Advanced Sciences

NASA Space Place is an award-winning online resource designed to engage upper-elementary students in space and Earth science through a variety of interactive games, hands-on activities, and informative articles and videos. This platform provides valuable supplementary materials for teachers to enhance science lessons and spark student curiosity about the universe and our planet. Content is available in both English and Spanish, making it accessible to a wider audience. Educators, parents, and children will find a wealth of engaging educational content to explore complex scientific topics in an accessible and fun way.

Science Snacks from the Exploratorium offers a robust collection of low-cost, teacher-tested science activities specifically designed for classroom use and independent exploration. These engaging experiments encourage hands-on learning and foster a deeper understanding of scientific principles across various disciplines. Educators can leverage these resources to supplement curriculum, spark curiosity, and facilitate interactive learning experiences for students from elementary to high school. Each activity provides clear instructions and utilizes readily available materials, making science accessible and exciting for learners.

CK-12 Science offers a vast collection of free, interactive digital textbooks, lessons, and practice problems spanning various science disciplines. This platform supports teachers in delivering engaging content, providing adaptable resources for biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and environmental science. Educators can leverage these high-quality materials for Differentiated Instruction, assign practice, and integrate interactive simulations to enhance student understanding. It serves as an excellent resource for supplementing existing curricula or facilitating a comprehensive Blended Learning environment.

The Periodic Table of Videos offers an extensive collection of short, engaging videos covering every element on the periodic table. Developed by the University of Nottingham, this resource also includes a variety of other cool chemistry experiments and related scientific content. It serves as an excellent supplementary tool for chemistry teachers and students, promoting visual learning and sparking curiosity through dynamic demonstrations. Educators can use these videos to introduce topics, reinforce concepts, or inspire inquiry-based projects in the classroom.

The BioDigital Human offers an unparalleled interactive 3D virtual model of the human body, providing detailed insights into anatomy, disease states, and treatment options. This cloud-based platform revolutionizes the study of biology, allowing students to explore complex systems and medical conditions with immersive visuals. It serves as an invaluable EdTech tool for enhancing understanding and engagement in life science courses, from foundational concepts to advanced medical topics. Teachers can leverage this resource to facilitate dynamic lessons and deeper inquiry into human physiology.

The Periodic Table of Videos from the University of Nottingham offers a comprehensive collection of short, engaging videos covering every element on the periodic table. This valuable resource extends beyond basic element facts, featuring fascinating chemistry experiments and other related content. Teachers can utilize these videos to supplement lessons, introduce new topics, or provide visual aids for complex chemical concepts. It serves as an excellent tool for enriching student understanding and sparking interest in chemistry through real-world demonstrations.

BioDigital offers a comprehensive, cloud-based platform featuring interactive 3D models of the human body, serving as an invaluable resource for teaching anatomy and physiology. Educators can leverage this tool to visually explore complex disease states and treatment options, providing students with an immersive understanding of biological processes. It facilitates dynamic learning experiences, allowing students to manipulate and investigate anatomical structures and pathological conditions in detail. This digital resource enhances scientific literacy and critical thinking by making intricate medical concepts accessible and engaging.

Kelly Lancaster (lead), Chris Malley (developer), Patricia Loeblein, Emily Moore, Robert Parson, Kathy Perkins

Explore the DNA difference between light and dark brown mouse fur Click **Transcribe** to zoom into the cell nucleus and see the chromosome unravel to expose the strands of DNA. The DNA separates and an mRNA strand is created by matching complementary nucleotides. Click **Translate** to watch the mRNA leave the nucleus for the cytoplasm and attach to a ribosome. tRNA molecules bring in amino acids and the amino acids are added in the correct order by matching complementary nucleotides. After translation, inspect the protein to see how the amino acid sequence folded.

This interactive simulation from The Concord Consortium allows students to explore the fundamental processes of DNA transcription and translation, focusing on how random variations in DNA sequences can lead to different protein structures. Students can manipulate genetic code and observe the resulting changes in protein synthesis, fostering a deeper understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships. This tool is ideal for demonstrating key concepts in molecular genetics and can be used to facilitate inquiry-based learning about mutations and genetic diversity. Teachers can integrate this resource to support lessons on protein synthesis, genetic code, and the impact of DNA variations.

This interactive PhET simulation allows students to explore the fundamental concepts of states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) by manipulating temperature and observing molecular motion and interactions. Teachers can use this engaging tool to facilitate inquiry-based learning, enabling students to visualize phase changes and understand the kinetic molecular theory. It supports conceptual understanding in chemistry and can be integrated into lessons on physical properties and energy. The simulation provides a dynamic, hands-on virtual environment for students to conduct experiments and draw conclusions about the behavior of matter.

This PhET simulation provides an interactive virtual laboratory for exploring Beer's Law and spectrophotometry. Students can manipulate variables such as solution concentration, path length, and wavelength to observe their effects on light absorbance. It allows for hands-on experimentation without physical lab equipment, fostering a deeper understanding of the quantitative relationship between concentration and absorbance. This resource is ideal for reinforcing concepts, preparing for wet labs, or serving as a standalone inquiry-based activity in high school or introductory college chemistry courses.

PhET Interactive Simulations offer a comprehensive collection of free, online simulations spanning physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and mathematics, developed by the University of Colorado Boulder. These dynamic tools empower educators to facilitate engaging, hands-on exploration of complex scientific and mathematical concepts, fostering deeper understanding and critical thinking. Teachers can seamlessly integrate PhET simulations into their curriculum to visualize abstract ideas and support inquiry-based learning across various grade levels. The platform is an invaluable resource for enhancing STEM education through interactive and experimental learning experiences.

The Concord Consortium is a nonprofit educational research and development organization dedicated to creating innovative digital learning experiences for science, math, and engineering. They provide free, high-quality technology-based educational innovations that aim to cultivate curiosity and bring the promise of technology into reality for students and teachers worldwide. Their resources include interactive models, simulations, and activities designed to revitalize STEM education and enhance classroom engagement. The organization focuses on large-scale improvements in K-14 teaching and learning through technology, offering tools that support inquiry-based learning and critical thinking.