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5th Grade TN Science - 2009/10 Implementation
Resources for Older Standards

Embedded Inquiry | Embedded Technology & Engineering | Life Science | Earth and Space Science | Physical Science | Review Help
Return to Grade Level Skills - For other resources, refer to our Elementary Science page
Links verified 10/23/08

a site for teachers | a PowerPoint show | Adobe Acrobat document | a Word document sound | video format | interactive lesson | a quiz | lesson plan | to print

1. Student Designed Investigations Part 1 - Observations [lesson plan designed for grades 3-5]
2. Student Designed Investigations Part 2 - Testable Questions, Predictions, Materials and Procedures [lesson plan designed for grades 3-5]
3. Student Designed Investigations Part 3 - Collecting Data and Drawing Conclusions [lesson plan designed for grades 3-5]

1. Conducting Controlled Investigations: Example Using Sound - [designed for grades 3-5] identify when there are multiple variables changing in an investigation and how to modify the investigation so that there is only one variable

1. Astro-Venture - [Caution: Long activity!] learn how NASA scientists use tools to find planets in other solar systems

1. Bird Sleuth: Investigating Evidence - this module consists of five investigations which give students the chance to learn science by doing science on 12/10/08
   1. Teacher's Guide - a 44 page .pdf document
   2. Resource Pages - a 28 page .pdf document
   3. Investigator's Journal - a 25 page .pdf document

1. Animal Cell Anatomy - a good clean drawing from Enchanted Learning
2. Animal and Plant Cells - first select Similarities and then select Differences from the index on the left at this page.
3. Animal Cells - from Kimball's Online Biology Pages
4. Cell Organelles - select Plant or Animal (from Cells Alive)
5. Cell Parts - simple ppt show comparing organelles of plant and animal cells
6. Comparing plant and animal cells - Teachnology has a worksheet to help your students distinguish between the cells
7. Comparison Of Plant & Animal Cells
8. Comparison of Plant and Animal Cells - 26 slides including a Venn diagram for comparing
9. Focusing on the Cell - a lesson plan from the Children's Museum of Indianapolis
10. Plant and Animal Cell - a sheet to print with side by side labeled cells
11. Plant and Animal Cells - This real-time 3D model allows the user to inspect the structures of both plant and animal cells. The student is able to explore the entire cell from any angle as well as drill down to individual organelles of the cell for more information and a better view.
12. Plant Cell Anatomy - a fill-in-the-blank quiz
13. Plant Cell Functions - a fill-in-the-blank quiz
14. The Plant Cell - from Kimball's Online Biology Pages
15. Plant and Animal Cells Worksheet - lab activity to be used to make drawings of structures seen in a microscope
16. Plant and Animal Worksheets - links to several printables at Teach-nology

1. Cell Functions
2. Cell Structure
3. Cell Parts - introduction followed by a fill in the blank quiz
4. Cells for Kids - large list of links to use in teaching about cells
5. Mixed Up Cells - [this link opens on a new page] interactive lesson which requires you to classify the mixed up cells
6. Science Lab - [this link opens on a new page] select cells to begin the activity

1. Animal and Plant Cells - first select Similarities and then select Differences from the index on the left at this page.
2. Animal Cell Structure - good drawing, explanation of cell components - scroll down to see component names
3. Cells at the Science Lab - [this link opens on a new page] Select Cells in the list of labs. The illustration shows the parts of a cell. Move your mouse around the drawing to get information. Next, click on Looking Through a Microscope near the top of the Cells window. Click on the word View to see cells in a microscope. Click Back to select a new slide to view. Click on the book in the bottom left corner to read about cells.
4. Cell Inspector - match cell parts to the right name
5. Cells are the Starting Point - [this link opens on a new page] learn about cells at this Biology4Kids site and then take a quiz on cells or a quiz on organelles.
6. Cross Section of a Plant Cell - from Enchanted Learning [nice, clean drawing]
7. Cross Section of an Animal Cell - from Enchanted Learning [nice, clean drawing]
8. Cells: The Unit of Life - multiple choice quiz - 20 questions
9. - Teaching idea! - Have your students prepare a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting plant and animal cells. Teachnology has an online Venn diagram generator. (scroll past the membership information)
   1. Comparing plant and animal cells - Teachnology has a worksheet to print to help your students get ready for the activity above
10. Comparison of Plant & Animal Cells - illustrations with hyperlinked labels
11. Eucaryotic Cell Interactive Animation - plant cell or animal cell interactive presentation
12. Inside a Cell - [plant or animal] click on an organelle to explore that cell part
13. Mixed Up Cells - [this link opens on a new page] identify and explain the differences and similarities between plant and animal organelles (Author - Julie Thompson)
14. Parts of a Cell - [this link opens on a new page] [plant or animal] click on Animal or Plant to begin the activity
15. Parts of an Animal Cell - click and drag the names of structures to match the drawing
16. Parts of a Plant Cell - click and drag the names of structures to match the drawing
17. Plant and Animal Cells - examine a cell, one structure at a time - learn about plant and animal cell organelles with this simulation
18. Plant Cell Structure - good drawing, explanation of cell components - scroll down to see component names
19. Virtual Cell - Zoom in as if you had an electron microscope

