Information Collections Genre
A - Z
Electronic Animal Dictionary
Grades: K-5
Ongoing? No
Students from all over submit text and graphics describing animals beginning
with different letters of the alphabet. The result is a colorful,
student-produced database.
Bird Migration
Project
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? Not sure
In this project, participants share bird sightings and look for migration
patterns. The site includes an on-line form for recording
and submitting data.
Explor-a-Pond
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Your class can "Explore-A-Pond" and share their findings with classes around the
world. Find a nearby pond, upload a digital image, and report your
findings.
Multi-Cultural Calendar
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This site contains a huge searchable database of holidays around the
world. Teachers might also enjoy tips on
integrating this site into the social studies, math, language arts, and
physical education curriculum.
On the Road Again
(Geopolitical Database)
Grades: 4-12
Ongoing? No. Does not work.
Your class might enjoy browsing through this student-created encyclopedia on
the
Square of Life:
Studies in Local and Global Environments
Grades: K-5
Ongoing? Yes
Another excellent project from
CIESE Online Classroom Projects! Students will plot square meters on school
grounds and collect data on the living and non-living things found in each
square meter. They will then share this information through an online database
with other students around the country and the world. Once all data has been
posted, students will compare and contrast their data with the information
provided by other students. Classroom curriculum, including lesson plans, is
provided as is the project’s alignment with national standards. There is also
an extensive list of
online reference materials for use by both teachers and students.
Data Collection
EarthCam for Kids!
Grades: K-12
Whether you're seeking some innocuous voyeurism or a little scholarly
observation, you'll be pleased with this portal. For starters, you and your
students can find links to real-time webcams of zoo animals, tourist attractions,
weather phenomenon, traffic, and the world famous Chia PetCow! Talk about
bringing the real world into the classroom!
Live From the Hubble Space
Telescope
Grades: 4-12
See how students e-mailed experts, designed experiments, and used images from
the Hubble Space Telescope to generate data about astronomical phenomena.
UM WeatherCams
Grades: 1-12
Ongoing? Yes
Weather buffs will love the dozens of real-time outdoor images fromall over the
U.S. This is a great way to collect real data and observations, from the comfort
of your classroom or home.
Weather Scope: An Investigative Study of Weather and Climate
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? Yes
Investigation on local and world weather and climate. Students will have at
their disposal instructions that describe how to create weather
instruments and how to access the Internet to locate real-time weather
information from around the world.
@rt room
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Created as a virtual classroom, “the @rt room is a place for kids to explore
their inner and outer worlds.” There are several different types of art
activities to help engage students in this exploration. There are “Sparkers”
which are short activities intended to jump start students’ artistic minds; then
there are “Thinkers” which inspire students to think like artists. A section
titled “Artifacts” presents information about famous artists and works of art
that may not be familiar to most people. The “Gallery” section displays
students’ artwork from around the world and gives students an opportunity to
enjoy what their global peers have created. There are two separate links which
list recommended books and recommended links respectively. The “Archives” list
links that were once featured on the site and still considered valuables
resources. Finally, there is a teacher resource sections specifically for art
educators.
Castles Under The
Rainbow
Grades: K-2
Ongoing? No
Based around the children’s book Skycastle by Sandra Henken, this site
has some excellent curriculum ideas connected to history, art, literature, and
writing. Each classroom involved in the project focused on one particular area
related to castles and then posted their experience on the site. Particularly
helpful are the extensive notes for teachers about how to structure the project.
Also, be sure to check out the
medieval feast page…they show you how to create the menu!
Children's Express
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? No
Prepare to be amazed! This online news magazine will knock! your socks off!
Children's Express is produced by children aged 8-18 in several locations in the
U.K. The site includes a behind-the-scenes description of the complicated
processes behind creating a high-quality news publication. In addition to
reading the stories, other students are invited to email the production teams
about stories currently being written, or they can volunteer to be interviewed.
Past stories are archived online, and the site includes a library with a search
feature to look up previous articles. The UK project is now known as
Headliners, which focuses upon student journalism.
E-LINK
Writers Corner
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This site features student-written poems, prayers, and book reports.
e-me:
Electronic Self-Portraiture Project
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Not Sure
The original goal of this project is "to create a collective portrait of the
emerging cyberspace student community" in the Baltimore-Washington, DC
region. It achieves this by publishing images, poetry, essays,
music, and scientific information that describe students and their world.
Also check out:
http://www.globalclassroom.org/eme.html
Faces of the Olympics
Grade: 4-10
Ongoing? No
Everyone has a story to tell! In the months before the Sydney Summer Olympics,
students were invited to discover an Olympic story in their own locality and
share it with the world. They were to choose someone with an Olympic story to
tell, interview her/him, and email the story and picture to the site's creators.
Story templates and suggested interview questions helped students structure and
focus their work. Once received, the stories were indexed. Highlights at this
Web site include information on how the project addressed Australian teaching
standards, and ! a thorough list of links to Olympic-related cites.
