Space Science Websites

1. NASA Kids Club

Description:
This site funded by NASA, has a great mix of factual information as well as games. Geared towards 2-5 grade depending on which activities you choose, the website actually has different levels. There are no advertisements, and the navigations are user friendly.

Critique:
The games for the first two levels are not very educational. They really just use space like items to play brain teaser games. It is not until you get to the upper levels that they games become informative. Because of this a teacher may want to scaffold the students by telling them what level and above they have to choose when they go onto the website.


2. Kids Know It

Description:
I would recommend this site for grades 4th-7th. This is a vast website full of resources. The neatest part of this website is the amazing collection of educational songs about numerous topics. It also includes a nightly skymap mapping out the stars for the evening, short movies on numerous concepts including eclipses and podcasts.

Critique:
This site is pretty wordy and can be difficult to navigate. It might be best for a teacher to use it as a resource, or give students a specific location to go to. Some of the movies have a computerized voice that may be annoying to listen to for extended periods of time.

3. The Planetary Society for Kids

Description:
This website is geared towards upper elementary students and has a few resources for finding specific information such as your weight on other planets and where and when to a meteor shower. There are no adds on this site.

Critique:
This website is not very flashy or "pretty". There is little colors of graphics so I think that students may get bored with it pretty quickly. There is also not a lot to do on it so teachers should not give this to students to explore for very long.

4. Windows to the Universe

Description:
This website suitable for 3rd grade and up is packed full of wonderful age appropriate space science information. The visitor is able to choose if they are beginner, intermediate or advanced, and the website itself immediately changes things like wording and font size to fit the need of that user. It includes sections for the earth, solar system as well as the universe. There are many pictures and graphics and the labels are colorful and easy to read. This website includes information, games as well as teacher resources. There are no adds and the website is available in Spanish.

Critique:
Some parts of the website are tricky to navigate and it can be difficult to find your way back to the home page. Some of the games take awhile to load so be prepared for the time needed to complete an activity.

5. Black Holes

Description:
This website for 4th grade and up gives the students a glimpse into the ways atronomser use technonlgy to learn about space. It specifically focuses on Black holes. Using radio waves, visible light and x-ray technology students can explore space and discover what different space objects look like through these different lenses. Students can also take a "voyage" to different places in space of their choice.

Critique:
Some of the options are not very scientiifcally correct while doing real space travel so the educator should make sure that the students know the difference between sci fi and factual space travel.

Earth and Space Science Websites

1. USGS water for schools

Description:
This website for upper elementary grades includes lots of information about water on earth for kids to explore. Provided by the United States Geological Survey, has games, facts, pictures and questionnaires. It even includes valuable factiods such as "how much water does it take to make a hamburger"

Critique:
This is a website that had few graphics. It can also be a little tricky to navigate with its small font and changing information structure. It should be guided by the teacher or at least modeled for the students about how to access information and games.

2. Kids Know It

Description:
I would recommend this site for grades 4th-7th. This is a vast website full of resources. The neatest part of this website is the amazing collection of educational songs about numerous topics. It also includes a nightly skymap mapping out the stars for the evening, short movies on numerous concepts including eclipses and podcasts.

Critique:
This site is pretty wordy and can be difficult to navigate. It might be best for a teacher to use it as a resource, or give students a specific location to go to. Some of the movies have a computerized voice that may be annoying to listen to for extended periods of time.

3. Yahoo Kids Science

Description:
This site for grades 4 and up contains a lot of factual information as well as science videos, quizzes, and jokes. This site links students to encyclopedias, homework help, and a question asking section. my personal favorite is the snippets of BBC's Planet Earth that students can stream.

Critique:
This site has other aspects that don't include scholastic information appropriate for class like a music and movies section. The teacher should be clear with their students about the expectations while on this site, and give clear rules about what is appropriate.

4. Science News for Kids

Description:
This website for students grades 5 and up is a wealth of scientific news for students to use to complete research projects of any other science related assignments needing articles. It also includes puzzles, games and science fair help.

Critique:
The layout of this site is not the most user friendly. It may help to do a tutorial with you students showing them how to navigate it. Some areas like the science fair zone, and some of the articles are for a high readiness level reader, if the students are interested in this section it may be important for the teacher to give the students proper scaffolding by means of buddy reading with an mcp, a dictionary, or one on one help etc.

5. The Dynamic Earth

Description:
This interactive site for students grades 4 and up includes video and audio tours of some of earths most interesting aspects. The viewer can choose between four selections: plate tectonics, minerals and gems, the solar sysemt, and rocks and mining. Each sections contains a interactive power point like presentation. There are no advertisements on this site.

Critique:
Because the graphics and sound is so intricate if the school has slow internet it may take ahwile to load these presentations. The site is packed with information so the students should have a goal while interacting. Possibly taking notes for a research project they themselves are working on.

