General Math & Science
See also:
BIOGRAPHY
CAREERS
INVENTORS & INVENTIONS
Science Fairs, Projects & Experiments
Facts on File: Science Online - Presents a broad range of scientific disciplines through extensive definitions, essays, diagrams, biographies, and experiments. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.
World Almanac for Kids - Resources for homework, reports, and projects in a fun format from a trusted source. Covers a wide range of topics, including math & sciences; written for students in 4th - 8th grade. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.
GREENFILE - A collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. For high school and up. If you're using this resource at home, you'll have to enter your library card barcode (Patron ID) to begin.
The Arts and Science - See Tinkering Studio and Science of Music.
BioEd Online AUDIO VIDEO - Lessons, teacher guides, slides, and supplemental materials suitable for grades K-12. Includes STEM @Home Activities for parents & students. (2012 - 2020, Baylor College of Medicine)
Bitesize Science (All Grades) INTERACTIVE [NOTE: Video clips & games do not play in the US] [KS1, Early and 1st level, KS2, and 2nd level are comparable to U.S. elementary school grades; KS3, 3rd level, 4th level, and GCSE are comparable to U.S. secondary school grades; see Key Stages in the UK for details)] - This British educational site offers 'Learner Guides' on many subjects in the sciences. Click on a grade level, select a subject, then choose a subtopic. Also includes activities and quizzes (British Broadcasting Corporation). Vision Learning UPDATED! AUDIO INTERACTIVE is a collection of free science learning modules with quizzes and teacher guides, arranged by topic; for high school students (2000 - 2022, Anthony Carpi, Ph.D., Anne E. Egger, Ph.D., et al.; funded by the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation).
Calculators & Converters - See Calculator and related links, below.
Crash Course Kids VIDEO - A video series about 5th grade science, including Earth, Habitats, Space, Chemical Reactions, Engineering, and much much more. (PBS Digital Studios, hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements)
Everyday Mysteries - Answers to many of life's most interesting questions, such as 'Did you ever wonder why a camel has a hump? If you can really tell the weather by listening to the chirp of a cricket? Or why our joints make popping sounds? Arranged by subject. Mostly for high school and up, though links may include good sites for younger students (Library of Congress). Highlights Kids Explore & More provides answers to science questions for younger kids (ages 6 - 12). Wonderopolis poses an intriguing question each day (on science, technology, and many other topics), and explores it in a variety of ways (National Center for Families Learning). Ask Dr. Universe investigates tough questions like: What is fire? Why does soda fizz? Why is the ocean salty? Why is liquid nitrogen so cold? Click on EXPLORE to choose a topic. For elementary and middle school students (Washington State University).
Exploratorium VIDEO - A collection of online science materials covering a broad range of topics; includes Science Snacks & other hands-on learning activities, videos, articles, and more (Exploratorium Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception). Let's Talk Science (formerly Curiocity) VIDEO INTERACTIVE offers STEM educational resources including activities & interactives, backgrounders, lessons, videos, projects, and career profiles (Canadian charitable organization). See also Smithsonian Science Education Center Curriculum Resources VIDEO INTERACTIVE; grades K-8, Interactive Simulations, and Science Learning Links, below.
Fake Science - See Scientific Misinformation, below.
History of Science [Archived page] - A brief overview of science from 4000 BC to the birth of modern science in the 17th through 21st centuries; middle school and up (2002, WETA / PBS; site includes advertisements). Museum of the History of Science offers a collection of more than 30 online exhibits on numerous aspects of the history of science; for high school and up (1995 - 2023, Oxford University, UK). The Science History Institute AUDIO VIDEO also offers a collection of online exhibits. Doing Biology presents 17 historical case studies which explore the nature of scientific experiments, the role of culture or personality in discovery, interactions among alternative theories, and more. High school and up. NOTE: Each case study is presented as a printable PDF (by Joel Hagen, Douglas Allchin & Fred Singer. Doing Biology was originally published by Harper Collins, 1996). See also History of Medicine links, Inventors, Inventions & Scientific Discoveries, and Computer History links.
Interactive Simulations INTERACTIVE - A large collection of animated simulations covering dozens of topics in physics, biology, chemistry, earth science, math, and cutting-edge research. You can browse or filter sims by topic or grade level; elementary school through university (University of Colorado). Concord Coalition's Interactive STEM Resources INTERACTIVE features free, open source educational activities, models and software tools for elementary school through college; you can search by keyword or filter by subject, grade level and type (non-profit organization).
Inventors and Inventions - Selected links to the best websites on inventors, inventions, scientific discoveries & innovations. (South Plainfield Public Library)
Movies and Science: Blick on Flicks [Archived page] AUDIO - 'We all love watching movies. But we also love science. And sometimes the two don't mix! To help us sort the good science from the bad in movies and other visual media, Jacob Clark Blickenstaff, PhD, provides expert commentary, pointing out where the physics is stretched, the chemistry fudged, or the biology twisted on behalf of the story - without losing sight of the fact that movies are meant to entertain.' Middle and high school students. (2008 - 2020; National Science Teaching Association)
Ology INTERACTIVE - Colorful lessons with lots of fun activities to help you learn about archaeology, astronomy, biodiversity, earth science, Einstein, genetics, marine biology, zoology and more. Elementary school and up. (American Museum of Natural History)
Pulse of the Planet AUDIO - A collection of daily two-minute sound recordings, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide and blending interviews and extraordinary natural sound (1990 - 2021; Jim Metzner Productions, funded by National Science Foundation). Sound Matters [Archived page] AUDIO is a series of longer podcasts that investigate 'our noisy cosmos, how we listen to sounds, the stories we tell about them, and all the ideas, inventions, discoveries, possibilities and ideas that live in the realm of the audible.' High school and up (2016 - 2020; written and produced by Tim Hinman, a former producer and editor for Danish National Radio; supported by Bang & Olufsen).
Rough Science: Discover More [Archived page] - Includes 'A Brief History of Science' (with timeline), plus articles on 'The Art of Science' and 'What Science is All About'. Also offers hands-on activities for Grades 5-8 and Grades 9-12. (2002, WETA / PBS; site includes advertisements)
Science and Math Games & Puzzles INTERACTIVE - A collection of games & puzzles including math games, hangman, crossword puzzles, word scrambles and more. Middle school and up. (Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility)
Science Learning Links: STARNet STEAM Resources - A hands-on learning network for libraries and their communities, offering high quality At-Home STEAM activities, games, and lots more (Space Science Institute, Science Technology Activities and Resources Library Network). See also New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning, and National Science Teachers Association Lesson Plans [NOTE: Full access restricted to paid subscribers] VIDEO (site includes advertisements).
