Posts Tagged ‘astronomy’

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Free Archive of Science Songs for K-12!

February 5th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Recommended Website:

SingAboutScience.org

Age Range:  Varies (Grades K-12, with parental supervision)

Learning science facts and concepts is easier when the information is set to music. At this website, provided by science professors, musicians, teachers, and other collaborators, you’ll find a free archive of thousands of songs and videos that teach science and math. Some of the songs are “suitable for second graders, others might only appeal to tenured professors.”

Some of the songs are free to listen to or view, while most songs link to websites where you can purchase them. However, there are free sound samples provided for the songs – and just listening to the samples is educational. A few of the samples are full-length, so you can listen to the entire song for free!  Plus, most of the videos are free to view on YouTube.

Not only that, the site provides free lesson plans that incorporate music to learn about earth science, chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, microbiology and more. New content is being added continuously.

When you get to the site, you’ll see some featured videos – great fun to watch! Then, use the “Find/Add Songs” on the menu to search the database. Be sure to watch the “video tutorial” for helpful tips on using the search engine to find tunes that suit your student’s interests.

Once you click on a song, you’ll get information on the album title (if any), the performer, the writer, and a lyrics page to view (for most songs). As I mentioned previously, you can buy songs that you like. If you click on “Buy” a new page opens to the website of the song performer or producer (where you can purchase the songs). In many cases, you can hear MORE sound clips or full-length versions beyond what was available on the SingAboutScience website!

To reiterate, there are a number of full-length songs and videos that you can listen to absolutely FREE.

Searching through the songs and listening to the music can take some time. Bookmark the site so you can return whenever you’re in the mood for science tunes to enhance learning.

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Bios of Scientists & Much More!

January 29th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, January 29, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Eric Weisstein’s World of Scientific

Age Range: 11 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

This website offers an incredible encyclopedic-style archive of information on science and math, including the biographies of scientists. When you get to the site, use the menu in the left margin of the page to search for scientists based upon:

*Branch of Science – Search for a scientist by his/her field of study from Archaeology to Sociology.

*Gender/Minority Status – Women, African Americans, Asian Americans, etc.

*Historical Periods – Meet scientists from the Bronze Age, Greek Dark Ages, and Pre-Classical Greece.

*Nationality – Find scientists from many nations including the U.S., China, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, and Russia.

*Prize Winners – Read the Bios of Scientists and Mathematicians who have been awarded prizes (i.e., The Nobel) for their work.

*Alphabetical Index – An A to Z list of all of the scientists and mathematicians whose biographies are archived on the website. Click on any one, and a new page opens with the scientist’s picture and bio. References are provided as well.

In addition to the scientists’ bios, you can use the menu tabs at the top of the page to find encyclopedic information on specific branches of science and math including:

  • Astronomy – Learn about atmospheres, galactic astronomy, the solar system, stars and more.
  • Chemistry – Find out about chemical reactions, experimental chemistry, oganic chemistry, quantum chemistry and more.
  • Mathematics – Explore algebra, applied mathematics, calculus, geometry, number theory, probability, statistics, etc.
  • Physics – Discover astrophysics, electromagnetism, experimental physics, fluid mechanics, states of matter, thermodynamics and more.

There is so much content here, you’ll want to bookmark this site to return often.

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Native American Science Lessons & Activities

November 6th, 2012

Hi! It’s Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Websites: See Below

Age Range: Varies

It’s November and in the U.S. learning activities are often themed around the contributions of Native Americans to American history. Here are some science lessons and activities inspired by the same:

ThinkQuest: Native Americans in Science

At this website you’ll find a simple and very brief overview of the ways Native Americans have contributed to Astronomy, Geology, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics that is suitable for all ages/grades. Be sure to click on the image of the “Back Button” to find find similar lists of Native American contributions to Medicine, Invention, Art, the Military, and more.

After reading the above overview, try this activity:

Lesson: Can-Do Canoe

This free classroom lesson and activity (for ages 8-17 or grades 3-12) can be tweaked for homeschoolers. As explained at the website, “Explore the engineering design process by building model canoes from everyday materials and testing their design. The canoes must be able to float for three minutes and, for older students, support a load.” Students then evaluate the effectiveness of their canoes and discuss their findings.

