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sites for... 10-15s

The information you need is just a click or two away.

astronomy • botony • chemistry • earth sciences • ecology • food science & nutrition • general science • health & medicine • human biology • maths • physics • technology/engineering • zoology

astronomy

Amazing Space
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Amazing Space allows you to play with the building blocks of galaxies and explore our solar system. This is a site which will give you a great insight into all things celestial.

BBC Space
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/
This site is just out of this world! It is packed with pictures, interactivity, a 3-D virtual tour of the solar system plus you can even play games!

Cool Cosmos
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/
This is a great educational site courtesy of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Its idea is to show how the Universe can be explored using infrared and other light sources invisible to the human eye.

Earth and Moon Viewer
http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
Map it out! View different parts of the Earth and the Moon. But be warned, this is a very popular site so can be slow at times, but it is well worth the wait.

Space
http://www.space.com
There’s something amazing here every day with space science news and news about space missions and launches.

Space Day
http://www.spaceday.org/index.html
Lots of interactive puzzles and arcade-style games to be found here as you learn about the planets and star constellations.

Sun|trek
http://www.suntrek.org/
This site is aimed at 10-14 year old students (KS3/4) and their teachers.  It is about the Sun and its effect on the Earth. There’s a whole host of spectacular images and movies (from solar space observations) which can be downloaded for classroom work. Sun|trek contains material relevant to 'Earth and Beyond' and also covers environmental issues such as alternative energy sources.

Views of the Solar System
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/homepage.htm
You won’t see this by looking out of your window, you need to look at this site instead for pictures of planets and the Sun.

Virtual Solar System
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/solarsystem/splash.html
Take a 3-D tour of the Solar System, fly past the Sun and observe each planet up close and personal. It needs a download, which could take around 20 minutes so make sure you have plenty of patience!

Windows to the Universe
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
This is a wide ranging site from the USA, encompassing astronomy, geology and physics, history and people, basically it should be called "life, the universe and everything"! It's got a lot of pages and you could roam around learning this and that for hours. It's beautifully presented, (if a little disorientating given the amount of content) and full of imaginative ways to explore science, and it even has a section for teachers with loads of classroom activities that link into the American Curriculum, but could be adapted for use here. Definitely worth a look.


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botony

Tomato Zone
http://www.thetomatozone.co.uk
For a totally different experience, why not ‘ketch-up’ with a new site from the British Tomato Growers Association? It’s the Tomato Zone - a kid-friendly, and very interactive website wholeheartedly devoted to our juicy red friends.


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chemistry

About.com: Chemistry
http://chemistry.about.com/
Lots to explore in this US-based site including demos and experiments, homework help, science fair projects and much more.

A Look inside the Atom
http://www.aip.org/history/electron/jjhome.htm
This is a very readable, attractive account of the discovery of atomic structure. A site for students interested in how ideas in science develop.

All About Atoms
http://education.jlab.org/atomtour/index.html
Here's a very simple, but easy to understand guide to the secret world of atoms. It is featured on the site of the US physics research organisation, the Jefferson Lab.

Chemcomics
http://www.uky.edu/Projects/Chemcomics/
If you like chemistry but you also have a passion for all things superhero then this site combines the two. Each element in the periodic table is linked to a comic book hero so click on each element and a series of images from adventure stories will load.

Chemistry Society
http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/
Enter the Chembytes Infozone and you may never get out again for there’s loads to read up on for all you budding chemists out there!

Creative Chemistry
http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk
The Creative Chemistry website is recommended for secondary school science teachers and anyone else with an interest in chemistry - particularly if you're facing GCSEs or A Levels...

Doc Brown’s Chemistry Clinic
http://www.docbrown.info
There are quizzes, worksheet and revision aids for KS3, GCSE and A’ level. It’s not just chemistry either – in the KS3 section there’s biology, physics, earth science and mixed science resources too. There’s a fantastic alphabetical list of the users and applications of chemicals but don’t get carried away and print it out ‘cos it’s 30-40 pages long!

FunBrain Periodic Table
http://www.funbrain.com/periodic/index.html
Test your knowledge of the Periodic Table in this activity from an American Education site called FUNBRAIN.