Science News Explores (for Students) - Age-appropriate, topical science news and other science learning resources (Society for Science & the Public, publisher of Science News). Frontiers for Young Minds features cutting-edge science articles prepared for younger audiences by kids & teens in collaboration with scientists; for ages 8 - 15 (Frontiers Media, an Open Access Publisher and Open Science Platform). EurekAlert offers the latest news in scientific research, directly from research institutions, universities, government agencies, and corporations; arranged by subject; searchable archives. For college or advanced high school students; site includes advertisements (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Futurity.org 'features the latest discoveries by scientists at top research universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia... in an effort to share research news directly with the public' (non-profit site, supported by dozens of university partners). Phys.org posts news on Nanotechnology, Physics, Earth, Astronomy & Space, Chemistry, Biology, Other Sciences, Medicine, and Technology (site includes advertisements). See also Science Daily (site includes advertisements), and Live Science (site includes advertisements). National Science Foundation Discoveries highlights the latest discoveries and innovations that began with NSF support, including projects in cybersafety, green energy, extrasolar planets, robotics, ecosystems, and much more; high school and up (National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency). PBS NewsHour Extra VIDEO has science news videos and lesson plans for grades 7-12 (site includes advertisements; ads play at the start of videos). See also Nature Science Videos and Science Podcasts, below.
Science Photos: NOAA Photo Library - 'Spans centuries of time and much of the natural world from the center of the Earth to the surface of the Sun... the NOAA collection includes thousands of weather and space images, hundreds of images of our shores and coastal seas, and thousands of marine species images ranging from the great whales to the most minute plankton' (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). For many more photos from government agencies, go to the USA.gov search page and enter a search term (such as e coli or african elephant) in the search box; images are hosted on Flickr. You can find microscopic images at Science and Photography Through the Microscope [NOTE: Images are watermarked 'SciencePhotoLIBRARY'] (by Dennis Kunkel, Ph.D., hosted by sciencephoto.com). Wellcome Images offers a wealth of images with themes ranging from medical and social history to contemporary healthcare and biomedical science; high school and up.
Science Podcasts AUDIO - Weekly online audiocasts built around interesting stories in Science Magazine and its sister sites; high school and up (The above sites are from the American Association for the Advancement of Science; sites may include advertisements). For more audio science news, see NPR Science AUDIO, Science Friday AUDIO (includes related educational resources), and Teen Scientist AUDIO (National Public Radio; sites includes advertisements) and BBC Science in Action AUDIO (British Broadcasting Corporation); high school and up. A Moment of Science AUDIO is a two-minute radio program providing the scientific story behind some of life's most perplexing mysteries; middle school and up (Indiana University et al.). Spark Science 'shares stories that include scientists' backgrounds, humor, and struggles as well as their work' (Western Washington University).
Science Videos: Veritasium VIDEO - 'A science video blog featuring experiments, expert interviews, cool demos, and discussions with the public about everything science,' (by Derek Muller, hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements). MIT Blossoms Science & Math Videos VIDEO is a collection of Math & Science video lessons for high school students in a variety of languages (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Nature Science Videos VIDEO are free online videos about recent research studies, featuring interviews with scientists behind the research, and analysis from Nature editors. Covers all the sciences; hosted on YouTube. Nature also offers Nature News and Nature Podcasts AUDIO. High school and up (Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited; site includes advertisements). For more science videos, see Spangler Science TV [Archived page] (by TV science guy Steve Spangler, hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements)
Scientific Method - See Understanding Science 101 and related links, below.
Scientific Misinformation VIDEO - These days evidence-based reasoning seems under assault. Social media spreads misinformation widely and rapidly. This collection of classroom-tested materials can help prepare you to resist fake science (WGBH, Tumblebooks, Andy Zucker & Penny Noyce). SciLine Fact Sheets are evidence-based, factual summaries of newsworthy scientific issues, designed to be quickly and easily scanned by journalists and others; high school and up (American Association for the Advancement of Science). Science Feedback is 'a worldwide network of scientists sorting fact from fiction in science based media coverage. Our goal is to help readers know which news to trust' (non-profit organization). YouTube science videos are riddled with scams, plagiarism, and misinformation calls into question the accuracy of some popular 'edutainment' videos (2020, Popular Science). See also Fake News Links.
Sports Science: Science of NFL Football VIDEO - If you love sports but aren't too excited about science, check out these videos (2015, National Science Foundation; hosted on YouTube). See also Physics of Baseball (2011 - 2023; Dr. Alan M. Nathan, University of Illinois), Out of the Park: The Physics of Baseball VIDEO (2007, KQED), Friction & Fly Balls UPDATED LINK! [Archived page] (2013, WhyFiles, University of Wisconsin), and Sport Science Archive [NOTE: Archived page; media features do not work] (Exploratorium).
STEM Programs and Projects [Archived page; expect broken links] - Links to 'a variety of international, national, regional, and local programs and projects that can help you explore career paths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. By participating in these projects, you can also develop a network of other students with similar interests and goals. They also provide opportunities for teamwork and many students earn recognition for their skills through awards and sometimes scholarships.' Middle school and high school (2017, Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation). See also Science Fairs, Projects & Experiments, below.
Understanding Science 101 - This website will help you learn more about science as a process of learning about the natural world, and about aspects of science that affect your life. For students and teachers, grades K-16 (University of California at Berkeley et al.). Scientific Method gives step-by-step instructions on how science experiments are done (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory). See also Doing Science; middle school and up (2022, PlantingScience). The Scientific Method Activity Sheet NEW! [Link opens a PDF] provides a printable template to help you perform an experiment with scientific rigor, organize your thoughts, and document your investigation & conclusion (2022, National Science Foundation). See also Scientific Process Log [Archived page] (NASA).
Women in Science - See Carnegie STEM Girls+, below, and Women Scientists links.
World Science Festival VIDEO - 'Brings together great minds in science & the arts to present the wonders of science and the drama of scientific discovery to a broad general audience.' Articles, videos, and images from this annual event are posted on the website; high school and up (World Science Foundation; non-profit organization).
Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science VIDEO - Advice, samples, exercises, and video instruction designed to help engineers and scientists communicate effectively about their work. Also includes resources for students & instructors. For college and advanced high school students (by Michael Alley, Penn State University). See also Writing in the Sciences (University of North Carolina), The LINK (formerly Share Your Science) UPDATED LINK! VIDEO (Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University), and Argumentation Toolkit: Evidence VIDEO, Reasoning VIDEO, Student Interaction VIDEO, and Competing Claims VIDEO; mostly for teachers (Lawrence Hall of Science and Boston College). See also How to Write a Paper and Cite Sources.
Astronomy, Planets, and Space Flight
See also:
Physics
African-American Astronauts - See Astronaut Biographies.
Apollo 13 Mission - Recounts the real-life events that led to the safe return of the Apollo 13 spacecraft in 1970, which was dramatized in the movie Apollo 13. High school and up (NASA).
Astronauts - See Astronaut Biographies.
Astronomy definitions: NASA's Picture Dictionary UPDATED LINK! - Word definitions and pictures related to space, flight, and more; for grades K-4. See also StarChild Glossary [Archived page] (grades K-8), NASA SpacePlace Glossary (grades 4-8), Imagine the Universe! Dictionary [Archived page] (high school and up) and Hubblesite Glossary (high school and up). All by NASA.
Astronomy News AUDIO VIDEO - For news about the latest discussions and discoveries in astronomy, see this companion site for Astronomy Magazine. Includes podcasts and video. High school and up. (Kalmbach Publishing; site includes advertisements)
Auroras: Cosmic Light Show [Archived page] - Explains what auroras are, what causes them, why they are different colors & shapes, and more. (2009, Space Science Institute)
Black Holes VIDEO - A short introductory animated video for elementary/middle school students. (2013 - 2020, NASA).
