Curated OER
Analyzing a Science Fiction Movie
Fourth graders watch the movie "Contact" and write a review. They discuss in their review how scientists deal with technological problems, the movie's connections to the nature of science and how technology affects science. They share...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Is Newton's First Law?
Students are introduced to the concepts of force, inertia, and Newton's first law of motion: objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.This lesson is the first in a series...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: What Was Columbus Thinking
These lesson plans guide students' thinking about the effects Columbus' journey to the New World had on Native Americans and uses primary sources such as excerpts from Columbus' diary and letters to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: 3 2 1 Contact, Don't Touch That Dial
A discussion of reflecting telescopes and their use in radio astronomy. The types of information gained from and the research emphasis fueled by such telescopes is described. Site uses Hollywood references and a humorous style.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Carl Sagan
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia provides a brief biography of Carl Sagan, the American astronomer who pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and science in general.
University of Calgary
University of Calgary: The Caribbean: First Contact
This site details the initial contact of the European colonizers with the Caribbean islands. The site explains how the Caribbean became colonized and also has maps, quotes, and artwork.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Newton's Laws: The Meaning of Force
This interactive physics tutorial introduces the basic meaning of force, including contact and non-contact forces.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Newton's Laws: Types of Forces
This interactive tutorial gives an in-depth introduction to a variety of forces; both contact, and non-contact.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Weightlessness in Orbit
Through illustrated examples and practice problems, this interactive physics tutorial helps students clear up their possible misconceptions about weightlessness.