Alaska Museum of Natural History

EDUCATION

Links & Resources

General Education

1. Alaska History and Cultural Studies: http://www.akhistorycourse.org/
Alaska's History & Cultural Studies provides students, teachers and others interested in the state access to a rich source of facts and viewpoints about Alaska and its history.

2. The Smithsonian Website: This site contains lesson plans on a variety of topics, and most have corresponding state standards. Some lesson plans from this site have been chosen to go along with our workshop topics and are placed under our workshop headings.
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/index.html

Paleo Plants

1. The Life Cycle of Plants: http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants_pt2/
This interactive site includes seed growth, parts of a flower, seed dispersal, worksheets and
plant identification.

2. Plants and our Environment: http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/pamain.html
This website is good for reference materials. The pages are narrated by the students who created the site.

3. Super Teacher Ideas: http://www.superteacherideas.com/science2-plantlife.html
This website contains fun experiments and activities from a mystery seed project to building a giant flower.

4. Botany and Art and their roles in conservation: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/botany/index.html
This lesson focuses on the race to make records of endangered plant species around the world.
The students try their own hands at botanical illustration, following the methods of a Smithsonian artist.

Alaska state standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=2758

Water, Water, Everywhere

1. Drinking Water: http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/kids_k-3.cfm
This site contains an interactive water cycle, printables and more.

2. Seepy Sandwiches: http://www.nps.gov/ozar/forteachers/seepy.htm
This site contains an activity that demonstrates how water infiltration can carry pollution underground.

3. The Water Cycle For Kids: http://www.waterfiltersfast.com/The-Water-Cycle-For-Kids_ep_94-1.html This site lists the stages of the water cycle with links under each for more information.

4. The Air and Water Cycle for Kids: http://floridaacdealers.com/info/the-air-and-water-cycle-for-kids
This site contains links to several animations, diagrams, stories and more.

Geology Rocks

(see also “Rocks & Fossils” section)

1. The Volcano Simulator: http://www.alaskamuseum.org/features/volcano/index.htm
Ever wanted to have your own volcano laboratory, but didn't want to clean up all that lava? Now's your chance to be a super-scientist and create your very own volcano.

2. The Paleontology Portal: http://www.paleoportal.org/
"This site is a resource for anyone interested in paleontology, from the professional in the lab to the interested amateur scouting for fossils to the student in any classroom. We have gathered many different resources into this single entry "portal" to paleontological information on the Internet."

3. Alaska Geological Society: http://alaskageology.org/
All about Alaska geology. The society offers field trips, publications, luncheons and other social events for its members, and membership is very affordable! Learn more at their site.

4. Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Minerals, Crystals, and Gems: Stepping-Stones to Inquiry
Lesson plans introduce students to mineral science and the scientific process of observation, hypothesis, and conclusion. Grade(s): 4–8

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/minerals/index.html

Alaska State Standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=408

5. The Dynamic Earth:
Interactive. Explores the dynamic forces that formed and are continually reforming the Earth and Solar System. Search records of gems, minerals, rocks, volcanoes, and meteorites by type or location. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.mnh.si.edu/earth/main_frames.html
Alaska State Standards for this resource:
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1390

6. This Dynamic Planet Map:
Shows Earth’s most prominent features when viewed from a distance and more details when viewed more closely. Map back highlights examples of fundamental processes.
Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.volcano.si.edu/info/products/dp_map/dp_map.cfm
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1448

7. Rock Cycle:
This interactive site allows students to collect rocks and follow them through the rock cycle.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/index.html

Polar Dinosaurs

1. Dinosaurs of Alaska: http://www.alaskamuseum.org/education/dinosaurs/index.html
Learn about the terrible lizards (that's what the word "Dinosaur" means) that ate, slept, hunted, fought and played in Alaska.

This interactive website allows you to click on dig sites in Alaska and find out specific information on the dinosaurs found at those sites. http://www.alaskamuseum.org/education/dinosaurs/akdinomap.html#a1

2. Dinosaur Tracks: http://www.alaskamuseum.org/education/tracks/index.html
Sometimes investigating prehistoric animals means studying their footsteps preserved in stone for millions of years. See what we know about the dinosaurs of the North Slope by the tracks they left behind.