Fairy Tale and Folk Tale
CyberDictionary
Grades: Designed for 1st, but can be adapted for slightly older groups
Ongoing? Yes
"G" is for great idea for younger students! "W" is for "way-cool"site! Designed
to be used as part of a fairy tale or folk tale unit, students listen to a fairy
tale and then retell the story in their own words, creating an illustrated "Cyberdictionary,"
with one entry for each letter of the alphabet. Entries are comprised of a
picture and accompanying sentence using the word. Teachers can request that
their class' dictionary be posted to the project's Web site. In addition to the
stories and dictionaries, the site includesonline jigsaw puzzles for students to
solve, detailed instructions for teachers, and creative suggestions from
teachers on how to integrate the project into elementary curriculua.
Historical Book Project
Grades: 4-7
Ongoing? No
Read about the favorite historical books of other students across
the U.S. This project takes advantage of the Web's wonderful multimedia
technology as students combine pictures, text, and even sound in their projects.
Kids' International Peace Museum
Grades: K-3
Ongoing? Yes
Full of student-created "exhibits" on peace, this site has a lot to
teach any visitor. The solemn ambiance of the site is interspersed with humor,
as exemplified by one student's definition of peace: "When my brother
isn't home there is peace." Young students around the world are
welcome to contribute to this virtual museum.
Kids’ Space
Grades: K-10 (through age 16)
Ongoing? Yes
Kids' Space is an online, commercial-free publishing site for students 16 years
and younger. The three sections begin with one for creative products including
art, creative writing, collaborative books, and music. The second section
focuses on global communication for kids by providing a safe environment for
keypals, a bulletin board for posting questions, and sharing information, a
“village” for kid’s personal homepages, and a section for external links that
have been carefully screened. The third and final section focuses on teaching
kids how to use the Internet effectively and efficiently.
KidHost:
Sightseekers Across Canada
Grades: 3-8
Ongoing? No. No longer operational
Students create an interactive atlas of
KidPub
Grades: All
Ongoing? Yes.
A fun place for kids to improve their
writing skills by sharing their stories, poems, reviews, and other creative
writing with a worldwide audience. It's one of the oldest web sites still in
operation.
MidLink Magazine
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This well-designed " Digital Magazine for Kids, By Kids" is full of
articles and projects that explore a range of topics. Article titles that might
pique your interest include: Native American Geometry, I Have a Dream,
Too, and the Virtual Quilt. Teachers will be pleased to find clearly written
guidelines for submissions, time lines, and tips for participating in this
project.
Mrs.
Sulfur's Fourth Grade CyberFair '97 Share and Unite Project
Grade: 4
Ongoing? No
Through fieldtrips, interviews, guest speakers, and traditional research,
students compiled a guidebook to 18 historical sites in a
National Student Research Center
Grades: 5-12
Ongoing? Yes
Since 1992, the NSRC has provided a model for students to engage in scientific
research, and a place for them to publish their work. Each
"e-journal" contains student-written articles divided into the
familiar sections: statement of purpose and hypothesis, methodology, analysis
of data, summary and conclusion, and application. This would be a great
model for science (and language arts) students to read before launching on
their own research. Moreover, it could be a worthy goal for students to
be published in this e-journal.
Newsday
Project
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students produce their own newspapers based on news articles sent to the
"Newsday news wire" by other students all over the world. Each
class must submit copies of their paper to all of the participating schools
(approximately 35). A look at some of the examples
makes it clear that these are weeks-long projects that engage a number of
academic skills.
SchoolNet News Network
Grades: 4-12
Ongoing? Yes
This professional-looking website features monthly e-zines filled with articles
written by kids for kids. Recent topics have been school violence, summer
jobs, and hockey. Be sure to check out the
Reporter's Toolbox, which
is filled with tips that will help students write like real journalists.
StoneSoup
Grades: 3-8
Ongoing? Yes
Stone Soup is a magazine made up entirely of the creative work
of children. Young people ages 8 to 13 contribute their stories, poems, book
reviews, and artwork to Stone Soup. Since 1973, Stone
Soup has provided inspiration to young writers and artists all over the
world.
TOPICS Online Magazine for ESL Learners
Grades: 7-12
Ongoing? Yes
TOPICS is an online magazine where ESL students write about their interests and
ideas. By reading these accounts students can explore an international
landscape. The writings are organized under topics such as current issues, food
pages, meet people, and globalization. All topics are listed on the sidebar to
the left. Pictures are included with most topics. Back issues are also
available. The site also includes a Teacher’s Corner where ESL teachers can
share ideas for class projects and instructional strategies. Close supervision
is suggested as some topics may be inappropriate for younger readers (i.e.
tattoos).
Young Authors Guide
Grades: All
Ongoing? Yes
This is a guide where young authors (as defined by each publication) can find
places to publish their writing.
VocalPoint
Student Newspaper (Cached
URL)
Grades: 6-9
Ongoing? No. Does not work.
This electronic newspaper features stories written by students across
Boil,
Boil, Toil and Trouble: The International Collaborative Boiling Point Project
Grades: 3-12Ongoing? Yes
Students around the world report the boiling point of water in their
locale. Once there's a large enough sample size, visitors will be able to
see relationships between boiling point, elevation, and a number of other
factors. This is a solid example of multi-disciplinary (as well as
multi-participant!) learning.
A Change of Seasons Does not work.
