Posts Tagged ‘biology’

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Free Crash Course in English Literature!

February 27th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, February 27, 2013 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Crash Course

Age Range: 13-18 (Grades 9-12 approximately, with parental supervision)

Best-selling author of young adult fiction, John Green, offers this new, free, video mini-series, “Crash Course in English Literature” that revs up interest and understanding of classic literature for the high school age crowd. With manic enthusiasm, he hurtles through plots, characters, writing styles, trivia, and jokes (that will make you groan) – all punctuated with colorful pictures, illustrations, doodles and more. 

When you get to the YouTube site, you’ll see a menu of the current 8 videos in the series including:

  • How and Why We Read
  • Of Pentameter & Bear Baiting – Romeo & Juliet
  • Was Gatsby Great? The Great Gatsby
  • Language, Voice, and Holden Caulfield: The Catcher in the Rye
  • Before I Got My Eye Put Out – The Poetry of Emily Dickinson

Each video course provides knowledge about the literature in a way that really speaks to those who are resistant to it. Green uses funny analogies, quips, gimmicks, and references to pop culture to provide an analysis of the literature that makes it more understandable for today’s teen.

Note to Parents: John Green does address the topic of sex in these literary works. As always, parents should preview the videos to determine suitability of content.

After exploring the “Crash Course in English Literature,” use the menu to check out Green’s other Crash Courses:

  • Crash Course in World History (42 videos)
  • Crash Course in Biology (40 videos)
  • Crash Course in Ecology (12 videos)
  • Crash Course in U.S. History (4 videos)

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Free Science Videos!

February 19th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, February 19, 2013, and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

ASAP Science

Age Range: 12 and up (Approximately, with parental supervision. Some of the videos contain adult topics. See note below. Parents should preview the site and supervise Internet access.)

ClickScholar Rita suggested this YouTube channel where ASAP Science offers free, short, entertaining videos that explain biological concepts. Created by two biologists, a new video is posted weekly and engages viewers with fast-paced and informative explanations accompanied by lots of entertaining and colorful illustrations.

When you get to the website the current video will launch on the screen. Scroll down the page to see the menu of archived videos on topics that include:

  • The Science of Love
  • How Your Brain Works
  • Which Came First – The Chicken or the Egg?
  • Zombie Apocalypse Science
  • The Moon Illusion
  • The Creation of Pearls
  • The Science of Superheroes
  • And Many More!

The presentations are designed to be informal and informative. The use of humor and some slang terminology, along with simple diagrams and silly pictures, is intended to make biology seem “cool,” making it more accessible to the general population

NOTE: There are a number of ASAP Science videos that are geared for older viewers and/or that have controversial topics including drugs, alcohol, hangovers, sex, contraception, bodily functions, etc. Since every parent has a different criteria for what is suitable content for any particular age-range, PARENTS ARE ADVISED TO PREVIEW THE VIDEOS AND SUPERVISE ALL INTERNET ACCESS.

One more thing…YouTube contains random advertisements, and it allows viewers to post comments (that may contain offensive language). Again, parental supervision is advised.

That said, there are plenty of videos in this archive that provide sound scientific explanations of topics that are appropriate for general audiences.

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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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Science w/ Free Nutrition Lessons!

January 8th, 2013

It’s Tuesday, January 8, 2013 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Nutrition for Healthy Kids

Age Range: 7-16 (There is something for most age/grade/ability levels,with parental supervision.)

A Maryland ClickScholar suggested this website that offers over 25 free “Nutrition Lessons” for homeschoolers that engage learners in discovering the science of nutrition. The lessons have been designed by a homeschool mom of five children as a thesis project to earn a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a professional background in healthcare.

When you get to the site, you’ll see an index of the Nutrition Lessons, divided into four units, that include topics such as:

  • Genetically Modified Foods
  • USDA Organic
  • Sweeteners – Splenda, Aspartame, High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Produce – Basic Botany of Edible Plants
  • Sustainable Farming
  • Meat – Life Cycles and Animal Husbandry
  • Dairy – What is Pasteurization?
  • Digestion
  • Nutrient Metabolism
  • Food Allergies
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • And Many More!

Just click on a topic of interest and a new page opens with the complete lesson. You’ll also find links to worksheets and quizzes for the lessons.

IMPORTANT: Some of the text in the lessons are hyperlinked to other websites that sell products (for example, Time4Learning homeschool curriculum). It’s not always easy to tell if a hyperlink leads to an example that is pertinent to the lesson, or is simply an ad. As always, parents should preview the material and supervise Internet use.

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Free Marine Science Videos, Lessons, & More!

November 27th, 2012

Hi! It’s Tuesday, November 27, 2012 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Jonathan Bird’s Blue World

Age Range: All (This was designed for students in grades 6-8, but there is something of educational value and entertainment for everyone, with parental supervision.)

Jonathan Bird’s Blue World website is an offshoot of a PBS television series by the same name. The website offers free “webisodes” of the underwater science/adventure series online for free WITHOUT advertising – and it’s all accompanied by free study guides and classroom lessons and activities based on National Science Standards (that can be tweaked for home use by families).

The idea is to generate interest in protecting the underwater world by increasing awareness of this realm and the creatures that live there. The episodes and learning materials are packed with information and presented in a way that makes marine biology fun to learn.

When you get to the site, you’ll see a sliding display that highlights current features. (I watched a fascinating, 7-minute video on “Sea Snakes,” one of the ocean’s most venomous critters.) Use the menu at the top of the screen that includes:

*Watch Webisodes – View about 75 different videos covering topics such as coral spawning, dolphins, learning to scuba dive, shark biology, crustaceans, venomous fish, sea turtles, stingrays, killer clams, sea cows, whales, and much more. You’ll also find “Extras” that include interviews with cameramen, videos on tools of the trade, etc. While all of the webisodes offer downloadable study guides, in the “Curriculum Based” section, you’ll find six videos (so far) that also offer free, downloadable lesson plans.

*Behind The Scenes – Meet underwater cinematographer Jonathan Bird and the rest of his award-winning science and research team. Peruse a “Photo Gallery,” read “Sea Stories” about incidents that occur behind the scenes, and explore “Other Resources” that contain links to educational websites.

*For Educators – Access the free Study Guides and Lesson Plans. Learn about National Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and find a direct link to the “Curriculum Based” webisodes.

This is a terrific learning resource that the whole family will find educational and entertaining!

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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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