Science

New!  The Heart: An Online Exploration
Take an online exploration of the amazing organ that beats more than two and a half billion times during an average lifetime. From the moment it first contracts beating, the human heart works tirelessly, without ever pausing to rest.

Discover the complexities of its development and  structure. Follow the blood through the blood  vessels. Wander through the weblike body systems. Learn how to have a healthy heart and how to monitor your heart's health. Look back at the history of heart science.

Web sites to explore:
The Franklin Institute Online Exhibit
Heartbeat Activity
Healthy Heart Activities

Acid Reactions
Materials needed:
* pennies
* soapy water
* vinegar
* lemon juice
* salt, sugar
An acid is a chemical substance that reacts with other substances. Use several dirty pennies to demonstrate the effects of acid on objects. Fill cups with soapy water, vinegar, lemon juice and salt, sugar water, and plain lemon juice. Put pennies in the cups. On the following day, take the pennies out. Which substances are acidic? How can you tell? Have students think about the acid that forms in their mouths. What effect does this have on other substances?

Antarctic Exploration
Students are fascinated by Antarctica's glaciers, penguins, and extreme temperatures. Invite students to begin an Inquiry chart, or I-chart, about Antarctica. Then have them go on a virtual tour of the continent by visiting the Web sites below. Have them fill in their I-charts during their research, then refer to the charts as they plan and present their own virtual tour of Antarctica.

Web sites to explore:
Glacier Expedition
Explore Antarctica

Caverns
Download these teacher's guides and help students learn about the geology, habitat, and the history of a cavern through experiments. Students will have fun with the mock cavern experience you can provide for them by using the ideas found on this website.

Web site to explore:
Cavern Tours Lesson Plans

Endangered Animals
Brainstorm with the class to create a list of endangered animals such as the gray wolf, California condor, palm cockatoo, greater bamboo lemur, and golden lion tamarin. Have individuals or pairs of students select one of the animals to research, then write an opinion column or advertisement to convince people of the need to save them. Questions to research could include: Why are these animals endangered? How many of these animals are left in the wild? What is being done to save them?

Fingerprints
Materials needed:
* pencil
* paper
* cellophane tape
All humans have one of three basic types of fingerprints: loops, arches, or whorls (which look like a spiral). Students can estimate which fingerprint type most frequently occurs by sampling their class. Have them begin by taking their fingerprints. Instruct each student to rub a pencil hard on a small piece of paper, and then to rub one thumb into the pencil mark on the paper. Divide students into pairs. By turns, have each student apply a small piece of cellophane tape over the partner's thumb, being careful not to let it slide. Have the partner then carefully lift up the tape and transfer it to a clean piece of paper. Ask the students to analyze the fingerprint: Is it a loop, does it have arches, or is it a whorl? Make a bar graph to show how many fingerprints of each type are in the class. Which occurred most frequently? Assign students to take fingerprints in another class. Is there the same frequency? What can students predict about the school's population?

Web site to explore:
Fingerprint Image Samples

Insect Dioramas
This summer, learn about creepy, crawly insects. Look closely around your yard and garden, under rocks, during nature hikes. Visit the web sites listed below to find out more about the critters you observed or other insects that interest you. Use modeling clay, pipe cleaners, paints, construction paper, and a shoebox to create a model of your favorite insect in a realistic diorama.

Web sites to explore:
Koday's Kids Amazing Insects (facts and photos)
Insects on the Web
Bugs: Insects for Kids

Microbes
Germs and bacteria fascinate students. Direct them to visit "The Microbe Zoo." Ask them to find at least 10 germs or bacteria that are useful to humans. Encourage them to share their findings.

Web site to explore:
Microbe Zoo

Neuroscience for Kids
Help students understand how their brains and nervous systems work. Have them make this simple model of the brain using only their hands. Direct them to: Fold your hands into fists and put your fists together, so that the thumbs are facing you and the fingers of the two hands are touching. Then move your thumbs to the outside (rather than the middle of the fists) so that your fists can come closer together. Now you have a model of a brain. Your middle fingers represent the motor cortex. Your thumbs represent the pre-frontal lobes. Your left hand is your right hemisphere and your right hand is your left hemisphere. Your pinkies are your sensory cortex. The Modeling the Nervous System Web site below gives instructions for showing kids a model of a neuron using their arm (Simple Neuron Model). After a basic introduction, students can be encouraged to develop their own models that will help them better understand the functions of the nervous system. Provide different materials, such as dough, styrofoam, paper, or even Jell-O so students can construct their own models.

Web sites to explore:
Modeling the Nervous System
Neuroscience for Kids

Rocket Science
Encourage students to learn more about the science behind launching a rocket. Use the sites below to help them build their own simple rocket or to launch a virtual rocket.

Web sites to explore:
Build a Bubble Powered Rocket
Rockets Away!

Solar Energy, Wind Energy, and More
With your class, brainstorm ways people use energy resources every day, such as burning gasoline in cars, using electricity to run the television and other appliances, and burning natural gas in stoves. Explain that energy sources such as gasoline and natural gas are forms of nonrenewable energy, because they cannot be replaced. Then have students research forms of renewable energy, such as wind power and solar power. Invite students to look at the Department of Energy's Web site, then create an imaginative mural showing how forms of renewable energy can be used in your community.

Web site to explore:
Learning About Renewable Energy