Grades: 1-12
Ongoing? No
Students from Canada, the United States, and Australia used a handy online form
to submit weather data collected locally, recording observations such as
"clothing required for the day" and "plant changes." Participants viewed the
database of observations and, based on the data it contained, made
generalizations about weather patterns around the globe.
Bucket Buddies
Grades: 1-5
Ongoing? Yes
Bucket Buddies is a collaborative environmental study that poses the question
“Are the organisms found in pond water the same all over the world?” Students
collect water from a nearby pond and identify the macro invertebrates present.
The findings from all participants are shared in the Discussion Area of the Web
site, giving all groups of students the opportunity to compare their data with
other students’ data from around the world. Corresponding lesson plans are
provided in the Teacher Area. Important information about joining the project
and various deadlines can be found in the Project Information section of the Web
site.
"Chewing
the Fat"
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Language teachers and their students will get a kick out of this site.
Here, you will find a collection of slang (all clean) from around the world.
One good one is "Wind yer neck down," which means "wisen
up" according to folks in
Circle of
Seasons
Grades: 1-6
Ongoing? Not Sure
Students collect and publish primary source data on seasonal changes in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada. The students share their data with students from other parts of
the world, collecting information and pictures from other schools and their
local weather patterns.
City Quest
Grades: K-5
Ongoing? Yes
Available in three languages and begun by three elementary teachers from three
different countries and continents--USA, Netherlands, and Japan--City Quest
offers a tour of historical communities around the world. Using the Internet and
other forms of technology, these three classes were able to share with each
other about the historical landmarks and buildings in their hometowns. Beginning
in the 2000-2001 school year, the three participating teachers have asked other
schools around the world to submit reports about the historical significance of
their hometowns.
Down the Drain
Grades: 4-8 (but can be modified for high school students)
Ongoing? Yes
Water, water, everywhere! Down the Drain asks students compare their own water
usage to that of people in other parts of the world. They spend a week
collecting information from household members and classmates to determine the
average amount of water used by one person – after completing data collection,
students predict what they will find and then test these hypotheses by analyzing
the data. Students submit data online for analysis and can periodically download
the results as spreadsheets. Classes have the option of posting student work
online. Rich resources for teachers include lesson plans (the charts are really
handy!), links with water-related information and online conversion calculators,
and the online help page which contains links to several “ask an expert” sites
dealing with science, environment, and water.
Explor-a-Pond
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? yes
There’s more to these ponds than tadpoles! In this project, classes from all age
groups study pond ecology and create a database of pond descriptions. Once
classes register, they submit their pond for approval. After approval is
received, they upload images of the pond’s environment, information and images
of the animals observed at the pond, and additional data. Resources for teachers
include detailed lesson plans and activities that go along with the project, and
links to additional pond math, science and other online collaboration
activities. A special collaborative highlight of the site is the “Pond Talk”
electronic bulletin board to which students and teachers can post questions and
comments. Classes that don’t have access to a nearby pond have the option of
creating an online “virtual pond.” Math teachers: be sure to check out the pond
math activities.
Grandmother and Me
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
KIDPROJ is a multilingual project dedicated to the appreciation of grandmothers
around the world. The heart of the site contains short descriptions (organized
by country) that students have written about what they call their grandmothers,
what they like to do with them, and why their grandmother is special. The
“Inventions and Granny’s Age” page encourages children to use their imaginations
and think about the things we have now that weren’t around when their
grandmothers were children. Don’t miss “grandmother’s storybook” which is made
up of stories written by children and translated into multiple languages by
visitors to the site. Kid’s portraits of their grandmothers fill the pages of
the site with smiles.
Here
Birdy, Birdy
Grades: K
Ongoing? Yes
Kindergartners have gathered observable data over their bird feeders and have
started to see some common trends between stations. Data is divided up by
month includs a visual map to help show you what colors visit what feeders most
often.
Hummingbirds: Operation Ruby Throat
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
The target audience of this site is K-12 students in North and Central America
although anyone interested in hummingbirds is invited to participate. The site
can be accessed in either English or Spanish. Operation Ruby Throat is intended
to inspire a spirit of cooperation by sharing data and observations about the
behavior and distribution of ruby throated hummingbirds. There are four
categories of activities suggested for class use with this site.
Come Grow
with Us
Grades: K-3
Ongoing? No. Not working.
Come Grow with Us focuses on the life cycle of plants and compares growth data
in various environments. Students germinate seeds, record the plant growth over
eight weeks, and graph the data. Students are also asked to keep a journal and
photographs of their plant growing process. Students then share their data,
observations, and pictures at the project’s Web site.
Confessions of a
Fourth Grade Newbie
Grades: 4
Ongoing? No. Not working
Here, a teacher describes how several schools around the globe exchanged
measurements on the earth's magnetic field in hopes to get a clearer picture of
this abstract phenomenon.
Fit For Life
Nutritional Survey Project
Grades: 2-8?
Ongoing? No.
Not working
Are your students eating the recommended number of servings of fruits and
vegetables? Do they even have an idea of what they ARE eating? This project will
help them figure that out for themselves. Using an online survey form, students
track and calculate their average intake for each of the five food groups for
five days. Then they calculate their class average, post it to the Web site and
view their results as compared to past averages over the last several years. The
goal of the project is to increase student awareness of the kinds of foods they
eat.
