Changes in the Earth and Sky (K-4)

* The surface of the earth changes. Some changes are due to slow processes, such as erosion and weathering. Some changes are due to fast processes such as landslides, volcanoes, and earthquakes.  * Weather changes from day to day, and from season to season. Weather can be described by measuring temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation.  * Objects in the sky have patterns of movement. The sun appears to move across the sky in the same way every day.  (NSES, 1996)

The name of this "learning tool" is called Earth, Moon and Sun. Use the blue arrows in the upper right hand corner to go through the simulation. This tool has been developed by the bbc.co.uk and their Science Clips program. These are very clear, concise, and effective lessons for young students. Flash is required.

The Phases of the Moon "learning tool" is brought to us by a wonderful organization called Science Alberta Foundation. The tool is preceded by a short cartoon, after the cartoon comes one of the most well designed and conceptually clear explanations of the phases of the moon. This is a difficult idea for students. More activities can be found in Wonderville, also developed by Science Alberta Foundation.

This "learning tool" is called Weather and comes to us from EdHeads. Students will love forecasting and predicting the weather, we guarantee it! All of EdHeads simulations are conceptually clear, well designed and developmentally appropriate for students. A clear leader in the development of "learning tools" for science education!

The name of this learning tool is Temperature and Bar Graph. This is a very clear explanation of the bar graph and how temperature changes during the day. Just click on the appropriate link when you get to this page from WeatherBug. WeatherBug is a wonderful tool for teachers and students. Try some of their other sample interactive lessons on weather.

This "learning tool" is called Be a Weather Watcher and is a delightful way to introduce students to the weather and the data that can be collected from day to day changes in the weather. This tool has been developed by EcoKids. Flash is required for this site.

This "learning tool" comes from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is called Seasons.  Note, the animation assumes you are an observer in the northern hemisphere (sorry to all of our friends below the equator!). For an observer in the southern hemisphere, the seasons would just be reversed. Flash is required.

This "learning tool" comes from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is called Lunar Phases. This applet that illustrates how the motion of the moon around the Earth gives rise to the phases we see.  Flash is required.

This is a very clean and fun interactive about Seasons. ( scroll down to Seasons Interactive).That our seasons come from the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to its orbit of the Sun is easy to grasp, once you have used this Interactive. It shows the flow of seasons as the planet orbits the Sun, the angle of the Sun’s rays for a given location on Earth, how temperature varies at that location, and how the Sun’s path varies in the sky by season. This is from Astronomy by John Fix.

PBS, another leader in science education, brings us this "learning tool" called Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker. Alfred Wegener's theory, plate tectonics, has had a major impact on Earth Sciences. It represents a scientific revolution as significant to geology as relativity was to physics. This activity lets you manipulate tectonic plates. Pull the plates apart and push them together and watch what happens to the Earth. Shockwave is required. This is from PBS's A Science Odyssey.

In Lunar Cycle 2: The Challenge, students "drag" moons to their correct places in lunar cycles. There are calendars that include illustrations of the phases of the moon for most days, and the challenge is for students to complete the calendars by filling them with the correct moon phases for all days.  This “learning tool” is brought to us by Science NetLinks.

 This simple "learning tool" allows students to see where earthquakes hit on our planet during a five year time period. The name of this interactive is called Earthquake Epicenters. This interactive was developed by the Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development group. Be sure to visit their other interactives at their Science Lab.  

Paul Neave is an amazing interactive designer from Great Britain. The name of one of his learning tools is the Neave Planetarium. This virtual planetarium is elegant and conceptually accessible. One of the best we have seen, try it and see if you agree. To see more of Paul's amazing work go to Neave.com. Jen Thiel of Lenape Middle School recommended this site. Thanks.

 A Weather Adventure: Riding the Winds with Kalani is a tremendous learning tool for students. They will learn about the sun, temperature, seasons, clouds, and precipitation. This tool comes to us from the Urban Programs Resource Network of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The have lots of other programs for young students. Great work!