GCSE Chemistry
http://www.gcsechemistry.com/
Around 400 pages dedicated to GCSE chemistry, covering all of the UK syllabuses. The best way to navigate the site is via the index, which is useful for finding key points for homework.

In Their Element
http://www.krysstal.com/elements.html
Facts and stories about various chemical elements – a simple page but the information is clear.

The Chemical Industry
http://www.cia.org.uk/newsite/
This is a great site for anyone considering entering the chemical industries at any stage, with useful careers advice and interesting information on chemicals in the home.

Visual Elements
http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/page3.html
This site takes you on a spectacular journey through the periodic table, as you absorb a wealth of information on individual elements, groups and patterns in the table.

Web Elements
http://www.webelements.com
Gives the periodic table and information about it. You can click on individual elements and get more details. Also CHEMPUTER interactive on-line chemical calculators to be found here.


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earth sciences

British Antarctic Survey
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
The British Antarctic Survey are adventurous folk! Geologists, climate scientists, and zoologists all pile down there for the summer, and some even stay over the winter – brrrr!

Discover Petroleum
http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/petroleum/index.html
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be on an old rig, or what going on in an oil refinery, DISCOVER PETROLEUM is the site for you. The site is in two sections, ages 8-12 and 13-16, with photographic virtual tours in both, and extra games if you're in the younger age group. The tours are quite basic in format, but it's an effective way of giving you an overview of the processes involved, and there's an "info bank" if you need to find out more. You might come across one or two technical bugs in there (we did) but it's still well worth a visit.

Earth and Moon Viewer
http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
Map it out! View different parts of the Earth and the Moon. But be warned, this is a very popular site so can be slow at times, but it is well worth the wait.

Energy Sources
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg
Possible energy source and it's pros and cons explained in this straightforward site, would be great for anyone doing a project on energy sources!

Ocean Link
http://oceanlink.island.net/
This is a fantastic marine biology website. So if you like all things sub aqua then this is the site for you. You will find all kinds of interesting information about things like: the biggest sea animals, marine biology careers, answers to common ocean/animal questions, and much more.

Volcano World
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/
Comprehensive images and information regarding the world’s volcanoes with good teacher resources.

Windows to the Universe
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
This is a wide ranging site from the USA, encompassing astronomy, geology and physics, history and people, basically it should be called "life, the universe and everything"! It's got a lot of pages and you could roam around learning this and that for hours. It's beautifully presented, (if a little disorientating given the amount of content) and full of imaginative ways to explore science, and it even has a section for teachers with loads of classroom activities that link into the American Curriculum, but could be adapted for use here. Definitely worth a look.


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ecology

Arkive
http://www.arkive.org/
This superb resource from The Wildscreen Trust is an electronic archive of photographs, moving images and sounds of endangered species and habitats.

Eco Schools
http://www.eco-schools.org.uk/
Sustainable Learning is a programme providing a structured, task based approach to the way energy and water is used in schools. Schools working through this programme have realised energy reductions of 10% on average and have a better understanding of how energy and water is used in their schools.

Energy Quest
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov
If you’ve got the energy then log on to this energy-rich site. It will give you all the detailed knowledge you need about energy to get you well on your way to the top of the class!

Pest Detectives
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A Flash-based game, the aim of which is to move around an old house, finding and identifying insects and answering questions. Don’t let wrong answers ‘bug’ you!

Recyclezone
http://www.recyclezone.org.uk
This site looks as though it must be for Primary School pupils only, but contains lots of info for secondary level teachers and students too. A useful round up of everything to do with the three Rs (no not reading, writing and arithmetic! Reuse, Reduce and Recycle) plus it selves a bit further into the whole notion of sustainability in schools. Worth a look.

The HMS Endurance Tracking Project
http://www.visitandlearn.co.uk/default.aspx
This project aims to increase everyone’s knowledge of the environment as a whole and show how the Royal Navy contributes to a better world, shaping our lives beyond their traditional military capabilities.

Young People's Trust for the Environment
http://www.yptenc.org.uk
The YPTE is a charity which aims to encourage young people's understanding of the environment and the need for sustainability. To this end, they run all sorts of out-and-about stuff like environmental holidays and an award scheme, but you can also go on a mini-adventure without even leaving your swivel chair...


