Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

Astronomy, earth science, engineering, oceans, physics,
nutrition, physical activity, & aging are among the topics of
9 new resources at FREE, the website that makes it easier to
find teaching resources from federal agencies.

"Astronomycenter.org"
features reviewed resources for teaching about asteroids,
astrobiology, the big bang theory, black holes, cosmology,
dark matter, galaxies, the Milky Way, telescopes & satellites,
planet formation, planetary atmospheres, space exploration,
stars, the sun, & more. (NSF)
http://www.astronomycenter.org/

"Astrophysics Science Project: Integrating Research & Education (ASPIRE)"
offers lessons for exploring cosmic rays, force, gas
particles, kinetic energy, lunar phases, machines, momentum,
the night sky, refraction, the scientific method, scientific
notation, seasons, seismic waves, stars, the angle of the sun,
tides, & waves. Find out about careers; read interviews with
scientists. (NSF)
http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/

"Digital Library for Earth System Education"
presents thousands of reviewed resources on atmospheric
science, biology, chemistry, climatology, cryology, ecology,
environmental science, forestry, geography, geology,
mineralogy & petrology, hydrology, mathematics, natural
hazards, ocean sciences, physics, soil science, space science,
& more. (NSF)
http://www.dlese.org/dds/index.jsp

"Engineering Is Elementary"
provides lessons & overviews on acoustical engineering,
agricultural engineering (insects), civil engineering (balance
& forces), environmental engineering (water), industrial
engineering (simple machines), materials engineering (earth
materials), mechanical engineering (air & weather). (NSF)
http://www.mos.org/doc/1545

"NASA Robotics"
invites students & teachers to start robotics teams, "botball"
teams, & enter robotics competitions. Take online courses in
robotics. Follow along with scientists who are developing
technologies to drill for life on Mars. Find lessons for
teaching robotics & related topics. (NASA)
http://robotics.nasa.gov/home/home.php

"Nutrition & Physical Activity"
focuses on physical activity & good nutrition. Examine the
new food pyramid. Learn about body mass, bone health, cancer,
dietary guidelines, fruits & vegetables & weight management,
healthy eating tips, heart disease, intensity levels of
various activities, obesity, physical activity statistics &
recommendations, stairwells, tips for parents, & weight
management ideas. (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/

"Oceans Alive"
explores the mountains, abysses, & other physical features of
the ocean floor, as well as the movement of the continents,
the water cycle, the four oceans, waves & wind, currents,
tides, marine life near the surface, & ocean predators & prey.
Activities are provided for learning about the water cycle,
water currents, web of life, & tides. (NSF)
http://www.mos.org/oceans/

"The Physics Front"
provides selected resources for teachers of high school
physics. Hundreds of lessons, labs, & activities can be found
in four categories: conceptual physics, algebra-based physics,
AP physics, & K-8 physical sciences. They can be accessed
also by topic: measurement, motion, forces, momentum, energy,
springs, heat & temperature, wave energy, electrostatics,
electricity & circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, optics,
particles & interactions, & astronomy. (NSF)
http://www.thephysicsfront.org/

"Secrets of Aging"
examines what scientists are learning about aging, what we can
do to live longer & healthier, & how the growing proportion of
older to younger people is changing our world. Learn about
"fluid & crystallized" intelligence. Test your memory.
Compare factors that might determine the longevity of
different species. Explore the demographics of aging. (NSF)
http://www.secretsofaging.org/