you need on the planets in the Solar System then this is the website for you!

Sun Beams
http://westudent.tripod.com/page1.html
If you’re aged between 7 and 11 and you’re a bright star (like the Sun!) then this is the website for you! So get your shades at the ready for this brilliant website about the Sun and you adults could also learn a thing or two!

Sun|trek
http://www.suntrek.org/
This site is aimed at 10-14 year old students (KS3/4) and their teachers.  It is about the Sun and its effect on the Earth. There’s a whole host of spectacular images and movies (from solar space observations) which can be downloaded for classroom work. Sun|trek contains material relevant to 'Earth and Beyond' and also covers environmental issues such as alternative energy sources.

Surfing Scientist – Teacher Demos
http://www.abc.net.au/science/surfingscientist/teachstuff.htm#demonstrations
Here’s a magic site for teachers, brought to you by Australia’s ‘Surfing Scientist’ – otherwise known as Reuben Meerman. Reuben was the brains behind the Planet Science Whodunit two years ago, and many a time he’d keep us off our work with a scientific demo or two. Always very entertaining.
Here’s his collection of wow-factor teacher demonstrations, complete with pictures, instructions, notes and weblinks. Nice one, Reubs!

Total Solar Eclipse
http://www.comet-track.com/eclipse/secl99/
Can’t remember the 1999 solar eclipse? Fear not, for QuickTime videos and time-lapse animation of the eclipse are available on this site, all taken in perfect weather conditions in Turkey.

Views of the Solar System
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm
You won’t see this by looking out of your window, you need to look at this site instead for pictures of planets and the Sun.

Virtual Solar System
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/solarsystem/
Take a 3-D tour of the Solar System, fly past the Sun and observe each planet up close and personal. It needs a download, which could take around 20 minutes so make sure you have plenty of patience!.

Welcome to the Planets
http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/
Get to know the planets in great detail with this fabulous selection of images from NASA.

Windows to the Universe
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
This is a wide ranging site from the USA, encompassing astronomy, geology and physics, history and people, basically it should be called "life, the universe and everything"! It's got a lot of pages and you could roam around learning this and that for hours. It's beautifully presented, (if a little disorientating given the amount of content) and full of imaginative ways to explore science, and it even has a section for teachers with loads of classroom activities that link into the American Curriculum, but could be adapted for use here. Definitely worth a look.


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botany

Classification of Plants and Animals
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/classify/classify.html
Find out about classification or even invent your own families of animals or plants.

Fun Plant Page
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kinder/funpage.html
Read the information and then try out the exciting plant experiments if you’re of the green-fingered sort!

Project Bud Burst
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/
This is an interesting American spring related web project: people all over the world submit details of when plants are budding and fruiting in their areas to gather about climate change!

The Great Plant Escape
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case4/c4facts1a.html
Become a plant detective and get on the case to find out how and why plants do what they do!

The Great Plant Hunt
http://www.greatplanthunt.org
This is a primary school science resource inspired by the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin.The Darwin Treasure Chest is an outstanding free resource, sent free to all primary schools in March 2009.  The activities include exploring habitats, collecting seeds and growing plants.

The Woodland Trust
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
The woodland conversation charity has a website full of resources for students who want to get out and find things.  Click on ‘learning is fun’ and go from there.


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chemistry

About.com: Chemistry
http://chemistry.about.com/
Lots to explore in this US-based site including demos and experiments, homework help, science fair projects and much more.

A Look Inside the Atom
http://www.aip.org/history/electron/jjhome.htm
This is a very readable, attractive account of the discovery of atomic structure. A site for students interested in how ideas in science develop.

Chemistry and Industry
http://www.chemind.org
This online magazine covers the industrial applications of science and how they affect business now and in the future. They cover stories from renewable energy reviews to the most obscure business news back to the fat burning pill, so there is a wide range.

Chemistry Society
http://www.chemsoc.org
Enter the Chembytes Infozone and you may never get out again for there’s loads to read up on for all you budding chemists out there!

Creative Chemistry
http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk
The Creative Chemistry website is recommended for secondary school science teachers and anyone else with an interest in chemistry - particularly if you're facing GCSEs or A Levels...