Global Grocery List
Project (Since 1994)
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
As the title implies, this project invites youngsters from all over to report
prices on various grocery store items. Students can then compare their
data with that of people in other areas, and even in other years. (The project
is in its eleventh year!) This is a well-conceived project that helps
students better see their role in the real world.
The GLOBE Program
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students from over 6,500 schools in over 80 countries use the Internet to
report and publish environmental observations from their schools. This
site is full of resources, discussion boards, data, and guides on how to plan
an implement GLOBE research with students. This project will allow
students to become scientists with a worldwide audience!
Hands
Across America
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
Here's a heart-warming way to celebrate unity through diversity. Thousands of
people in different towns and cities in
How Much Does
It Cost?
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
Consumer-savvy students compare the prices of common items (McDonald's
hamburgers, CDs, etc.) in
The
Incredible, Edible Orange Project
Grades: 3-8
Ongoing? No
Students from different schools calculated and shared data on the ratio of
edible to inedible parts of an orange. A project timeline and teacher
suggestions (which can inform future similar projects) are available.
International
Home Remedies
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This is an unusual and interesting project in which English as a Second
Language students share home remedies from their countries. This is a
unique approach to multi-cultural education, as well as good practice in
writing for a worldwide audience.
Medicinal Plants on the
Internet Project Not working
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
A group of Brazilian students invited their peers from around the world to
submit information on medicinal plants used in their communities.
Communications, scientific research and geography skills combined in this
information exchange.
Money Around the World
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? No
You can almost hear the multi-lingual voices of friendly students in this
project's website. Here, students from all over were invited to use an
e-mail list to discuss minimum wage, item costs, and other money-related
topics. Because participants were encouraged to communicate in their
native tongue, this project served a dual purpose of academic and language
learning--plus kids got to make new, different friends!
News of the World
Not working
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Here's a social studies project in which students around the globe were invited
to submit headlines and news summaries for January 7, 1997. This would be
an excellent way for students to not only learn about happenings in their
communities, but also think about important events in other locales.
Plant Growth and
Change Not working
Grade: 4
Ongoing? No
A fun site that provides an example of using technology in conjunction with
science to encourage interest in plants. Originally a telecooperative project,
students tracked plant growth and then shared their observation data online with
peers at other schools. Although several of the links no longer work, the site
is a great example of how to establish a telecooperative science project and
even provides samples of the students’ results. An excellent way to introduce
science-related technology projects in your elementary classroom. Be sure to
check out the
stop
motion video of plant growth.
Project: Big Mac
Grades: 6-12
Ongoing? Yes
Project compares prices of a product in different places in order to compare the
value of money in those locations. In order to do this type of analysis on a
global scale, they use a product that is sold everywhere in the same form.
the Big Mac!
Seasonal
Changes Through Our Eyes and Yours Not working
Grades: K-5
Ongoing? Yes
In this project students observe the changes in a specific tree, clothing worn,
temperature, and the sunrise and sunset during the fall, winter, and spring
seasons. There are specific lesson plans to follow for each of the observations
at each of the different observation times. The students then record their
observations on the data gathering form provided at the Web site. Using the Web
site, students share their data with other participating schools.
Signs of Science
Grades: 5-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students take a look at the signs in their community searching
for names, words, phrases and symbols that indicate conditions related to Forces
& Motion and/or are science-related. By examining street names, school names,
and other signs, students find science words, phrases, symbols and/or
scientists' names. They can draw the signs or take photos. Students also write
an explanation of why the word, name, phrase, or symbol is significant to
science. Drawings or photos with the accompanying explanations are then
submitted. The students' contributions will be shared in the "Signs" of Science
virtual museum, below on this project page.
Tooth Tally Project
Grades: 1- 2
Ongoing? Yes
This project has more loose teeth than a heavyweight championship! As students
in participating first grade classes lose their baby teeth, they pin paper teeth
to their class tooth tally board. At the end of each month, the teacher sends
the total to the project's Web site. where it is posted online for comparison
with other classes in their group.
Traveling Kids Not working
Grades: K-5
Ongoing? Yes
What attractions do kids think are the most fun to visit? Let them be the
experts! Traveling Kids asks students to use KidPix to write about and
illustrate what they think is the most exciting place to visit in their state.
Each description and illustration should also include the name and address of
the attraction as well as the best time of the year to visit. A printable
student instruction sheet is available. You may also hop on a virtual tour bus
and explore the various attractions submitted by other students in many of the
50 states!
What Are My Roots?
Not working
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? Yes
Here’s something any student would love – a chance to talk about himself! (In
the process students gain a better understanding about where they came from and
where they would like to go.) This project is part of the “Who am I?” program
sponsored by KidLink. Over a period of eight weeks, students look back at their
immediate ancestors, their family origins, what life was like in the time of
their ancestors, and their contributions and responsibilities to their
descendents yet to come.
Wetlands Project
Not working
Grades: 4-10
Ongoing? No
Students from different parts of the world were invited to exchange information
such as climate, vegetation, significant species, etc. of wetlands near their
homes. This multi-disciplinary project was created in hopes that students
would see patterns in wetlands and develop an awareness of their ecological
importance.
