Homework that Scores

Overnight assignments have to be dull, boring and chore for kids to complete, right? Not at TechTools, where innovative assignments separate good teachers from those who are merely going by the book. Educational Insights’ Science Homework Physical Science Kit is perfect way to stimulate creative thought while reinforcing lessons for fourth graders and older kids. The kit has 20 safe experiments that students do at home to learn fundamentals of science, from density, heat and light to how levers and electricity work. The kit comes with illustrated instructions and worksheets that teachers can photocopy for their classes. It’s available in English or Spanish.

Sky’s the Limit

If you’ve ever wanted to bring the sheer delight of astronomy and space exploration into your classroom, Microsoft makes it easy and free. The company’s Worldwide Telescope program uses Web 2.0 Visualization software to give classes guided tours of the cosmos. On top of explanatory videos, the site has a rich array of digital images of the sky taken by a variety of world’s telescopes. Just download the 20MB beta application (and Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 if you don’t already have it) and buckle your seatbelts because your class might make a quick stop at one of Saturn’s moons on its way to Andromeda and beyond. Like all software that’s still being developed, Worldwide Telescope has its quirks and at times it surprisingly slow, but when it blast offs, it can propel a class of kids into outer space.

Making Science Fun

Looking for a real world science project to stimulate your science class? The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at the Stevens Institute of technology has dozens of online experiments, ranging from how much water you use every day to following ships as they navigate throughout the world. They’re extremely creative and, best of all, they’re all free.
Bottom line: Science becomes fun when students work with data.

New Science and Technology Education Resources by NBC News

Are you like most schools trying to increase the number of students interested in science and math? There's nothing like primary sources to get them interested. NBC News released a collection of science and technology videos spanning the greatest scientific milestones of our era and the latest scientific discoveries. Students and teachers can explore both historic and current developments in science, like the discovery of atomic energy, the beginning moments of the space race, and the latest findings about climate change. The Science and Technology curriculum includes more than 1,000 two-to-five minute clips of current and historic scientific discoveries and technological innovations. The videos are  available online at HotChalk.

Elementary Science Lessons

Finding appropriate resources to engage elementary school children in scientific inquiry can be a challenge. Enter Discovery Education Science for Elementary, the new digital service from the creators of Discovery Education streaming that is basically an extension of Discovery Education Science for Middle School, launched in 2007. The service is organized into four areas: Learn, Explore, Demonstrate, and Extend. This provides a well-rounded approach to elementary science, giving students and teachers plenty of opportunities to understand tricky concepts using a variety of tools.

Free Whiteboard Lessons

A new SMART microsite launched this month offers free Notebook collaborative software lessons. The theme this quarter is math & science, featuring five original Scholastic-branded lessons – all aligned to standards. The site also includes contests and plenty of other helpful links, articles, and how-tos for both new and experienced whiteboard users. Watch for upcoming themes: Earth Day lessons in April, and back To School lessons in August.