3. Dinosaur Designs:
In this lesson, students do research on a dinosaur species while exploring the steps of design. They themselves plan a long-term project in which they build 3-D models.
Grade(s): PreK–3, 4–8

http://www.educatorresourcecenter.org/view_lesson.aspx?lesson_plan_id=430

Alaska State Standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=2321

4. Dinosaurs:
Information on dinosaurs at the Smithsonian and around the world. Includes general information, species specific information and images, background on the researchers, virtual tour, and virtual fossil digs for children. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/dinosaurs/
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1401

Bones

1. BROKEN MAMMOTH ARCHEOLOGY SITE:
http://www.alaskamuseum.org/education/brokenmammoth/index.html
A mysterious band of hunters once inhabited interior Alaska. Find out what scientists have uncovered at this 12,000 year old site.

2. North American Mammals:
Searchable database of all living mammals of North America. Search by geographic location, species name, mammal family tree, or conservation status. Includes glossary and skulls, bones, and teeth. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/

Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1373

3. Body Parts: An Online Activity
Interactive online activity in which children study anatomy by matching various body parts to their respective position on the human frame. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://americanhistory.si.edu/anatomy/bodyparts/nma03_bodyparts.html
Alaska State standards for this resource:
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1734

Living in the Ice Age

1. BROKEN MAMMOTH ARCHAEOLOGY SITE:
http://www.alaskamuseum.org/education/brokenmammoth/index.html
A mysterious band of hunters once inhabited interior Alaska. Find out what scientists have uncovered at this 12,000 year old site.

2. Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists
Students use the methods of archeologists to identify and interpret artifacts from a contemporary setting. Grade(s): 4–8

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/decoding_the_past/index.html

Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=406

Rocks & Fossils

(see also “Geology Rocks” section)

1. Smithsonian in Your Classroom: Prehistoric Climate Change (and Why It Matters Today)
If you're looking for a science activity to help introduce environmental issues, or if you're looking for fun and challenging real-world math problems, take a look at the lesson plan in this issue of Smithsonian in Your Classroom. Students do the work of a team of paleontologists studying a time of rapid global warming 55 million years ago. By examining fossils of leaves from various tree species, and by incorporating the findings into a mathematical formula, they are able to tell average annual temperatures during this prehistoric time. The lesson culminates in a discussion of climate change in our own time. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/climate_change/index.html

Alaska State standards for this resource:
http://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=2446

2. Geological Time: Story of a Changing Earth Interactive geological timeline.
Sections include descriptions of life on the planet, evidence, and details of climate and plate tectonics. Includes information on dating methods, earth processes, life processes, and glossary.
Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/geotime/main/index.html
Alaska State standards for this resource:
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1411

3. Rock Cycle:
This interactive site allows students to collect rocks and follow them through the rock cycle.

http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/index.html

Alaskan Animals

1. Web of Life:
Construct a food web to learn how all living things in an ecosystem are interconnected. Includes student role play and extension activities. Grade(s): PreK–3

http://forces.si.edu/ltop/pdfs/PreK-1-WebofLife.pdf
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1367

2. Weaving the Web:
Students construct food webs to learn how food chains are interconnected, show how energy flows through food chains between the sun, plants, and animals. Includes printable activity sheets and extensions. Grade(s): PreK–3, 4–8

http://forces.si.edu/ltop/pdfs/2-5-WeavingTheWeb.pdf
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1366

3. Animal Tracks—What Do They Reveal?:
In this online lesson, students do the work of biologists by investigating wildlife through tracks it leaves. They collect data, classify animals according to their “consumer category,” create species lists, and interpret habitat requirements.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/ClassroomScience/AnimalTracks/Teacher/default.cfm

Alaska State standards for this resource:
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=2609

4. Arctic Wildlife Portfolio:
Learn about Alaska and its animal inhabitants. Divided into birds, mammals, and sea mammals. Includes primary accounts of the arctic by a 19th-century naturalist, matching animal game, and glossary. Grade(s): 4–8, 9–12

http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/wildlife.html
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1018

5. My Space (PreK-3):
Activity examining how animals create a unique space in which they can live. Students read a poem about animals' habitats and then discuss the habitats.
Grade(s): PreK–3

http://www.educatorresourcecenter.org/view_lesson.aspx?lesson_plan_id=196
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1974

6. North American Animals for Kids:
Links to information and educational activities for children related to the animals of North America. Grade(s): PreK–3, 4–8

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/NorthAmerica/ForKids/default.cfm
Alaska State standards for this resource: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/standards_of_learning_sel.asp?state=-1&grade=-1&loid=1745