Challenger Accident - See Space Shuttles, below.
Chandra Observatory AUDIO VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Articles, news, photos, podcasts, and videos on astronomy. High school and up. (Harvard University)
Columbia Accident - See Space Shuttles, below.
Comets UPDATED LINK! - Basic definition with picture and links to more information. Elementary school and up (2015 - 2021, NASA).
Diversity (Astronauts) - See See Astronaut Biographies.
Field Guide to the Universe - See NASA's Space Place and related links.
Hispanic-American Astronauts - See See Astronaut Biographies.
History of Cosmology - From the ancient Greeks to the present, this site presents 'the story of the colorful individuals, startling ideas and ingenious tools that brought us knowledge of the vast and strange universe we inhabit. Written by leading historians of astronomy, richly illustrated.' (American Institute of Physics). Exploring the Planets: Early Discovery UPDATED LINK! [Archived page] covers similar concepts more briefly; use the menu to view related topics (2016, National Air and Space Museum); see also How Did We Discover the Planets? NEW! (2023, National Air and Space Museum).
History of U.S. Space Exploration - Information about U.S. space missions past & present, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo UPDATED LINK!, Skylab, Space Shuttles, and International Space Station, plus many related topics in the history of space exploration. For an alphabetical list of space missions, see NASA Missions A-Z (NASA). See also Moon Race links, below.
Hubble Topics NEW! VIDEO - Answers common questions about our solar system, exoplanets, stars & nebulas, galaxies, and the universe. Includes Key Concepts in Astronomy VIDEO, covering the different kinds of light, how telescopes break down light to learn about distant stars, and 'how color is used with Hubble data to create stunning and informative imagery.' Advanced middle school students and up. (2023, NASA)
International Space Station - See Space Station, below.
Mars Exploration AUDIO VIDEO INTERACTIVE - News, facts, features, multimedia, and more about Mars, and about the science, technology, and people involved in NASA's Mars Exploration programs (Curiosity, Perseverance, etc.). Middle school and up. (NASA)
Mercury MESSENGER [Archived page] - Information about MESSENGER UPDATED LINK!, the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. Includes FAQs, images, an interactive mission timeline, mission design, spacecraft, instruments, mission team, and Education Modules & Games & Interactives INTERACTIVE. (1999 - 2016, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)
Meteors and Meteorites - Explains meteors, meteor showers, and meteorites, plus news and related topics; for middle school and up (2023, NASA). See also What is a meteor shower? for elementary school and up (2023, NASA).
Mir (Russian Space Station) - See Space Station, below.
Moon Race VIDEO - An overview of the competition between the United States and Soviet Union from 1957 - 1969 to prove their superiority by landing the first man on the moon (2020 - 2021, University of Virginia). See also Sputnik and the Dawn of the Space Age (NASA). Americans in Space offers some primary resources relating to the U.S. space program under President John F. Kennedy. Human Space Flight: A record of achievement, 1961-1998 provides a summary of the early NASA space programs Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle. Apollo 1 Tragedy NEW! AUDIO recounts the pre-flight fire that took the lives of three astronauts in 1967; includes articles, biographies, and a podcast (NASA). See also History of U.S. Space Exploration links, above.
NASA's Space Place INTERACTIVE - Games, animations, projects, and fun facts about Earth, our Solar System, space and technology, for elementary school kids. NASA STEM Learning Resources for Students VIDEO provides student resources for grades K - 4 UPDATED LINK!, 5 - 8 UPDATED LINK!, and 9 - 12 UPDATED LINK!. Also offers extensive resources for K-12 educators UPDATED LINK!. See NASA Science for Everyone for even more (NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration). STEM in 30 VIDEO is a fast-paced webcast series that engages middle school students in space & aviation topics. Shows combine animations, interviews with experts, and unique locations; you can view all the archived STEM in 30 programs (NASA and Smithsonian). Smithsonian also offers a collection of online Air and Space Exhibitions NEW! covering topics ranging from early aviation to space exploration. See also Imagine the Universe! VIDEO is intended for students aged 14 and up, and for anyone interested in learning about our universe; StarChild [Archived page] is for young learners aged 5-13 (2014, NASA). Stardate AUDIO includes an Astro Guide to the solar system & beyond, stargazing info, and lots more (University of Texas; site includes advertisements). See also Planets, and Sun Q & A, below.
Planets: What is a Planet? - Examines the history of defining what is a planet, and outlines some of the differences between a planet and a dwarf planet (2023, NASA). See also Pluto and the Solar System (2015, International Astronomical Union). Younger kids, see All About Pluto VIDEO (2023, NASA). For information about specific planets and other objects in our Solar System (and beyond), see NASA's Space Place and related resources, above.
Skylab UPDATED LINK! - Facts and history of the Skylab project, the first space station. (2003 - 2017, NASA)
Skywatching (EarthSky Tonight) AUDIO - Star charts and other night sky information for each day, plus skywatching tips and links (Earth and Sky radio series; site includes advertisements). Tonight's Sky AUDIO VIDEO offers great monthly flash videos to help you learn to recognize constellations and other objects in the night sky (Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute). See also Stardate Constellation Guide (University of Texas). Stellarium APP 'is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.' You can download the program, or use the web version [CAUTION: This site includes links to Wikipedia articles] (2018; created by Fabien Chéreau et al.) For more information about space and the universe, see NASA's Space Place and related resources, above.
Solar Sailing - Info on the LightSail project, an effort to demonstrate that sunlight can propel a spacecraft in Earth orbit (Planetary Society AUDIO). See also Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (2023, NASA) and Solar Sail Demonstration (The Sunjammer Project) UPDATED LINK! (2023, NASA).
Solar System - See NASA's Space Place and related resources, above.
Space Photos - Need pictures for your report? This site has lots of photos of astronauts, spacecraft, planets, and other space-related subjects. (NASA; hosted on flickr)
Space Race - See Moon Race.
Space Shuttles UPDATED LINK! - Information on NASA's Space Shuttle missions (2023, NASA). Challenger Accident has astronaut biographies and other resources related to the January 28, 1986 the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger; see also 35 Years Ago: Remembering Challenger and Her Crew NEW! (2021, NASA). There is also similar information on the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident UPDATED LINK! and 20 Years Ago: Remembering Columbia and Her Crew NEW! (2023, NASA).
Space Station VIDEO UPDATED LINK! - Info about the International Space Station, with the latest updates, images, videos, facts & figures, and more (2023, NASA). Mir (Russian Space Station) [Archived page] AUDIO VIDEO looks at the Russian Space Station Mir and the U.S./Russian Shuttle-Mir program of the 1990s, with photos, videos, oral histories, biographies, documents and more (NASA). See also Shuttle-Mir NEW! (2023, NASA).
Stars - See Skywatching links, above.
Stellarium - See Skywatching links, above.
Sun Q & A - Questions and answers about the Sun, such as 'What is the Sun made of?' 'How big is the Sun?' 'How old is the Sun?' 'How hot is the Sun?' and more; for students of all ages. A related page offers summaries on the work of Famous Solar Physicists such as Aristotle, Ptolemy, Galileo, Kepler, Newton and many others; high school and up. See also Sun & Space Weather; high school and up (2011 - 2020, National Center for Atmospheric Research). For more on the sun, see NASA's Space Place and related resources, above.