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food science & nutrition

Explore E Numbers
www.exploreenumbers.co.uk
Ever wondered what those tricky little ingredients are? And what effects and side effects they have? Here's a site that'll give you the low down.

Farming & Countryside Education
http://www.face-online.org.uk/index.php
Download a nice free resource on ‘Why Farming Matters’ from FACE.  Aimed at Key Stage 3 students, the packs include Activity Booklets, Picture Cards and Posters.

Food Future
http://www.foodfuture.org.uk
Science-based information on the issues surrounding the genetic modification of food.


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general science

Afrikan Science
http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/education/AfrikanScience
This is a bright, beautiful and child-friendly website which allows users to find out about black scientists, engineers and technologists who have made significant contributions to the world today.

Canadian Association for Girls In Science
http://publish.uwo.ca/~cagis/
Well, didn't get into the clubhouse because we weren’t young enough! This club was started by a young girl who wanted to share her love of science, so try the experiments or check out the links page.

Cool Science
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/
A few nice science projects to complete here if you’re a budding young scientist!

Dr Universe
http://www.wsu.edu/DrUniverse/
Dr Universe is a cat with connections, and her aim is to answer the questions and wonderings of people who write in to her. Questions like: "What purpose does a cockroach serve in our world?" and "Why do we cry?"

Exploratorium
http://www.exploratorium.edu
Large site for this exciting museum, good experiments and other fun stuff to do. Try the sports science section or explore the science of music.

Extreme Science
http://www.extremescience.com
If you’ve ever wondered what the biggest, fastest and strongest is then this is the website for you. Extreme Science has all the cool world records in earth science and the creature world that you want to see.

Fact Monster
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html
Fact Monster is an interesting yet informative site brought to you by Information Please. This page explains why there were so few black scientists in the past and so sets a context in which children and teenagers can learn about the achievements, and of course the struggles black scientists faced. You’ll also find profiles of a number of black scientists on the website too.

Funology
http://www.funology.com
Funology is a colourful American site full of activities like recipes and crafts. There are also some really terrible jokes you can tell your friends! Check out the laboratory for some fun experiments.

Hollywood Science
http://www.open2.net/science/hollywood_science/
No – we’re not just talking plastic surgery and special FX here, this is a very entertaining site, packed with the science behind the movies. Could Bruce Willis really have survived the leap from the exploding tower in Die Hard? Find the answer here!

Learn.co.uk
http://www.learnthings.co.uk/
Feed your brain from this website as it contains most things you need to know about science in school. There are some great interactive demonstrations too!

Science Groove
http://www.science-groove.org/SSA
SCIENCE GROOVE, the official website of the SCIENCE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION. This is indeed a cheery site, and there's no doubt that the people behind it have had a lot of fun compiling it, but its mission is a serious one: to promote science through song, because as they note, music is a great vehicle for memorising words. Unmissable – well, OK, definitely worth a look!

ScienceNet UK
http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/
Search through previously asked science questions and science research news. Good for school projects and finding the answers to those niggly questions that no one seems to know the answer to!

ScI-Journal
http://www.sci-journal.org
An online publication for science students, which gives them the chance to publish work done in school or college science classes to share with students around the world.

The Atoms Family
http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/index.html
This website isn’t for the faint-hearted! Let the Atoms family guide you around their haunted mansion as you learn about atoms and their properties.

The Discovery Channel
http://www.discovery.com
Discovery.com is brought to you by the Discovery Channel and the website is as varied as its programme schedule. Visit the Science Channel or Animal Planet pages for lots of interesting articles or if you’re after activities then Discovery Kids is the place for you.

The Naked Scientists
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/
If you want to ask scientists questions, you can try the Naked Scientists. Based around a radio program, the site is crammed full of science resources including nearly 200 hours of science podcasts, over 60 + home experiments, over 100 science articles and a fact or fiction quiz plus much more.

The Why Files
http://whyfiles.org/
If you’ve ever wondered what the science behind a news story is then be sure to check out the Why Files.

Zoom
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/
Zoom is by kids and is for kids so it’s sure to be a hoot! Once you’ve tried a science experiment you can send in your findings and share them with other Zoom users.