What's for Lunch? Not working, but
Create-a-Graph link
works.
Grades: 1-5
Ongoing? Not sure
Students around the world collect data on what their classmates are bringing or
buying for lunch for one week. Students then create graphs illustrating the most
popular choices. You may use graphing software--a link to
Create-a-Graph is
provided--or you may scan and email student drawings. You are also encouraged to
send word problems based on your graphs' information.
A World Community of
Old Trees
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Based on the philosophy that humans are part of rather than separate from
nature, this site's founders have created a digital tree sanctuary.
Students and artists are invited to send in photos and drawings of trees as
they see them. Visitors are also encouraged to download other's images,
manipulate them, and submit them to the site--an interesting twist in making a
truly interactive "gallery." You will also find personal
reflections on trees (many of them rather moving) that various artists have
published.
Angle of the Sun
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? Yes
This project focuses on measuring, communicating, collaborating, analyzing data,
and making inferences. The main activity is to determine how high the sun
actually is above the horizon where an individual lives. The more measurements
the better, so the site encourages collaboration with the community to get the
most possible. Angle of the Sun includes a calculator on the site for converting
measurements with the meter stick to the sun’s angle (the equation is included
if you would prefer your students to do the math themselves). Students are then
asked to analyze the pooled data from all other submissions to look for
patterns. The site walks students through the process, provides a specific
format for submitting data, an idea for a research project, and a set of
questions to consider.
Digital Democracy
Project Not working.
Grades: 9-12
Ongoing? No
This project will help your students transform into savvy political analysts.
This site offers tools, resources, and guidelines that will ultimately build a
database of projected voting patterns of various demographic groups.
Estuary-Net
Project Not working, but link explains project.
Grades: 9-12
Ongoing? Yes
During the project, students learn about variables involved in estuarine
ecology, how these variables relate to one another, and how they affect water
quality under ideal laboratory conditions. Using this knowledge, the students,
proceeding like scientists, develop hypotheses concerning relationships and time
dependent variations in real estuaries.
Froot Loops to the Max
Grades: K-8
Ongoing? No
This project is a pooled data analysis that presents a hypothesis of which color
will appear most frequently in one box of Froot Loops. Students are asked to
weigh their box of cereal and compare the actual weight with the one stated on
the box. Then, students are to divide the Froot Loops into categories by color;
guidelines are given for broken pieces, pieces that appear to be more than one
color, and pieces that are stuck together. Once the cereal is sorted, students
count how many Froot Loops are in each color category and post their data on the
Web site. Each school’s data will be presented with a graph.
Getting the Media
Message
Grades: 6-8
Ongoing? Yes
Getting the Media Message is a research project designed by professors at Ohio
State University to study what effects the media exposure of middle school
students has on the development of gender and racial diversity in the field of
Information Technology (IT). The study developed from observations that there
are very few women and minorities choosing IT as a career field.
The
Global Sun/Temperature Project
Grades: 4-8
Ongoing? Yes
For one week, students around the world collect local temperature and sunlight
data, and submit it, along with their latitude and longitude, to the website.
Students around the world then analyze and decipher scientific patterns in all
of this information.
The Global Water
Sampling Project
Grades: 9-12
Ongoing? Yes
In these days of abounding pollution, water quality has become a serious
concern. The Global Water Sampling Project, created by the
Center for Improved
Engineering and Science Education (CIESE), gives high school students the
opportunity to sample water in their area, analyze its quality based on physical
characteristics and chemical substances, and then share and compare this data
with other students’ data from around the world. It is also gives them an
opportunity to hypothesize about any trends in water quality. The project runs
every fall and spring with specific guidelines available on the Web site.
Additional classroom activities are available as is a list of national science
standards met by the project. There is also an
Online Experts section that allows students to gain further knowledge
through contact with an expert in the field.
The GLOBE Program
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students and GLOBE scientists work together to collect and analyze weather and
environmental data. The resulting databases are then used as a basis for trend
analysis, projections, and deeper discussions in science, social studies, and
math classrooms.
Human
Genetics
Grades: 6-12
Ongoing? Yes
By gathering and studying data on physical characteristics of people around the
world, participants form (and test) hypotheses to determine which traits are
controlled by dominant genes.
Journey North
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This site allows students to work collaboratively with scientists to track
animal migrations. Here, students will find plenty of information to keep them
challenged and motivated to become more aware of the planet's ecosystems.
KanCRN Collaborative Research Network
(How does Your Cookie Crumble?)
Grades: 9-12
Ongoing? Yes
Atmospherics, Biologics, Social Sciences, Consumer Sciences, and Engineering
are the five main areas in which students can contribute to real scientific
research in this comprehensive site. On-line forms, lesson plans, background
information, and tutorials help students and teachers as they venture into this
academically rich realm.
Kidlympics Not working.
Grades: 3-10
Ongoing? No
Students across the world send in their best times in running, skipping,
swimming, and cycling in a virtual Olympics.
Life in the Ocean Project
Not working.
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
A group of 12-year-olds in
Monarch Watch
Grades: K-8
Ongoing? Yes
This informative site offers guidelines and instructions that will help
students rear, tag, and monitor migrations of monarch butterflies. Research projects
entitled Tagging Monarchs, Larval Monitoring, Monarch Size and Mass, Monarch
Flight Vectors, and Hydrogen Isotopes rely on "that rely on
student-scientist partnerships."
