Mark Francek’s Earth Science Websites of the Week
February 3, 2018
This is the first mailing of 2018. Sites worth a look are “Geography of Poverty” and “Winter Infographics…” If you haven’t had a chance to check out the NESTA Twitter feed at please do so. Many of the sites featured below were first discovered through NESTA Twitter.
This week’s 3 February 2018 Earth Science Sites of the Week feature the following resources:
Editor’s Picks: **1) Fun Science Demos, 2) Personalized Learning for Every Student CK-12, 3) Interactive Virtual Science Labs (Non Steroid Version of PhET) *****4) Geography of Poverty, 5) The 25 Biggest Turning Points in Earth’s History, 6) Sounds of the Planets, 7) Instructional Materials and Glossaries for ELL Students, 8) Reading Information Aloud to Yourself Improves Memory of Materials, 9) The Truth About Toilet Swirl- a Coriolis Experiment, ****10) Winter Infographics for Class Use.
Computer
1. Scratchwork
Demo
1. Fun Science Demos
Environment
1. Time-Lapse Proof of Extreme Ice Loss
General
1. Personalized Learning for Every Student CK-12 CK-12
2. What's Going on In This Graph?
3. Interactive Virtual Science Labs (Non-Steroid Version of PhET)
Geosphere
1. How Greenland Would Look Without its Ice Sheet
2. Geography of Poverty
3. Raging Southern California Wildfires Seen from Space (Photos-Old News)
4. The 25 Biggest Turning Points in Earth’s History
Space
1. The Martian: Classroom Edition – Information and Resources for Educators
2. Sounds of the Planets
Teaching
1. Instructional Materials and Glossaries
2. Reading Information Aloud to Yourself Improves Memory of Materials
Water
1. Where’s the Heat from Climate Change? It’s in the Oceans.
Weather
1. The Truth about Toilet Swirl- a Coriolis Experiment
2. Winter Infographics for Class Use
Computer
Site Name / ScratchworkSite URL /
Site Author / Scratchwork Tool
Suggested By / Jennifer Weible
Description / “Nobody likes to solve a problem while drawing with a mouse. All you need is a webcam, a pen, and some paper. You can scan your drawings and have the ink processed onto the board.”
Demo
Title / Fun Science DemosSuggested By / Ashley Stark
Site URL /
Description / FunScienceDemosis a unique, high quality, free, online science education resource focused on middle school and elementary aged students.FunScienceDemosis a YouTube channel that has created short, engaging, relevant science demonstrations connected to every important science concept that young learners should know before they reach high school. Research shows that by being exposed to quality science instruction at a young age can start a life-long interest in science and the practices of science.
Environment
Site Name / Time-Lapse Proof of Extreme Ice LossSite URL /
e xtreme_ice_loss/details
Site Author / James Balog at TEDGlobal
Suggested By / Dave Brown
Description / “Photographer James Balog shares new image sequences from the Extreme Ice Survey, a network of time-lapse cameras recording glaciers receding at an alarming rate, some of the most vivid evidence yet of climate change.”
General
Site Name / Personalized Learning for Every Student CK-12Site URL /
Site Author / CK-12
Suggested By / Ashley Pereira
Description / “We, at CK-12, believe every child on this planet should have equal access to great education. All students are unique. Each has a different pace of learning, different interests, and different goals. But with limited time and resources, it’s a challenge to treat students as individuals and cater to their varied needs. Our philosophy is that learning is a personal journey. The CK-12 Foundation was founded with the mission to enable everyone to learn in his or her own way.”
Site Name / What's Going on In This Graph?
Site URL /
Site Author / New York Times - The Learning Network
Suggested By / Virginia Malone
Description / “This New York Times site provides a series of graphs with some questions. The basic questions asked could be used with any graphs you find in Earth Science. Questions include these basic questions:"What do you notice?, Are there items you notice that make you wonder? What do you wonder? What's the deeper story that comes from the graph?"Each graph has additional questions and each graph has some answers from the American Statistical Association.”
Site Name / Interactive Virtual Science Labs (Non-steroid Version of PhET)
Site URL /
Site Author / Glencoe
Suggested By / Kristi Van Hoveln
Description / “Many of these labs allow students to test multiple variables. Caution: the journal and data entry sections of the simulations do not work, so you probably will want to arrange for students to write these on their own pages. Many of these labs are useful to substitute for activities in the class that are too costly, dangerous, or time consuming. I have assigned grades to some that I've explored in detail. Grades are based on interactivity, usability, and overall value of the exploration. Many of these can be used as simple class demonstrations, whereas others are more useful for having students explore and change variables.”
Geosphere
Site Name / How Greenland Would Look Without its Ice SheetSite URL /
Site Author / Jonathan Amos
Suggested By / Mike Nolan
Description / “Scientists have produced a stunning visualisation of Greenland – without its ice cover. It is made from decades of survey data that show the position and shape of the territory’s bedrock, and the surrounding seafloor. This is critical information needed to understand how the huge island might respond to a warming world. Were all the ice on Greenland to melt, it would raise global sea-levels by 7.42m (24.34ft).
