Web Resources Correlated to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - 8th Grade

Introduction:

In Grade 8, the study of science includes planning and conducting field and laboratory investigations using scientific methods, analyzing data, critical-thinking, scientific problem-solving, and using tools such as telescopes to collect and analyze information. Students also use computers and information technology tools to support scientific investigations.

As students learn science skills, they identify the roles of both human activities and natural events in altering Earth systems. Students learn that stars and galaxies are part of the universe, identify light years as a way to describe distance, and learn about scientific theories of the origin of the universe. Cycles within Earth systems are studied as students learn about lunar cycles and the rock cycle.

Students examine information on the periodic table to recognize that elements are grouped into families. In addition, students demonstrate that exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions indicate that energy is lost or gained during a chemical reaction. Interactions in matter and energy are explored in solar, weather, and ocean systems. Students identify the origin of waves and investigate their ability to travel through different media.

Students predict possible outcomes that result from different genetic combinations and explore the extinction of some species.

Science is a way of learning about the natural world. Students should know how science has built a vast body of changing and increasing knowledge described by physical, mathematical, and conceptual models, and also should know that science may not answer all questions.

A system is a collection of cycles, structures, and processes that interact. Students should understand a whole in terms of its components and how these components relate to each other and to the whole. All systems have basic properties that can be described in terms of space, time, energy, and matter. Change and constancy occur in systems and can be observed and measured as patterns. These patterns help to predict what will happen next and can change over time.

Investigations are used to learn about the natural world. Students should understand that certain types of questions can be answered by investigations, and that methods, models, and conclusions built from these investigations change as new observations are made. Models of objects and events are tools for understanding the natural world and can show how systems work. They have limitations and based on new discoveries are constantly being modified to more closely reflect the natural world.

Knowledge and Skills 8.1: Scientific processes.

The student conducts field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations; and

(B) make wise choices in the use and conservation of resources and the disposal or recycling of materials.

Laboratory Safety Manual- University of Texas at Arlington: covers general safety information, emergency procedures and equipment, the Hazard Communication Act, chemical and biological hazards and control, chemical and special wastes, and disposal of wastes. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the document.

Laboratory Safety Manual- University of Texas at Austin: the manual addresses emergency procedures, the fundamentals of laboratory safety, basic rules and procedures for working with chemicals and hazardous materials, and biological hazards and control.

Chem Lab Safety- Chemistry Department, University of Nebraska - Lincoln: intended specifically for the laboratory environment, appropriate student attire and behavior is addressed. The use of laboratory and safety equipment is explained. Proper procedures for common laboratory practices, such as heating test tubes and adding acids to water, are also explained.

Laboratory Survival Manual- University of Virginia: while specific for the University’s situation, much of the first aid and emergency procedures, general lab practices, labeling, and safety equipment information is pertinent to school laboratories.

Laboratory Safety Guide and Chemical Hygiene Plan- State University of New York: covers safe laboratory practices, chemical hazards, breaks, and spills, labeling, and radioactive and biological hazards.

Safety Guidelines- P. Yarnell, Rohm and Haas Company: provides safety measures which will promote a safe laboratory environment.

Laboratory Practices- Texas A & M University: identifies practices which deviate from accepted laboratory protocol.

Proper Laboratory Clothing- Purdue University: provides guidelines for proper clothing in the chemistry laboratory.

Emergency Response Guide- Quantum Research Corporation: provides general instructions for reacting to a medical emergency or major incident.

Hazardous Material Identification Guide- University of Kentucky: explains the type and degree of a hazard for the colors and numbers found on the NFPA Fire Diamond. Also explains the Hazardous Materials Identification System. Users can also learn about MSDS sheets and the use of a fire extinguisher.

Hazardous Material Classification- The Learning Matters of Chemistry: illustrates the NFPA hazard identification coding system.

Evaluation Rubric: Laboratory Investigations- S. Sobehrad: a scoring rubric which can be used to assess student work in a laboratory investigation. Covers planning, manipulation of equipment, observation, interpretation of data, communication of information, and attitude.

Knowledge and Skills 8.2: Scientific processes.

The student uses scientific inquiry methods during field and laboratory investigations. The student is expected to:

(A) plan and implement investigative procedures including asking questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting and using equipment and technology;

(B) collect data by observing and measuring;

(D) communicate valid conclusions; and

(E) construct graphs, tables, maps, and charts using tools including computers to organize, examine, and evaluate data.

Introduction to the Scientific Method- F. Wolfs, University of Rochester: covers four steps for the scientific method, testing hypotheses, mistakes in applying the scientific method, models, theories, and laws. Information pertaining to graphs and their usefulness is available at Graphs.

Science and Science Education- The Hood Consulting Group International: examines what science is and is not, the methods of science, the importance of math in science, the disciplines of science, and the national trends in science education.

Middle School Lessons: provides lesson plans for activities in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, physical science, and technology.

Middle School Lessons and Experiments- Rohm and Haas Company: experiments address viscosity, biodegradability, density, chlorophyll, critical thinking, conductivity, flower pigments, the removal of pollutants, the scientific method, surface tension, bouncing, and buoyancy.

Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement- Illinois Institute of Technology: the Physics index provides laboratory activities in the following categories: matter, mechanics, fluids, electricity & magnetism, waves, and sound and optics. The Chemistry index provides laboratory activities in the following categories: basic tools and principles, atomic and molecular structure (including moles), states of matter, types and control of chemical reactions, chemistry of elements, and compounds and materials. The Biology index provides laboratory activities in these categories: anatomy & physiology, zoology, botany, microbiology, environmental studies and ecology, biochemistry, and general biology.

The Explorer- Great Lakes Collaborative and the University of Kansas UNITE group: the Natural Science link provides a collection of software, lab activities, and lesson plans for grades K-12. Categories include: life science, earth science, physical science, and common themes, such as matter, energy, and systems. Look for the icon with the Erlenmeyer flask and the beaker. Some of the activities and lesson plans require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents.

Curriculum Modules for Educators- Texas A & M University: provides curriculum modules or information for various topics that fall under these headings: archeology, wildlife and endangered species, botany, ecology, field trip planning, geology, mankind and his environment, oceanography, and pedology.

Ask Dr. Math- The Math Forum, Swarthmore College: provides a question and answer service for middle school mathematics in such topics as: algebra, division, equations, exponents, fractions and percents, graphing equations, logic, probability and statistics, and ratio and proportions. There is a middle school Student Center link which provides access to the “MiddleSchool Problem of the Week” and “Math Tips and Tricks”. The Teacher’s Place provides links to resources for teaching mathematics.

Common Weights And Measures- University of California at Berkeley: provides information on equivalent weights and measures, metric prefixes, and orders of magnitude.

K-12 Statistics Education- Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education at University of Illinois: includes lessons and data sets to help students construct and draw inferences from charts, tables, and graphs; use curve-fitting to predict trends; understand central tendency, variability, and correlation; understand sampling and its role in statistical claims; and design a statistical experiment to study a problem and communicate the outcomes.

Introduction to Graphs- Syracuse University: online tutorial which addresses the visual display of information. Graphing, equations and graphs of straight lines, and linear and nonlinear relationships are examined. Practice problems and review tests are provided, as are the answers. A glossary of terms is also provided.

Knowledge and Skills 8.3: Scientific processes.

The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to:

(A) analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information;

(B) draw inferences based on data related to promotional materials for products and services;

(D) evaluate the impact of research on scientific thought, society, and the environment; and

(E) connect Grade 8 science concepts with the history of science and contributions of scientists.

The Critical Thinking Center- Sonoma State University: the “Primary and Secondary Education” link provides teacher resources designed to help teachers implement critical thinking in their instruction. The Tactics that Encourage Active Learning, the Strategy List, and the Library are worth checking out.

