March 20, 2006	Volume 5, Number 9

FREE offers new teaching resources

Astronomy, earth science, engineering, oceans, physics, nutrition, physical activity, and aging are among the topics of nine new resources at FREE, Federal Resources for Educational Excellence, the website that makes it easier to find teaching resources from federal agencies.

New science offerings include:

Astronomycenter.org, featuring resources for teaching about asteroids, astrobiology, the big bang theory, black holes, cosmology, dark matter, galaxies, the Milky Way, telescopes and satellites, planet formation, planetary atmospheres, space exploration, stars, the sun, and more. http://www.astronomycenter.org/.

Astrophysics Science Project: Integrating Research and Education (ASPIRE), offering lessons for exploring cosmic rays, force, gas particles, kinetic energy, lunar phases, machines, momentum, the night sky, refraction, the scientific method, scientific notation, seasons, seismic waves, stars, the angle of the sun, tides, and waves. Find out about careers; read interviews with scientists. http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/.

Digital Library for Earth System Education, presenting thousands of reviewed resources on atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, climatology, cryology, ecology, environmental science, forestry, geography, geology, mineralogy and petrology, hydrology, mathematics, natural hazards, ocean sciences, physics, soil science, space science, and more. http://www.dlese.org/dds/index.jsp.

Engineering Is Elementary, providing lessons and overviews on acoustical engineering, agricultural engineering (insects), civil engineering (balance and forces), environmental engineering (water), industrial engineering (simple machines), materials engineering (earth materials), mechanical engineering (air and weather). http://www.mos.org/doc/1545.

NASA Robotics, inviting students and teachers to start robotics teams, "botball" teams, and enter robotics competitions. Take online courses in robotics. Follow along with scientists who are developing technologies to drill for life on Mars. Find lessons for teaching robotics and related topics. http://robotics.nasa.gov/home/home.php.

Nutrition and Physical Activity, focusing on physical activity and good nutrition. Examine the new food pyramid. Learn about body mass, bone health, cancer, dietary guidelines, fruits and vegetables, weight management, healthy eating tips, heart disease, intensity levels of various activities, obesity, physical activity statistics and recommendations, stairwells, tips for parents, weight management ideas. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/.

Oceans Alive, exploring the mountains, abysses, and other physical features of the ocean floor, as well as the movement of the continents, the water cycle, the four oceans, waves and wind, currents, tides, marine life near the surface, and ocean predators and prey. Activities are provided for learning about the water cycle, water currents, web of life, and tides. http://www.mos.org/oceans/.

The Physics Front, providing selected resources for teachers of high school physics. Hundreds of lessons, labs, and activities can be found in four categories: conceptual physics, algebra-based physics, AP physics, and K-8 physical sciences. They also can be accessed by topic: measurement, motion, forces, momentum, energy, springs, heat and temperature, wave energy, electrostatics, electricity and circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, optics, particles and interactions, and astronomy. http://www.thephysicsfront.org/.

Secrets of Aging, examining what scientists are learning about aging, what we can do to live longer and healthier, and how the growing proportion of older to younger people is changing our world. Learn about "fluid and crystallized" intelligence. Test your memory. Compare factors that might determine the longevity of different species. Explore the demographics of aging. http://www.secretsofaging.org/.

Last updated on 3/20/2006