Spring Into Science Part III:

Virtual Field Trips

Weekly website series by Leslie Cohen, Intern

Museums provide a wide variety of online resources. In addition to providing links to information regarding exhibits and teacher materials for planning field trips, these sites provide lesson activities and links to useful classroom resources.

Franklin Institute in Philadelphia: This site shares resources for home and classroom activities such as an electronic map of the moon.

• EARTHFORCE: From volcanic eruptions to earthquakes explore and experience the power of natural disasters!
• El Niño: The science of El Niño . . . it is all HOT AIR! Learn that El Niño is the result of the simple convection process of hot air over hot water!
• "Scientists in the City:" The City as an Ecosystem: The city, as an ecosystem, is an ideal classroom for science learning . . . so explore your ecosystem with this Web site!
• Powers of Nature: video footage of nature including volcanic eruptions!
• BioPoint: Follow the action in one high school biology lab and you'll get the BioPoint. Mrs. Mazen's biology class is online, offering both the teacher and student points of view.
• Living Things: Does your curriculum include Life Science? If so consider the "Living Things" online unit of study. You'll find resources and collaboration opportunities.
• inQuiry Almanack: Read inQuiry Almanack, the Franklin Institute's monthly online magazine for"inQuiring" minds.
• Online Units of Study and Classroom Activities
• "Fistfuls of Favorite Web Sites"

Exploratorium: This site provides curricular resources and online exhibits.

• Teacher Institute Web Links: Links include: Learning Resources, Classroom Activities and Materials, Publications, Webscience Workshop,California Framework, Learning Resources. Further there are links to useful books, periodicals, videos and web sites on these topics: Astronomy, Chemistry, Earth Science, Earthquakes and Volcanoes, Electricity and Magnetism, Elements, Heat and Energy, Light and Color, Microscope, Multicultural, Physics, Sound, Spinning, Structure and Shape, Water, Weather
• Science Activities: "Science Snacks" - miniature science exhibits that teachers could make using common, inexpensive, easily available materials - help teachers to climb out of their textbooks and join their students in discovering science for themselves. Check out some "Snacks in Progress."

Museum of Science in Boston: This site offers resources for local and global communities, including a series of scanning electron micrographs.

• Public Programs and Science Theater: Find out about the live happenings at the museum.
• Omni Theater: What's showing in our super-sized movie theater.
• Planetarium: Innovative programs about the night sky and the universe we inhabit.
• Science By Mail: Take the Science by Mail challenge and get a scientist pen-pal.
• Computer Discovery Space: A place to explore some of the latest software and CD-ROM titles.
• The Lyman Science Library: Members and educators, including student teachers and home school teachers, can borrow books and videos by mail.
• Science Kit Rentals: Five weeks of fun-filled, inquiry-based science activities for the entire class.
• New and Temporary Exhibits: Find out about the exciting new exhibits at the museum.
• On-line Exhibits: Try out our virtual museum exhibits.
• City Stars: A special opportunity for urban middle and high school teachers who have little or no background in astronomy.

Alphabetical List of Other Science Museums to Check-Out!

• Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
• Arizona Science Center
• Black Inventions Museum
• California Academy of Sciences
• California Science Center
• Carnegie Science Cente
• Center of Science & Industry (COSI)
• Chicago Academy of Sciences Nature Museum
• Coyote Point Museum
• Detroit Science Center
• Edmonton Space & Science Centre
• Explorit Science Center
• Great Lakes Science Center
• Headwaters Science Center
• Impression 5 Science Center
• Inventure Place: National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Kansas City Museum (a must-see sight . . . VERY kid-friendly!)
• Lawrence Hall of Science
• Miami Museum of Science
• Millennium Point
• Museum of Texas Tech University
• National Plastics Center & Museum
• New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
• New York Hall of Science
• Orlando Science Center
• Pacific Science Center
• Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center
• Science Center of Northern Virginia
• Science Museum of Long Island
• Science Museum of Minnesota
• Science Museum of Virginia
• SciTech
• Smithsonian Institution and Education (great resources for teachers!)
• St. Louis Science Center
• Tech Museum of Innovation

Visit the entire Spring into Science Website Series!

Part I, Strange Weather (El Niño!)
Part II, Earth Science
Part III, Virtual Field Trips
Part IV, The Facts of WildLife!
Part V, Just for Kidz!
Part VI: Connecting Standards and Lessons