An Activity to Introduce Critical Thinking- Brad Williamson: provides an activity which will test the skepticism of your students.

Ethics in Science- Henry H. Bauer, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: an essay that explores the interaction between science and society and the consequences of misconduct in science.

Bad Science- D. Garrison: provides examples in which people jump to conclusions and do not rely upon facts to make logical decisions.

Chance News- Dartmouth College: electronic newsletter containing abstracts of articles designed to show students how probability and statistics impact their daily lives. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view some of the documents.

The Why Files- University of Wisconsin: explains the scientific concepts and principles related to headline news stories. The Why File categories include: biology, environmental science, health science, physical science, social science, sports science, and technology.

Snapshots of Medicine and Health- The National Institutes of Health: provides information on: the People Doing Science, were students can learn about various occupations in the field of science; and Research In The News, where students can learn about advances in medicine and science.

Elements- University of Limerick: online magazine which provides articles written by scientists and engineers describing aspects of their work. Subjects include jet engines, genetic engineering, science and sport, computer security, and wireless communication.

Science A GoGo- JuJu Media: provides daily science news. Previous issues are archived.

Great Science Discoveries of the 1990's- F. Potter, University of California at Irvine: provides links to resources describing discoveries in: extra-solar planets and planetary models, genome mapping and genetic testing, global ecosystem and ecosystem dynamics, particle physics, materials science, and the exploration of the universe.

WWW Virtual Library for the History of Science, Technology & Medicine- Australian Science Archives Project: a database of links to history resources assorted either alphabetically, by scientific field, by on-line exhibition, by organization or institution, or by geographical region.

The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences- Louisiana State University Library: highlights the contributions of African American scientists within their discipline.

4000 Years of Women in Science- University of Alabama: provides biographical information on some of the women who have made significant contributions to the discipline of science. The biographies are organized by field of study. The list does not include women who have lived in the 1900’s.

Women in Physics- UCLA: describes the contributions of female physicists to the discipline.

Physics Timeline- Contemporary Physics Education Project: details the history of particle physics, focusing on the scientists and thinkers who have helped define this field.

Physics Biographies- Alan Cairns, University of Washington: contains links to biographical information for numerous physicists and people who contributed to the knowledge base in the discipline.

Nobel Laureates in Physics 1901 - 1996- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center Library: provides a biography and a description of the award winning work.

Electrostatics Hall of Fame- Electrostatics Society: contains small biographies of individuals who have made significant contributions to our knowledge of electrostatics.

1992 Institute on the History of Chemistry- Princeton University: provides biographies of 50 chemists.

Elementistory- Stuart John Fairall: click on an element symbol on a periodic table and view the history of the element.

History of Astronomy- W. R. Dick: a database of links to web resources which provide information concerning the general history of astronomy, observatories, important people, astronomy archives and libraries, museums, research institutes, and astronomy publications. If you receive an "Error 404: Not found - file doesn't exist or is read protected" response, just try again later.

History of Astronomy- National Radio Astronomy Observatory: contains links to information pertaining to ancient astronomical cosmology, Greek astronomy, Kepler’s Laws (with an animation), the Edinburgh Royal Observatory, the Galileo Project, and other astronomy resources.

People in Astronomy- Los Alamos National Laboratory: provides an alphabetical listing of many past and present astronomers. The contributions of the individual to the science of astronomy are provided, and where appropriate, links to information related to the contribution is also provided.

The Astronaut Connection- Data Matrix, Inc.: provides information concerning the men and women who have made contributions to space exploration, a timeline of significant space exploration events, biographies of astronauts, an Astronaut of the Month feature, and opportunities to electronically exchange information with astronauts.

Astronautics History- National Aeronautics and Space Administration: provides access to information pertaining to key documents in the history of space policy, information pertaining to NASA human space flight programs and major planetary and lunar probes, information describing NASA satellites and Earth observation projects, information describing communications satellite history, weather satellite information, information on Earth resources monitoring history, as well as access to the NASA history program.

National Air and Space Museum: images and a brief description of the aircraft, spacecraft, and space exhibits on display at the Museum. The Space Race is an on-line exhibit which examines the competition between the U. S. and the Soviet Union to establish their superiority in space. Images and text descriptions help tell the story. The exhibit has four main sections: Military Origins of the Space Race; Racing to the Moon; Secret Eyes in Space; and A Permanent Presence in Space.

Out of This World - The Golden Age of the Celestial Atlas- The Linda Hall Library: an electronic exhibit of 43 ancient star atlases and maps from 1482 to 1851, with biographical information. The exhibit includes Johann Bayer's Uranometria, Julius Schiller's Coelum Christianum, Johann Hevelius's Firmamentum, John Flamsteed's Atlas Coelestis, and Johann Bode's Uranographia.

Knowledge and Skills 8.4: Scientific processes.

The student knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science inquiry. The student is expected to:

(A) collect, record, and analyze information using tools including beakers, petri dishes, meter sticks, graduated cylinders, weather instruments, hot plates, dissecting equipment, test tubes, safety goggles, spring scales, balances, microscopes, telescopes, thermometers, calculators, field equipment, computers, computer probes, water test kits, and timing devices; and

(B) extrapolate from collected information to make predictions.

Laboratory Encyclopedia- Chemscape, University of Wisconsin: provides an index of laboratory equipment and procedures and explains or illustrates how the equipment is used or how to perform the procedure properly.

Technique Sheets- The National Science Teachers Association: provides explanations for using common laboratory equipment, such as the use of a metric ruler, a thermometer, a voltmeter, and a protractor, and for completing laboratory practices, such as bending glass tubing, using a laboratory burner, graphing experimental data, and mixing acid and water. Requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Computational Science Textbook- Sandia National Laboratory: the Tables of Units section addresses the importance of defining physical quantities and provides the standard SI units of measure, the meaning of negative exponents, the commonly used science and engineering units, the commonly used metric prefixes, and a table of SI units and their English equivalent. The Dimensional Analysis appendix provides examples to illustrate how to manipulate units of measure. The Math Notes appendix covers matrices, functions and their graphs (including linear, quadratic, reciprocal, exponential, and sine functions), and curve fitting.

Constants, Units, and Uncertainty- National Institute of Standards and Technology: provides the SI units and prefixes for both fundamental and derived quantities, and includes a section on units outside the SI system. Rules and style conventions for publication of material are also discussed.

Measurements- Southern Illinois University: covers units of length and volume, metric prefixes, dimensional analysis, mass and weight, significant figures, scientific notation, rounding, and the Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin temperature scales. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the information.

Knowledge and Skills 8.5: Scientific processes.

The student knows that relationships exist between science and technology. The student is expected to:

(A) identify a design problem and propose a solution;

(B) design and test a model to solve the problem; and

Institute for Science and Technology</a>: teacher developed activities for students pertaining to these themes: constancy and change, systems, and models.

Materials Science and Engineering- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: modules provide information and laboratory activities to address Energy, Ceramics, Metals, Polymers, Semiconductors, and Concrete.

Knowledge and Skills 8.6: Science concepts.

The student knows that interdependence occurs among living systems. The student is expected to:

(A) describe interactions among systems in the human organism;

(B) identify feedback mechanisms that maintain equilibrium of systems such as body temperature, turgor pressure, and
chemical reactions; and

Curriculum Modules: Texas A&M University - Environmental Health Science Module are directed toward the promotion of middle school science education and the Integrated Health Curriculum Module integrates environmental health science into the core disciplines. Cell biology, organic systems, ecosystems, water quality, and toxic hazards are addressed. Video presentations are available on the site.

