It’s Tuesday, July 7, 2020, and time for Homeschool Resource Science. I would like to ask you to check out the Recommended Website: If you have used these resources let me know what you thought of them and why.
(Grades K and up; children with parental supervision) The University of California Museum of Paleontology (with funding by the National Science Foundation) provides this website that endeavors to provide fun, accessible, and free resources that accurately communicate what Science is and how it really works.
The activities here are designed to improve students’ ability to critically assess Scientific evidence and understand the strengths, limitations, and basic methods of science.
When you get to the website you’ll see a variety of ways to get started. Explore the website or jump right into the lesson called “Understanding Science 101.“
Look for “For Teachers” as well. Use the grade level key below it. Click on a grade level and a new page opens. Scroll to “Getting Started” and below it, click on “Sample Starting Activities.” Here is just an example of what is available in each grade level:
- K-2 – Exploring Liquids – Students use their senses to investigate and observe three liquids.
- 3-5 – Tennis Shoe Detectives – Students make observations, examine data, and form hypotheses about a set of footprints.
- 6-8 – Exploring Bouncing Balls – Students explore the physical properties of a variety of balls.
- 9-12 – The Checks Lab – Students construct plausible scenarios to explain a series of bank checks.
- 13-16 – Umbrellaology – Students are asked to read a letter that describes detailed data collected on umbrellas.
In addition to the sample activities, you’ll also find tips for assessing your student’s ability, tips for teaching science, and a variety of more free lessons as well.
There is a great deal of free content here. Bookmark the site to make return visits.
Recommended Website: Pulse of the Planet
Age Range: 5-18 (Grades K-12, with parental supervision) This website, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, offers daily (Monday-Friday), free, engaging two-minute sound portraits that blend Science, Nature, and Culture worldwide. These audio clips contain fascinating information that may springboard you to further Science investigation and learning.
Just take a look at some of what’s available from this month so far:
- June 24 – Ants and Caterpillars – Sound and sweet excretions are ingredients for harmonious behavior between ants and caterpillars.
- June 23 – Great Gull Island – A sound portrait of a nesting site for terns, surrounded – and sometimes attached by – thousands of breeding birds.
- June 22 – Scandinavian Summer Solstice – History – The Summer solstice lightens the hearts of Swedish Americans.
- June 19 – Natchez Pow-Wow – Drum circles and chant are part of the great tradition of Native American pow-wows.
- June 18 – Hindukush Beekeeping – Honey Hunters – In the high cliffs of the Himalayas, colonies of bees produce prized honey – helping to sustain local ecosystems.
Just listen to the featured sound clip (and print out the transcript or download the MP3 if desired). Then, use the menu to access all of the “Daily Programs” audio clips from 1991-2020.
But there’s more! In the “Educator Resources” section you’ll find free lesson plans with activities “suitable for classrooms or home-schoolers” using Pulse of the Planet programs. The lesson plans for grades K-12 contain downloadable audio files. You must register (free and painless) to access the lessons.
Click on “Monthly Features” for the in-depth studies, and peruse the rest of the menu for other wonderful Science surprises.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
