Today, for the curious among us, I have a plethora of science-y links.  The first is a site that I can spend hours wandering through.  The article titles are all so interesting that they’re almost like click bait – except when you click on them, they really do deliver.  It’s How Stuff Works a site brimming with articles, videos and podcasts about… well, nearly everything. No, it’s not all science, but there’s certainly a lot that is. Want to know the difference between mitosis and meiosis? Maybe you’re wondering how viruses work or why school buses don’t have seat belts (not science, but it caught my attention – eight states mandate them, but Vermont isn’t one). You’re in the right place.  This is one site where I have to give myself a time limit.  

Here are a few science sites aimed at kids:

Ology – Biodiversity, physics, paleontology, climate change, and much more – all for kids! Check out the videos, play the games, try your hand at the activities, and learn something amazing!

Science News for Students – Articles highlighting ongoing research in fields ranging from astronomy to zoology. Stories are reported by experienced science journalists, many with PhDs in the fields on which they write. There are also experiments to perform, a series that explores cool STEM jobs, and articles highlighting the intersection of science and fiction.

And, now for a grab bag of NASA sites!  NASA has had a long, strong web presence, and their sites tend to be engaging and fun.  First is NASA’s main site, NASA.gov.  Here, you can find live streams from the International Space Station, NASA at Home videos and activities, audio podcasts, dozens of apps to download (want to take a selfie of yourself floating through space?), image galleries, even NASA TV.

Next are some of NASA’s many sites for kids:

Climate Kids by NASA – Launched in 2010, NASA’s Climate Kids website tells the story of our changing planet through the eyes of the NASA missions studying Earth. Targeting upper-elementary-aged children, the site is full of games, activities and articles that make climate science accessible and engaging.

NASA eClips – eClips brings together exciting video segments and resources to inspire and educate students to become 21st Century explorers by introducing them to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts and providing teachers with engaging resources and tools to support teaching and learning. 

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory – DIY STEM projects, video tutorials, games, links, and more

NASA Kids Club –  games of various skill levels for children pre-K through grade 4

NASA Space Place –  NASA Space Place’s mission is to inspire and enrich upper-elementary-aged kids’ learning of space and Earth science online through fun games, hands-on activities, informative articles and engaging short videos. 

NASA STEM Engagement – Activities and opportunities selected by NASA STEM experts

Have fun exploring!  Next up?  Poetry and writing!  Stay tuned….

Be well,
Shana