National Student Research Center
Grades: 5-12
Ongoing? Yes
This "e-journal" contains student-written scientific articles, many
of which are based on survey data gathered via the Internet.
The Noon Day Project
Grades: 5-12
Ongoing? Yes
This project offers teachers and students an opportunity to recreate
Eratosthenes' amazing 2200-year-old experiment by collaborating online with
teachers and students from other schools throughout the world. Students in
different geographic locations measure the length of a shadow cast by a stick a
meter long at approximately the same time of day, share these data
electronically, use scale drawings and a spreadsheet to make comparisons, then
use this information to estimate the circumference of the Earth.
The Noon Observation
Project
Grades: 6-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students around the world measure the length and angles of shadows at noon,
then report their measurements (along with latitude and longitude information)
to the websites. Other students then try to calculate the circumference of the
earth by relying on this data and their mathematical skills.
One Out of Two
Homes in America:
Kenmore Appliances On-Line Collaboration Project
Grades: 3-8
Ongoing? Yes
Kenmore claims that one out of every two homes in America contains a Kenmore
appliance. In this online collaboration project, students hypothesize whether or
not Kenmore’s claim is true. Using the survey provided at the Web site, students
then collect data on the prevalence of Kenmore appliances in the households with
which they are familiar.
Online Schoolyard
& Classroom Investigations
Grades: K-12 (depending on project)
Ongoing? Yes
This portal site lists 30 scientific and mathematical investigations that can be
conducted by students in their schoolyards. Once the data are collected, it is
submitted to the site using an online form, and all of the data are compiled as
an Excel spreadsheet for students’ use or study. Activities range from “Swing
Set Physics” to “Acid Rain: the Effect of Air Pollution.”
Online Science-athon
Grades: 3-8
Continuing? Yes
Using the Online Science-athon, students uncover the science in daily life by
applying the scientific method to help answer what at first appears to be a
simple question--but isn't. The site includes three projects:
The Marble Roll,
How Tall Am I?, and
Catching Sunshine.
Each project gives teachers refreshingly clear instructions and links to provide
students with scientific explanations written in language children can
understand. Once classes are enrolled (at no cost) and have completed their data
gathering, the site provides students with an easy-to-use online databas! e in
which to input their information.
Oreo
Online Project
Grades: 3-8?
Ongoing? No
Your students will eat this one up! Participants survey the various ways in
which kids eat Oreos, hypothesize about the results, and submit their data to
the site. Results are broken down by state, gender, and represented in colorful
graphs and charts.
Pet Census
(formerly National Pet Census Project)
Grades: K-4
Ongoing? No
Students around the country gather and submit data to answer these questions:
What is the most common pet found in America? Are some pets more popular in
specific regions of the country? Students then collaboratively explore different
ways to graph and make inferences from the data.
Project Del Rio
Not working.
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Students on both sides of the
RoadKill Project
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Students around the world create a collective database of different types of
roadkill (yes, roadkill) they find near their schools. Students then
make inferences about animal migrations and the impact of humans on the natural
environment. A technical report is also available
HERE.
Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI@home)
Grades: 4-12
Ongoing? Yes
Astronomy buffs and aficionados of supernatural phenomena will rush to assist
the SETI Program at the University of California at Berkeley. Using a
downloadable software, students can join the massive effort to detect radio
waves from other planets--from their own computers! The project's
rationale is that the more people that interpret (the "monstrous" amounts
of) telescopic data, the more likely we'll be able to detect extraterrestrial
intelligence.
The Sun Times:
The Global Sun/Temperature Project
Grades: 4-8
Ongoing? Yes
For one week, students around the world collect local temperatureand sunlight
data, and submit it, along with their latitude and longitude, to the Web site.
Students around the world then analyze and decipher scientific patterns in all
of this information.
Take a Dip!
Grades: 6-8
Ongoing? Yes
Created by CIESE, this project is the middle school version of The Global Water
Sampling Project and also includes data collection on macroinvertebrates
present in the water supply.
Taming the Tube
Grades: 4-6
Ongoing? No
Raise your students’ awareness of the impact of television on their lives!
Participating classes collect and submit data about the numbers of hours of TV
watched per student per week and statistical analysis of this data (broken down
by gender), the favorite TV shows by gender, and a survey measuring student
attitudes toward TV and its influence on them. Once submitted, the data are
analyzed worldwide and posted online.
Water On the
Web
Grades: 9-12
Ongoing? Yes
This project allows high school and college students to monitor four Minnesota
lakes.
World Food
Not working.
Grades: 6-9
Ongoing: No
Give middle school students a global picture of how much their food costs and
where their food and their water comes from.
California Missions
Interactive Field Trip
Grades: K-8
Ongoing? No
California Missions Interactive is an educational bicycle tour of
the California Missions established by Spanish colonists in the late 1700s.
Beginning May 1, 1995, two cyclists embarked on a self-contained journey from
Mission Buenaventura (Ventura, CA) to Mission Dolores (San Francisco, CA).