Women in Space - See Astronaut Biographies.
Biology, Anatomy, and Natural History
See also:
DINOSAURS, FOSSILS, & THE PREHISTORIC WORLD
ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
HEALTH & FITNESS
Anatomy (Human) - See Body Basics and related links, below.
Animals - See ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS.
Bacteria - See Microbe Magic and related links, below.
BioInteractive VIDEO INTERACTIVE - A collection of free activities, videos, and interactive media for science teachers and students; high school and up. You can browse by level, topic, and/or resource type (Howard Hughes Medical Institute).
Biology Experiments - See Biology Activities & Experiments, below.
Biology of Plants [Archived page; media features may not work] VIDEO - Step-by-step explanations of how plants grow, make food, reproduce, and adapt to the world around them. Well illustrated; middle school and up. (2009, Missouri Botanical Garden)
Biomes - See See ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS: Biomes, Habitats, & Ecosystems.
Body Basics VIDEO - Explains how each system, part, and process in the human body works, and what happens when things go wrong (for teens); How the Body Works VIDEO is a similar page for younger kids (Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media). The Body Explained [Archived page] VIDEO offers brief, entertaining online videos that answer puzzling questions such as 'What Causes Hiccups?' 'What Causes an Ice Cream Headache?' and 'Why Do Onions Make You Cry?' For all ages (2004 - 2015, Baylor College of Medicine). Centre of the Cell APPS offers At-Home Science Activities and Science Questions related to health & medicine, as well as stories about medical ethics, patient experiences, medical history, and other resources (Centre of the Cell science education centre, London UK). For more on health, see Health Science Education Resources, below, and Homework Links: HEALTH & FITNESS (South Plainfield Public Library).
Brain Facts VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Videos, articles, and activities exploring the basics about the brain and how it works; you can browse by Topic, Content Type, Series, Grade Level, and/or Core Concept. The site also includes a downloadable Brain Facts Book AUDIO (2018), and posts brain-related news from around the web; high school and up (Society for Neuroscience). Basic Neuroscience [Archived page] VIDEO INTERACTIVE includes an interactive game and an animated tutorial to help you learn about brain science (2015, University of Utah). See also The Learning Brain [Archived page] VIDEO, with accompanying teacher materials; for grades 3 - 12 (2013 - 2019, Baylor College of Medicine). BrainCraft VIDEO is an ongoing video series that explores neuroscience topics like: the psychological tricks keeping you online, why we are so anxious, why people blame others, unbearable sounds, and many more (PBS; hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements). Get your synapses firing with Brain Games NEW! to help keep your brain connections healthy, strong and growing; ages 9 and up (Franklin Institute).
Brain Maps INTERACTIVE - An interactive digital brain atlas & virtual microscope showing high-resolution scanned images of both primate and non-primate brains. Includes complete brain atlas datasets for Macaca mulatta, C. aethiops, Felis catus, Mus musculus, and others. For college or advanced high school students (2005 - 2015, University of California). Comparative Mammalian Brains offers images and information for the brains of over 100 different species of mammals, including humans. For college or advanced high school students (2010, University of Wisconsin et al.).
Cells: What is a Cell? NEW! - Explains what defines a cell, cell components, different types of cells, and more (2014, Nature Education). See also Intro to cells & Introduction to the cell (video) NEW! VIDEO (Khan Academy). Cell Image Library VIDEO INTERACTIVE is a collection of images, videos, and animations of cells, capturing a wide diversity of organisms, cell types, and cellular processes; high school and up (American Society for Cell Biology). The Cells Alive! website on cell biology, microbiology, immunology, & microscopy is discontinued but an offline version is available to download as a free zipped package; high school and up. See also Microbe Magic, below.
Deep Look VIDEO - See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world! Deep Look is a short video series that explores big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small, with close-up looks at animals, bugs, and more! Some sample titles: 'How Ticks Dig In With a Mouth Full of Hooks,' 'Why Is The Very Hungry Caterpillar So Dang Hungry?,' 'This Giant Plant Looks Like Raw Meat and Smells Like Dead Rat,' and 'Why Does Your Cat's Tongue Feel Like Sandpaper?' (KQED / PBS Digital Studios, hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements)
DNA - See Genetics links, below.
Ecology - See Homework Links: ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS and Homework Links: WEATHER & DISASTERS pages.
Environmental Health INTERACTIVE - Links to homework resources and online activities that explain how the environment can affect human health. A few short videos are included. Appropriate grade level (K-12+) is indicated for each resource. Elementary and middle school students should also check out the Kids' Pages for experiments, activities, games, jokes, songs, quizzes, and more! (2023, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Evolution INTERACTIVE - Explains Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and how it was developed (click on 'Revise'), plus links to related topics, timeline, quiz and glossary; for middle school and high school students (British Broadcasting Corporation). Understanding Evolution is designed 'to help you understand what evolution is, how it works, how it factors into your life, how research in evolutionary biology is performed, and how ideas in this area have changed over time.' Includes Evolution in the News and teaching resources for K-12 (University of California Museum of Paleontology et al.). For more news about evolution, see Phys.org: Evolution site includes advertisements, Science Daily: Evolution (site includes advertisements) and Live Science: Evolution (site includes advertisements). See also Darwin: The Man and the Theory [Archived page]; high school and up (2005 - 2006, American Museum of Natural History). For online texts (plain text, scanned page images, PDFs) of Darwin's writings, see The Complete Works of Charles Darwin (University of Cambridge et al.). For text versions in a variety of formats, including HTML, EPUB, Kindle, Plain Text, and MP3 Audio, see Project Gutenberg: Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882 [CAUTION: This site includes links to Wikipedia articles]. For more on human evolution, see Human Origins and related links.
Eyes Have It [Archived page; expect broken links] - 'Eyes can be simple light-sensitive cells that don't see images, or complex organs that see light, shadow, color, shape, and depth.' On this site you can learn the fundamental facts about vision, eyes and eye anatom; high school (2011, San Diego Natural History Museum). Senses AUDIO is a collection of articles & audio programs exploring smell, touch, taste, and other senses; high school and up (2006 - 2018, Naked Scientists podcast, Cambridge University UK; site includes advertisements).
Genetics: Learn Genetics VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Instructional lessons, videos & animations on all aspects of genetics (2010 - 2018, University of Utah). DNAdots™ offer simple explanations of modern genetic technologies; each DNAdot covers a topic in just two pages using non-technical language (2016 - 2021; by miniPCR bio™, science products & applications). Genome: Unlocking Life's Code VIDEO INTERACTIVE offers learning & teaching resources to help students gain a better understanding of current topics in genomics, technology and the impact of genomics (2013 - 2023, Smithsonian Institution and National Human Genome Research Institute). See also Fact Sheets About Genetic and Genomic Science & Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms VIDEO (both from National Human Genome Research Institute). Genetics Home Reference provides consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variation on human health (National Library of Medicine). All for high school and up.
