Digital Resources:



Bailey Berardino

ILS 511-S70

October 12, 2011

Assignment 2: Annotated Bibliography

Theme: Science, K-6

Introduction

This annotated bibliography is meant to be a tool for elementary school teachers. It cover the many various topics of science that elementary school teachers have to teach. The resources are mainly for the use of the adults, but some will be used by the children, as the teaching tool itself. The various sources include website, videos, DVDs, audio recordings and books.

Digital Resources:

Websites

1) Discovery Education



This free website is for parent, educators and students, with resources including: videos and comprehensive lesson plans with links to various materials. It also has great cross curriculum opportunities.

It is a very great site with a lot of hands on resources for learners. However, the full potential of the site can only be access with a paid subscription.

2)



is a tool that helps educators search, collect and share both science and math activities. According to the site the activities are hands on, high-quality and inquiry-biased and come from the Lawrence Hall of Science, Exploratorium, Science Museum of Minnesota, Children's Museum of Houston, New York Hall of Science, and ASTC.. It is mostly designed to be used out side of the classroom setting for example in museums or zoos.

3) McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Online



This is a free website that is not only a companion to the printed encyclopedia if you have it, but also a resource for teachers, librarians and students. It is regularly updated with new articles, “spotlight features” and the “images of the week.”

This seems like it has some interesting information and would be a great resource, especially if you were in a school with the print resource. It does not have a lot of content on its own.

4) NASA’s Solar System Exploration: KIDS



This site is set up for kids, older students can navigate it themselves, so educators would use it as learning tool. It includes games, puzzles pictures, videos and links to other pages. It also gives teachers ideas for non computers activities such as building paper models.

It is a very hands on site and modern kids often do well learning using computers while building their skills. It is a great tool for teachers.

5) National Geographic: For Kids



This award winning site is also created for kids to use on their own. It has a very large number of videos, news, trivia and games and it also covers cross curriculum. It also has a section for “little kids.”

I like the site because it is very easy for kids to use, and it was the first site I found that has a specific section for younger children. It was very visual appealing a had a lot of content.

6) The National Science Digital Library



The NSDL is a collection of websites and online resources. This website is not only free and vetted, but includes lesson plans, videos and other tools for both teachers and learners. There is also access to math curriculum tie-ins and the materials are standards based.

It is a practical web site with a lot of practical and useable materials. The site itself does take sometime to navigate.

7) NBC Learn



This is a general site with many resources for teachers including current events, news topics and conversations. It also links to more specific science topics, including currently; Chemistry Now, Changing Planet and The Science of Football. These sites include various videos from NBC programs.

The videos that they had were of high interest, especially to older children, making it a valuable resource. The current event links make it valuable for teacher as well.

8) PBS Teacher



This general teachers website is separated by age and/or subject. You can then search for specific subjects in science. There are lessons with links to various PBS multi-media creations such as computer animated kid videos or interactive games.

This has some wonderful multimedia that would really grab kids attention. The site itself was simple enough, but the content has the wow factor.

9) PowerKids Life Science



PowerKids Life Science is an online resource with over 400 articles covering a wide range of natural science topics for students in grades 3 through 6. Aside from articles, Life Science contains a section dedicated to student projects and hands-on activities, as well as interactive games and quizzes to reinforce and extend learning. Teachers have their own section with a state standard correlation tool, training documents, lesson plans, and content for facilitating student research.

PowerKids Life Science is a resource with some weight. Substantial information is presented in a way that isn’t overwhelming for kids. High-quality multimedia elements are seamlessly integrated. The interface is kid-friendly in both look and function. Overall, Life Science is a well-crafted resource that will enhance student research. Requires yearly subscription.

(Travis Jonker: “SLJ Reviews Rosen’s PowerKids Life Science: kid friendly, quality content” )

10) Scholastic Science Exploration



This site just celebrate its 50th birthday and is for both students and teachers. It has teacher guides, lesson plans and covers a variety of topics from animals and space to the ocean. It is has photos and readings, games and vocabulary.

This seems to be a great resources with a lot of content and it is useful to both teacher and student. It is easy to navigate and use.

11) Science Buddies



This site is also for both students and teachers. For children it has projects and help guiding them step by step through the process. For teachers it has worksheets, judging guides and rubrics by grade and a section on internet safety.

The teacher resources seemed especially helpful and the website had a lot of content. The website has won numerous awards from various organizations.

12) Super Science Fair Project



This site offers 24/7 help for students and teacher (and parents) on science fair projects. It offers over 600 free science fair project ideas and gives help on timelines, steps, and proper procedures.

The site does have good content, but its is not visual appealing and kids would need help to navigate. It does have a lot of ads in it and tries to sell their science kits.

13) Science 360: The Knowledge Network



This site, created by the National Science Foundation, gathers hundreds of videos on various different science topics. They are submitted by different scientist, colleges, foundations, and users can not only play them but can post them to web site or social networking pages. The purpose is to encourage users to engage in the scientific world.

Science 360 was easy to navigate, visually appealing and has a wide range of interesting videos. It would be a great resource for a teacher.

14) Smithsonian Education



This site is run by the Smithsonian Institution and has different pages for educations, students or parents. Educators can search by subject, including Science, and each has a list of lesson plans available. Standards are accessible for all lessons and some also have images and access to online exhibits.

The site seems to have a good deal of content and each lesson plan is labeled with the appropriate grades (from K-12). It would be a practical resource for teachers.

This appears to be a very unique resource, and one that would give students a different type of learning experience. Teachers could benefit from a resource that could help them plan activities outside of a typical classroom setting.