Microbes.info - The Microbiology Information Portal: provides useful and interesting microbiology informational resources.

Anatomy and Physiology for High School Students- The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science: examines The Muscular System; The Bones; The Nervous System illustrates the sections of the brain and spinal cord and provides a brief description of the central and peripheral nervous systems; The Circulatory System; The Lymphatic System; The Urinary System; The Digestive System; and The Reproductive System.

On-line Biology Book- Michael Farabee, Estrella Mountain Community College: has chapters which address the structure and function of the systems of the human body and of plants.

On-line Biology Book- Earl Fleck, Whitman College: has chapters which address animal form and function, nutrition, and the systems of the human body.

Human Body Service Manual- St. Mary's School: student prepared information on the body systems, particularly the skeletal system, the circulatory and respiratory system, and the nervous system.

Travel Brochure of the Body Systems- Access Excellence, Genentech: is an activity in which students design a tour through the systems of the human body.

Biology - Resources for the Classroom- J. Gottschalk: provides links to activities, many from Access Excellence, which address these topics: ecology, cell form and function, plant form and function, animal form and function, animal behavior and plant responses, genetics and evolution, human evolution, techniques in molecular biology and biotechnology, and current issues.

The Heart- Franklin Institute Science Museum: online exhibit which covers: the development and structure of the heart, the path of the blood through the blood vessels and the body’s systems, monitoring and maintaining the heart’s health, and the history of heart science. Teacher resource materials and activities are also available.

The Food Zone- University of Colorado - Denver: examines food and nutrition and the digestive system. Intermediate level and advanced level laboratory experiments are also available.

The Muscle Page for Kids- Orthodoc: uses virtual imaging techniques to show the location of various muscles within the body. However, the model is a young girl and some people may find this offensive.

Neuroscience for Kids- Eric Chudler, University of Washington: provides information on the structure and function of the brain and the spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system, neurons, the sensory systems, and neuroscience methods and techniques. Activities and experiments are included.

The Cranial Cruise- Thinkquest: provides information on the beginnings of the head, the facial skeleton, the cranial base, and individual bone growth.

Cell Cycle & Cell Division- KD McMahon, Reseda Science Magnet: covers the cell cycle and the phases of mitosis. Also available is information pertaining to Meiosis & Sexual Reproduction.

VCE Biology Students' Site- School of Biochemistry at LaTrobe University: links to information on homeostasis in animals and plant responses to environmental stimuli, genetics, and evolution and selection.

Body Systems and Homeostasis- McGraw-Hill College Division: summarizes the manner in which the body’s systems work and the regulatory mechanisms that allow each system to contribute to maintaining homeostasis.

Ecological Systems Analysis- B. Woodmansee, Colorado State University: online course which provides information on the components of an ecosystem, the factors which control ecosystem processes, and how organisms interact within populations and communities.

Ecosystems- University of the Western Cape, South Africa: online textbook examines abiotic and biotic ecosystem components, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and conservation and pollution.

Biology 104- J. Aliff, DeKalb College: the “Ecology” section addresses ecosystems and energy, biomes, symbiosis, weather and ecosystems, and ecological succession, water ecosystems, and water pollution.

Biological Education Materials- National Biological Information Infrastructure: provides biological data, information, and materials pertaining to animals, wildlife, biology, botany, the environment, insects, marine biology, and the wetlands.

Conservation Education Index- Natural Resource Conservation Service, Oklahoma State Office: provides hands-on activities pertaining to water movement through plants, plant ecology, plant succession, soil ecology, water erosion, plant occurrence, and plant identification.

Access Excellence- Genentech: Students manipulate environmental factors in a microenvironment in Biological Succession in a Microecosystemand explore the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem in Studying a Piece of an Ecosystem.

Knowledge and Skills 8.7: Science concepts.

The student knows that there is a relationship between force and motion. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate how unbalanced forces cause changes in the speed or direction of an object's motion; and

(B) recognize that waves are generated and can travel through different media.

Force and Motion- L. Bland: defines force, mass, and net force, examines the relationship between force and mass, and gives two practice problems to illustrate the relationship between force and motion.

Folk Toys- G. Carboni: explains how to construct toys out of simple materials in order to introduce students to mechanics. Toys include: a cable car, a motorboat, a bicycle, a slingshot, and a telephone.

Newton’s Laws of Motion- Glenbrook South High School: provides information on Newton’s first law of motion, force and its representation, Newton’s second law of motion, and Newton’s third law of motion.

Playground Physics- M. Urquhart, University of Colorado at Boulder: provides three activities which relate playground experiences to gravity, simple machines, and pendulums. Teacher’s Guides explaining each activity are provided.

Andrea Exhibit- Science and Technology Education Center, Tel-Aviv University: online exhibit devoted the scientific work of Galileo and includes information on the pendulum, the inclined plane, free fall, the law of inertia, and Newton’s laws.

Physics Demonstrations- Julien Sprott, University of Wisconsin: provides demonstrations which illustrate the laws of motion, electricity, and magnetism.

Newton’s Laws of Motion- J. Pratte, Clayton College & State University: provides demonstrations which can be used to illustrate the laws of motion.

Newton's Laws- David Willey, University of Pittsburg: demonstrations, such as the bowling ball pendulum, table cloth pull, and bicycle wheel twist, that illustrate the laws of motion.

Exploring Science- Raman Pfaff: instructional modules allow the user to manipulate specific variables and observe the resulting interaction. Modules pertaining to motion are provided. Requires the Shockwave plug-in.

Sport! Science- The Exploratorium: home page for an examination of the science involved in various sports. The Science of Hockey examines mechanics and energy from a hockey perspective. That’s the Way the Ball Bounces examines the science that explains why a ball bounces or doesn’t bounce. A feature exploring the mechanics of the hand as it related to rock climbing and an examination of the role of feet in athletics is also included.

Physics in the Amusement Park- Thinkquest: provides information on potential and kinetic energy, centripetal force, and gravity, as evident within the rides found in an amusement park. Games are included.

Explore the Roller Coaster!- Thinkquest: provides some background information on the history and psychology of roller coasters and explains, in real simple terms, the role of friction and energy in the operation of a roller coaster.

How Things Fly- National Air and Space Museum: this gallery within the museum explains why airplanes fly, how spacecraft stay in orbit, and why balloons float in air.

How Things Fly- Smithsonian Institution: lessons designed to teach students about the basics of flight. All lessons and activities can be downloaded in either HTML format or as an Adobe Acrobat file.

K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook- University of California at Davis: features sections on the principles of aeronautics and lesson plans and activities pertaining to aeronautics. The Activities are available categorized in three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The Tennis link explores the aerodynamics of sports technology through the sport of tennis.

Cockpit Physics- USAF Academy Physics Department: lesson 1 through lesson 8 and lesson 19 through 25 address motion as it relates to aviation. Lessons 10 through lesson 17 and lesson 29 address energy and momentum as it relates to aviation. Exploration and application supplements are provided.

Rockets- NASA and Utah State’s College of Education: provides a brief history of rockets, explains rocket principles, and practical rocketry. Activities and demonstrations are also provided. The Adobe Acrobat reader is required.

SOUND!- Thinkquest: provides a sound tutorial and information on the characteristics of sound, wave motion, wave velocity, wave reproduction, hearing, and acoustics.

Electromagnetic Spectrum- NASA's Observatorium: describes the characteristics of the components of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Making Waves- St. Mary's High School: for each component of the electromagnetic spectrum, this site describes the methods of generation, uses of the radiation, hazards associated with the type of radiation, and other useful information about the type of radiation.

From Lenses to Optical Instruments- G. Carboni: covers the types of lenses that produce images, the determination of the focal length, and optical instruments. The Fun Science Gallery home page provides access to activities in which students build microscopes and a telescope.

