Next Generation Science Standards NGSS Quality Lessons and Unit samples
Better Lesson NGSS Lesson Plans K-12, click on "Science" tab... free lesson plans, resources
Subject to Climate "SubjectToClimateTM (StC) is a nonprofit online connector for K-12 leaders of all subjects to find credible, unbiased, and engaging materials on climate change at no cost."
How to Support Vocabulary Building in Science Lessons Here's how to support academic language.
Science Snacks From the Exploratorium, "...hands-on, teacher-tested, and use cheap, available materials." Tools available to help you align to NGSS.
NSTA Daily Dos Short lesson plans for students to do with families at home.
Mystery Science K-5 lessons, aligned to NGSS, videos to guide you and students, includes big questions and student engagement ideas and strategies (a real planning time saver). Handouts are downloadable and editable. Free 1 year memberships available for the first year if your school doesn't already have a membership. After that, pretty reasonable prices for a whole school to have access to it. Spanish resources included.
STEM by Design (gr. 4-8) Strategies & activities to help you plan your lesson.
PBS Science Resources for CA Free registration. Lesson plans, downloadable videos, other resources, free!! You can assign through Google Classroom if desired.
PBS K-2 Hero Elementary Science Resources
PBS 3-4th Making North American Interactive Map Includes lesson plans and support materials - geology of North America. Looks gorgeous.
California Academy of Sciences Lesson Plans
Home Science Tools Lessons for Elementary
Blending Science Lessons and Children's Literature
Lesson Plans, K-5, New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning
NOAA's Elementary Science Resources
Science-U Gr. 2-8, From PBS, hands on Science experiments (with directions, standards, lesson plans)
Middle School SCALE Science Curriculum Free, NGSS aligned, from Stanford Education
Gr. 4 (Erosion) The Amazing Life of Sand From Ted Ed w/video & discussion resources
National Geographic Resources
National Geographic's videos: "Today I Learned" Good videos to show as transitions, interesting and quirky science videos
National Geographic list of 360° videos Via YouTube
National Geographic 101 Videos Learn the basics of a topic in a 2-3 minute video, via YouTube. Topics are wide ranging from animals to lungs to Mars.
The Periodic Table of Videos from the University of Nottingham
The Periodic Table of the Elements, in Pictures and Words
National Science Foundation Links to different resources
The 30 Best Science Websites for Grades K-12
Legends of Learning Learning games for Science concepts (Haven’t tried them, but worth a look, linked to elementary concepts)
The Sixth Extinction (good info for you to know as a teacher!)
The Ruff Ruffman Show Geared for ages 4-8, there is a downloadable teacher's guide. "Targeted to kids ages 4-8, The Ruff Ruffman Show features YouTube-inspired videos, digital games, and real-world activities starring canine host extraordinaire, Ruff Ruffman. Ruff, along with his trusty assistants Blossom the cat and Chet the mouse, answers questions from kids, takes on challenges, and learns the value of failure—all while modeling science inquiry skills and learning about core science concepts."
21 Amazing STEM Resources for Teachers
All Topics: Explore Earth from NASA
Weather
PBS Weather K-2 Resource
National Weather Service Education resources
11 Excellent Earth Science Apps & Websites for Teachers
CA Parks Online Resources Science and history resources K-12
Climate
Geography
Peaks and Valleys A 3D tour of the world’s highest and lowest points.
National Geographic Society Teacher Resources
NGS Map Resources You can create and print maps, use map games, see current events and more.
Geoawesomeness (current events, geography is big right now, think things like satellites and drones. Interesting maps and articles).
Plum Landing Videos and outdoor activities. From the website:
"Choose from a free collection of children's activities ranging from 10 to 40 minutes long. They can be led by any informal educator and are low cost/low prep. Short animations introduce the activity, or you can skip the video and dive right in."
"Use Educator Tip videos to learn tried-and-true practices in leading outdoor science exploration. The videos are hosted by Jessie Scott, longtime outdoor educator with the U.S. Forest Service."
National Parks Free Photos Search for photos and videos of US National Parks: photos, videos, audio, webcams. Most are public domain.
Videos: Nature Nuggets From PBS specifically for K-2, "Nature Nuggets are short, minute-long videos drawn from NATURE, one of the most watched documentary film series on public television." If you click on a video, you get lesson plan, links to standards, discussion questions, etc.
Videos: Nature Grade 3 and up. From the PBS series "Nature," videos, linked to standards, with lesson plans and discussion questions.
National Geographic Kids Kids websites w/lots of info on animals.
ARKive teacher resources (animals) and habitats
BBC Earth Subscribe to receive emails. Beautiful images and videos.
BBC Earth YouTube channel. Subscribe to receive emails. Beautiful images and videos.
BBC Earth Animals in Slow Motion YouTube Channel Let students make observations via these slow motion videos.
Watching these videos can be great brain breaks, or a nice way to come back from lunch! If you want to tie academics, have students write a journal entry which could include drawings, of their favorite part. As BBC puts it, it's one way to get your nature dose, which research says is extremely important to people's well-being. "A study from BBC Earth and the University of California has revealed that watching nature documentaries can make you happier."
Observe animal behavior:
CA Academy of Sciences Webcams Reef, penguins, coral reef, Farallon Island (off SF)
San Diego Zoo Live Cams Under the cam there is also a link for info about the animal.
ZooViewTV More live cams!
World Space Week NASA, early October, and lesson plans at Resources for Educators (guide in Eng, Span and other languages), K-12 ideas
Autumn videos and info from Free Technology for Teachers
The Science of Autumn More videos and links from Free Tech for Teachers
Twig Science Reporter is a weekly science news service for your K–5 classroom. “Twig Science Reporter has been created to help teachers connect science lessons with real world news. Every week, Twig Science Reporter brings high-quality videos and other learning resources together with topical news to inspire school children to explore new possibilities through scientific inquiry and reasoning.”
Live Science News, tech, health, plants, animals, Planet Earth, Strange News, Space
New Atlas (upper grade) Articles on Lifestyle, Science and Technology
“Teaching Science with the Tribolytes Column” NY Times Learning Network Suggested uses: weekly current events (Science is constantly being discovered), or mentor texts for scientific writing.
Tappity iPad/iPhone app. "Our growing library contains over 200 experiments, games, lessons, videos, and more, all of which are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Tappity releases new content every 10 days, and new game shows come out every Sunday...Free for educators directly through Apple. You will need to ask your school’s IT department to download Tappity on your classroom’s devices. If you like, you can also send us an email with your .edu address, and we’ll set you up with a free lifetime membership.
17 of the Best Science Apps for Elementary School Education
Terrific Websites for Science from Common Sense Media
13 Must Have Virtual Science Apps, Tools & Resources
These look good, aligned w/NGSS, but do cost money. Your district may already subscribe.
Brainpop Jr. (K-3)
Twig Science California "Twig Science is a complete K–6 NGSS program built for California, in which students investigate, design, build, and understand phenomena using a blend of hands-on, digital, video, and print resources."
Google Science Fair Resources for Educators Activities and ideas for each step of the scientific process
Are Science Fairs Unfair? Making Science fairs equitable and a learning experience