Posts Tagged ‘experiments’

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YouTube Space Lab – Teen Science Contest!

October 18th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, October 18, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!
 
Recommended Website:
YouTube: Space Lab
 
Age Range: 14-18 (with parental guidance)

YouTube has teamed up with NASA and others to launch a “Space Experiment Contest” that challenges students (ages 14-18) to use their skills in science, math, and engineering to design a science experiment that can be conducted aboard the International Space Station. 

The top 60 experiments will be announced on January 3, 2012. One of the judges will be renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.

According to Space.com, six finalists will meet in Washington, D.C., in March 2012, and get a chance to experience zero-gravity flights on an aircraft and receive other prizes.

Two global winners (one from the 14-16 age group and one from the 17-18 age group) will be picked from among the six finalists. The winning experiments will be performed on the space station next summer.

But that’s not all! The two winners will get to choose one of two grand prizes: a trip to Japan to watch their experiment blast off, or (after they turn 18) a chance to undergo spaceflight training in Star City outside Moscow, the training center for Russian cosmonauts.

When you get to the website, watch the welcome video. Then use the menu on the left side of the screen to learn:

*What is the YouTube Space Lab? – Learn more about this video archive that helps people learn about space.

*The Competition – Get all of the details to enter and wind teh competition. You can enter as a group of 2-3 or solo. You have to submit your video entry on YouTube by December 7th, 2011 (by 23:59 PT) – no exceptions!

*Direct From Space – Get the latest news and images from the ISS.

*Discover Space – Take a journey through the Solar System and watch the most inspiring space videos from across YouTube.

*Technology In Orbit – Find out what laptop they use in space.

Whether you enter the competition or not, you can use this site to learn a lot about space science. Wouldn’t it be cool if a homeschooler won?  :)

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Science With Fall Leaves & More!

October 4th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, October 4, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Science Made Simple: Fall Leaves

Age Range: 5-13 (about grades K-8, with adult supervision)

It’s fall and kids everywhere are asking, “Why do leaves change color in the Fall?”  This site answers everything kids want to know about autumn leaves that includes scientific information, quick-and-easy science experiments, and a fun word-scramble puzzle.

But wait, there’s more!  When you’re through satiating your curiosity about Fall leaves, look at the menu on the left side of the page and click on “Home.”  In the center of the page you’ll find, “Easy Science Projects” using common household items that explore topics such as:

  • What is static electricity?
  • Why is the sky blue?
  • How do animals spend the winter?

Next to this group of choices you will find “Science Articles” that contain information and activities on a variety of science subjects.

Use the blue horizontal menu bar near the top of the home page to find more “Kids Science Projects” with complete instructions for conducting experiments at home.

If you like what the site has to offer, you can sign up for their monthly newsletter for a fee and access even more science projects and resources.

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Free K-12 Science Lessons, Activities, Videos & More!

September 27th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, September 27, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Science For Kids

Age Range: 5 – 18 (with parental supervision)

Your kids will enjoy the free science activities, lessons, videos, projects, experiments, cool facts, quizzes, and games available at this terrific website! They’ll learn about animals, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, weather, space science and more.
 
When you arrive at the site, you will see an introduction and the highlighted facts and features of the site. You can use the horizontal navigation bar at the top of the page to explore the following topics.
 
*Experiments – Perform cool chemistry experiments and more with materials you’ll find around the house. Float an egg, melt some chocolate, make a vinegar volcano, breed bacteria, make invisible ink, germinate seeds, or make fake snot (ewwww!).

*Games – Try these challenging interactive games that test your tech skills while teaching the science behind activities that involve magnets, electricity, forces, light, sounds, gases, etc.

*Facts – “Did you know that the ears of a cricket are located on its front legs?” Get the facts and enjoy fun trivia about animals, planets, the human body, and other fascinating topics.

*Quizzes – Test your knowledge about elementary science through quizzes with questions ranging from easy to hard. Enjoy printable science word searches and puzzle worksheets too!

*Projects – Learn about the “scientific method” while you try the science projects offered in every field of science for students in grades K-12. Grow salt crystals, make a kaleidoscope or a simple microscope, learn about forensics and
much, much more!

*Lessons – Get fun and educational science activities for students and lesson plans for teachers from elementary to high school level including resources, ideas, and activities.

*Images – Use this archive of illustrations, photos, and diagrams to create a science report or project.

*Videos – Watch incredible video clips of animal behavior, cellular behavior, chemical reactions, and more. See “How-To” videos on everything from making a lemon battery to surviving a bear attack. You’ll find videos on engineering, video game technology, dinosaurs, robots and more!

*Topics – Get a wide range of teaching resources and ideas on over 30 science topics.

This is an ad-supported website and the ads are randomly generated. Parents, as always, should preview and supervise use.

There are an amazing number of things to do and learn on this site – bookmark it to return often.

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Free Molecular Investigations for Students

September 20th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, September 20, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Molecular Expressions: Powers of 10

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

ClickScholars send me links to this website a few times each year as they stumble across it on their own Internet travels. It offers  free activities that allow students to explore the fascinating world of optical microscopy through amazing color photographs. You’ll see images of the cellular levels of everything from hamburgers to superconductors. 