Refraction of Light Demonstration- P. Dukes, Brigham Young University: an applet which allows the user to vary the angle of incidence and/or incident wavelength and observe the corresponding change in the path and wavelength of light.

Knowledge and Skills 8.8: Science concepts.

The student knows that matter is composed of atoms. The student is expected to:

(A) describe the structure and parts of an atom; and

(B) identify the properties of an atom, including mass and electrical charge.

Life, the Universe, and the Electron- London Science Museum and the Institute of Physics: this on-line exhibit explains what an electron is, how the electron was discovered and other important discoveries about the electron and the atom, and how electrons have allowed scientists to determine the structure of matter and examine the universe. Technological advances made possible by understanding the properties of electrons are also described.

The Discovery of the Electron- American Institute of Physics: online exhibit which explores the theories and experimentation that led to the discovery of the electron.

Atomic Structure- The ChemTeam: explains the origin of the atom concept and Thompson’s discovery of the electron.

Development of Our Understanding of the Atom- Ralph Logan, Dallas County Community College District, North Lake College: provides an account of the models and theories that explain the structure and properties of the atom.

Building Models of Atoms with Fruit Loops- University of Idaho: an activity in which students build atoms using different colored Fruit Loops to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons. The exercise also has a mirror address.

The Electric Club Activities Handbook- Canada Schoolnet: contains demonstrations pertaining to electricity and electric charge; complete with connections, extensions, and teacher notes.

Knowledge and Skills 8.9: Science concepts.

The student knows that substances have chemical and physical properties. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate that substances may react chemically to form new substances;

(B) interpret information on the periodic table to understand that physical properties are used to group elements;

(D) identify that physical and chemical properties influence the development and application of everyday materials such as cooking surfaces, insulation, adhesives, and plastics.

Equations and Reaction Types- The ChemTeam: explains what a chemical equation is and how to balance a chemical equation. Two balancing equation worksheets, with answers, are provided.

Chemical Formulas and Equations- Southern Illinois University: addresses the naming of chemical compounds (including binary compounds and compounds containing polyatomic ions), balanced formulas, writing and balancing chemical equations, and electron-transfer reactions. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the information.

The Properties of Matter- Curry School of Education, University of Virginia: lesson plans address the physical properties of matter, the states of matter and their characteristics, and the phase changes of matter and the causes of these changes.

Property Activities- Grant Wood Area Education Agency: provides activities addressing surface tension, density, pH, flame tests, solubility, concentration, acid rain, and recycling practice. The Elements Activities provide activities pertaining to half-life, atoms and elements, and metals and nonmetals.

Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement- Illinois Institute of Technology: the chemistry index provides laboratory activities to help students understand chemical concepts. The chemistry lessons are divided into the following categories: basic tools and principles, atomic and molecular structure (including moles), states of matter, types and control of chemical reactions, chemistry of elements, and compounds and materials.

The Changes Matter Undergoes- Ralph Logan, Dallas County Community College District, North Lake College: defines a physical change and a chemical change and lists the evidence that indicates that a chemical reaction could be occurring.

Physical Changes- Chem101, Thinkquest: brief explanation of physical change and mixtures; with a supporting distillation activity.

MathMol Hypermedia Textbook- New York University Scientific Visualization Center: addresses physical properties; structure and bonding in atoms, and the motion of molecules; the structure and properties of water, carbon and other important molecules.

The pH Factor- Miami Museum of Science: introduces acids and bases to middle school students using the seven E’s: excite, explore, explain, expand, extend, exchange, and examine. Lesson plans are available.

CHEMystery- Thinkquest: provides information on atoms and molecules, states of matter, chemical reactions, the periodic table, bonding, energy and thermodynamics, acids and bases, organic chemistry, and nuclear reactions.

Chem4Kids!- Rader New Media: provides information on matter, atoms, elements, chemical reactions, and the mathematics involved in chemistry.

The Internet Science Room- Frontier Public Schools, Red Rock, Oklahoma: the 1st Nine Weeks period addresses the scientific method, the metric system, graphing, the properties of matter, the elements, and changes in the atomic model through time. 2nd Nine Weeks period addresses the periodic table, bonding, chemical reactions, solutions, and acids and bases.

WebElements- Mark Winter, University of Sheffield: click on an element and physical, chemical, nuclear, biological, and geological data is available.

Periodic Table of the Elements- Los Alamos National Laboratory: for each element, provides information related to the history, source, properties, and uses.

The Pictorial Periodic Table- Phoenix College: allows users to view physical data and a picture for a selected element. The site also provides links to: a periodic table that can be printed; the lyrics for “The Elements”; a history of the periodic table; general purpose periodic tables; WebElements and its mirror sites; periodic tables for kids; tables with a specific purpose; information about the periodic table; periodic table humor; and computer programs.

Periodic Table Database- R.W. Husted, Los Alamos National Laboratory: a clickable periodic table of the elements through element 110 which includes physical properties and a brief history of the origins and the uses of the element.

Element Tables- University of British Columbia: provides information describing the elements and can be viewed in periodic table format or listed by name, symbol, or atomic number.

Periodic Table Trends- M. Ponder: an activity which promotes the discovery of the periodic trends in the physical properties of the elements in relation to their position on the periodic table.

The Chemical Elements- D. O’Leary: provides information on the physical and chemical properties of elements, as well as the means of obtaining and using the particular element.

Up Close: The Periodic Table of Elements- Chem101, Thinkquest: discusses the representative elements, the transition elements, metalloids, and representative nonmetals.

Theory of Atoms in Molecules- R. Bader, McMaster University: describes the theory of atoms and the role of atoms in the properties of a molecule.

Basic Principles- Chem101, Thinkquest: illustrates the classification of matter.

The World of Materials- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: operationally defines a metal, a ceramic a semiconductor, and a polymer and explains the structures of these materials.

Polymer and Coatings Science- University of Missouri - Rolla: lecture notes explain what a polymer is, polymer classification, the physical properties of polymers, addition polymerization, the chemistry and engineering of polyolefins, monomers and polymers of addition polymerization, condensation polymers, and paint and polymers for paint. The Second Floor - The Coffee Shop provides links to other polymer homepages, including corporations, commercial sites, and other schools.

Knowledge and Skills 8.10: Science concepts.

The student knows that complex interactions occur between matter and energy. The student is expected to:

(A) illustrate interactions between matter and energy including specific heat;

(B) describe interactions among solar, weather, and ocean systems; and

(C) identify and demonstrate that loss or gain of heat energy occurs during exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions.

Texas Renewable Energy Resource- Virtus Energy Research Associates: provides information on the availability, quantity, and the recommended uses of solar, wind, biomass, water, and geothermal energy resources.

Alternative Energy Institute- West Texas A & M University: online brochures and pamphlets examine solar water pumping and wind energy in Texas. Wind energy is the primary focus of the book reviews and abstracts section. Solar and wind maps of Texas are provided.

The Energy Tree- One World Organization: users can select a branch of the energy tree and learn about renewable and nonrenewable energy forms. Users can also learn about electricity, fossil fuels, nuclear power, and energy sources.

The Energy Story- California Energy Commission: provides information about the production of electricity, geothermal energy, fossil fuels, hydropower, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, biomass, and energy distribution systems.

Alternative Energy Sources- Coolmine Community School - Dublin: explores nuclear, tidal, solar, wave, and hydroelectric sources of electricity generation.

Suspension of Disbelief- Thinkquest: provides information on matter and energy. The matter section covers phases of matter, motion, and the laws of motion. The energy section covers heat, light, and nuclear energy. The GLUE acronym leads to a glossary of terms, laws of physics, units of measure, and constants and prefixes.