Doc Brown’s Chemistry Clinic
http://www.docbrown.info
There are quizzes, worksheet and revision aids for KS3, GCSE and A’ level. It’s not just chemistry either – in the KS3 section there’s biology, physics, earth science and mixed science resources too. There’s a fantastic alphabetical list of the users and applications of chemicals but don’t get carried away and print it out ‘cos it’s 30-40 pages long!

GCSE Chemistry
http://www.gcsechemistry.com/
Around 400 pages dedicated to GCSE chemistry, covering all of the UK syllabuses. The best way to navigate the site is via the index, which is useful for finding key points for homework.

Royal Society of Chemists
http://www.rsc.org
The Royal Society of Chemists is more for professional chemists to find out about the society and how to join, but it does have information about their library.

Science Comics
http://www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk
Focusing on scientific enquiry and materials and is aimed at 7-11yrs.  It includes fun and engaging chemistry comics, games, such as word searches, quizzes and Sudoku, plus a suite of teaching resources. 

The Mystery of the Missing Ming Vase
http://www.soci.org/SCI
This is an ‘off-the-shelf’ teaching pack which teachers can download to use in the classroom for teaching chemistry to Year 8 (ages 12 to 13) students.  There are great downloadable worksheets and posters, plus a map of the Museum and guidance notes.

Visual Elements
http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/page3.html
This site takes you on a spectacular journey through the periodic table, as you absorb a wealth of information on individual elements, groups and patterns in the table.

Web Elements
http://www.webelements.com
Gives the periodic table and information about it. You can click on individual elements and get more details. Also CHEMPUTER interactive on-line chemical calculators to be found here.

Xperimania
http://www.xperimania.net
A site all about the science behind man-made Materials, with a particularly practical slant.  It has a bunch of practical activities to try, but also invites you to explore the man-made materials time line and come up with your own practicals then share them with the rest of Europe.  They’ve also go webchats with European scientists who are actually working at the forefront of the petrochemicals industry; and international competitions.


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earth sciences

The Fuchs Foundation
http://www.fuchsfoundation.org
This is a (literally) cool educational charity whose prime aim is to enable good science and geography teachers, through self-development, to become inspirational teachers and leaders in their profession. This is done by sending you to the Polar Regions where you'll get to carry out scientific projects under harsh conditions. On your return you create teaching resources which can be used for the National Curriculum available for all on the website.

British Antarctic Survey
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
The British Antarctic Survey are adventurous folk! Geologists, climate scientists, and zoologists all pile down there for the summer, and some even stay over the winter – brrrr! There are a lot of special resources for teachers and a chance for teachers to interact with the BAS at:
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Schools/index.html

Chasing The Dust
http://www.eur-oceans.info/EN/diary/dust_cruise/
A site that details the voyage of the RRS Discovery in 2008 and their Oceanographic expedition to ‘Chase The Dust’ of Saharan dust storms in the Atlantic ocean.  Pupils can go ‘virtually’ aboard to have a taste of what oceanography is about and how the science fits some of today’s topical issue like climate change and geo-engineering.

Earth Learning Idea
http://earthlearningidea.com/
ELI aims to publish a new idea for teaching Earth Science on the Internet every week during the International Year of Planet Earth, 2008. The ideas are for use in those classrooms that have minimal resources and should develop scientific understanding and thinking skills. Each one will encourage discussion, through a blog, to develop a global network of those interested in science education and Earth Science education. This initiative is being run on a voluntary basis, with no outside funding, so all help is welcome! ELI will publish Earth-related teaching ideas, designed to be practical resources for teachers and teacher-trainers.

Earth Science INSET
http://www.earthscienceeducation.com
The good people of the Earth Sciences Education Unit have put together a very useful website. It explains how they will come out to your school or college to do INSET in this subject area, and the site also contains information about other available resources.

Energy Sources
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg
Possible energy source and it's pros and cons explained in this straightforward site, would be great for anyone doing a project on energy sources!

Geological Society (Geolsoc)
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=geohome
The Geological Society has information for teachers and informed, interested adults.

Globe Project
http://www.globe.org.uk
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/welcome/welcomeobject.pl
Have a spin round either of these sites if you are a teacher with the environment in mind. Schools can join up and upload information they have collected about their local environment. This data can then be shared via the website.