1. Cell Structure and Function Quiz
2. Cells: The Unit of Life - a 20 question multiple choice quiz
3. Inside a Cell - select each part of the cell to see its function
4. Quiz on Cell Parts - [this link opens on a new page] instructions included for a paper and pencil quiz
5. Review cell structure and function (plant and animal)

1. Parasitic Relationships
2. Predation - a Wikipedia article
3. Predator Prey - an applet which demonstrates a predator-prey growth model for the number of Foxes and Rabbits in a region
4. Predator-Prey Interactions - a Kids Do Science lesson plan
5. Predator Prey Relationships
6. Symbiotic Relationships

1. An Introduction to Symbiosis - sub-categories listed in order to to describe different associations
2. Chapter 9 - Examples of mutualism and commensalism
3. Chapter 12 - Examples of parasitism
4. Interactions - Examples of parasitism, mutualism and commensalism and allelopathy
5. Intertidal Rocky Reefs - from the Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary
6. Mutualism and commensalism - simple definitions and a list of links to use
7. Predation, Parasitism, Commensalism, and Mutualism in the Garden and in the Community - many pictures used to illustrate content
8. Symbiosis - background information on symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
9. Symbiosis and Commensalism from the Sea Slug Forum
10. Types of ecological interactions - this show has a large number of images
11. Volcanoes of the Deep - classroom activity to be used to research and classify symbiotic relationships between individual organisms of different species

1. Coral Connections - a video which underscores the effects of uncontrolled development and personal behavior on the local society, the peninsula's water system, and the Mesoamerican reef. The film encourages viewers to spread the word and become a force for positive change.
2. Global Warming - article from Wikipedia
3. How Do We Know that the Atmospheric Build-up of Greenhouse Gases Is Due to Human Activity? - from the World Meteorological Organization
4. Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics: 2007 and 2008 - Climate change in Canada [44 pages if printed]
5. Human Activities and their Potential Impact on the Environment - activities, and the potential impact of those activities, are listed
6. Projected Climate Changes - projections to the year 2100
7. What Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change? - Published in 1997 by the United Nations Environment Programme - World Meteorological Organization

1. An Introduction to Symbiosis - sub-categories listed in order to to describe different associations
2. Chapter 9 - Examples of mutualism and commensalism
3. Chapter 12 - Examples of parasitism
4. Interactions - Examples of parasitism, mutualism and commensalism and allelopathy
5. Mutualism and commensalism - simple definitions and a list of links to use
6. Predation, Parasitism, Commensalism, and Mutualism in the Garden and in the Community - many pictures used to illustrate content
7. Symbiosis - background information on symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
8. Symbiosis and Commensalism from the Sea Slug Forum
9. Types of ecological interactions - this show has a large number of images
10. Volcanoes of the Deep - classroom activity to be used to research and classify symbiotic relationships between individual organisms of different species

1. Human Impact - environmental effects brought about by humans
2. Humans and the Environment - digital image library from the Center for Biological Informatics of the U.S. Geological Survey
3. Humans Have Been Changing The Environment Since Prehistoric Times - from University of Florida News
4. Humans have huge impact on erosion - a report from MSNBC
5. Polluting impact of humans on the oceans - [Caution: several pop ups, consider printing this page for use in your classroom] from The Independent, a UK news source
6. What Impact Do Humans Have on the Environment? - a lesson plan for middle school science
7. What is the impact of humans on the biosphere? - introduction to the GLOBIO project
8. Wild Dolphin Societies: The Impact of Humans on the Environment - a Mini-Unit Project