Power Systems- Michigan Technological University: provides pictures and a description of the three components of a power system: power generation, transmission system, and the distribution system.

How a Battery Works- Duracell: provides an explanation of the composition, structure, and performance of a Duracell battery. One of the links requires the Shockwave plug-in.

EN-R-GEE-WHIZ!- National Museum of Science and Technology: provides answers to questions concerning energy, such as: “What are potential and kinetic energy?”, “How efficient is the tranformation of energy?”, and “What does conservation of energy mean?”.

Measuring the Heat Energy of a Chemical Change- Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement, Illinois Institute of Technology: a lab activity in which students examine the law of conservation of energy, the difference between temperature and heat, the heat conducting properties of water, and the heat content of nuts.

IPPEX Interactive Physics Modules- Internet Plasma Physics Educational Experience, Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education: provides four modules focusing on a specific physics concept. The Matter module explains the difference between atoms, ions, elements, and molecules, as well as the changes that occur in matter and the four states of matter. The Electricity and Magnetism module covers static and moving charge, voltage, resistance, current, and Ohm’s law. The properties of magnets and the use of magnets to produce electric current is also covered. The Energy module examines how energy flows through different states and how fusion power creates energy. The Fusion module explains how fusion serves as the power of the universe, discusses what fusion is and how fusion works, and examines why fusion should be developed as an energy source. All the modules require the Shockwave plug-in.

Internet Plasma Physics Educational Experience- Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education: from this page, users can learn about fusion and tokamaks; access interactive physics modules covering matter, electricity and magnetism, energy, and fusion; analyze fusion data from a tokamak fusion test reactor; and visit a virtual tokamak.

ABC's of Nuclear Science- Nuclear Science Education Committee, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: provides information on radioactivity; alpha, beta, and gamma decay; fission and fusion; the structure of the atomic nucleus; cosmic radiation; and radiation safety. Experiments are provided.

Atmospheric Interactive Research- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: provides hands-on activities which cover diffusion, brownian movement, topography, solubility, cold air currents, convection currents, winds, air pressure, and the modeling of a tornado.

WeatherEye- KGAN News Channel 2, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: provides regional and national headline weather news. The Lessons link covers hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, flooding, and blizzards.

WeatherNet- The Weather Underground, University of Michigan: provides access to forecasts for the U. S. and Canada, radar and satellite images, and a collection of weather links. The WeatherCams link provides live pictures of weather conditions in over 700 North American locations. The WeatherMaps link provides surface and upper air analyses, including temperature and jet stream maps.

Weather Unit : Science Applications- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: provides lessons pertaining to precipitation, condensation, evaporation, the seasons, heat and light, the water cycle, and day and night.

Knowledge and Skills 8.11: Science concepts.

The student knows that traits of species can change through generations and that the instructions for traits are contained in the genetic material of the organisms. The student is expected to:

(A) identify that change in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individuals and of species;

(B) distinguish between inherited traits and other characteristics that result from interactions with the environment; and

DNA: the Instruction Manual for All Life- Tech Museum of Innovation: provides a close-up look at DNA structure and how DNA works.

Genetics and Evolution- G. Brewer, North Dakota State University: covers the structure of DNA, the base pairing rule, transcription and translation, and evolution.

Heredity- Iowa State University: explains what heredity is and how traits are passed from one generation to the next generation.

The Biology Project- University of Arizona: online resource for biology. The Human Biology link provides problem sets and tutorials covering human genetics; DNA forensics; human reproduction; birth control; and blood types. Activities pertaining to web karyotyping are available. The Mendelian Genetics link covers monohybrid crosses, dihybrid crosses, and sex-linked inheritance. The Molecular Biology link provides problem sets and tutorials pertaining to molecular genetics and prokaryotes, nucleic acids, and recombinant DNA technology.

The Natural History of Genes- Utah Museum of Natural History: includes an introduction to DNA, hands-on DNA and protein activities, activities to examine the role of genetics in disease, and activities for students to do at home.

Heredity: What are the Chances?- Thinkquest: explains the passage of genetic traits from parents to children. The “GenCalc” allows users to choose parental traits and returns the percent chance that a child will receive the chosen traits.

56 Quick Demonstrations for Biology Classes- Nebraska Earth Science Education Network: provides assorted demonstrations, including cellular process and genetics.

Morgan- Rutgers University: online genetics tutorial. Contains six levels, with each succeeding level building upon the previous level. Levels include: genes and chromosomes; alleles and mutation; probability; linked genes; recombination; and chromosomes and sex determination.

Genetics Activities- Grant Wood Area Education Agency: provides activities pertaining to color blindness, Mendelian genetics, genetic ratios, human traits, and independent assortment.

Virtual FlyLab- California State University, Los Angeles: an interactive application which allows students to designate mating between male and female fruit flies and examine the parents and the offspring to determine the rules of genetic inheritance.

What Makes People Blue?- S. Banner & A. Carey: addresses heterozygous and homozygous gene pairs and pedigrees.

Genetic Grab Bags- E. Wheeler: explains the difference between genotype and phenotype, the relationship between dominant and recessive traits, and how to determine genotypic ratios.

Understanding Gene Testing- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Access Excellence: provides information on topics related to genes, genetic errors, gene testing, and genetic counseling.

What is Genetic Testing?- Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory: briefly examines what genetic testing is, the types of genetic testing, and ethical, legal, and social issues related to genetic testing.

The Tree of Life- David Maddison and Wayne Maddison, University of Arizona: is primarily an index containing information about the phylogenetic relationships and characteristics of organisms and illustrates the diversity and unity of organisms.

Paleontology Without Walls- Museum of Paleontology, University of California - Berkeley: online exhibit which allows users to learn about phylogeny, geologic time, and evolutionary thought.

Knowledge and Skills 8.12: Science concepts.

The student knows that cycles exist in Earth systems. The student is expected to:

(A) analyze and predict the sequence of events in the lunar and rock cycles;

(B) relate the role of oceans to climatic changes; and

Learning from the Fossil Record- Museum of Paleontology, University of California - Berkeley: explains why fossils are important to science and society, identifies educational resources available for use, and provides activities for use in the classroom. The geologic time scale is also addressed.

The Blue Planet- University of Michigan: lecture notes address how and why ocean waters circulate, the role of the oceans in climate, and the role of the oceans in the nutrient and carbon dioxide cycles.

Ocean Planet- Smithsonian Institution: on-line booklet provides lessons and activities which examines the plants and animals in different marine ecosystems, the value of the products of the sea, pollution, animal strandings, and the influence of the oceans on language and literature.

Ocean98: examines how the oceans influence climate and weather, and examines the role of oceans in the carbon cycle.

The Hydrologic Cycle- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: an on-line guide which examines the Earth’s water budget, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, the movement of water through the atmosphere, groundwater, and runoff.

How the Oceans Influence Climate- United Nations Environment Program: provides information on the influence of the ocean on climate, the climatic link between the oceans and the atmosphere, the ocean’s role in storing heat and carbon, and the influence of ocean currents on heat transport.

Ecological Systems Analysis- B. Woodmansee, Colorado State University: online course addresses carbon cycles, energy flow, and nutrient cycles within the environment.

Element Cycles- Environment Canada: examines the water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles and describes the characteristics of an ecosystem.

Nutrient Cycles- Iowa State University: describes the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium through an agricultural ecosystem.

Knowledge and Skills 8.13: Science concepts.

The student knows characteristics of the universe. The student is expected to:

(A) describe characteristics of the universe such as stars and galaxies;

(B) explain the use of light years to describe distances in the universe; and

Earth Introduction- Los Alamos National Laboratory: provides information about the Earth’s placement in the solar system, quantitative data for the Earth, and provides photographs of Earth as taken from space. The site can be difficult to access because the server is often busy.