Physical Science Websites

1. Energy Hog
http://www.energyhog.org/childrens.htm

Description:
This website would be great for students grades 2-5. It has numerous games for students to play on keeping thier house more energy efficient. The games are lively and fun and include some valuable energy saving information. The site does not have adds and even has resources for teachers.

Critique/Other info:
Some of the written information may be a little tricky for beginning readers. It may also be important for the teacher to include a reflection activity or synthesis think pair share for the students to discuss how they can use the information or present it to their parents.

2. EIA- Energy Kids
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/

Description:
This website has many resources for older students 4th grade and up. It includes not just games relating to energy but also the history of energy, ways to save energy and renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy. This would be a great resource for students who may want to work on a research project. It does not have advertisements.

Critique:
Some younger students may need a tutorial about navigating this text heavy site. It is also presented by the U.S government so it may not include global perspectives on energy.

3. Science Kids at Home
http://www.sciencekidsathome.com/

Description:
This is a pretty simple website not a lot of bells and whistles. It would be a resources for students in 3-5 grade. It includes a myriad of science topics including What is Sound.

Critique:
This site is tricky to navigate and has advertisements. I would only recommend using it with teacher assistance or with a clear goal of what information is needed so the students don't get lost or click on something they are not supposed to.

4. Amusement Park Physics
http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/index.html

Description:
This neat website allows students to explore the properties of physics by creating their own amusement park. It is for older students grades 6th grade and up. The wesbite includes lots of valuable information along with each activity and students can learn an immense amount by exploring.

Critique: This website activity would defianlty take a time investiemtn, and some students may need one on one or small group help to figure out the complicated tasks.

5. Skateboard Science
http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding/

Description:
This website great for 4th-8th graders explores the sceicne behind skateboarding. This would be great buy in for reluctant scientists in the class that like to skateboard. The website is text heavy but comes with a glossary of terms to use. It also includes multiple pictures and diagrams to accompany the scientific explanations.

Critique:
There are other things offered on the website like equipment. It would be important for the teacher to state that the students should use the website only to look at the science section and to stay away from the other areas.

Life Science Websites

Cosi: Center of Science and Industry Website
http://www.cosi.org/adapt.php?parent1=onlineExhibits&page=farm&fl=1

Description:
Bet the Farm is a farming game where students are asked questions to set up their own farm. They make choices that will change how much money they make, and how much they go into debt. The choices that they make also have environmental impact, and impact on their crops.

pros
This website has no advertisements, and includes a fun farming game for kids to play to learn about making farming choices. It is basic enough to use with as early as 3rd grade students and expandable to use with students in middle school.

critique
This is a quick game that a teacher should to elaborate on in more detail to tie it to other areas of study. Also, educators should be sure to add a reflection with the activity or additional support materials to situate this game in current learning.

The Great Plant Escape
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/index.html

Description:
This website uses a mystery game to teach students about plant life. It includes lots of information about a plants life cycle, different types of plants and all aspects of plants lives.

pros
This is a university website that like the one above does not have advertisements. The sight is also available in Spanish which would be great for Spanish speaking students.

critique:
This website includes lot of vocabulary and takes students into in-depth activities containing lots of vocabulary and new information. Without the proper scaffolding this website could be overwhelming for students and just bombard them with too much factual information.

National Zoological Park
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/WebCams/default.cfm

Description:
This website is provided by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park and provides live web cams to over twenty animals located at the park. Students can click on the webcam for the animals and be directed to the live footage.

Pros:
This website has no adverstisments and is somewhat easily accessible to students with basic reading levels because small pictures accompany the text. The live footage is a great way for the students to connect to the animals.

Critique:
The text accompanied with the web cam is high level. It would be a bit more difficult for younger students to read the text so if the students are interested, the teacher should provide age appropriate information for them.


The Brookfield Zoo: In search of The Ways of Knowing Trail
http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/pagegen/wok/ways_index.html

Description:
This website provided by the Brookfield Zoo lets students take part in a role playing adventure where they travel to Apulu Central Africa to discover the Ways of Knowing Trail.

Pros:
This is a very fun and exicting website where the students really get to interact with the game. The students get to explore the environment, African languages, animals and cartography in a very interactive way.

Critique:
This interactive game takes a bit of time to play so the teacher should be ready to allow the students plenty of time to play. Its also important for teachers to note that this game should also be accompanied by real life examples of life in African or a clear description that the game is fiction so students to not essentialize.


Burarra Gathering

http://burarra.questacon.edu.au/home.html

Description:
This interactive game is for students with a higher literacy level probably grades 3 and older. Through playing this game students learn about the ecology and way of life of some people that live Arhem Land, Northern Australia.

Pro:
This game is extremely fun, interactive and educational. It takes students through many different ecological activities and even includes a new language.

Critique:
This interactive game takes a bit of time to play so the teacher should be ready to allow the students plenty of time to play. Its also important for teachers to note that this game should also be accompanied by real life examples of life in African or a clear description that the game is fiction so students to not essentialize.