1. Corn and Photosynthesis - efficient photosynthetic system and a long period of seasonal growth allow corn to produce high yields (reading level is a bit high, but this is short and succinct)
2. Illuminating Photosynthesis - from NOVA Online
   1. Worksheet to use with the Nova site
3. Introduction to Photosynthesis and Its Applications - from Arizona State University
4. Photosynthesis - [this link opens on a new page] a BioCoach activity
   1. 25 question quiz to go with the BioCoach activity [this link opens on a new page]
5. Photosynthesis - a one slide ppt show which uses animation effectively
6. Photosynthesis - a 38 slide ppt show
7. Photosynthesis - an explanation of the four parts from Biology4Kids
8. Photosynthesis - an excellent Flash animation
9. Photosynthesis - a Thinkquest entry
10. Photosynthesis - from Wikipedia
11. Photosynthesis - the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce sugar (high reading level, but a large number of really good illustrations)
12. Photosynthesis animation
13. Photosynthesis animation - this Shockwave animation has variables students can change
14. Photosynthesis animation - students are required to click on areas to keep the animation going
15. Photosynthesis: How do plants make food? - a Teacher's Guide to show number 907 in the Newton’s Apple series.
16. Photosynthesis and Respiration - [this link opens on a new page] a quiz from the Quia site
17. Photosynthesis: Don't "Leaf" Out Fall's Most Valuable Lesson! – (a lesson planning article from Education World) They have raked up a pile of activities for you to "leaf" through.
18. Photosynthesis: Life's Basic Rx - a 52 slide ppt show with many great images
19. Photosynthesis quiz - decide after the quiz if you really know this material
20. Photosynthesis Study Guide - good review questions to test your knowledge [no answers]
21. Plant Physiology: Photosynthesis - a 41 slide ppt show
22. Quiz on Photosynthesis - seven questions
23. Transpiration - transfer of water from plants to the atmosphere
24. Virtual Photosynthesis Experiments - [this link opens on a new page] on-line virtual experiments with Dr. Gene Splicer which show some of the ways scientists study photosynthesis
25. What Happens in a Typical Leaf - excellent illustrations in this photosynthesis tutorial
26. What is Photosynthesis - from Arizona State University's Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis
27. Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? - To answer that question, you first have to understand what leaves are and what they do.

1. Corn and Photosynthesis - efficient photosynthetic system and a long period of seasonal growth allow corn to produce high yields (reading level is a bit high, but this is short and succinct)
2. Illuminating Photosynthesis - from NOVA Online
   1. Worksheet to use with the Nova site
3. Introduction to Photosynthesis and Its Applications - from Arizona State University
4. Photosynthesis - [this link opens on a new page] a BioCoach activity
   1. 25 question quiz to go with the BioCoach activity [this link opens on a new page]
5. Photosynthesis - a one slide ppt show which uses animation effectively
6. Photosynthesis - a 38 slide ppt show
7. Photosynthesis - an explanation of the four parts from Biology4Kids
8. Photosynthesis - an excellent Flash animation
9. Photosynthesis - a Thinkquest entry
10. Photosynthesis - from Wikipedia
11. Photosynthesis - the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce sugar (high reading level, but a large number of really good illustrations)
12. Photosynthesis animation
13. Photosynthesis animation - this Shockwave animation has variables students can change
14. Photosynthesis animation - students are required to click on areas to keep the animation going
15. Photosynthesis: How do plants make food? - a Teacher's Guide to show number 907 in the Newton’s Apple series.
16. Photosynthesis and Respiration - [this link opens on a new page] a quiz from the Quia site
17. Photosynthesis: Don't "Leaf" Out Fall's Most Valuable Lesson! – (a lesson planning article from Education World) They have raked up a pile of activities for you to "leaf" through.
18. Photosynthesis: Life's Basic Rx - a 52 slide ppt show with many great images
19. Photosynthesis quiz - decide after the quiz if you really know this material
20. Photosynthesis Study Guide - good review questions to test your knowledge [no answers]
21. Plant Physiology: Photosynthesis - a 41 slide ppt show
22. Quiz on Photosynthesis - seven questions
23. Transpiration - transfer of water from plants to the atmosphere
24. Virtual Photosynthesis Experiments - [this link opens on a new page] on-line virtual experiments with Dr. Gene Splicer which show some of the ways scientists study photosynthesis
25. What Happens in a Typical Leaf - excellent illustrations in this photosynthesis tutorial
26. What is Photosynthesis - from Arizona State University's Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis
27. Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall? - To answer that question, you first have to understand what leaves are and what they do.