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health & medicine

BBC Health Site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health
Yes, those BBC types have done it again! Is there no end to the BBC website? If you have a health query or just want to learn about bodily functions in general then you’ve come to the right place.

Billy Blood Drop
http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/bzone.html
The official mascot of the National Blood Service. You can play games or download the Billy Blood Activity Book.

Doctor Over Time
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/doctor/
This is an interactive site which is pretty basic, but allows you to explore a bit about the state of medicine in 1900, 1950, and in 1998. The idea is that you adopt the role of a patient, with one of three conditions. You then go and consult the doctor in each of the three years. He (or she) will make a prognosis and let you know what will happen during your treatment and what the likely outcome will be.
It's a good starting point for anyone with an interest in the history of medicine - or a belief that things were better back in the "good old days"!

Give and Let Live
http://www.giveandletlive.co.uk/en/
A free educational resource for 14-16 year olds about donation – blood, bone marrow, organ and tissue.

Sporty Science
http://www.exploratorium.com/sports/index.html
It's all a bit U.S. of A. what with basketball and such, but there's some serious biology and physics too. We particularly enjoyed looking through the Q & A section http://www.exploratorium.com/sports/sports_faq.html
where some great sports science questions are answered. The questions include how Michael Jordan manages to hang in the air for so long when he's slam-dunking the ball, why long-jumpers do that weird running movement while they're in the air, and why physios like to put bags of ice on injured muscles.


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human biology

BSSRC Life
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/life/index.html
Great site full of information about relevant modern biological science issues – very clearly set out – you will need to download Flash if you haven’t already.

Cells Alive!
http://www.cellsalive.com/
Good pictures showing bacteria, blood cells and viruses. See ‘anatomy of a splinter’ which explains the inflammatory process.

Come to your Senses
http://library.thinkquest.org/3750/
Let Mr Potato Head show you round the human senses. He’s full of ‘sense-sational’ facts!

Human Anatomy Online
http://www.innerbody.com
A site that does what it says on the packet – it helps you study human anatomy! Each topic has animations, graphics and descriptive links.

Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/brain.html
This is a great website for those who want to know more about their bodies.  This page tells you all about your brain and nervous system.

LaughLab
http://www.laughlab.co.uk/home.html
LaughLab was a huge scientific experiment to discover the world’s funniest joke. The findings are detailed here.

Neuroscience for Kids
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/newslet.html
Explore the human nervous system through a wealth of images and information. The site includes comparative studies, a brief history of neuroscience and sections on disease and injury. Numerous games and activities explore the functions of the brain.

Neuroscience for Kids – Experiments
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/experi.html
Experiment page of the above website.

Skeleton
http://www.imcpl.org/kids/guides/health/skeletalsystem.html
Two page site about the skeleton with the bone quiz to test your knowledge.

Sporty Science
http://www.exploratorium.com/sports/index.html
It's all a bit U.S. of A. what with basketball and such, but there's some serious biology and physics too. We particularly enjoyed looking through the Q & A section -
http://www.exploratorium.com/sports/sports_faq.html
where some great sports science questions are answered. The questions include how Michael Jordan manages to hang in the air for so long when he's slam-dunking the ball, why long-jumpers do that weird running movement while they're in the air, and why physios like to put bags of ice on injured muscles.

Visible Human Project
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/applications.html
Take a guided tour of the Visible Human from MAD scientists by looking at three-dimensional images of the male and female human body.

Vision 3-D
http://www.vision3d.com/optical/index.shtml
Discover how to see in 3-D and the benefits of exercising the eyes. Diagrams and information explain the mysteries of binocular vision. The gallery provides numerous examples of both traditional and 3-D illusions.

Your Amazing Brain
http://www.youramazingbrain.org.uk
If you've not visited the Your Amazing Brain website then it's time to do so right now. As you'll see there are several different sections, such as 'Your Memory', 'Inside Your Brain' and 'Test Yourself'. In each one the idea is to try things for yourself and learn more about what's going on up there in your top ten centimetres...


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maths

4000 Years of Women in Science
http://www.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/
Biographies and pictures of female scientists and mathematicians throughout history. The site is very informative and inspiring although simple in layout and appearance.