Glossary of Biology / Paleontology [Archived page] - Brief definitions of terms used in Phylogenetics, Geology, Biochemistry, Cell biology, Ecology, Life history, Zoology, Botany, and Paleogeography; many definitions include links to additional information. You can browse the glossary alphabetically or by subject. High school and up. (1995 - 2006, University of California Museum of Paleontology)
Health Science Education Resources VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Free resources on topics like cell biology, genetics, chemistry, pharmacology, computational biology and structural biology; includes articles, fact sheets, booklets, quizzes & puzzles, images & videos, blog posts and more. Mostly for high school and up. Includes Science and Health Featured Topics UPDATED! which examine a range of topics highlighting advances in areas of basic biomedical research such as Anesthesia, Circadian Rhythms, Regeneration, and Sepsis; for high school and up (National Institute of General Medical Sciences). For more health-related resources, see Homework Links: Health & Fitness - Body & Mind.
Human Beginnings - See Human Origins and related links.
Hyper Heart VIDEO INTERACTIVE - An interactive animation/movie demonstrating the processes of a normal cardiac cycle. Also includes an electrocardiogram and heart sounds graph. 'Tutorials are provided for each phase of the cycle and interactive functions can all be utilized within the animation itself. For detailed instructions of the controls please use the HELP button (question mark).' High school and up (Dr. Don Blumenthal et al., University of Utah).
Medicine - Health Science Education Resources, above.
Medicine, History of - See History of Medicine links.
Microbe Magic [Archived page] INTERACTIVE - A colorful interactive website which explains the different types of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi & parasites) and how they affect your body and your health. Includes a dictionary, games, quizzes, experiments and more; for elementary school students (2015, APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Ireland). See also Cells links, above.
Phylogeny: A Field Guide for the New Tree of Life [Archived page] VIDEO INTERACTIVE - An interactive feature that can help make sense of the latest discoveries about the 'tree of life', the complex relationships that link all living organisms. Includes links to definitions of terms and related resources. (2016, University of California, Berkeley).
The Scientist Magazine VIDEO - Feature articles, news, and opinion on a wide range of topics in cell & molecular biology, genetics, and other life-science fields. 'Through innovative print articles, online stories, and multimedia features, the magazine explores the latest scientific discoveries, trends in research, innovative techniques, new technology, business, and careers... Written by prominent scientists and professional journalists, articles in The Scientist are concise, accurate, accessible, and entertaining.' High school and up (Now published by LabX Media Group; site includes advertisements). See also Phys.org: Biology News (site includes advertisements).
Tree of Life - See Phylogeny, above.
Virtual Labs INTERACTIVE - 'Fully interactive biomedical laboratory simulations in which students perform experiments, collect data, and answer questions to assess their understanding. The labs combine animations, illustrations, and videos to convey key information and engage students in the process of science.' (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
Wildlife - See ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS: Wildlife.
Chemistry & the Elements
Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table [Archived page] - Part of an online textbook which is 'designed to provide a thorough, in-depth treatment of this topic at the first-year college or advanced-HS levels, with a special focus on the underlying concepts.' Covers quanta; light, particles & waves; Bohr atom; quantum atom; atomic electron configurations; and periodic properties of the elements (2005 - 2016; by Stephen Lower, a retired professor of chemistry at Simon Fraser University). See also Periodic Table, below.
Basic Science Concepts Explained [Archived page] VIDEO - These short videos explain some fundamental science concepts (density, float & sink, mass, mixtures, and states of matter) in a fun and entertaining way; middle school and up. (2012, Baylor College of Medicine)
Chem 1 Virtual Textbook - An online general chemistry textbook designed for first-year college or advanced high school students (2014 - 2018; by Stephen Lower, a retired professor of chemistry at Simon Fraser University). See also Concept Development Studies in Chemistry; downloadable in PDF or ZIP format (2012 - 20122, John S. Hutchinson, Professor of Chemistry at Rice University).
Chem Matters VIDEO - An online magazine featuring articles and videos that teach you about the real-world applications of scientific concepts you learn in the classroom. For high school students; includes a teacher's guide and related material. A related page, Reactions: Science Videos & Infographics VIDEO uncovers the chemistry in everyday life; high school and up. You can view all the videos on Reactions YouTube Channel VIDEO. (American Chemical Society; videos may include advertisements)
Chemistry Now [Archived page] VIDEO - An online video series that explains the chemistry of common objects such as cheeseburgers, chocolate, soap and polyethylene (plastic). (2011, National Science Foundation, NBC Learn, and the National Science Teachers Association)
Chem Spider [CAUTION: This site includes links to Wikipedia articles] - 'A free chemical structure database providing fast text and structure search access to over 32 million structures from hundreds of data sources.' (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK; site includes advertisements)
Distillations Podcast UPDATED LINK! AUDIO - 'An award-winning science podcast that brings you extracts from the past, present, and future of chemistry.' Middle school and up. A related resource, Distillations Magazine NEW! articles 'reveal science's powerful influence on our lives, past and present.' High school and up (Science History Institute). See also American Chemical Society News & Podcasts AUDIO VIDEO; high school and up.
History of Chemistry VIDEO - Biographies of important chemists from the 17th century to the present, with related learning resources. High school and up. (2024, Science History Institute)
Learn Chemistry: Resources AUDIO VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Thousands of chemistry learning resources for students and teachers; arranged by age group (primary, secondary, or higher education). You can also search all resources by keyword, grade level, subject, type of resource, and more. (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK)
Middle School Chemistry VIDEO - 'What happens when solids, liquids, and gases are heated and cooled? Why is one substance more or less dense than another? What causes certain substances to dissolve in water? What happens when a chemical reaction takes place? These questions and many more are explored in Middle School Chemistry, a resource of guided, inquiry-based lesson plans that covers basic chemistry concepts along with the process of scientific investigation.' Materials on this site are mostly for teachers. Related sites for students include Explore Chemistry / Science for Kids INTERACTIVE for K-8; and Student Programs and Resources INTERACTIVE for all ages. (American Chemical Society)
Periodic Table [Archived page] INTERACTIVE - These interactive lessons take you through the periodic table piece by piece to help you understand how it works, and how and why elements interact to make the world you see around you. High school and up (2007, Annenberg Media). Periodic Table of the Elements AUDIO VIDEO APP gives a picture, basic facts, and detailed description for each element; includes audio & video. Middle school and up (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK). The Interactive Periodic Table in Pictures & Words [Archived page] show's each element's name, symbol, and atomic number, with a drawing of one of the element's main human uses or natural occurrences; for elementary or middle school students (2005 - 2016; by Keith Enevoldsen, a retired software engineer). The Photographic Periodic Table includes photos and descriptions (2010 - 2017; by Popular Science columnist Theodore Gray et al.; site includes advertisements). It's Elemental offers descriptions & data only, no pictures (site maintained by Steve Gagnon, Thomas Jefferson Lab National Accelerator Facility; date unknown). The IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes INTERACTIVE provides data on the elements as well as their isotopes; see related resources at Isotopes Matter (2018; The King's University Centre for Visualization in Science, Canada, and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry).
Earth, Geology, Rocks & Minerals
See also:
DINOSAURS, FOSSILS, & THE PREHISTORIC WORLD
ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
WEATHER & DISASTERS
Energy Resources (petroleum, coal, etc.) - See Energy Facts for Kids and related links, below.