1. Reproduction and Development - from the Regents Prep test prep site in New York

1. Take a Tour of the Basics of Heredity - from the index at the top of the blue box, select Heredity, then click Next to progress through the windows of this show.
2. Those Genes - [this link opens on a new page] introduction to genetic inheritance. (Author - Carol Rine)

1. Animal Adaptations - see how fast you can match up animal adaptations
2. Animal Adaptation E-Safaris - meet some interesting animals to explore how they are adapted to their environments
3. Adaptation and Survival - discusses with diagrams and animation how animals adapted to survive their habitat.
4. Animal Adaptation - What is animal adaptation and how are animals adapted to where they live? Let's find out!
5. Animal Adaptation - lesson with activities
6. Animal Adaptation - [this link opens in a new window] matching quiz from Quia
7. Animal Adaptation - [this link opens in a new window] similar to the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game format
8. Camouflage Field Book - click on an environment for a hidden animal search
9. Dinosaur Habitat and Community - a BBC presentation about these very adaptable animals
10. Form and Function - put together a set of adaptations to make an animal
11. Interdependence and Adaptations - [designed for 5-6 UK standards] interactive learning activity from the BBC
12. Polar Bears' Adaptations - a nice concept map made by a first grade student
13. Structural and Behavioral Adaptations - from New Hampshire Public Television
14. Survival of the Fittest - Adaptations and Natural Selection
15. Ukaliq: Spot the Arctic Hare - in this game your challenge is to find hare or hares in each photograph

1. Amber in Nature - Look at pieces of amber to find out what is captured inside and what clues it provides about the ancient ecosystem.
2. Fantastic Fossil Finds
3. Fossil Horse Cyber Museum - from the Florida Museum of Natural History
4. Fossil Lesson Plans - lesson plans on fossils of individual phyla, as well as general lesson plans for introducing fossils and how they are formed
5. Fossils - Clues to the Past - Fossils provide clues to what life was like in ancient times.
6. Fossils of Iowa
7. Fossils Rock - especially for teachers, students, and homeschoolers who want to put some fun into their earth science classes
8. How fossils can form - This animation shows the formation of a cast and mold, one way that fossils can form. Casts are copies of fossilized plants or animals. Molds are hollow impressions of the fossil. This process takes thousands or millions of years.
9. How Fossils Form - from Enchanted Learning
10. Life Has a History - an educational module sponsored by the National Science Foundation (select level 2 for 5-8)
11. Paleontology Portal -
12. Recreating extinct animals from fossil evidence is like completing a giant jigsaw puzzle, but without all the pieces.
13. Resources for K-12 Teachers and Students
14. Trilobite Cookies - just for fun, looks like a great cookie
15. Using Fossils - discussion of two principal uses of fossils; dating and interpreting environment
16. Virtual Fossil Museum - fossils across geological time and evolution
17. What Are Fossils - from the San Diego Natural History Museum
18. What is a Fossil - discussion of Type I and Type II fossils
19. What's a Fossil? - from the UN Museum

1. Age of Fossils
2. The Clock Of Eras - a graphic aid to help visualize geologic time
3. Determining Age of Rocks and Fossils - from UCMP Berkeley
4. Fossils, Rocks, and Time - from USGS
5. Fossils Through Time - choose a time period to see what life was like
6. Geology of the Grand Canyon - The ultimate display of rock layers
7. How Old Can it Be? - lesson plan including picture cards to print
8. Prehistoric Life - determining the age of rocks and fossils
9. Principal of Uniformitarianism - states that the processes affecting Earth today are the same ones that affected it in the past.
10. Principle of Superposition - in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary layers or lava flows, the oldest layers are at the bottom. (includes an animation)
11. Relative Age - determining relative age from the rock record
12. Relative Dating - stratigraphy and the principles of relative dating
13. Relative Time Scale - from USGS
14. Who's On First? - a relative dating activity