Easy Maths
http://www.easymaths.com/
We know maths isn’t that easy but with this site it can be. There are tutorials, exam papers, puzzles, tricks and games to be found here.

physics

BNFL (British Nuclear Fuels Ltd)
http://www.bnfl.com/
Very Shockwave-heavy site with a lot of information about nuclear power. The education section contains details of teaching resources, an online magazine, and various puzzles.

CERN
http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/LHC/HowLHC-en.html
Everything you wanted to know about how the Large Hadron Collider works.

Energy Sources
http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm
This site is aimed at KS3 pupils and has pages devoted to a wide range of energy sources from fossil fuel and nuclear energy to solar, wind tidal, hydro and geothermal power.

Flight Site
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~flight/homepage.html
Are you getting away on holiday soon? Don’t you want to have some science fun with aeroplanes first? Then read this clear site about the science of flight.

Galileo Galilei
http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/lab/galileo/index.htm
Here's a daredevil, ascending to great heights to try and accomplish a feat that many of his spectators just do not believe possible. It's that Italian guy, Galileo Galilei! Up the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with his two cannon balls and a feather...

Physics Applets
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/applets/
Not small apples, but very entertaining interactive physics concepts, from atoms to microwave ovens! Anyone could easily spend time playing with these little devils, and would come away with a good understanding of the concepts.

Particle Adventure
http://particleadventure.org/
Okay, so perhaps particles don’t sound particularly adventurous but you’ll have to visit this site to take our word for it. Follow the interactive tour and the world of quarks, antimatter and neutrinos is presented in easy to digest chunks of information.

Physics Department at Bootham School Online
http://www.bootham.york.sch.uk/physics/
This site contains extremely detailed lesson plans and relates back to individual National Curriculum learning statements. Activities of the Physics Department are also covered.

Time Travel
http://www.biols.susx.ac.uk/home/John_Gribbin/
Get your head round this if you can! Thought-provoking science theory, which asserts that according to Einstein’s laws, there's no reason why time travel can't work...

Vision 3-D
http://www.vision3d.com/optical/index.shtml
Discover how to see in 3-D and the benefits of exercising the eyes. Diagrams and information explain the mysteries of binocular vision. The gallery provides numerous examples of both traditional and 3-D illusions.

Windows to the Universe
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
This is a wide ranging site from the USA, encompassing astronomy, geology and physics, history and people, basically it should be called "life, the universe and everything"! It's got a lot of pages and you could roam around learning this and that for hours. It's beautifully presented, (if a little disorientating given the amount of content) and full of imaginative ways to explore science, and it even has a section for teachers with loads of classroom activities that link into the American Curriculum, but could be adapted for use here. Definitely worth a look.You Tube: Juggling in a Cone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqDAf_lg9Xs
Juggling three balls is easy. No, really, it is. Anyone can do it, with a little practice. It's just a bit of simple Newtonian dynamics, after all.  Juggling three balls while standing inside a giant inverted perspex cone, however, is... come to think of it, we're not sure we've ever tried.  Easy or hard, it looks stunning.  Just remember to take some time out from gawping to consider what's going on with all those conic sections, and to wonder what Newton would have made of it all.


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technology/materials/engineering

Engineering Education
http://www.engineering-education.org.uk
If you have ever wondered what it’s like being an engineer, look no further than this great scheme. Year 12 students get a chance to work in a small team on real engineering problems.

http://www.eesw.org.uk is for Welsh students,

http://www.raeng.org.uk/education/schemes/school.htm is where you’ll find information on the R. A. Engineering’s other brilliant schemes for school students.

zoology

BBC Springwatch
http://www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch/
This website runs all year round. You can watch the show, join in on the message boards or find out more about the animals in the series.

British Antarctic Survey
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
The British Antarctic Survey are adventurous folk! Geologists, climate scientists, and zoologists all pile down there for the summer, and some even stay over the winter – brrrr!

Pest Detectives
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
A Flash-based games, the aim of which is to move around an old house, finding and identifying insects and answering questions. Don’t let wrong answers ‘bug’ you!

Polar Bear Tracker
http://www.panda.org/polarbears/
Ever wondered what polar bears do all winter? To enable us to find out, and learn more about the bears at the same time, the WWF together with the Norwegian Polar Institute, have been doing a spot of tracking.


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