Geological Time - See Dinosaurs, Fossils, & Prehistory: Geologic Time
Geology: USGS Education Resources - Earth studies resources for elementary & middle school. Covers Ecosystems, Geography, Geology, Global Change, Natural Hazards, Oceans & Coasts, Solar System, Water Resources, and Adventures in STEM (U.S. Geological Survey). K-5 Geosource is a collection of resources for elementary science education, including content, activities, services and links. Covers Fossils, Weather, Water, Rocks, Soil, and Climate, with images, activities, career information and more (American Geosciences Institute). Discovering Geology 'introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages. Explore these pages to discover the fascinating processes and properties that shape our dynamic planet' (British Geological Survey).
Geology Images - Photos of different types of rock and other geologic formations, with brief descriptions; photos hosted on Flickr. (Professor Allen F. Glazner, University of North Carolina)
Math for Geosciences - Instructional modules on math topics that are important in introductory geoscience courses. Each topic includes a page for the instructor, quantitative information for the students, a set of practice problems and quiz. For college or advanced high school students. (2007 - 2021, Carleton College)
Mineral Matters [Archived page; some media features do not work] - Learn how to identify minerals, grow your own crystals, or build a collection. Also includes FAQ & quiz. For high school or advanced middle school students (2011, San Diego Natural History Museum). You can find links to some additional learning resources at Teaching Mineralogy and Petrology Online (2020, Mineralogical Society of America).
Plate Tectonics [Archived page] VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Explains what tectonic plates are, describes the people & discoveries that have contributed to our understanding of plate tectonics, and allows you to view the Earth's tectonic plates, different types of plate boundary, and the distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes; high school and up (2012- 2017, Geological Society of the UK). Dynamic Earth Interactive [Archived page] INTERACTIVE allows you to delve into the earth's interior, learn about its tectonic plates and their movements, and discover how mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes are formed. Middle school and up (2007, Annenberg Media). For more on earthquakes and other disasters, see the WEATHER & DISASTERS page.
Rock Cycle [Archived page] INTERACTIVE - An interactive Web site where you can learn how rocks can be identified, how they are formed, and how they change over time. Middle school and up (2007, Annenberg Media). The Rock Cycle INTERACTIVE shows how surface and deep Earth processes produce the rocks we stand on, and use to build our homes; for middle school students (2018, Geological Society of London).
Math
Accounting - Accounting & Bookkeeping classes are available on UNIVERSAL CLASS, free with your South Plainfield library card.
Algebra (Virtual Math Lab) - Tutorials covering all College Algebra concepts as well as Math for the Sciences, and study sessions for GRE Math and ACCUPLACER Math (2001 - 2022; by Kim Seward, West Texas A&M University).
Bitesize Maths (KS3) [NOTE: Videos do not play in the US] INTERACTIVE - This British educational site offers basic lessons on numbers, algebra, data, measurement, shape and space. Also includes activities and quizzes. For middle school students (British Broadcasting Corporation).
Calculator INTERACTIVE - Performs quick online calculations for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, sign, square, square root, inverse, exponent, and percent (Aspen Labs, publisher of EEWeb Pulse Magazine; site includes advertisements). Use the Metric Conversion: Useful Conversions Calculator to convert metric units (meters, kilograms, hectares, etc.) into Imperial units (feet, pounds, acres, etc.) or vice versa; enter the amount in one box, they click on the corresponding box to calculate (2009, Washington State University). How Much Is It? INTERACTIVE is a simple metric length, weight, and volume converter for younger kids (Math Cats). See also Temperature Converter: Fahrenheit / Celsius (University of Illinois).
Calculus for Beginners and Artists - This online textbook provides an overview of Calculus in clear, easy to understand language designed for the non-mathematician; more advanced users, see Calculus Online Textbook UPDATED LINK! (both from MIT). See also Pre-Calculus (online course) VIDEO (UC Irvine; videos hosted on YouTube).
Cyberchase Games - See Math Snacks and related links, below.
Data - See Statistics, below.
Geometry: 3D Shapes [Archived page] INTERACTIVE - A collection of fun interactive lessons to help you learn about some of the many three-dimensional geometric shapes commonly found in the world around us. Middle school and up, with some materials for teachers, too. (2007, Annenberg Media)
History of Math - Describes the history of mathematics in various cultures (ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Arabic, Chinese, etc.) as well as the history of different branches of mathematics; arranged by topic. Also includes a glossary, math chronology, biographies of mathematicians from 1680 BC to the present (including female mathematicians), and biographical timeline. High school and up (2000 - 2020, University of St Andrews, Scotland). Ancient History Math Mystery [Link opens a PDF] looks at ancient number systems, including Egyptian, Babylonian, Roman, Chinese and Maya numerals. Other activities cover circumference, radius, area and perimeter; converting percents, decimals and fractions, and problem solving. Middle school and up (2013, Penn Museum).
InterActivate INTERACTIVE - Math lesson plans (with interactive activities), arranged by grade level or subject. Covers number & operations, algebra, geometry, probability, statistics, modeling, and more; for grades 3 through undergraduate (Shodor Education Foundation, non-profit organization, and Computational Science Education Reference Desk [CSERD], National Science Digital Library). MathCounts VIDEO offers MathCounts Minis video lessons, Problem of the Week, Online Problem Database, and nationwide math programs & competitions; for middle school students of all ability levels (non-profit organization; videos hosted on YouTube). See also Math Snacks and related links, below.
Math and Cultural Designs VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Examines cultural designs such as cornrow hairstyles, Native American crafts, & break dancing, which are based on mathematical principles. It provides tutorials and software to help you learn mathematics by simulating the original artifacts and developing your own creations. Grades 3 - 12 (Ron Eglash, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Artful Maths offers lessons with a 'mathematical art' theme; each resource includes instructions and photos (2016; by UK maths teacher Clarissa Grandi). Math and Real Life: Mathematical Moments AUDIO examines how math applies to a variety of topics in science, nature, technology, & human culture; available as PDFs and MP3/podcasts, with links to related resources (American Mathematical Society). Math in Real Life VIDEO is a collection of lively videos on a wide range of practical math topics. Middle school and up (TEDEd; videos hosted on YouTube). Expect the Unexpected with Math UPDATED LINK! VIDEO INTERACTIVE offers real-world math lessons for grades 6 - 8, with printables, digital activities, videos, and more (The Actuarial Foundation & Scholastic.com). Get the Math [Archived page] VIDEO INTERACTIVE 'is about algebra in the real world. See how professionals use math in music, fashion, video games, restaurants, basketball, and special effects. Then take on interactive challenges related to those careers' (2012, THIRTEEN / WNET).
Math Glossary - Brief definitions of math terms, arranged A to Z. High school and up. (2000, University of St Andrews, Scotland)
Math Readiness - See Success in Math and related links, below.
Math Snacks VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Entertaining animations, games, and interactive tools that help students in grades 4-8 better understand math concepts (2009 - 2016, New Mexico State University Media Productions; videos hosted on YouTube). Cyberchase Games INTERACTIVE are math games for kids aged 8 - 11 (2018, PBS). See also Illuminations Math Learning Resources (NCTM) INTERACTIVE (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics), Bitesize Maths, above, and InterActivate, above.