And for those who are looking for content for more advanced learners…

Native American Science

This website, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and several universities, provides a free university-level curriculum (that high school students and accelerated learners may also enjoy) that shows how Indigenous traditions are based on a solid understanding and description of natural phenomena. Topics include: Native and Western Views of Nature, Indigenous Research Methods, Environmental Justice, Indigenous Perspective, and more.

As explained at the website, “Our goal is to avoid romantic cliches and characterizations of Indian people and their traditional knowledge and to present this knowledge as well documented but different in approach from ‘Western science.’ These traditions are based on connection to the natural world, rather than separation from nature–in other words we are working with a science based on relationships, reciprocity and respect rather than solely on exploitation and economic concerns.”

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Math Biographies, History, & More!

October 15th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Monday, October 15, 2012 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

MacTutor History of Math Archive

Age Range: 10 and up (Some of the trivia will appeal to younger students, with parental supervision.)

This website archives the biographies of famous and not-so-famous mathematicians, including a “Mathematicians of the Day” feature. It also maintains an index of the history of various math strands like Numbers, Algebra, and Geometry, as well as the history of math in various cultures such as those in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, China, India, America and more.

When you get to the site, simply use the search tool or the menu on the left of the screen to access:

*Biographies Index – Read the life stories of mathematicians through the ages.  Search for names alphabetically, or search various time periods from 500 AD to the present.

*History Topics Index – Click on links to learn about mathematics in various cultures from Ancient Babylonia to the Mayan culture to present day America.  You can also learn the history of various mathematical topics such as Algebra, Analysis, Numbers, Number Theory, Geometry, Topology, Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Astronomy, and more.

*Famous Curves Index – Learn the history of various math curves such as the Cartesian Oval, Devil’s Curve, Fermat’s Spiral, Involute of a Circle, Newton’s Parabolas, Serpentine, Talbot’s Curve, Watt’s Curve, the Witch of Agnesi, and more.

*Mathematicians of the Day – Find out which mathematicians were born (and who died) every day of the year. Bookmark the site, and check it daily. The entire year is archived here – look up your birthday and see what mathematician was born on the same day as you!

This site offers a unique way to engage students in the study of mathematics, and a way to further explore math for those who simply can’t get enough of it.

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The Science of Autumn Leaves Video!

October 9th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, October 9, 2012 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Kids Know It: Autumn Leaves Movie

Age Range: 9-14 (approximately, with parental supervision)

The Kids Know It website offers a series of free science videos, including the one  featured in this review that explains the science of Autumn leaves.

When you get to the site you’ll see the title “Autumn Leaves” and a video screen. Click on “Play” to launch the video.

  • Autumn leaves and colors
  • Chlorophyll
  • Carotenoids
  • Anthocyanins
  • Tree types and their leaf colors

An animated host with a robotic voice narrates the video that explains why leaves change color in Autumn.  It’s a great introduction to the science of fall leaves and may springboard your child’s interest to learn more.

When you’re through watching the Autumn leaf video, use the menu on the left side of the page to watch more free, educational videos on topics that include:

  • Animals
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Dinosaurs
  • Geology

And manymore!

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Free Solar System Science Fact Sheets!

September 10th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, August 28, 2012, and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

8 Planets

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

I stumbled across this UK-based website by accident, and am so glad I did!  It’s currently an ad-free site with free scientific fact sheets containing, “Everything You Ever Wanted To know About Our Solar System.”

When you get to the site you’ll see a scrolling screen that displays cartoon animations of the 8 planets in our Solar System along with an interesting fact about each one. Use the horizontal menu at the top of the page to explore the more content-rich information and fact sheets (that contain terrific photographs) archived under the headings:

  • The Sun
  • The Planets
  • The Moon
  • Dwarf Planets
  • Other Bodies(Asteroids, Meteors, Oort Clouds, etc.)
  • Astronomy(Astronomy, Galaxy, Gravity, etc.)
  • Space Exploration (Space Travel, Alien Life, etc.)

You can explore this information online, or print out the fact sheets to use offline. The facts are great conversation starters and may springboard your kids to want to learn much more.

Interestingly, I couldn’t find any information on this UK-based website that explains who sponsors the site. I didn’t find any notations or references for the source of the information either – even though it looks to be current and accurate. Therefore, as always, parents should preview the site and supervise all Internet use.

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