1. Adaptation Activity - Learn how animals adapt to their environment while playing this online game about beavers.
2. Adaptation and Survival - discusses with diagrams and animation how animals adapted to survive their habitat.
3. Animal Adaptation - What is animal adaptation and how are animals adapted to where they live? Let's find out!
4. Animal Adaptations - see how fast you can match up animal' adaptations
5. Animal Adaptation E-Safaris - meet some interesting animals to explore how they are adapted to their environments
6. Animal Adaptation - lesson with activities
7. Animal Adaptation - [this link opens in a new window] matching quiz from Quia
8. Animal Adaptation - [this link opens in a new window] similar to the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game format
9. Build a Fish - Build a Fish by choosing a body, mouth, and color/pattern, and then release it into the reef! In the process you will learn about adaptations that help the fish survive in their environment.
10. Camouflage Field Book - click on an environment for a hidden animal search
11. Dinosaur Habitat and Community - a BBC presentation about these very adaptable animals
12. Flamingos - Adaptations for Their Environment
13. Form and Function - put together a set of adaptations to make an animal
14. How Cactus survive in the desert
15. Interdependence and Adaptations - [designed for 5-6 UK standards] interactive learning activity from the BBC
16. Pheromone Trails - This is a real-time 3D simulation that demonstrates how ants use pheromones to communicate. The student is able to interact with the simulation's artificial intelligence and environment to see how the ants will react to changes in their environment.
17. Plant Adaptations in Arid Environments - The plants that grow in the arid eastern region near the Columbia River and the Columbia Basin have a number of traits which help them to be successful in the desert.
18. Polar Bears' Adaptations - a nice concept map made by a first grade student
19. Structural and Behavioral Adaptations - from New Hampshire Public Television
20. Survival of the Fittest - Adaptations and Natural Selection
21. Ukaliq: Spot the Arctic Hare - in this game your challenge is to find hare or hares in each photograph

1. Amber: Window to the Past - Click on different pieces of amber to find out what is captured inside and what clues the fossilized remains provide about ancient ecosystems.
2. Evolution from PBS
3. Evolution: Theory and History - including journey into the world of phylogenic systematics.
4. Extinctions from PBS
5. Fantastic Fossil Finds - Burgess Shale, LaBrea tar pits, Solnhofen Quarry, and Subtropical Eocene Fossil Forests of the North
6. Fossil Database - from the Natural History Museum of London
7. Fossil News - from Science Daily
8. Geologic Time and the age of the earth.
9. Geology and Geologic Time - General history of the science, links to each of the eras and the life in them.
10. History of Flight - Pterosaurs, Bird Evolution, Insect Flight and Archaeopteryx
11. Hooper Virtual Natural History Museum - posted by The Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
12. Horse Evolution
13. Human Fossil Database - browse or search the database, or use their timeline
14. Invertebrates - Gastropoda & Cephalopoda
15. Life Has a History - an educational module sponsored by the National Science Foundation (select level 3 for 9-12)
16. Microscopic fossils - Foraminifera & Arcellaceans
17. Museum of Paleontology - posted by University of California, Berkley
18. Paleogeography Through Geologic Time
19. Paleontological Collection Catalogs and related resources
20. Paleontology Without Walls - Introduction to the UCMP Virtual Exhibits
21. The Pleistocene - 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago
22. Pleistocene Animals of the Midwestern U.S.
23. Timelines - Travel back to different time periods in the history of the earth. Vivid, fleshed-out reproductions of the extinct creatures appear in scenes depicting their environments as they might have been millions of years ago.
24. Trilobite: A guide to the order of Trilobites

1. Exploring Planets in the Classroom - Hands-on Activities for Science Classes. More than 25 hands-on science activities are provided in classroom-ready pages for both teachers and students for exploring Earth, the planets, geology, and space sciences.
2. Field Guide to the Universe - Solar System
3. Learn about the Planets - from KidsAstronomy
4. The Nine Eight Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
5. Order it up - Measures of size and scale help us understand the magnitude of objects. Play with scales while trying to arrange planets by magnitude of mass, size, temperature, density, distance, gravity or magnetic field. Correctly order the planets and you unscramble a mystery picture! To play, click on the blue link; Play Order it Up: Solar System Edition
6. Planets of the solar system - Click on a planet to get a short bit of information about each one. Caution, relative sizes are not accurate.
7. Planetary Orbits - an excellent animation of planetary orbits.
8. Pluto demoted to dwarf planet
9. See Earth from Eight Different Perspectives - a fantastic series of animations showing our dynamic atmosphere, seasonal variation in vegetation, and six others.
10. Size Comparison - a sequence of models compares larger and larger objects - great pictures
11. Solar System - This real-time 3D simulation allows the student to inspect our solar system from any angle or vantage point as well as gain detailed information about each element.
12. Solar System Image Archive - from Windows to the Universe
13. Views of the Solar System - This site presents a vivid multimedia adventure unfolding the splendor of the Sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and more. Discover the latest scientific information, or study the history of space exploration, rocketry, early astronauts, space missions, spacecraft through a vast archive of photographs, scientific facts, text, graphics and videos. Views of the Solar System offers enhanced exploration and educational enjoyment of the solar system and beyond.
14. Virtual Solar System by National Geographic - your chance to discover the wonders of our solar system in a spectacular 3-D environment. Take a fly-by tour of the sun and each planet in its orbit, observe close-up views of the planets, extraterrestrial weather patterns, and more.
15. Welcome to the Planets - This is a collection of many of the best images from NASA's planetary exploration program.