Math Textbooks Online [Archived page; expect broken links] - Links to dozens of free online math textbooks; college level. (2014 - 2021; by George Cain, Georgia Institute of Technology)
Math Tutorials: Center of Math VIDEO - Free video lessons by math professors on Algebra, Calculus, Statistics, Trigonometry and much more, as well as practice problems & tips for standardized tests such as ACT®, AP®, & SAT® (Worldwide Center of Mathematics, Dr. David B. Massey et al.; hosted on YouTube; site includes advertisements). Mathematics Course Tutorials UPDATED LINK! [Archived page] provides online review notes, with practice exercises, of essential concepts in basic math, algebra, geometry, and calculus; for college or advanced high school students (Student Learning Assistance Center, San Antonio College).
Math Videos VIDEO [Archived page] - More than 20 video courses, video/web-based courses, and other learning resources on a variety of math topics; covers all grade levels. Scroll past podcasts to see videos (Annenberg Media).
Metric Conversion - See Metric Conversion, above.
Plus Magazine VIDEO - 'An internet magazine which aims to introduce readers to the beauty and the practical applications of mathematics.' Includes articles, videos, podcasts, puzzles, and more; high school and up. (Edited by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas; University of Cambridge, UK)
Statistics [Archived page] VIDEO - 'Against All Odds,' a video instructional series. 'With an emphasis on 'doing' statistics, this series goes on location to help uncover statistical solutions to the puzzles of everyday life.' High school & college level (2013, Annenberg Media). Seeing Theory INTERACTIVE uses data visualization to explain the fundamental concepts covered in an introductory college statistics or Advanced Placement statistics class, including Basic Probability, Compound Probability, Distributions, Statistical Inference, and Linear Regression (2018, Daniel Kunin et al., Brown University). Online Statistics Education VIDEO INTERACTIVE is an online resource for learning introductory statistics, with material presented in textbook format and as video presentations. There is also an e-Pub (e-book) version, mobile version, PDF, and Interactive e-book for for IOS and OS X (David M. Lane, Rice University, et al.).
Success in Math - 'Transitioning from high school to college math can be a challenge. In college you're encountering more complex material while spending less time in class.' These basic tips can help (Texas A&M University). See also Math Anxiety [Link opens a PDF] (2015, California State University). Math Readiness [Archived page; Mental Arithmetic applets may not load] INTERACTIVE offers interactive exercises to improve your skills in mental arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, exponential & logarithmic functions, and other math topics most needed by college-bound high school students. For each topic, a green dot is for easy, yellow dot for medium, and red for difficult exercises (2002, University of Saskatchewan).
Physics
See also:
Astronomy, Planets, and Space Flight
Amusement Park Physics [Archived page] INTERACTIVE - 'How do physics laws affect amusement park ride design? In this exhibit, you'll have a chance to find out by designing your own roller coaster.' Also covers bumper cars, carousels, free fall, and pendulum; includes a physics glossary. Middle school and up (Annenberg / CPB; date unknown).
Calculators & Converters - See Calculator links, above.
Einstein Light VIDEO - These multimedia modules present the basic concepts of relativity, plus related links for more complete explanations, with or without mathematics; high school and up (2005 - 2021, University of New South Wales, Australia).
Electricity & Magnetism: Magnet Academy AUDIO VIDEO INTERACTIVE - 'Whether you're a student, a teacher or just plain curious: You've come to the right place! Featuring demonstrations, videos, activities and more, this site answers your questions about all things electric and magnetic.' Ages 5 through adult. (Florida State University et al.)
Energy Facts for Kids - Overviews of the different sources and uses of renewable and nonrenewable energy; plus an energy quiz, and biographies of historic pioneers in energy; for middle and high school students (2019, U.S. Department of Energy). The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provides learning resources about renewable energy & energy efficiency technologies (U.S. Department of Energy). Definitions of energy terminology are available in the Glossary of Energy Terms; high school and up (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Highlights briefly describe new developments and discoveries in energy technology and related fields; high school and up. For information about the impact of energy use on global climate, see our Global Climate Change links. For general environmental resources, see our Ecology, Wildlife, Plants & Animals links.
Light and Optics (International Year of Light) [Archived page] - 'Light is everywhere. It allows to go about our daily activities and provides us with entertainment, security, technological advancements, and healthcare, amongst other things. Discover the different roles light and its applications play in our everyday lives.' High school and up (2015, United Nations). For an updated version of this page, see International Day of Light VIDEO (United Nations).
Nanooze - Magazine & blog about nanotechnology and other developments in science; middle school and up (2013 - 2023, Cornell University and National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network). See also Nanotechnology Timeline, 4th Century through 2014 (National Nanotechnology Initiative, a U.S. government research & development initiative). Nanotechnology News has the latest news about nanotech (Science Daily; site includes advertisements). For hands-on activities, see the DIY Nano Book, below.
Physical Sciences Resources - A large searchable directory of high-quality resources in general physics and its various branches, including Astronomy, Optics, Thermodynamics, Electricity & Magnetism, Oscillations & Waves, Quantum Physics, and more; for elementary school through graduate level. Part of Compadre Digital Library, a network of free online resource collections supporting faculty, students, and teachers in Physics and Astronomy Education at all levels. Includes student activities, tutorials, lesson plans, career info, and more. Use the advanced search page to search by topic, resource type, target grade level, and/or target role (1998 - 2023, American Association of Physics Teachers et al.).
Physics Central [Archived page; PhysicsCentral was retired in September 2022] VIDEO - Helps you learn how physics is part of your world. Answers questions on how things work and keeps you informed about physics in the news, the latest research and the people who are doing it, and more. Includes Physics@Home and podcasts & vodcasts; middle school and high school. (American Physical Society)
Physics Simulations INTERACTIVE - A collection of interactive simulations demonstrating various concepts in physics, including thermodynamics, mechanics, waves, electricity & magnetism, and light & optics. Most sims are HTML5 or Flash; sims that require Java must be downloaded (2015, University of Colorado). PhysClips AUDIO VIDEO INTERACTIVE combine introductory physics text with animations for added clarity (2007 - 2016; Joe Wolf, University of New South Wales, Australia).
Science Fairs, Activities, Projects & Experiments
Biology Activities & Experiments AUDIO VIDEO - A collection of activities that let you learn biology by playing. You can try a biology experiment or test your knowledge with one of the biology puzzles. There are printable and online coloring pages and worksheets, a Bird Finder tool to help you identify that mystery bird in your backyard. You can also venture into Body Depot where you can learn about your body and the biology that keeps it going (Arizona State University).
Bring Science Home - Science activities for parents and their kids (ages 6-12) to do together at home. These activities use common household items and can be done in half an hour or less. (Scientific American and Science Buddies; site includes advertisements)
Carnegie STEM Girls+: Do It Yourself Science - Do you know that you can use common things found in your house or classroom to explore science? You can demonstrate cool scientific principles and test out your ideas with everyday objects found all around you. Learn how to extract DNA, build a lava lamp, construct a bristle bot, or find another awesome DIY activity; for ages 11 - 17 (Carnegie Science Center / Duquesne Light Co. Center for STEM Education and Career Development)! See more at Carnegie Science Center's Science Activities and Experiments (hosted on YouTube).