PEEP (Physics and Ethics Education Project)
http://www.peep.ac.uk/content/index.php
This site has been built to match the new GCSE syllabi with their emphasis on How Science Works and ethical issues in science.  Students can find information on a wide range of ethical issues plus activities and challenges.  There’s also the option to have an online discussion which will give opportunities to practice argument. The site has been updated with the new A level specs (see Search by Syllabus).  PEEP has a sister site, the original, focusing on Bioethics: http://www.beep.ac.uk/content/index.php

Sea and Sky
http://www.seasky.org/index.html
Choose to investigate the last two great frontiers — the sea or the sky. Take a trip aboard the Starship Sagan for an exciting voyage through the Universe or join the Seasub Cousteau for a journey to the depths of the sea.

The British Geological Survey
http://www.bgs.ac.uk
Access the BGS’s educational information and user-friendly geological maps.

The Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
http://www.minerals.net
Good if you like looking at pictures of gems and minerals, not so hot on how they form or any proper geological information.

Volcano Hazards Programme
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/
If you’re a volcano fan then you’ll find activity reports and up to the minute volcano news from around the world here at the click of your mouse! Aimed principally at adults, teachers or serious volcano watchers of any age.

Volcano World
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vw.htm
Comprehensive images and information regarding the world’s volcanoes with good teacher resources including careers advice and lesson plans.

Windows to the Universe
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
This is a wide ranging site from the USA, encompassing astronomy, geology and physics, history and people, basically it should be called "life, the universe and everything"! It's got a lot of pages and you could roam around learning this and that for hours. It's beautifully presented, (if a little disorientating given the amount of content) and full of imaginative ways to explore science, and it even has a section for teachers with loads of classroom activities that link into the American Curriculum, but could be adapted for use here. Definitely worth a look.

Your Planet Earth
http://www.earth4567.com
Aimed at 14-15 years olds, this site provides free PowerPoint presentations, background notes and practical exercises for earth science subjects.  The slides are beautifully illustrated and each talk carries a full commentary/script in the associated panels. 

Yowie Education Site
http://www.cadburylearningzone.co.uk/
Cadbury education site aims to provide exciting and challenging materials to support science, geography and environmental science at key stage 2 and 3 and Scottish curricula levels C-E, for both school and home learning.


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ecology

5 Kingdoms
http://www.5kingdoms.co.uk
This is the web-presence of an interesting looking resource for schools and other educational groups, or just those with an interest in their local environment. The man in the van is environmental scientist Richard Osmond and the van itself is packed with high-tech kit to take a more in-depth look at your wild environment.

Arkive
http://www.arkive.org/
This superb resource from The Wildscreen Trust is an electronic archive of photographs, moving images and sounds of endangered species and habitats.

British Antarctic Survey
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
The British Antarctic Survey are adventurous folk! Geologists, climate scientists, and zoologists all pile down there for the summer, and some even stay over the winter – brrrr! There are a lot of special resources for teachers and a chance for teachers to interact with the BAS at:
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Schools/index.html

Eco Schools
http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/
Sustainable Learning is a programme providing a structured, task based approach to the way energy and water is used in schools. Schools working through this programme have realised energy reductions of 10% on average and have a better understanding of how energy and water is used in their schools.

Energy Matters
http://www.think-energy.com
Is your house full of wasters? Do you go to school with wasters? Energy wasters, we mean, of course! There's only so much energy to go round you know, and this site will point you in the right direction towards becoming someone who uses the minimum, not the maximum amount of juice!

Globe Project
http://www.globe.org.uk
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/welcome/welcomeobject.pl
Have a spin round either of these sites if you are a teacher with the environment in mind. Schools can join up and upload information they have collected about their local environment. This data can then be shared via the website.

I Love Bacteria
http://www.ratlab.co.uk/index.html
Billing itself as ‘The home of the geekiest science stuff on the net’, this site has a Fun Facts section which may help to answer some of the questions you have tossed and turned over. Like why do paper cuts hurt so much? Have a scamper through the DIY Experiments – you may find inspiration for a much-needed practical. The Reviews section also lists some great science links.

