The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deals with natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, national security matters, winter storms, etc. in a non-threatening scientifc and fun manner for children. The site includes animations, videos, games, quizzes and questions areas that address hazardous situations that children may face at any given time. Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to observe the type and cover of clouds including contrails. Students observe which of ten types of clouds and how many of three types of contrails are visible and how much of the sky is covered by clouds (other than contrails) and how much is covered by contrails. Intended outcomes are that students learn how to make estimates from observations and how to categorize ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to introduce the different particle sizes of soils and the properties which each contributes to the soil character. Students make mud pies by adding water to the various soil components, letting them dry and observing the pie's characteristics. Students sift soil to remove organic materials and pebbles. They then sift the soil with smaller meshed sieves to separate ... Full description.

The site offers an interactive discussion of different vantage points associated with dam building. It describes some of the engineering and environmental issues that go into the process of selecting a site for building a dam and the conditions necessary for electrical generation. Links to classroom and family activities are organized by grade level. Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to use a land cover type map to make environmentally sound decisions. Full description.

In this lesson, students will observe and document similarities and differences between parts of plants. It supports students interacting with nature and provides them with a framework for their observations by offering them opportunities to explore, question, and document similarities and differences among plant parts. Students will identify and sort plant parts through hands-on activities and group ... Full description.

This lesson demonstrates that simple models can be used to represent real world objects that are not easily brought into a classroom. Students will create a wave model using two different types of simple models. The approach of creating, describing, and understanding qualitative models is critical because it is the type of learning that students will most closely relate to their experiences. Full description.

This site provides an interactive way to learn about the rocks and minerals found in everyday objects. Here, kids start with a clickable kitchen scene. For each item, students are taken to an information screen that explains a rock or mineral and how it has been used in the item. The list of over twenty items includes pots, pans, plates, flatware, acid, matches, and even the kitchen sink. Full description.

This site allows students to take a closer look at three rocks: Gowganda Tillite, Loraine Quartzite, and Gowganda Glacial Conglomerate. On the opening page, there are side-by-side photos of the three rocks and students are asked to describe each one. Clicking a photo of the rock takes students to a magnified view of the rock. The site also includes links to a Tips for Adult Helpers page and to a printable ... Full description.

This lesson is the second in a two-part series on fossils. It explores the information that can be discerned by comparing fossils to living organisms. Students explore fossils and are responsible for using what they have learned to do their own extrapolating. Students conduct an interview with the remains of a Protoceratops. In preparation for the interview, they brainstorm the questions for which ... Full description.