Earth's Place in the Solar System- University of Florida: examines the formation of the solar system and planets and the characteristics of Earth.

The Earth’s Orbit- High Energy Astrophysics Division Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: provides information describing the seasons, summer and winter sunlight, and the tilt of the Earth. The activities are for grades 3 through 6, but the textual information is still pertinent. From the home page, the chapters addressing the Earth’s rotation, time and the calendar, maps and mapping, the solar system, and the Moon are available.

Earth and Moon Viewer- J. Walker: allows users to view the current day and night regions of Earth, or view the Earth from the Sun, the Moon, the night side of the Earth. Users can also view the Moon from the Earth, the Sun, or above formations on the lunar surface.

Windows to the Universe- University of Michigan: the Headline Universe section provides space science news, astrophysics news, planetary news, Earth news, and space station and shuttle news. Understanding the Sky discusses how the Earth’s motion is responsible for the seasons. The Our Planet: Earth section provides information about the Earth’s interior and surface, the atmosphere, the magnetosphere, lunar geology and formation, the lunar atmosphere, the phases of the Moon, and water and life. The seasons and the tides are also addressed. The Planetary Systems section provides information on the structure and characteristics of each of the planets and the space missions to each planet. Information describing the planetary moons is also provided, as is a table of moons and planets. The site uses graphics extensively. The Sun link provides information on the interior of the Sun, the solar surface and atmosphere, solar activity, solar images, and missions to explore the Sun. The Strange Stuff in Space section provides information on white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, quasars, and supernovas. The Galaxies section addresses the Milky Way galaxy, elliptical galaxies, spiral galaxies, and irregular galaxies. The Our Solar System section provides information on the formation of the universe and the structure and expansion of the universe. Solar System Formation covers the planets, asteroids, comets, the Sun, and the solar system itself. The Universe link covers constellations, stars, star dust, and galaxies. The Stars section provides statistics on stars and information on a whole lot of stars. The site uses graphics extensively.

The Messier Catalog- Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, University of Arizona: provides a guide to the 110 objects recognized in the Messier catalog. The objects are divided into three groups: nebulae, galaxies, and clusters. An image of each object in the catalog is presented along with a description of the object and data describing the location of the object. The Milky Way Galaxy examines our galaxy in both pictures and text and provides links to related material on the Milky Way.

Messier Objects and Galaxies- University of Alabama: provides images of Messier objects, active galaxies, interacting galaxies, clusters and deep fields, and comets. The Messier Objects page has additional images of Messier objects and galaxy images. Galaxy Cluster Mug Shots provide images specific galaxy clusters, Abell clusters, and poor clusters and groups. Images of Overlapping Galaxies are also provided.

Catalog of Galaxies- Department of Astrophysics, Princeton University: provides a catalog of images of 113 galaxies provided by the Palomar Observatory and the Lowell Observatory.

The Galaxies- Science Reference Room, Arizona State University Libraries: provides information on the general characteristics of galaxies, galacitic interactions, galaxy clusters, active galaxies, the Milky Way, and other miscellaneous information on galaxies. The reference room also contains a good selection of links to web sites that provide information on these same topics.

Galaxies- University of Alabama: covers the kinds of galaxies, the content of galaxies, the clusters of galaxies, galaxies and cosmology, and observing galaxies.

Star Journey- National Geographic: this is an on-line journey through the celestial sphere. The Star Chart page allows the user to select a portion of the heavens and view the celestial components within that region. Star Attractions provides images of the constellation Orion, the Milky Way and other galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae. A structural overview of the Hubble Space Telescope is also available. The pages at this site can take a while to load.

Stars: An Introduction- NASA Observatorium: provides information on interstellar clouds and the birth of stars, what makes stars shine, the importance of stars, and whether stars will shine forever.

The Life and Death of Stars- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: summarizes the life cycle of stars and includes information on where stars are born, main-sequence stars, and the death of an ordinary star and of a massive star. Hubble telescope images of the birth of a star, planetary nebula, and of a supernova remnant are also provided.

Scientific American Explorations- Scientific American magazine: provides several articles related to stars. The Early Life of Stars examines the changes a young star undergoes before settling into a stable star like our Sun. Companions to Young Stars covers binary systems among young stars. And Worlds around Other Stars and A Parade of New Planets examine the possibility of planets orbiting nearby stars.

Journey Through the Galaxy- Thinkquest: provides a network of pages that acts as a tour through the galaxy. The Solar System covers the Sun, the planets and moons, asteroids, and comets. Stars covers nebulae, the birth of stars, types and classification of stars, clusters, and the death of stars. The tour of the galaxy concludes with Planets Circling Other Stars.

The Web Nebulae- Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, University of Arizona: the various types of nebulae are described and images and information for nebulae, such as the Orion nebula, the Horsehead nebula, the Ring nebula, the Crab nebula, and Supernova 1987a, are provided.

KAO Astronomy Info Center- Kansas Astronomical Observers: explains what a star is, how and where stars are born, and provides information on the Sun, supernovae, white dwarves, pulsars, black holes, galaxies, and meteors.

Imagine the Science!- High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center: information describing galaxies, binary systems, black holes, dark matter, gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, stars, and supernovae is provided. The investigative techniques used to analyze the heavens are also described. The origin and destiny of the universe is also examined. Each topic is accompanied by an on-line quiz, additional resources, and lesson plans. A dictionary of all relevent terms is also provided.

Virtual Reality Moon Phase Pictures- U.S. Naval Observatory: images depict the lunar surface features, and users can view the phase of the Moon for any data and time. The current phase of the Moon is also described. Astronomical Applications provides sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, and twilight data; Moon illumination data; eclipse data; data on the position of the Sun and the Moon; and dates for equinoxes, solstices, perihelion, and aphelion.

Views of the Solar System- C. Hamilton, hosted by the Hawaiian Astronomical Society: provides images and information about the Sun, the planets and their moons, and the asteroids, comets, and meteoroids found in the solar system. The section devoted to the History of Space Exploration provides a space exploration chronology, a spacecraft missions summary (including U. S. missions, USSR missions, and European missions), educator guides, and links to spacecraft home pages for current and future spacecraft missions. People provides an alphabetical listing of many past and present astronomers. The contributions of the individual to the science of astronomy are provided, and where appropriate, links to information related to the contribution is also provided. The section devoted to Lesson Plans and Activities covers comets, impact craters, eclipses, moon phases, sunspots, and other space-related topics. A mirror site is available at the University of Washington.

The Nine Planets- B. Arnett, University of Arizona: contains information describing each of the planets, their moons, and other bodies occupying the interstellar medium,. The material is well supported with images and references to related material. Several movies and sound clips are provided as well. Other bodies occupying the interstellar medium are also examined. Appendices provide solar system data, a discovery chronology, and information on the origin of the solar system and how astronomical names are assigned. A mirror site exists at the University of Washington. This site can also be accessed via the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space site at the University of Arizona.

Welcome to the Planets- California Institute of Technology and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: provides a collection of images from NASA’s planetary exploration programs. The physical characteristics of the planets and text descriptions of the images are provided. A mirror site exists at the University of Washington.

Exploring the Planets- Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, National Air and Space Museum and the Science Information Infrastructure: this on-line gallery features the solar system, planet and planetary satellite data, and information on Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, comets, and the Voyager mission.

Planetary Photo Gallery- NASA National Space Science Data Center: provides images of all the planets, our Moon, and asteroids and comets.

NASA's Planetary Photojournal- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: provides easy access to images from the various solar system exploration programs that NASA has released to the press. The images contain the original caption and can be downloaded.