Natural Environment Research Council
http://www.nerc.ac.uk is the main site for those involved in Environmental research
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/site/guides/schools.asp is the schools section, with basic info on how your school can get in touch with the local schools Liaison Officer and a few useful related weblinks.

Project Bud Burst
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/
This is an interesting American spring related web project: people all over the world submit details of when plants are budding and fruiting in their areas to gather about climate change!

Recyclezone
http://www.recyclezone.org.uk
This site looks as though it must be for Primary School pupils only, but contains lots of info for secondary level teachers and students too. A useful round up of everything to do with the three Rs (no not reading, writing and arithmetic! Reuse, Reduce and Recycle) plus it selves a bit further into the whole notion of sustainability in schools. Worth a look.

The HMS Endurance Tracking Project
http://www.visitandlearn.co.uk/default.aspx
This project aims to increase everyone’s knowledge of the environment as a whole and show how the Royal Navy contributes to a better world, shaping our lives beyond their traditional military capabilities.

Waste Watch
http://www.wastewatch.org.uk
Not all that scientific, but it will get you enthusiastic about recycling in the home and school if you aren’t already.

WWF
http://www.wwf.org.uk/
The World Wildlife Fund website contains loads of information and resources aimed at teachers and schools, concentrating on sustaining nature. Further resoures can be accessed at here.

US Office of Water
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/kids
You’ll like this site it’s full of teaching plans, classroom activities and project ideas. And here's some further information about drinking water standards: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/kidshealth/


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food science & nutrition

British Nutrition Foundation
http://www.nutrition.org.uk
Good site for adults to get information and lesson ideas, with impressive nutrition links.

Explore E Numbers
www.exploreenumbers.co.uk
Ever wondered what those tricky little ingredients are? And what effects and side effects they have? Here's a site that'll give you the low down.

Food Future
http://www.foodfuture.org.uk
Science-based information on the issues surrounding the genetic modification of food.

Kids Food – Cyber Club
http://www.kidfood.org/kf_cyber.html
Site aimed at children and their adults, including teachers to promote good health via good nutrition. Questions and answers for children and downloadable lesson plans etc for teachers - you will need acrobat reader.

The Nutrition Cheat Sheet
http://www.mmeade.com/cheat/index.html
Excellent site for young people, adults and teachers, with lots of facts about vitamins, minerals and trace elements you need to remain healthy.


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general science

School Science
http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/
This site from the estimable ASE promises to be a central point of reference for all primary and secondary school science teachers and technicians. It will also offer a unique opportunity for practitioners to enhance their knowledge and experience of science and science education, and it will become an indispensable point of reference, updated on a regular basis and keeping you informed of regular developments.
Defined by age range, there are four areas to choose from: 3-7, 7-11, 11-14, and 14-19, each having its own contents page which lists the core subject areas with accompanying features including ideas for lessons, contacts directories, product showcases and, of course, Kit Pot - a continuation of the distribution of free equipment and apparatus to schools first introduced in Science Year.

Afrikan Science
http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/education/AfrikanScience
This is a bright, beautiful and child-friendly website which allows users to find out about black scientists, engineers and technologists who have made significant contributions to the world today.

Archives In Education
http://www.archives.org.uk
How using archives can help teachers, links to archives.

BRAINPOP
http://www.brainpop.com
What? You've never looked at Brainpop? This is a fabulous crazy brilliant animation site to explain all things scientific and medical. (and other school subjects too). It is an American subscription site – but you get some free movies in each section to tempt you in. The teacher lesson plans all relate to the movies and all in all it's hard to see how anyone would fail to love this site. Do give it a try.

By Teachers
http://www.byteachers.org.uk
Free resources from teachers to teachers on this site, which prides itself as being run by the experts – teachers!

Dr Universe
http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/
Dr Universe is a cat with connections, and her aim is to answer the questions and wonderings of people who write in to her. Questions like: "What purpose does a cockroach serve in our world?" and "Why do we cry?"

Explore Science
http://www.explorelearning.com
Brilliant site for pupils and teachers. Lots of interactive games which explain the basic principles of many scientific concepts. You could spend hours accidentally looking at all it has to offer, so beware!

Fact Monster
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html
Fact Monster is an interesting yet informative site brought to you by Information Please. This page explains why there were so few black scientists in the past and so sets a context in which children and teenagers can learn about the achievements, and of course the struggles black scientists faced. You’ll also find profiles of a number of black scientists on the website too.