Site Name / Geography of Poverty
Site URL /
Site Author / Photos: Matt Black and Written By: Trymaine Lee
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / “Over the course of the next few months MSNBC and photographer Matt Black will undertake an ambitious accounting of poverty in America in a project called The Geography of Poverty. We will travel across this country from coast to coast, border to border, visiting more than 70 cities and towns connected by the simple fact that more than 20% of their residents fall below the poverty line. We will document the struggles and triumphs of the people at the heart of these communities.”
Site Name / Raging Southern California Wildfires Seen from Space (Photos-Old News)
Site URL /
Site Author / Mike Wall
Suggested By / Heather Renyck
Description / “Satellite photos show just how big and destructive theSouthern California wildfireshave become.
A dramatic image captured Tuesday (Dec. 5) by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 spacecraft, for example, reveals a massive burn scar just east of the city of Ventura, along with areas of active fires.”
Site Name / The 25 Biggest Turning Points in Earth’s History
Site URL /
Site Author / BBC Earth
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / “Our planet has existed for 4.5 billion years, and it has been a busy few eons. Here are the 25 biggest milestones on Earth’s history. From leaps forward in evolution to devastating asteroid impacts, these were the turning points that shaped our world.”
Space
Site Name / The Martian: Classroom Edition – Information and Resources for EducatorsSite URL /
Site Author / RHI Inc.
Suggested By / Argy
Description / “Thank you for your interest inThe Martian: Classroom Edition(Broadway Books), featuringclassroom-appropriate language, discussion questions and activities, and a Q&A withAndy Weirhimself.With its compelling narrative and scientific content, the book is perfectlysuited for both language arts and STEM curriculums.Additionally, our website and blog feature further resources to make teachers’ lives just a little bit simpler.”
Site Name / Sounds of the Planets
Site URL / _planets/?st=JAC2L52K&sh=05691104
Site Author / Space Cowgirl
Suggested By / Glen Williams
Description / Interesting video and audio of what each planet sounds like in space.
Teaching
Site Name / Instructional Materials and Glossaries for ELL StudentsSite URL /
Site Author / The Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools
Suggested By / Tim Brisley
Description / “These instructional materials are to help teachers who are working with ELLs. Theyare only for instructions, not for ELL accommodation.
Bilingual glossaries are an essential and expected test accommodation for English Language Learners in the State of New York. This website presents glossaries for at least the top 10 state languages at the state level, but it is updated with new languages based on requests from schools and updates in state data.”
Site Name / Reading Information Aloud to Yourself Improves Memory of Materials
Site URL /
Site Author / University of Waterloo
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / “You are more likely to remember something if you read it out loud, a study has found.”
Water
Site Name / Where’s the Heat from Climate Change? It’s in the Oceans.Site URL /
Site Author / Climate Central
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / “The rate of atmospheric warming has been slower in past 15 years than the previous 30 — even as we’ve continued to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is tempting to think that everything we’ve learned about greenhouse gases since 1857 is wrong, but it is not.”
Weather
Site Name / The Truth About Toilet Swirl- a Coriolis ExperimentSite URL /
Site Author / Veritasium
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / “We each repeated the experiment 3 times and got the same results every time. For those of you who might be skeptical, great! A right circular prismatic kiddie pool is only $10 and you can do the experiment for yourself at your latitude.”
Site Name / Winter Infographics for Class Use
Site URL /
Site Author / NOAA
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter Feed
Description / Check out this website for the latest winter safety infographics and other winter infographics.
February 10, 2018
Editor's Picks: 1) 12 Engaging Science Apps for Middle and High School Students, *****2) World Population History, ***3) Data Visualization: Chart Dos and Don'ts, ***4) Draw on Maps in the Field: Scritch Map, **5) Graphic: How Does Space Affect the Human Body? 6) If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: "A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system." ****7) Interactive: How much Water is used to Make your Meal, ***8) Cloud Identification Guide.
Computer
1. 12 Engaging Science Apps for Middle and High School Students
Demo
1. Back to School Demos- Crush the Soda Can and the Potato Candle
Environment
1. World Population History
General
1. Data Visualization: Chart Dos and Don'ts
3. Bohr Models
Geosphere
1. How did ammonite fossils form?
2.Extremophiles: Life Goes Deeper
3. Drone Pilot
4. Draw on Maps in the Field: Scritch Map
Humor
1. Tony and Jordan: Identical Twins Dazzle with Magic- America's Got Talent 2017
Space
1. After 37 Years, Voyager 1 Has Fired Up Its Trajectory Thrusters (old story)
2. Graphic: How Does Space Affect the Human Body?
3. If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: "A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system."
Teaching
1. Why 'Learning Styles' and Other Education Neuromyths Won't Go Away
Water
1. Interactive: How much Water is used to make your Meal
Weather
1. Cloud Identification Guide
2. November 2014 Storms Become Case Study for Better Lake-Effect Forecasting
Computer
Site Name / 12 Engaging Science Apps for Middle and High School StudentsSite URL /
Site Author / Project Learning Tree
Suggested By / Laura Sanders Arndt
Description / "We've pulled together 12 free science apps for middle and high school students. We focused on topics such as climate change, trees, conservation, and weather, which complement Project Learning Tree's lesson plans. The apps in this list include stand-alone games, interactive teaching tools, and reference guides."
