If animals interest you, try these links:

The Utah Education Network has assembled an interesting set of web pages on animal adaptations

The Utah Education Network has produced a second page dedicated to defense adaptations

Try this interactive quiz on adaptations from Ecokids.

Plants

Currently, we are using Organisms - From Macro to Micro a science kit designed for middle school students. Links on this page supplement concepts studied in the classroom.

Angiosperms - Flowering Plants

Step through this presentation from Arizona State to review the parts of a flower

Once you've reviewed the parts of the flower, try this quiz from Arizona State

Here's another quiz on flower parts from The Great Plant Escape .

Pollination

Here is an animation from Newsday that explains pollination in easy to understand language

This mini-movie from Oregon State will help you understand pollination/fertilization

This one page explanation of pollination from the Missouri Botanical Gardens will help you understand plant fertilization

Transpiration

Prentice-Hall provides information and animations on transpiration

The University of Nebraska has developed an interactive tutorial on transpiration

Trees

An Interactive leaf key from the University of Iowa

The Arbor Day Foundation has a tree identification key for both Western and Eastern Trees

Identify trees by leaves, fruits or names courtesy of the Ohio Public Library System

Why do leaves change colors? Try these sites:

Read about the Chemistry of Autumn Colors

Science Made Simple offers this explanation. Activities/Labs are included!

The USDA Forest Service at the St. Paul Field Office provides more information

Here's one last site from the State University of New York - Environmental Science and Forestry

Herbs

Here's an introduction to herbs from the University of Illinois

Ohio State provides information on growing "easy" herbs

GardenGuides is another commercial site with many Herb Guide Sheets

Linda Gilbert has written some wonderful columns on herbs. Recipes are included!

Too many herbs? The University of Illinois Extension has herb fact sheets and information on drying herbs

Cells and Heredity

Our first unit of the year will center on Cells and Heredity. Our book is published by Prentice Hall.

Topics include:

• Cell Structure and Function
• The Secret of Life: Photosynthesis and Respiration
• Introductory Genetics
• Biotechnology

Interested in cells and genetics? Try these sites:

Cell Structure and Function

Visit the Virtual Cell Web Page and be sure to take The Virtual Cell Tour

Take the expedition found in Life Science Safari. Click on the plant and animal icons to find information on these types of cells

Explore Inside a Cell from the Genetic Science Learning Center

Learn all about plant and animals cells from Cells Alive! (This site is more difficult to understand)

iKnowthat provides diagrams and descriptions of plant and animal cells. Be sure to click on the "Cells" icon.

Watch bacteria and cancer cells grow in real time.

Microscopy

Use this microscopy site from Florida State University (FSU) to magnify a microprocessor chip, onion root mitosis and a superconducting wire

How does a scanning electron microscope work? Find out at this site from the Museum of Science.

This site from FSU allows you to adjust the focus, contrast, brightness and magnification of a virtual scanning electron microscope to view carpet beetles, diatoms, dust mites, fruit flies and ragweed pollen

Dennis Kunkel Microscopy Inc. offers a wonderful JavaScript Scanning Electron Microscopy simulation. Be sure to start with the student site before graduating to expert status

Here's another example of a virtual microscope from Biomedical Imaging Group. Be sure to click "Launch Demo" in the upper right hand corner.

Use the Image Library Search to locate hundreds of spectacular pictures from Dennis Kunkel Electron Microscopy Inc.

Osmosis, Diffusion and Active Transport

View an animation of osmosis from the Thames Valley school district

Photosynthesis and Respiration

Sambal's Science Web has a great explanation of photosynthesis!

Sambal's Science Web also has a great explanation of cellular respiration!

DNA

DNA: The Instruction Manual for All Life

Take a Tour of the Basics at the Genetic Science Learning Center

Build a DNA molecule at the Genetic Science Learning Center

Now, you can isolate DNA from wheat germ. Once you've finished your experiment, click here to read the science behind it.

Journey into DNA with this animated sequence from WGBH

DNA Workshop: You Try It

Genetics

Practice your Punnett squares at this interactive site

This site, dealing with deafness in dogs, provides additional Punnett square practice

Investigate heredity at this interactive site on mouse genetics.

Help parents find their children at Chromosome Kindergarten

Oh no, more parents need to find their children at Chromosome Kindergarten

Conduct experiments just like Gregor Mendel's at Pea Soup

The Education Development Center, Inc. has created interactive activites covering many topics in genetics. In particular, be sure to check out Mendel's Peas, Dragons and Punnett Squares!

The Mutant Fruit Fly Page (When genetics goes wrong)

Could you be colorblind? Try this test and find out

Here's one more test for color blindness

Biotechnology

Engineer your own corn crop at Harvest of Fear

Check out the lastest in bioengineered foods at Guess What's Coming for Dinner?

What is the Human Genome Project? Click here to find out

Demonstrations and Activities for Your Science Classroom

Chemistry

Laboratory Experiments

Milk Makes Me Sick: An Exploration of the Basis of Lactose Intolerance

Interactive Lab Works provides you with an example of each of the four main types of chemical reactions

Classroom Projects

Finding the Lighthouse Diamond Thief by Using the Scientific Method

Multimedia Chemistry Sites

View short, animated movies on dozens of topics here at BrainPOP!

View short videos of famous chemical reactions from the Chemistry Film Studio at Oxford

Biology

Internet Projects

Human Genetics - A Worldwide Search for the Dominant Trait - Do you have it?

(We're going to find out at Wickford Middle!)

Meteorology

Project sites

Visit WeatherEye for great weather based activities. Use the "Handle a Hurricane" project with the Treasure Hunt on Hurricanes found on my weather page.

Investigate the SunWise School Program from the EPA

Use the maps on this site to see significant weather events from 1994 - 2001

Botany

Classroom Projects

Preserve the colorful beauty of autumn leaves

Create your own interactive quizzes

The Castle Project Toolbox allows you to create quizzes quickly and easily

Make quizzes at the DiscoverySchool site (registration required)