Comparing Sizes of Objects in our Universe

Here a video comparing sizes of objects in the universe

Air Pressure and Wind

Here's a good web site with good images and good information on air pressure, wind, etc.

What is Energy

The U.S. Dept. of Energy hosts a web site with some basic information related to energy in the Earth's system.

Origins of Early Earth's Atmosphere

Here's a web-based article, published by Eastern Illinois University, theorizing how Earth's atmosphere evolved over geologic time.

A Guide to the Cosmos

Using The New York Times' words, this slide show of words and images are "dazzling and true"

Plate Tectonics

A wealth of information on plate tectonics from a web site hosted at UCSD is here.

Exploration Through Time

This University of California - Museum of Paleontology web site contains a series of interactive modules that explore the history of life on Earth, while focusing on the processes of science. Each module contains suggested lesson plans and an extensive teacher’s guide.

There's one module that's very good for teaching geologic time.

Birth of the Earth Lesson Plan

Objectives
Students will understand the following:

1. Earth is estimated to be 4.6 billion years old.
2. Certain major events have occurred during this period that are considered important milestones in Earth’s development.
3. Early Earth was very different from our planet as we know it today.
4. Earth has existed as we know it today for only a very short time, relative to the number of years since its origin.

Lesson is here.

Earth's Gravity

In this video adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, investigate the hypothetical scenario of a person falling into a hole through the center of Earth. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson illustrates the thought experiment; first he defines the conditions—ignore the effects of air resistance, temperature, and Earth's rotation—and then he travels through the hole. A timer and speedometer show how his speed changes as he falls toward the center of Earth, passes the center, and slows to a stop at the opposite end of the hole.

The Astronomy Workshop

A University of Maryland astronomy web site worth exploring. There are many interesting modules.

Solar System Visualizer

The Solar System Visualizer was created by Michael VanDaniker and Andrew Lund as a part of an independent study under Douglas Hamilton at the University of Maryland.

2009 The International Year of Astronomy

It's true! This year is the International Year of Astronomy.

This is directly from the IYA2009 web site

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture and marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme "The Universe, Yours to Discover". IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations.

Life Cycle of a Star

Here's a web site focused on the life cycle of a star. The site contains animations that provide visuals to help students better understand the concept of a star's life cycle.

YouTube: Carl Sagan "A Glorious Dawn" music video

Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking make an appearance in a YouTube music video from the film Cosmos.

Evidence of the Big Bang

Evidence of the Big Bang is still present in the universe. This video helps students learn about what evidence there are for the Big Bang.

The Drake Equation

The Drake Equation: Estimating the Number of Civilizations in the Milky Way

Overview
Students estimate the number of civilizations in the galaxy by first estimating the number of craters on the Moon and then by performing estimates of multiple-variable systems culminating in the use of the Drake Equation. In this three-part activity, students use estimation techniques to describe complex situations.

Life Cycle of Stars

Students analyze characteristics that indicate human life cycles, and then apply these observational principles to various NASA pictures of stars to synthesize patterns of stellar life cycles.

Classifying Galaxies - Compare & Contrast

Students view NASA images of galaxies and develop a galaxy classification scheme.  Students then compare and contrast their classification scheme with that developed by Edwin Hubble.

Earth's Atomosphere

Living in an ocean of air is a web site focused on air quality.

The Large Hadron Collider Explained

The Newshour on PBS produced a video with a physicist discussing the purpose and importance of the Large Hadron Collider. The video will allow students to better understand the LHC.

Here are some questions that can be used with your students to focus their viewing:

1. Why are scientists doing this?
2. What do you hope they see? Why?
3. Were you satisfied with Greene's answer about black holes? Are you concerned that new science experiments could be more trouble than they are worth, or do you think scientists mostly know what they are doing?
4. How does the public learn about the latest scientific discoveries? How much information should the general public have about scientific experiments? Should we know the details, or just the general goals?
5. Do you want to be a scientist? Why or why not? What kind of education do you think the scientists working on this project have?
6. What do you think about the Big Bang theory? What about the dark matter theory? Is it important for people to understand these theories? Why or why not?

Big Bang Video

Here's a video that explains the expanding universe.

Creation Myth Resources

This site has a collection of creation myth stories, some are not updated

Videos about certain creation myths (might be for younger students)