1. The sky tonight - what to look for in the night sky
2. Space Hopper Game - [this link opens in a new window] a FunBrain game on identifying constellations
3. Using a Star Chart - links at the bottom of the page lead to six different starfield images which can be used to identify star patterns

1. How to use a star map - lesson plan from Stillwater, MN
2. Planisphere to print - an instrument used to represent the heavens at any time and date, by aligning its date and time scales
3. The Night Sky on Paper - how to read a star map
4. Using a Naked Eye Star Map - instructions from Sky and Telescope magazine

1. Examine the vast distances between planets in the solar system - This animation simulates a voyage from the sun past all nine planets. In this animation, the apparent speed of the viewer is over 300 times the speed of light.
2. Exploring Planets in the Classroom - Hands-on Activities for Science Classes. More than 25 hands-on science activities are provided in classroom-ready pages for both teachers and students for exploring Earth, the planets, geology, and space sciences.
3. Field Guide to the Universe - Solar System
4. Learn about the Planets - from KidsAstronomy
5. The Nine Eight Planets: A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
6. Order it up - Measures of size and scale help us understand the magnitude of objects. Play with scales while trying to arrange planets by magnitude of mass, size, temperature, density, distance, gravity or magnetic field. Correctly order the planets and you unscramble a mystery picture! To play, click on the blue link; Play Order it Up: Solar System Edition
7. Planets of the solar system - Click on a planet to get a short bit of information about each one. Caution, relative sizes are not accurate.
8. Planetary Orbits - an excellent animation of planetary orbits.
9. Pluto demoted to dwarf planet
10. See Earth from Eight Different Perspectives - a fantastic series of animations showing our dynamic atmosphere, seasonal variation in vegetation, and six others.
11. Solar System - This real-time 3D simulation allows the student to inspect our solar system from any angle or vantage point as well as gain detailed information about each element.
12. Solar System Image Archive - from Windows to the Universe
13. Views of the Solar System - This site presents a vivid multimedia adventure unfolding the splendor of the Sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and more. Discover the latest scientific information, or study the history of space exploration, rocketry, early astronauts, space missions, spacecraft through a vast archive of photographs, scientific facts, text, graphics and videos. Views of the Solar System offers enhanced exploration and educational enjoyment of the solar system and beyond.
14. Virtual Solar System by National Geographic - your chance to discover the wonders of our solar system in a spectacular 3-D environment. Take a fly-by tour of the sun and each planet in its orbit, observe close-up views of the planets, extraterrestrial weather patterns, and more.
15. Welcome to the Planets - This is a collection of many of the best images from NASA's planetary exploration program.

1. Astro-Venture - [Caution: Long activity!] learn how NASA scientists use tools to find planets in other solar systems

1. Animations Plate Tectonics animation (Warning!: These animated gifs, including the smallest files, load slowly)
2. Animations in the form of PowerPoint shows are available from the PLATES project at the University of Texas.
3. History - Plate Tectonics: The Rocky History of an Idea
4. How the Plates Move - a lesson from Volcano World
5. Mechanisms - explanation of the driving forces behind plate tectonics
6. Paleomap Earth History maps
7. Paleomap VR animations
8. Pangaea to the Present - a study of the history of the Earth's tectonic plates.
9. Plate Tectonic Reconstruction Service. In this section you can calculate plate tectonic reconstructions of any age back to 150 My
10. Science Odyssey: You Try It: Plate Tectonics - A hands-on exercise about plate tectonics and earthquakes from PBS. (requires Shockwave plug-in)
11. Observe the break up of Pangaea - This animation shows how the locations of continents and islands have changed over the past 150 million years.
12. Observe animations of processes that occur along plate boundaries (transform, convergent and diverging)