Demo
Site Title / Back to School Demos- Crush the Soda Can and The Potato CandleSuggested By / Thomas McGuire
Description / "CRUSH THE SODA CAN
Students love this one!
There are other web sites besides the one above that show it. It is very easy.
I recommend doing this wearing protective glasses/goggles. Always a good ideas when you heat ANY LIQUID). Anyone within 2 m needs eye protection. But no need to be so close. Anyone in the classroom will see this clearly.
1. See out an open bowl of ice water.
2. Place about 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) of water in a used soda can. It must be empty with the tab pulled.
3. Place the can on a hot plate or other heat source. Put a small scrap of paper over the opening. Stove burners work perfectly as the heat source when you try it at home.
4. Heat until the scrap of paper over the sods can opening gets wet as water in the can boils and fills the can with steam.
5. USE TONGS to quickly INVERT the soda can into the ice water.
The can, filled with steam, will be suddenly crush caused by air pressure. Pop!
(A potholder works in place of tongs but is cumbersome to grab the lightweight soda can. The potholder can catch fire if it touches the hot plate surface.)
6. It is very quick. So, have several cans to repeat the procedure for each class.
How does it happen? When the steam flashes to liquid water, it creates a vacuum in the can. Air or ice water can't rush in fast enough and 14 pounds of air pressure per square inch instantly crushes the can.
You can wait until you cover weather (air pressure) to put this demo into the context of air pressure/weather.
Environment
Site Name / World Population HistorySite URL /
Site Author / World Population History
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter
Description / "Welcome to WorldPopulationHistory.org, an interactive site that lets you explore the peopling of our planet from multiple perspectives – historical, environmental, social and political. It is about the 2,000-year journey of human civilization and the possible paths ahead to the middle of this century."
General
Site Name / Data Visualization: Chart Dos and Don'tsSite URL /
Site Author / Duke University Library
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter
Description / "This LibGuide collects resources and tutorials related to data visualization. It is a companion to the visualization services provided by Data and Visualization Services at Duke University Libraries."
Site Name / Bohr Models
Site URL /
Site Author / Amy Delmanto
Suggested By / Kelli Thompson
Description / "My sixth graders are working on a physical science unit. I decided to have the students make Bohr Models out of cereal and paper plates. It was a quick, easy activity and they had so much fun."
Geosphere
Site Name / How did ammonite fossils form?Site URL /
Site Author / AndyBrunning/Compound Interest
Suggested By / Virginia Malone
Description / "A nice graphic and short clip on some of the chemical aspects of fossil formation. If you are teaching chemistry or biology as well as Earth Science, check out the archives. There are numerous fascinating short articles integrating chemistry into the real-world phenomenon. Each article provides references for further reading. The site author has a book "Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell?: Fascinating Food Trivia Explained with Science," which I found intriguing."
Site Name / Extremophiles: Life Goes Deeper
Site URL /
Site Author / Gaetan Borgonie and Corey S Powell
Suggested By / Joseph Frankenfield
Description / "The Earth is not a solid mass of rock: its hot, dark, fractured subsurface is home to weird and wonderful life forms."
Site Name / Drone Pilot
Site URL /
Site Author / Careers in STEM
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter
Description / "Welcome to your first day on the job! Watch this video to see what a day in the life of a Drone Pilot is like."
Site Name / Draw on Maps in the Field: Scritch Map
Site URL /
Site Author / Esri World Geocoder
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter
Description / "Draw on the map. Go from the world to your neighborhood! Change the basemap, find a place by typing its name, or jump to a bookmark. Use on computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. To save, take a screenshot."
Humor
Site Name / Tony and Jordan: Identical Twins Dazzle with Magic- America's Got Talent 2017Site URL /
Site Author / America's Got Talent
Suggested By / Randy Schaetzl
Description / "The French twins bring their magic to AGT season 12, and hope to impress not only the judges, but also their parents."
Space
Site Name / After 37 Years, Voyager 1 Has Fired Up Its Trajectory Thrusters (old story)Site URL /
Site Author / Eric Berger
Suggested By / Chad Wiekierak
Description / "This week, the scientists and engineers on the Voyager team did something very special."
Site Name / Graphic: How Does Space Affect the Human Body?
Site URL /
Site Author / Canadian Space Agency
Suggested By / NESTA Twitter
Description / "Space has tremendous effects on the human body! As we prepare for journeys to more distant destinations like Mars, humankind must tackle these risks to ensure safe travel for our modern explorers. The impacts of microgravity mirror aging and the complications of a sedentary lifestyle. By studying astronauts' health, we also help people on Earth."
Site Name / If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: "A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system."
Site URL /
Site Author / Josh Worth
Suggested By / Pete Mackay
Description / "A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system."
Teaching