First School Years
http://www.firstschoolyears.com/science/index.htm
This is a site that's been created by a number of primary school teachers, and brings together a wide range of worksheet resources as well as online activities and links for many subjects, including quite a bit of science. There are one or two things for sale, but the majority of the materials are completely free for educational use. There are oodles of print-offable sheets, including loads of wordsearches, quizzes, word jumbles and 'fill in the missing words' sentences. There are also a number of online activities such as labelling pictures, and sorting objects.

NGFL Teacher Resource Exchange
http://tre.ngfl.gov.uk/
If you haven't already then it might be worth looking at the science resources on this site devoted to teachers sharing best practice. It has hundreds of science lesson plans or ideas.

Nina and the Neurons
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/nina/
Have you seen those CBeebies Science experiment adverts on the TV?  Well all the instructions are on this site.  The experiment which uses honey, cooking oil and water to demonstrate density is called ‘Every Drop Make’.  Check out Nina’s Lab and the Germ Counting with Charlie and Lola game.  Great site for young ones.

Nobel Prize Games
http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/
A section of the Nobel Prize.org website which has a host of different activities and games to raise awareness of Nobel Prize winners.

Quiz Busters
http://www.teachers-direct.co.uk/resources/quiz-busters/
Choose pre-arranged quizzes, or fill up with questions of your own.  The quizzes are in the style of the famous blockbuster TV quizzes of yore.

Reeko's Mad Scientist's Lab
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/
Friendly and well structured site, using experiments to explore scientific principles such as buoyancy, gravity and momentum. There are clickable bits and pieces all over the place, just to keep you on your toes, and lots of links to other good sites too. Please do heed all the safety advice won't you!

SciCentral
http://www.scicentral.com
The award-winning gateway to scientific resources and news.

Science Comics
http://www.sciencecomics.uwe.ac.uk
Focusing on scientific enquiry and materials and is aimed at 7-11yrs.  It includes fun and engaging chemistry comics, games, such as word searches, quizzes and Sudoku, plus a suite of teaching resources.

The Science Enhancement Programme
http://www.sep.org.uk
The Science Enhancement Programme (SEP) has launched a brand new website to provide online access to its large range of teaching resources. 
It’s divided into a number of areas with information about SEP and its activities, but the main feature is the Resource Bank, containing a wealth of teaching resources, covering a range of science curriculum subjects from 11 to 16+. 
(Click on the Sample Resources, Physics of Spin in Sport and enjoy some great images of the air flow over golf balls!)

Science Learning Centres
http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
Discover cutting edge science and educational expertise delivering professional development to teachers and technicians.

Scientists for Global Responsibility
http://www.sgr.org.uk/
Site promoting ethics in science. Useful for fuel to start science discussions for older children.

ScI-Journal
http://www.sci-journal.org
An online publication for science students, which gives them the chance to publish work done in school or college science classes to share with students around the world.

Science Postcards
http://www.sciencepostcards.com/
Science exploration through stories. The resources are freely downloadable. Each Postcard comes with free Teaching Activities (experiments and lesson plans) and Pupil Notes that lead you through the experiments. The resource is from New Zealand so you may find that the curriculum links etc. need a bit of a tweak for your purposes - but what the hey!

Scientists in Schools
http://www.scientistsinschools.org/
This site is designed to provide a link between teachers and scientists, with the aim of helping to raise the aspirations and interest of underprivileged school students in the sciences.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics
http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/
The council have produced a set of 10 classroom resources, in collaboration with the Nuffield Curriculum Centre, exploring the ethics of science research involving animals.  This includes planning notes, handouts and assessment activities which have been designed to help students make informed decisions about the use of animals in research and the associated ethical issues.

The Why Files
http://whyfiles.org/
If you’ve ever wondered what the science behind a news story is then be sure to check out the Why Files.

Upd8
http://www.upd8.org.uk/
This is a free downloadable science resource from the ASE.  It aims to make science more topical by exploring the science behind the stories in the news. Web Site Reviews
http://vtc.ngfl.gov.uk/
Peer reviews of Web sites for science, listed by topic and key stage.


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