Workshop style guide with tips and examples.English/Language Arts
The Purdue Writing Lab – Follow the link for Grades 7-12 Instructors and Students. There are some great tips to help you with research papers or essays. There’s even a section on how to conquer “writer’s block”. You know – the inability to concentrate and focus and get things on paper, and it’s the night before the assignment is due…
Grammar Girl – A great podcast for grammar/writing questions
Shakespeare for Kids – While working puzzles, answering quizzes, and learning new words, you’ll learn about Shakespeare, his plays, and Elizabethan England.
Poet’s Corner – This is a great poetry resource. Here’s how they describe it on the site’s home page…“The collection covers roughly 7,000 works by about 800 poets – including some of the best known works in the English language – and many obscure and forgotten works that are well worth reading .”
Poetry 180 – This isn’t your standard poetry – there’s something for everyone. Sponsored by the Library of Congress, the introduction says, “Poems can inspire and make us think about what it means to be a member of the human race. By just spending a few minutes reading a poem each day, new worlds can be revealed.”
Library of Congress – Poetry webcasts, poetry news and events, columns from the Poet Laureate, and more. The site also has links to many other poetry-related sits, including an archive of recorded poetry and literature.
Math
Math.com – A very comprehensive site – there is help with basic math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more. Again, though, be careful to follow links that are part of the site, and not other ads. Stay to the “Select Subject” menu on the left.
Algebra.com – This is one of the best sites. It’s created by people who really love algebra (who ARE these people??). Don’t click on any advertising links – just stick to the center area, find the type of problem you’re working on, and you’ll be able to see lessons, example problems, and more. It’s great.
WebMATH – This is a really good site, because it lets you type in a math problem that you’re working on, and then it gives you a step-by-step guide on how to solve it.
The site covers general math, algebra, geometry, calculus, and other stuff.
math2.org – A good site with some basic math reference tables. One really cool feature of this site is a math message board where you can post your specific math question, and get answers from other students and from experts.
Science
Whole Frog Project – OK, this is pretty cool – you can dissect a frog online. Well, obviously not REALLY….but pretty close! Just jump to the “Virtual Frog Dissection Kit”, and then don’t forget to click on the “Help” file – it will give you some tips for how to move the frog around.
Cells Alive! – Great graphics on this site, including animations of cells. There are some puzzles as well, and just let me warn you – they are addicting. I spent 15 minutes putting together the streptococcus puzzle.
Geology – About.com is really a great all-around site, with information about tons of things. This link will take you to it’s “Basics of Geology” page, with links to hundreds of pages and images.
NASA for Students – Very comprehensive site. And you would expect that, right? I mean it is NASA. The people that have actually gone into space. Separate sections for Grades 9-12, 5-8, K-4.
Space Race – This site is sponsored by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Great background on the history of the “Space Race” between the United States and the Soviet Union. Great images and a clear and simple explanation.
Sky & Telescope Magazine – Yes, this is a magazine, but you don’t have to pay anything to view their website, and there is a lot of really good, basic inforamtion about astronomy, including topics like: “Words Ya Gotta Know”, “How to Start Right in Astronomy”, “Names of the Stars”, and more.
Science Buddies – This site is great if you need to find a good science project in a hurry. Click on the “Project Ideas” link, and you’ll see a whole bunch of different topics to choose from. You can choose projects that match your grade level – anywhere from first grade to senior in high school.
Science Fair Projects – Another one of About.com’s great sites. All sorts of science fair ideas, sorted by topic and by grade level.
The Science of Baseball – You didn’t think there was any science to baseball? Think again! Check your reaction time to see if you could hit a baseball thrown at 95 miles per hour. Other fun stuff including activities and experiments.
Halloween Chemistry Projects – Instructions for making fake blood, a glow-in-the-dark pumpkin, dry ice fog – even fake ectoplasm! Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll find links to ideas for costumes, food, even a “mad scientist party”!
Social Studies
The World Factbook – The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities.
And get this…it’s developed by none other than the CIA – the Central Intelligence Agency. Good stuff.
50 States – Pretty much everything you would ever want to know about each of the 50 United States. State bird, state nickname, weather, population, highest point, government. You get the idea. It’s got everything.
Official Website of the White House – This is the official website of the White House, the home of the President of the United States.
Congress.gov – This is pretty much the place to go if you want to get details about legislation going through Congress.
BBC News Country Profiles – Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.