15) Teachers Domain



Teachers Domain is a free Digital Media for the Classroom and Professional Development from public broad coasting and its partners. It is broken down by subject, such as science, then topic, and contains thousands of media as well as support materials. It also offer professional development opportunities such as online courses and teaching strategies.

Teacher Domain has a great deal of media content in a variety of topics, and it gives the user the option of saving their files in folders, which is useful. The options for professional development are a unique and outstanding characteristic of the site.

Video/DVD

16) Bill Nye the Science Guy: The Planets (Interactive DVD)

Gottlieb, E. and McKenna J. (Directors). (2003). Bill Nye the Science Guy: The planets classroom edition (interactive DVD)(Motion Picture). United States: Disney Educational Productions.

From the popular educational science series, Bill Nye makes complex science principle simpler for school age children. This particular series looks at the different planets and includes assessment tools. The show includes musical performance footage, science experiment demonstrations, and games.

My experience with various Bill Nye videos is that while some might be corny and seem a bit out of date, they are often entertaining and funny enough to keep children’s attention.

17) How and Why: A Journey Through Nature, Science and History

(2003). How and why: A journey through nature, science and history (VHS). United States: MediaPro.

Sampled from a 10-part series, the title Trees begins with footage of a family walking through a forest while cheerful narration explains the importance of trees not only for the products they provide but for the oxygen they emit. During a discussion of tree structure and photosynthesis, microscopic images show root growth and leaf pores.

The well-filmed program also considers the effects of pollution, forest fires, and deforestation on the environment. Other series titles introduce planets, dinosaurs, aviation, automobiles, and computers. All include guides. ( Nancy McCray from Booklist, 2003)

18) The Magic School Bus: Gets Ants in its Pants

Cole, J. and Degen, B. (1997). The magic school bus: Gets ants in its pants (VHS). United States: Scholastic.

Just one of the Magic School bus series, this edition has Ms. Frizzles’ class visit the inside of an anthill to observe them in their natural habitat. Students learn about all the vital jobs that each ant learns.

The Magic School Bus has a way of teaching specific science concepts in down to earth ways that kids not only understand, but have fun while they are doing it. This is just one of the many MSB episode that would be useful to teachers of science.

19) School House Rock: Science Classroom Edition (Interactive DVD)

Warburton, T. (Director). (2007) Schoolhouse rock: Science classroom edition (interactive DVD) (Motion Picture). United States: Disney Educational Productions.

This updated DVD from the animated TV series gives science lesson through songs such as: The Body machine, Victim of Gravity and Interplanet Janet. It also includes interactive assessment and printable educators guide.

School House Rock is always a winner in my book. It is creative, the songs are great and it is cross curricular. Kids always get excited and get into the music.

Audio

20) What is it? Music Math and Science (Audio)

Re-bop Records (2003). What is it? Music Math and Science.

The core concept of this CD is that picture books are useful jumping-off points to explore basic science and math skills in an easy, entertaining way. For example, Rosemary Wells’ Bunny Cakes (2000) serves as the inspiration for “Muffins Spelled Backwards,” a tune about combining and measuring ingredients, while title song “What Is It?” is based on Ed Young’s Seven Blind Mice (1992). The 16 original songs are organized into six broad categories, including the senses, making comparisons, and growing, with each tune relating (sometimes rather tenuously) to a specific math and science skill.

A valuable tool for teachers and parents and a source of fun for kids. ( Paul Shackman from Booklist, 2003).

Fiction Resources:

1) Mr. Docker Is Off His Rocker

Gutman, D. (2006). Mr. Docker is off his rocker. New York: HarperTrophy.

A very short chapter book for early readers, it’s a story of how an unusual science teacher helps a boy who hates school see how cool science can be. The story involves a series of fun science experiments. Part of the My Weird School series.

A fun and easy read, it could get students to find the fun in science. It seems like to could be an especially good read for boys.

2) The Fungus that Ate My School

Dorros, A. and Catrow D. (ill.). (2000). The fungus that ate my school. New York: Scholastic Press.

A funny picture book about how a school science experience went wrong. When students returned back after a rainy school vacation, fungus had taken over the school and they must figure out how it grew so fast and what to do.

It is a cute, fun book for younger students, although not based in too much science. It just talks a little about what conditions are needed to grow fungus. Good for a light read, not a heavy lesson.

3) Red Sings From Tree Tops: A Year in Colors

Sidman, J. (2009) Red Sings From Tree Tops: A Year in Colors. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books.

This picture book describes the changes of the seasons. Sidman uses poetry and describes not only the colors, but also the smells and sounds of the seasons.

The book is very creative and beautiful. In a science classroom it could start a discussion about the scientific reasons for these changes, colors, smells and sounds.

4) Stellaluna

Cannon, J. (1993). Stellaluna. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company.

A story of a baby bat who gets saved a raised by a family of birds. The story teaches not only about bats, but about birds as well. The book teaches how bats see, fly, what they eat and much more about the animal. Includes non-fiction notes at the end.

It is not only a beautiful story, but informative as well. It is a good way to get children to learn about an animal without overwhelming them with information.

5) The Tiny Seed

Carle, E. (1989). The Tiny Seed. New York: Scholastic.

Told in story form, this picture book explains how a seed becomes a plant over the course of a year. It explains how seeds move, and what they needs to grow, such as water and sun.

The story not only accurately portrays the possible life of a seed, but it is also beautifully illustrated by Carle. The book serves two purposes as both a wonderful story and a good science lesson.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download