Exploratorium
Grades: 4-12
Ongoing: Yes
The Exploratorium is typically perceived as a science museum. In reality, it is
a place that experiments with new practices for discovering the world; a museum
filled with interactive science
and art exhibits; a national center for teacher development; an award-winning
Web site of new teaching resources; and a growing global network of partner
museums. Fundamentally, it is
a laboratory for the research and development of innovations in exhibits, Web
publishing, and programs, linked to a worldwide dissemination network.
Fifth Grade
Internet Flying Adventure
Grades:5-6
Ongoing? No
Take off for adventure with your students without ever leaving the ground!
Follow along with Mr. Beamer's fifth grade class as they tracked his flight from
Indiana to the Pacific in an ultralight aircraft. Students helped him to build
the plane and develop his daily flight plans. They alsoread daily dispatches of
his travels. Resources include some excellent aeronauticssites, history of
aviation links, and information about all of the placeshe visited.
Mrs. Mirissette's
Class Visits the Center of Native Arts in Woolwich, Maine
Grade: 3
Ongoing? No
Visit this travelogue, complete with photos and student artwork, of a class
fieldtrip to a Native American arts center.
Museum Connections
Grades: K-6
Ongoing? Yes
A telecollaborative project, Museum Connections takes students on a journey to
the past through museums to learn about the world and themselves. The homepage
provides a list of essentials about the past to answer while completing the
project. Your and your students’ role in the project can be as simple or
complex as you desire. The sidebar to the left provides a list of participating
schools; to view various projects, click on the name of each school. Each class
chooses a particular period of the past to explore. Some schools create virtual
museums while others visit actual museums. If you are interested in
participating, email the project coordinator at the address provided.
Prairie Journey 2000
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
This site houses prairie-themed interactive games, exhibits, and travelogues,
which were developed by students involved in a real-life, week long, field trip
across the Canadian prairie. While students from only two schools actually
traveled, they visited numerous partner schools! along the way, and all
contributed to this meaty Web site. Teachers may glean some good ideas for
extending field trips that their own students take, like creating a
Jeopardy!-like game,
developing an electronic quilt of trip-related images and poetry, and keeping a
journal..
River
Adventure
Grades: 5-6
Ongoing? No
Here's someone who gives teaching a good name! Mr. Beamer rides again! In his
adventure beginning in September 2001, he canoed from Indiana to Memphis.
Communicating with students though a daily log via email, they studied
watersheds, calculated the budget, and maintained a public email Web site.
Highlights of the site include an "ask the experts" section, marvelous links to
river and canoeing sites, a children's river/canoeing bibliography, and student
quizzes.
Stephen Avenue Virtual Tour
Grades: 2-4
Ongoing? No
A virtual field trip using student artwork, photos, and stories from a class
trip. Students were each assigned a building on the tour of Stephen Avenue and
then wrote stories and drew pictures of their experiences. This site is a great
example of electronic publishing and models some excellent ideas to use with
your students in fine arts, language arts, and technology. Be sure to “drive
the bus” and see how animated students “visit” each building.
Virtual
China (No longer working, but search for similar projects)
Grades: 5-10
Ongoing? Yes
Imagine taking a large group of seventh graders on week-long bike trip through
rural
Amazon Katydids
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Take a virtual fieldtrip with a Smithsonian Institution scientist as he
explores the sights and sounds of Amazon katydids. The "letters
from the field" section contain particularly rich detail of life in
the Amazon rainforest. Also, teachers will appreciate the lesson plans included
in this website.
Andrew Jackson's
Hermitage
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? No
Do your students realize that several
California Missions Interactive
Grade: 4
Ongoing? No
Two bicyclists zipped through twelve historic
Colonial Williamsburg Electronic
Field Trips
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
(There is a fee required to participate in this project.) Colonial Williamsburg
Electronic Field Trips offer participating schools interactive history lessons
via the Web, teacher resources, live television broadcasts, and real time
interactions with Colonial Williamsburg experts. The live broadcasts are
featured on PBS or via streaming video and offer compelling dramatizations of
historical events while the internet sources provide students opportunities to
learn from primary documents and web-based information. The teacher lesson
plans offer alignments with state standards, literacy lessons, and lessons on
using primary sources in research. Students also have the opportunity to send
an email and receive a reply from an historical figure. The site offers a chat
room and discussion board for interaction among students at all participating
schools.
Connecting From the Ice
Grades: 6-8
Ongoing? No
Youthful awe and science ooze from this site. Here you'll find dozens of e-mail
exchanges between a group of
GlobaLearn
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
Through e-mail, chats, photos and journal entries, students become virtual
companions to travelers in
Global Online Adventure Learning Site
Grades: 3-8
Ongoing? Yes
This is a rich site filled with stories and images of global adventure
travelers. Their expeditions range from rowing across the Pacific to crossing
the Antarctic. In addition to descriptions of their travel plans, routes, and
equipment, many send journal entries as they travel which are posted to the Web
site--a few of the families traveling include kids' journal entries. The "Classroom"
link includes lesson plans (primarily topics for further study or discussion).
Be sure to check out the "Classroom
Expedition" link with its ecological "footprint" and "world pen pal"
sections.