Chemistry Experiments VIDEO - A collection of hands-on activities for kids in grades K-5, with adult supervision (American Chemical Society; videos hosted on YouTube).
Citizen Science - See Zooniverse and related links, below.
Dirtmeister Investigations [Archived page] - Hands-on science experiments on matter, sound, light, electricity, ecology and more. Includes teachers' notes; elementary and middle school. (Scholastic Publishing; date unknown)
DIY Nano Book [Archived page] - A free downloadable collection of do-it-yourself science activities which investigate nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Each activity includes lists of widely available, inexpensive materials, step-by-step instructions, and detailed explanations; ages 4 through adult. (2016; Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network, Science Museum of Minnesota et al.)
Energy-Related Science Fair Projects [Archived page] - A collection of energy-related science fair ideas for elementary, middle, and high school students (2019, National Energy Education Development [NEED] Project).
Exploratorium: Explore, Play, Discover VIDEO INTERACTIVE - Science activities, experiments, videos, websites, and more. Arranged by topic; grade level varies. (Exploratorium)
Franklin Institute: Franklin @ Home VIDEO - A collection of resources including DIY hands-on activities and engaging videos exploring concepts in Force & Motion, the Human Body, Space, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Engineering. For grades K - 12; each resource is labeled for the appropriate grade levels.
Hands-On Science Activities - Step-by-step instructions for more than two dozen science experiments. For kids of all ages, with adult supervision. A related page, Summer Brain Games Hands-on Science Activities, has more free at-home science activities, using items commonly found around the home or inexpensively purchased! (Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago)
Iron Science Teacher UPDATED LINK! VIDEO - This fun take-off of the Iron Chef TV show gives science teachers five minutes to cook up a math or science demonstration using an everyday item such as a plastic bag, a milk carton, or a nail... After watching the Webcasts, cook up some activities of your own! (1995 - 2019, Exploratorium)
Kitchen Pantry Scientist VIDEO - Science activities you can do in (and sometimes out of) the kitchen (by author/scientist Liz Heinecke). Foodmaster offers lessons and hands-on activities that use food to teach math and science skills; materials currently available for students and teachers, grades 3 - 8 (2016; sponsored by SEPA, the Science Education Partnership Awards, National Institutes of Health). See also Kitchen Science Resources [Archived page] (2014 - 2019, Franklin Institute).
Learn x Design VIDEO - Step-by-step instructions for hands-on activities that can help you learn about design, engineering, invention, and science; suitable for groups or individuals of all ages (2014 - 2017, New York Hall of Science et al.).
Mad Science Experiments [Archived page] - An assortment of simple science experiments you can do at home; some are edible! Appropriate age group is listed at the beginning of each experiment, as well as whether or not an adult should be present when it is performed. (1995 - 2006, by the MadSci Network, a collaborative academic project; site includes advertisements)
Marvin & Milo Hands-on Experiments - 'Explore physics the exciting way, by trying out a simple and fun experiment.' PDF instructions are presented in cartoon form; elementary school and up. (Institute of Physics, UK)
Nature/Outdoor Activities - See Outdoor Activities links.
Paper Plate Science [Archived page] VIDEO - Inexpensive, hands-on, simple-to-complex science activities that use paper plates to supplement lessons in astronomy and other studies; age level varies. (2012, Chuck Bueter, DePaul University)
Peep and the Big Wide World Anywhere Activities - Hands-on science & math learning activities for pre-schoolers (2018, WGBH Educational Foundation). See also Ranger Rick Outdoor Activities [NOTE: Free registration required] for ages 7 and up (National Wildlife Federation), and Outdoor Activities links.
Physics@Home [Archived page] VIDEO - Hands-on physics experiments you can do at home. (American Physical Society)
Planting Science - 'A learning and research resource, bringing together students, plant scientists, and teachers from across the nation.' Students can get involved through a participating class project, or can use the Plant Investigation Toolkit and Student Project Resources independently. (Botanical Society of America et al.)
Science at Home: DIY Science Fun - This Do It Yourself series is sure to inspire your inner scientist, with hands-on games and activities that range from getting your hands slimy to crafting gravity-defying chutes to exploring the nature in your backyard. The easy-to-follow guides are simple, fun, and appropriate for most ages, with adult supervision. (Ontario Science Centre)
Science Bob VIDEO - Science experiments, experiment videos, and Science Fair ideas. (By Bob Pflugfelder, a science teacher, author, and TV personality; videos hosted on YouTube. Site includes advertisements. )
Science Buddies VIDEO - To find a great science project idea that can hold your interest, use the Science Buddies' interactive Topic Selection Wizard. Site also offers a Science Project Guide how-to section with detailed guidance and examples, Advanced Project Guide to help you prepare for top science competitions, Ask an Expert feature, STEM Activities for Kids, and other science resources. High school. (Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation; videos hosted on YouTube)
Science Sparks: Science Experiments for Kids - Hundreds of hands-on kid-friendly science experiments, pre-school to high school. Includes a collection of Science Activities with Holiday-Themes and Storybook Themes (by Emma Vanstone, parent and author of children's science books; site includes advertisements).
SciJinks Steps in a Science Fair Project - A brief summary of the steps you need to take to complete a science fair project; for middle school students. There is also a related collection of Science Activities & Resources VIDEO INTERACTIVE, and the video series, How to Do a Science Fair Project VIDEO; use the Related Tags to find additional resources (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; videos hosted on YouTube). See also Science Fair Project Guide (K-5) (American Geosciences Institute), and Science Buddies, above.
StarNet STEM Activities VIDEO - High quality STEM activities suitable for classroom, library, or other groups; searchable by subject area, age group, time, cost, and difficulty. In addition to instructions, activities may include video, teacher's guide, family take-home activity, and/or other related materials. See also Starnet STEAM Resources, above. (Space Science Institute et al.)
STEM Programs & Camps - See STEM Programs and Projects, above.
Toys from Trash VIDEO - Instructions for turning trash into seriously entertaining, well-designed toys that kids can build themselves - while learning basic principles of science and design! (By science educator Arvind Gupta et al.; videos hosted on YouTube)
Try Engineering INTERACTIVE - Explore engineering though games & activities. Also includes overviews of different engineering fields, interviews with engineers, and related resources (IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
Zooniverse - At Zooniverse, anyone can participate in real academic research. 'You'll be able to study authentic objects of interest gathered by researchers, like images of faraway galaxies, historical records and diaries, or videos of animals in their natural habitats. By answering simple questions about them, you'll help contribute to our understanding of our world, our history, our Universe, and more!' Covers arts & literature as well as science. (Citizen Science Alliance, a collaborative community of scientists, software developers and educators). SciStarter is another place to find, join, and contribute to science through more than 1600 formal and informal research projects and events - and to learn more about Citizen Science VIDEO (Science for Citizens LLC; site includes advertisements. Videos hosted on YouTube). Budburst APP is a national network of citizen scientists monitoring plants as the seasons change. Includes educator resources for all grade levels (Chicago Botanic Garden).