Embedded Files
Resources for Virtual Science Instruction
Resources for Virtual Science Instruction
The need for virtual learning resources has sparked creativity from instructors of all levels: early childhood to the university. Below is a series of resources curated by Ashley Delaney to help HAEA teacher find virtual resources based on grade-level and/or content. All resources listed are free to use. A strong effort is made to keep this list updated. If you discover a link is broken or content is inappropriate, please contact adelaney@heartlandaea.org.
We are always looking for additional resources. Please contribute by emailing adelaney@heartlandaea.org.
General Science
General Science
All Grades
All Grades
Huge variety of remote, virtual, and data-based labs. Lessons, directions, and labs are searchable by age and topic. Best feature is how many languages the materials are offered in. There are more than physics and physical science resources here.
Amazing resources for K-12 created by teachers. Can search by grade and subject. I cannot guarantee the quality of them all, but they are reviewed prior to being posted.
https://www.learner.org/subject/science/
Great interactive lessons with readings, videos, and some labs. There are also textbooks and very thorough teaching guides. There are more than physics and physical science resources here. However, the most fall into these subject areas.
A collection of hands on activities
Interactive lessons that use common household materials to create at-home labs. Very detailed lesson plans.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities.html
A collection of science-oriented games and activities.
https://www.fi.edu/sparkofscience
Brief and entertaining videos about multiple science phenomena from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
K-5
K-5
https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/the-magic-school-bus/
Targets early elementary. Lessons are integrated with Magic School Bus books and shows.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/primary
This is a website from the UK, but there are some great resources if you are willing to sort through them to match the grade levels to US grades.
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
Reading-based lessons. Heavy focus on biology but other subjects too.
6-8 and 9-12
6-8 and 9-12
https://www.labster.com/simulations/?_sft_categories=chemistry
Augmented reality program that puts students in a lab setting to complete an experiment.
https://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm?category=2623&sort.property=overallRating
A series of links and instructions related to simulated labs and demonstrations. Includes life, physical, and environmental science resources.
Life Science
Life Science
All Grades
All Grades
https://msu.edu/course/cep/816/wallacespring02/dissection.htm
List of virtual dissections
K-5
K-5
https://www.carolina.com/images/static/learningfromhome/Inst-Ecosystem-Diversity.pdf
Sample of weekly lesson plans
6-8 and 9-12
6-8 and 9-12
https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources
Amazing 3D and augmented reality labs. Lessons also include support materials such as readings, real world scenarios, and interviews.
Physical Science
Physical Science
All Grades
All Grades
https://www.msichicago.org/science-at-home/games/goreact
From Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. Drag and drop simulation of chemical reactions.
https://chemdemos.uoregon.edu/
These are demonstrations that have “wet” labs that are kitchen chemistry.
K-5
K-5
https://www.carolina.com/images/static/learningfromhome/Inst-Energy-Works.pdf
Sample of weekly lesson plans
6-8 and 9-12
6-8 and 9-12
https://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/
Strong focus on middle school chemistry standards
Simulations from the University of Colorado. Well-vetted and interactive.
http://www.bozemanscience.com/
videos and podcasts aligned to chemistry standards that could function like online lectures.
http://chemcollective.org/vlabs
Online simulation of a full chemistry lab section. Easiest for sorting by concept. Also includes tutorials and molecular-level visualizations. Great Scenarios for getting students to discuss and prompt responses.
https://teachchemistry.org/periodical/simulations
Simulations for solutions in Chemistry
https://www.merlot.org/merlot/materials.htm?category=2623&sort.property=overallRating
A series of links and instructions related to simulated labs and demonstrations. Includes life, physical, and environmental science resources.
http://chemcollective.org/home
OLLI resources from Carnegy Mellon’s Chem 1 and 2 courses. Simulated labs and review materials for labs. Very interactive.
Advanced program/software that helps students with AP prep and advanced chemistry. Chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, and acid-base interactions
http://employees.oneonta.edu/viningwj/sims/
SUNY chemistry professor that put all of his videos, lab materials, and simulations online.
http://web.mst.edu/~gbert/links.html
University of Missouri chemistry professor with online labs and simulations.
Earth and Space Science
Earth and Space Science
All Grades
All Grades
https://enviroliteracy.org/teaching-resources/
A favorite for interdisciplinary teaching! Amazing teacher resources. Lots of interactive maps and interdisciplinary connections to economics, chemistry, and more.
https://populationeducation.org/curriculum-and-resources/earth-day-classroom-resources/
Earth Day packets have great resources for thinking about ecology and environmental science.
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections
NOAA has a variety of modules with photos, videos, interviews, and other content that can be used in courses. There are explanations and support materials included in each module.
K-5
K-5
https://www.nasa.gov/stem/forstudents/k-4/index.html
Activities suggested by NASA that students can do at home. Support documents include images, and interviews.
http://www.mbgnet.net/index.html
Explore ecosystems around the world. Check out the flora and fauna as well as look at interactive maps.
https://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/navigation/investigation.cfm
Best for late elementary and middle school students. Similar to a webquest, there is a series of pages with images and reading over a major topic.
https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-dynamic-earth/
Interactive lessons and activities to learn about the layers of Earth and plate tectonics.
https://www.carolina.com/images/static/learningfromhome/Inst-Ecosystem-Diversity.pdf
Sample of weekly lesson plans
6-8 and 9-12
6-8 and 9-12
https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-dynamic-earth/
Interactive lessons and activities to learn about the layers of Earth and plate tectonics.
Engineering and STEM
Engineering and STEM
All Grades
All Grades
https://iowastem.gov/teachablemoment
Governor’s STEM Advisory Counsel
https://www.parametricstudioinc.com/
Engineering activities that are a blend between hands-on lessons and augmented reality simulations. Free trials are currently available to Iowa teachers for several units.
http://www.discovere.org/our-activities
Detailed lessons, videos, and instructional resources for interactive science and engineering at home. Easily searchable by grade and subject.
https://www.isek.iastate.edu/at-home-activities/
Engineering activities updated daily from Iowa State University. Accessible to students even without adult direction.
Learn how to code. Use logical, sequential thinking to create algorithms
STEM activities for preschool and early elementary children.
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