Imagine the
Challenge
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Go on an awe-inspiring adventure across the Outback (and then some)! The Imagine
the Challenge project followed the trans-Australian "Steps 2 Peace" run of
Canadian David Adie. The purpose of the run was to inspire children to overcome
challenges in their lives while raising funds for Children's hospitals. Students
and teachers at a school in Calgary were in email contact with him – if a person
had a question for David, he would email the students who might choose to
include that question in the day’s communication. Questions and responses were
linked to a map of the journey. Students were encouraged to create their own
projects and challenges related to Australia and David’s run – examples of these
are included. The site also served as part of an e-pal project matching both
individual students and entire classes. Be sure to look at the annotated links
to sites about running and Australia.
JASON Project
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This comprehensive project utilizes lives satellites and Internet broadcasts to
bring real expeditions to students around the world. Members will have full
access to lesson plans, professional development opportunities, and of course,
the telefieldtrips.
Live From
Antarctica 2
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
This project utilizes live, interactive video and tape to bring students the
marine life of
Mars Team Online
Grades: 4-12
Ongoing? No
Mars has more to offer than "little green men" jokes, as this site
will show. Here, students and teachers can participate virtually with
scientists involved in the Mars Pathfinder mission. This site contains lesson
plans, photos, Q and A sections, background info, and a discussion board.
Online From Jupiter
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Through photos, actual field notes, scientist biographies, and on-line
activities, students can explore (and vicariously experience) NASA's 1995
Galileo spacecraft mission to Jupiter.
Reach the World
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? Yes
Reach the World links partner schools to the real-world global circumnavigation
of the Makulu II, a 43-foot sailboat manned by a team of teachers and explorers
who report back to students via email and satellite. This interactive
relationship allows partner classes to design projects to be carried about by
the crew. In addition to a wealth of pictures, route maps, and well-written
weekly and monthly travel logs, the site includes a
teacher
center with lesson plans developed and implemented by partner teachers. Makulu
II sails each fall.
Shadow A Swan Project
Grades: 4-6 or 10-12, depending upon the learning activity
Ongoing? Yes
This site is no ugly duckling! Registered classes (registration is free!) follow
the flight of an individual swan on her migration from Alaska to California.
Students use satellite data from radio transmitters and maps to track the
collared birds and predict their next locations, and a bu! lletin board to
collaborate with peers and experts as they track the birds' movements. Resources
for teachers include detailed lesson plans for either grades 4-6 or 10-12. The
site is information-rich and has many links for additional information or to
similar projects.
Shuttle-MIR Online Research Experience
Page 39 of
Virtual
Architecture
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
Scientists' biographies and field journals reveal the research conducted in
space aboard the Mir station.
Sites Alive! Expeditions
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? Yes
Wetlands, the ocean, and rainforests will come alive for virtual expedition
students. This site contains logs, photos, and resources that can enhance the
curriculum.
Shuttle-MIR Online
Research Experience
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? No
Scientists' biographies and field journal bring reveal the research conducted
in space aboard the Mir station.
Track Wild Wolves
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? Yes
Here is an exciting activity combining geography and biology while helping
students gain an understanding of the scientific research process. This wolf
tracking project, sponsored by the Biological Resources Division of the US
Geological Survey, allows students to follow the locations of wolves via
computer. It works like this: wolves are fitted with GPS radio collars which
send the wolf’s position data to a satellite. The satellite information is
downloaded to the Internet where classes use a map to follow the movements of
the animal over time. Students look for patterns of movement to outline the
pack’s territory – the web site gives them information to compare this to the
movement of other packs. Links include background information on wolves and wolf
conservation as well as the International Wolf Center in the heart of the
Superior National Forest in Ely, Minnesota.
WhaleNet Satellite Tagging
Program
Grades:9-12
Ongoing? Yes
Like the animal for which it is named, the WhaleNet site is truly impressive in
size and in mission. The main activity for students here is the STOP program, in
which classes use the WhaleNet server to track tagged marine mammals by
satellite. Using the latest technology, students collaborate with researchers to
collect, compile and share information about a variety of whale species and
other marine life. Other programs allow students to collaborate with peers or
scientists online, participate in research voyages, attend classes, or access a
wealth of information about marine mammals. This is a "do not miss" site for
science teachers, but has exciting activities for math classes as well. Be sure
to check out the teachers' resource section!
Virtual Galapagos
Grades: 3-12
Ongoing? No
Daily dispatches, atlases, and photos will allow students to vicariously
experience a real adventure to the Galapagos Islands that
Virtual Trek in a Sumatran
Rainforest
Grades: 6-8
Ongoing? No
Virtually experience a mega-field trip to a
Wild Wings: Heading North (Track Snow
Geese on the 'Net)
Grades: 2-12
Ongoing? No
Students can track actual geese as they migrate north. This site contains a lot
of curriculum-relevant background information, as well.
Other Information Collection & Analysis Resources Cited
KIDLINK: Global Networking for Youth
Page 36 of Virtual Architecture
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
A wealth of mailing lists, chats, resources, and student publication opportunities abound here for youth.The Global Schoolhouse
Page 37 of Virtual Architecture
Grades: K-12
Ongoing? Yes
This is a gateway into all sorts of online projects, discussion boards, and resources for teachers.