Planetary Sciences- National Space Science Data Center: provides planetary data and images, as well as information on lunar and planetary exploration missions.

Space Stuff- Star Child, High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center: provides information on being an astronaut, spacesuits, space travel, space probes, and the Hubble telescope. The Solar System link provides information on the Sun, the planets, the Moon, asteroids, meteoriods, and comets. A Quicktime movie about the solar system is available, as are solar system activities. The Universe examines the Milky Way, galaxies, quasars, stars, and black holes, as well as some activities. Two levels of material are present, allowing you to choose the most appropriate level for you.

Astronomy Information- NASA Space Educators’ Handbook: provides pictures and textual descriptions of the planets, the Sun, the Moon, and certain stars, asteroids, meteorites, and comets.

The Solar System- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: this chapter within the Basics of Space Flight module provides information concerning the measurement of astronomical distances, the Sun, interplanetary space, the terrestrial planets, the jovian planets, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

B e y o n d P l a n e t E a r t h- Thinkquest: provides a history for each planet, and examines the geology and meteorology for each planet and the Sun.

Athena - Earth and Space Science for K-12-NASA, Science Applications International Corporation, and Washington State's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction: the Space Science section provides information and activities that cover the planets and their motions and the orbits and properties of the planets. Completion of the activities involves student use of a spreadsheet and graphs. The Teacher Talk section is a an instructors guide.

The Online Planetarium Show (TOPS)- Thinkquest: the Introduction to the World of Astronomy link provides information and images about astronomy. The Solar Observation link provides information about the Sun and how to observe it. The Search for the Stars link provides lessons about the stars. The Virtual Planetarium provides photos, descriptions, and links to planets and other celestial bodies. The Web Planetarium is a database of astronomical information, including information on 25 constellations. The Space link provides descriptions and data tables for the planets and other galactic bodies. The Digital Science link provides explanations and history of subjects concerning astronomy.

Amazing Space- Space Telescope Science Institute: provides interactive, web-based activities for classroom use. Each lesson includes a worksheet which can be downloaded and modified if necessary. Current activities include: solar system trading cards; Star Light, Star Bright; the Hubble Deep Field Academy; the student astronaut challenge, and a history of telescopes from Galileo to the Hubble.

Solar System Physics- International Space Physics Educational Consortium: presents student presentations pertaining to the Sun, the Moon, comets, asteroids, the solar wind, and several planets and their moons.

Astronomy- Sonora High School & Washington Middle School: addresses theories of the origin of the universe, provides pictures of space, and information about space vehicles.

SkyView- Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: provides a virtual observatory. Users select the parameters from a list of choices. Users can choose one of three interface options: non-astronomer, basic, and advanced.

Skytour- W. Stone, Lewis & Clark College: sketches, animations, and other helpful information is provided to help people find objects of interest. The Moon and its phases, the Sun, stars, planets, comets, meteors, and deep sky objects are all covered.

Sunspots and the Solar Cycle- Marshall Space Sciences Laboratory: provides up-to-date monitoring of sunspots and the solar cycle, with tutorials, material for educators, and interactive activities.

The Sun: a Pictorial Introduction- P. Charbonneau and O.R. White, Instituto Di Astronomia Dell’Univerita Di Palermo: 20 slides of solar events, with an explanation, are available for viewing. The introduction provides some basic solar facts and terminology and the conclusion addresses solar-terrestrial interactions.

Earth View Network- Earth View Inc.: provides information about the history, science, and observation of lunar and solar eclipses. The Introductory Eclipse Tutorial explains the types and patterns of eclipses and what happens during an eclipse. The home page also links to information about eclipse myths and symbolism, and the role of eclipses in history and literature; information on recent and future eclipses; and eclipse observation tips.

Eclipse Home Page- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: provides information on the last lunar and solar eclipses and the next lunar and solar eclipses, links to on-line eclipse publications, solar and lunar eclipse data, and information pertaining to lunar and solar eclipse observation and photography.

Searching for Just the Right Planet- B. Byles and Teaching and Learning Academy: activity in which students are to prepare a report identifying the best planet upon which to build a resort hotel.

Lost in Space- The Rice School, Houston: provides lessons and assignments pertaining to the life of a star, black holes, and space exploration.

The Big Bang- Syracuse University: tutorial that examines what we know about the universe, how the universe evolved, the Big Bang theory, and the expansion of the universe. The Big Bang Part 2 tutorial examines dark matter and the lumpiness of the universe. The Big Bang Part 3 tutorial addresses what the universe will look like in the future and summarizes the Big Bang theory.

Introduction to Cosmology- NASA Microwave Anisotropy Probe: introduces basic concepts in modern cosmology and describes the Microwave Anisotropy Probe’s mission. The Big Bang Theory explains the foundations of the Big Bang theory, the tests of the Big Bang theory, and what the Big Bang theory does not explain. The age of the universe, its expansion rate, the composition of the universe, the formation of the chemical elements, and inflation theory are also addressed.

Knowledge and Skills 8.14: Science concepts.

The student knows that natural events and human activities can alter Earth systems. The student is expected to:

(A) predict land features resulting from gradual changes such as mountain building, beach erosion, land subsidence, and continental drift;

(B) analyze how natural or human events may have contributed to the extinction of some species; and

EARTHFORCE- Franklin Institute Science Museum: online exhibit which examines the forces at work within the Earth’s core, the crust, and water resources which are responsible for volcanoes, earthquakes, and floods, respectively.

PlanetDiary</a>: provides news and information pertaining to natural phenomena, such as hurricanes, storms, tornadoes, floods, fires, drought, and oil spills. Updated weekly.

USGS Fact Sheets- U. S. Geological Survey: listed by environmental theme, includes studies of physical, chemical, and biological processes within environments, and the environmental impact of human activity.

Earth Sciences 8 - Lectures- University of California at Santa Cruz: lecture notes cover the creation of the Earth, geologic time, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, the Earth’s atmosphere, the greenhouse effect and global warming, weather, floods, landslides, and human induced geological catastrophes.

Continents, Oceans, and Life in Motion - A New View of The Third Planet- Milwaukee Public Museum: on-line exhibit examines the geology of Earth. Also links to the dinosaur exhibit. Requires a Java capable brownser.

Big Bend National Park- Texas A&M University Department of Geology: the structural features of Big Bend, faulting, folding, and jointing are explained and specific examples from Big Bend are provided.

Geologic Hazards- United States Geological Survey: addresses geomagnetism, landslides, and earthquakes.

Earthquakes- U. S. Geolocial Survey: this online publication examines the historical impact of earthquakes, where earthquakes occur, how earthquakes, and earthquake measurement and prediction.

Earthquake!- University of California - Berkeley: a hypertext document which addresses the interpretation of information obtained from a seismograph, locating an earthquake epicenter, and predicting earthquakes.

Virtual Earthquake - An Introduction- California State University at Los Angeles: explains what an earthquake is, seismic waves and seismographs, and provides an interactive program which examines how an earthquake epicenter is located and how the magnitude of an earthquake is determined.

Earthquake Facts and Follies- Center for Earthquake Research and Information, University of Memphis: provides answers to 25 frequently asked questions about earthquakes, such as “What causes most earthquakes?” and “How are earthquakes measured?”.

National Earthquake Information Center- United States Geological Survey: provides current earthquake information, general earthquake information, seismograph station codes and coordinates, and allows users to search an earthquake database. The General Earthquake Information link provides information pertaining to earthquakes in the U. S., seismology, plate tectonics, and tsunami information.

Volcanoes- U. S. Geological Survey: this online publication examines the nature of volcanoes, the types of volcanoes, eruptions, and volcano monitoring and research.