When you get to the site you will see a brief introduction that explains you are about to take a virtual journey from the Milky Way to the microscopic world. In successive orders of magnitude journey from the Milky Way Galaxy “into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.”

When you are through watching the display, use the menu on the left side of the screen to explore:

*Optics Timeline – See highlights of important events and developments in the science of optics from prehistory to the beginning of the 21st century.

*Student Activities – Investigate light, optics, and color with an assortment of online activities. Discover more about:

  • Animal Vision
  • Eclipses
  • Cameras and Photography
  • Binoculars, Periscopes, & Kaleidoscopes
  • 3D Images & Holograms

*Tutorials – Access a curriculum resource package for elementary grade students that combines scientific inquiry, hands-on and interactive computer-based instruction, text, and animated manipulatives for a variety of learning experiences. Some of the activities include:

  • Newton’s Prism Experiments
  • Refraction of Light
  • Microscope Magnification
  • Optical Illusions
  • Human Vision

You can also explore digital video galleries to learn more about digital microscopes and the spectrum of applications. The content on this site is massive, so bookmark it to return often.

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Social Studies Through Inventions!

September 15th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Thursday, September 15, 2011 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
The Great Idea Finder

Age Range: 8-18 (with parental guidance)

This website was created by an Internet consulting company to inspire the “inventor” in everyone. It showcases the history of remarkable inventions, inventors, and great ideas throughout time.

When you get to the site click on “Enter” and a new page opens. In the center of the screen you’ll see some features. Use the vertical menu on the left side of the page to access:

*First Time Visitor – Get an indexed overview of what you’ll find on this content-rich website that features innovation information about the past, present, and future.
 
*History Facts & Myths – Explore an incredible archive of history’s most interesting inventions and the stories behind them including the Abacus, Car, Coca-Cola, Frisbee, Hair Dryer, Internet, Jell-O, Liquid Paper, Microwave Oven, Post-It Notes, Slinky, and many more. Each invention includes a bibliography for further reading as well as links to more sources of info on the Internet. Plus, you’ll find:

  • Inventor Biography – Read the biographies of notable inventors such as Steve Jobs (Apple Computer), Ed Johnson (Christmas Lights), Harvey Ball (Smiley Face), Alfred Butts (Scrabble), and many more.
  • Innovation Timeline – Search any era in history (from ancient BC to the modern 21st Century) to learn about the innovations that occurred during that time period. Includes photographs, quotations, and resources for further learning.
  • Innovation Games & Trivia – Don’t be afraid to take this test BEFORE you explore the site. The questions are intriguing, so if you don’t know the answers and your curiosity gets the better of you — find out instantly by clicking the “answer” button. A great way to introduce the topic of invention and segue to a history lesson. :)

*Idea Showcase – The point of innovation is to improve the quality of life.  That said, inventors like making income by selling their inventions. In this section you can check out award-winning inventions and purchase them as well.  

*Features – Find out how many inventions were the result of an accident. See how inventors improve upon the inventions of others to “build a better mousetrap.” Check out inventions that changed civilization and had an enduring effect on the world.

*Resource Center – Find resources for further learning and investigation including websites, books, movies, and a listing of contests, competitions, experiments, and projects for the young inventor.  (Some are available for free, others for a fee.) Find resources for invention mentors too.

*History Articles – Read in-depth articles on historical innovations, inventors, pioneers, and entrepreneurs. Find out about the Patent Act of 1790 and explore some patents that have become products.

Students will need good reading skills to explore this site independently, and non-readers of all ages will enjoy the pictures  and information with assistance.

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Free High School Chemistry Labs & Lessons!

August 30th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Tuesday, August 30, 2011 and time for Science at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
MisterGuch: Free Chemistry Resources

Age Range: 13-18 (High School, with parental supervision)

A Maryland ClickScholar recommended this website created by a High School Chemistry teacher (with a cool sense of humor) who is “committed to giving out the very best free stuff to teachers.”

There are no bells and whistles here, just an entire year’s worth of free general and honors level high school chemistry lessons, labs, and worksheets.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of choices that include:

*Free Chemistry Worksheets – Practice balancing equations, name chemical compounds, and learn about acids, bases, atomic structure, gas laws, thermodynamics and more.

*Free Chemistry Labs – Download pdf and/or MS Word docs with instructions on lab activities that include experiments with gum, balloons, snow globes, paper planes, onion DNA, pennies, and more.

*Free Curriculum Books – Mr. Guch has written lab manuals and other useful books that he makes available for free. They include:

  • 24 Lessons That Rocked the World – Get complete labs with instructions, safety information, a lab worksheet, a homework sheet, and solutions.
  • 17 Effective Activities For New Chemistry Teachers – This focuses on basic and introductory Lab activities.
  • The Complete Book of Chemistry Quizzes and Practice Problems – Covers the first semester of high school chemistry.

Just click on the topics of interest and a new page opens with a menu of activities that you can download in pdf or MS Word format and print out to use at home. (Some of the documents are large and may take a minute or two to fully download. Your patience will pay off.)

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