1. Animations Plate Tectonics animation (Warning!: These animated gifs, including the smallest files, load slowly)
2. Animations in the form of PowerPoint shows are available from the PLATES project at the University of Texas.
3. History - Plate Tectonics: The Rocky History of an Idea
4. How the Plates Move - a lesson from Volcano World
5. Mechanisms - explanation of the driving forces behind plate tectonics
6. Paleomap Earth History maps
7. Paleomap VR animations
8. Pangaea to the Present - a study of the history of the Earth's tectonic plates.
9. Plate Tectonic Reconstruction Service. In this section you can calculate plate tectonic reconstructions of any age back to 150 My
10. Science Odyssey: You Try It: Plate Tectonics - A hands-on exercise about plate tectonics and earthquakes from PBS. (requires Shockwave plug-in)
11. Observe the break up of Pangaea - This animation shows how the locations of continents and islands have changed over the past 150 million years.
12. Observe animations of processes that occur along plate boundaries (transform, convergent and diverging)

1. Climate - systems that play a role in determining climate
2. Create a New Hawaiian Island - read the page then click on the link at the bottom of the page to experiment with these local effects on climate by creating a new Hawaiian island!
3. How do geographical features affect climate in Juneau Alaska? - from Wiki Answers
4. Primary Influence on Climate
5. Secondary Influences on Climate

1. Climate - systems that play a role in determining climate
2. Create a New Hawaiian Island - read the page then click on the link at the bottom of the page to experiment with these local effects on climate by creating a new Hawaiian island!
3. Difference Between Weather and Climate - from the About network
4. Difference Between Weather and Climate - after reading the difference read ten statements and decide if the statement described weather or climate
5. How do geographical features affect climate in Juneau Alaska? - from Wiki Answers
6. Interactive map of the various types of climate features on the Earth's surface
7. Introduction to Climate - Listing the general distinctions between weather and climate
8. Primary Influence on Climate
9. Secondary Influences on Climate
10. Weather vs Climate
11. What is Climate Change - this begins with a discussion of the difference between weather and climate
12. What is the Difference Between Weather and Climate - posted by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
13. What is the Difference Between Weather and Climate - A laboratory experiment from the
    Little Shop of Physics at Colorado State University

1. Condensation - the conversion of water from a gas into a liquid
2. Eurerka: Evaporation and Condensation - a YouTube video
3. Evaporation - the conversion of water from a liquid into a gas
4. Evaporation and Condensation - analysis of the part these processes play in the water cycle
5. Evaporation and Condensation - from USA Today weather
6. Evaporation and Condensation - a water cycle in a mayonnaise jar
7. Factors Affecting the Rate of Evaporation - a Wikipedia article
8. Molecular Motion Determines Water's State - from USA Today weather
9. Water Cycle: Condensation - from Water Science at the USGS site
10. Water Cycle: Evaporation - from Water Science at the USGS site

1. What is the difference between chemical and physical change?
2. Physical vs Chemical change - an interactive lesson

1. Change of State & Latent Heat Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] in the format of a "Thrillionaire" Game
   1. Change of State Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] same quiz, but in a multiple choice format
2. Chem4Kids Quiz on States of Matter [this link opens on a new page] [caution, some are tricky]

1. Kinetic Energy - more good diagrams and 4 practice problems
2. Potential Energy - excellent diagrams and 3 practice questions
3. Potential and Kinetic Energy Experiment - illustrates the relationship between potential and kinetic energy by raising and dropping a 100 kg anvil
4. QuickTime movie showing the motion of a roller coaster car down a vertical drop, through two vertical loops, over a small hill, and to the end of the track. The animation portrays the relative amounts of kinetic energy, potential energy, and total mechanical energy of the car as it moves along the track.

1. Conduction - background information
   1. Conduction lab lesson plan
2. Convection - background information
   1. Convection lab lesson plan
3. Radiation - background information
   1. Radiation lab lesson plan
4. Solar Oven - instructions on building a pizza box solar oven

1. Keeping Warm - [designed for 3-4 UK standards] investigate how well various materials insulate

1. Newton's Second Law of Motion - a Physics Classroom tutorial which includes animations and problems to solve

1. Sir Isaac Newton and his Laws - a song about Newton and his laws [other educational songs]