Volcanoes in the Learning Web- U. S. Geological Survey: provides information explaining why and where volcanoes erupt. Also contains images from volcanic eruptions with explanations of the consequences of volcanic eruptions. Contains links to additional resources.

Volcano Hazards Program- U. S. Geological Survey: provides an explanation for the hazards posed by volcanoes, the monitoring of active volcanoes, reducing volcanic risks, and provides information on volcanoes found in the U. S. The following online books are also available: Volcanoes; This Dynamic Earth: the Story of Plate Tectonics; Monitoring Active Volcanoes; Volcanoes of the United States; and Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes.

Volcanoes- NASA Classroom of the Future: a module which examines,with maps and movies, volcanic activity at Kilauea, Mount St. Helens, and Yellowstone. Plate tectonics and heat flow, types of volcanoes and lava, the sizes of eruptions, volcanoes and climate, monitoring of volcanic activity, and risk analysis and dealing with volcanoes are also examined. Volcanoes: The Inside Story takes a look at types of volcanoes, types of lava, sizes of eruptions, the location of volcanoes, plate tectonics and heat flow in the Earth, and living with volcanoes.

The Electronic Volcano- Dartmouth College: provides maps, photographs, and information on active volcanoes. Also provides a volcano index and describes volcanic hazards.

Volcano World- University of North Dakota: provides information and images for volcanoes found on Earth and on other worlds. Activities and lesson plans related to volcanic phenomena are also provided.

Volcanoes- Michigan Technological University: provides information pertaining to current global volcanic activity, research in remote sensing of volcanoes, a worldwide volcanic reference map, and how to avoid the hazards produced by a volcano.

A Teacher's Guide to the Geology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park- Hawaii Natural History Association: a web version of the textbook which provides information on plate tectonics, hot spots, mantle plumes, volcanic landforms, volcanic eruptions, lava, volcano monitoring, and the volcanoes of the Hawaiian islands. Well supported with illustrations.

Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms- University of Oklahoma: provides access to The Severe Weather Notebook, which examines tornadoes, hail, thunder, lightning, flooding, blizzards, and hurricanes. Also available is the The Thunderstorm Notebook, which examines the various types of thunderstorms, weather radar and satellites, storm chasers, and advanced regional prediction systems.

The Online Guides: Meteorology- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: provides online guides which explains Forces and Wind, Air Masses and Fronts, Severe Storms, Hurricanes, El Niño, Light and Optics, and Clouds and Precipitation.

Wicked World of Weather- Thinkquest: explains the mechanics, the necessary elements, and safety tips for the worst forms of weather: hurricanes, thunderstorms, snow, and tornadoes. Also includes a virtual reality view of each form of weather. Lots of graphics are provided (so it loads slowly) and a media player is recommended, but not required.

Severe Weather!- M. Sattler: provides meteorological information describing severe storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Weather links are also provided.

Tornado Project: collects, compiles, and publishes information pertaining to tornadoes. Addresses tornado safety, tornado oddities, storm chasing, tornado myths, and tornado stories.

Chemical Weathering- Georgia Tech: provides information on the agents of chemical weathering and the chemical weathering process.

Wind Erosion Research Unit- Kansas State University: provides information about wind research and wind erosion in the United States. Provides links to related resources.

Earth on Fire- NASA Classroom of the Future: a module which explores the link between industrial and agricultural practices and Earth’s changing climate. The carbon cycle, greenhouse gases, remote sensing activities, and solutions are examined. A second module, UV Menace examines the contributions of atmospheric chemistry and physics, developing countries, and the illegal trade in CFS’s to the ozone depletion problem. Another module, Tropical Poison, explores the survival of the Amazon Rain Forest.

National Climate Data Center- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: provides information pertaining to satellite resources, climate resources, radar resources, an archive of weather data, and climate publications.

Global Warming Web Site- Environmental Protection Agency: provides information on the science of global warming, the impact of global warming, and policies and programs intended to address global warming.

The Greenhouse Effect- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation: provides an explanation of the greenhouse effect and the role of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone in atmospheric warming.

Garbage- The Annenberg/CPB Project: online exhibit which provides information concerning solid waste, hazardous waste, sewage, beneficial environmental practices.

Watershed Home Page- Environmental Protection Agency: this page links to pages which describe the EPA programs related to watershed preservation and management. Of particular interest may be the EPA's Watershed Management Program, which provides information on watershed protection and restoration programs; the Index of Watershed Indicators, which compiles information concerning aquatic resources in the U. S; and Surf Your Watershed, which allows users to locate a watershed using a map, words, or place. Users can also travel upstream or downstream from the watershed, and view information describing environmental indicators and environmental protection efforts, as well as information detailing water usage from the watershed.

The Texas Environmental Almanac- Texas Environmental Center: the almanac provides data and information on the condition of water, land, and air in Texas, the status of energy use, and waste generation in Texas. Water quality and the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Texas-Mexico border environment is one example of the information provided at this site.

Texas Waternet- Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A & M University: provides a wealth of information about Texas water resources. Hot Topics focuses on environmental issues in Texas in a question and answer format. Microbial contamination of drinking water, wetlands, endangered species, and water availability are addressed. Four newsletters are available and subscriptions are free. New Waves provides information on water research activities conducted at Texas universities. Texas On-Site Insights provides information on wastewater systems. Texas Water Resources provides information on issues related to water resources within the state. And Texas Water Savers provides information on water conservation. Links to Local, Regional, and State Agencies and Organizations are also provided.

The Texas Environmental Center: Issues related to air quality, water quality, and Texas lands and wildlife are addressed in Texas and the Environmental Challenge. GreenBeat!, an online magazine published montly, explores environmental issues. One particular issue focuses on Water Quality and examines water quality monitoring and the damage to Texas rivers as a consequence of human activity.

American River: from the home page of this organization, users can access North America's Most Endangered and Threatened Rivers for both 1997 and 1996. The threats to these aquatic ecosystems are summarized and the means by which these threats can be dealt with are described.

RiverBasics- International Rivers Network: provides information about rivers, river development projects, and the environmental and economic impact of dam building. The history of damming in the U. S. is also addressed.

The Edwards Aquifer Home Page- Gregg Eckhardt: addresses the hydrology of the Edwards Aquifer, issues related to the use of the Edwards Aquifer, images and essays, charts and graphics, endangered species, laws and regulations pertaining to the Edwards Aquifer, and related resources.

Consequences- Saginaw Valley State University: on-line publication which provides information describing the national and international consequences of changes in the global environment.

Science Strategy for the Earth Observing System- American Institute of Physics: addresses the need for an Earth Observing System to monitor global climate change, factors and variables which influence climate change, and the assessment of climate change.

Eco-Village- Thinkquest: provides information on pollution and the environment. Users can walk along a stream and learn about water pollution, walk in the forest and see the impact of human activity on the environment, visit a tree house to learn about energy, or go to the city and learn about recycling and mass transit.

World Resources Institute: provides information and articles on biodiversity, climate change, forests, sustainable agriculture, world resources, and environmental education. The Biodiversity link provides information on natural resources and biodiversity, genetic diversity, ecosystems and habitats, threats to biodiversity, and global biodiversity strategy.

The World Conservation Monitoring Center: a database of information pertaining to conservation efforts and sustainable use of natural resources.

America's Least Wanted: Alien Species Invasions of U.S. Ecosystems- The Nature Conservancy: explores the impact of alien species on ecosystems and provides information on twelve known invaders, such as the zebra mussel, the flathead catfish, the rosy wolfsnail, and the brown tree snake.

Pesticides & Wildlife Fact Sheets- North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: explains how pesticides can be managed to minimize harm to wildlife on farms, in waters, and in forests.

Questions can be answered by R. Casao.