Science Websites for Children

Elementary school students are fascinated with using technology to text friends sitting right beside them, to listen to or even record music, and play games filled with gripping graphics. These activities are all science related. Children are inquiring, observing, gathering, organizing, and concluding. Granted, the youngsters' focus may not be a scientific topic, but the skills they are acquiring can easily be applied to some of the best science websites for elementary school students. Use these websites with students as motivators when introducing new science subjects, research projects, and enrichment opportunities.

BBC Science & Nature page opens up with amazing photography depicting current events on television and radio programs as well as ongoing specials like tracking species in danger of becoming extinct and the world on the move with sea life. Then explore categories including animals, prehistoric life, space, climate change, and the human body. Breathing Places is especially relevant for children because it provides tips on how to help wildlife in their very own neighborhoods giving students a chance to make meaningful connections. This site is best suited for upper elementary students due to the reading level.

Crime Scene is a modern Clue that can be followed either by a small group or whole classroom instruction. Solve cases like The Case of the Barefoot Burglar. Below the case's title a crime scene report is given along with four suspects. Click on each suspect's name to learn more about the individual and why he/she may be the person who committed the crime. Once students think they have determined the perpetrator, select the Solve the Crime button and follow the instructions. Crime Scene requires students to gather information, assess the facts, make inferences, and draw conclusions. Students are then required to present their case so this activity works best if the classroom is divided into two groups.

Discovery Kids engages students by appealing to topics children typically enjoy including shows, games, and videos. A schedule indicates when shows are available to watch. In the interim, students can select shows and read summaries about subjects, such as planets, recipes, and species to name a few. Slideshows, puzzles, and quizzes are also available. As for games, try Build a Volcano to launch a discussion about chemical reactions or Mummify Tut to introduce the organs of the body. Students can even view a video and find out how astronauts go to the bathroom while in outer space. Discovery Kids is filled with entertaining ways to capture an elementary student audience.

Farm Sanctuary Kidz Club gets students thinking about nutrition along with animal welfare and rights issues. There are three main tabs including Meet the Animals, Learn, and Play. Children find out facts all about farm animals and even read about some rescue stories in Meet the Animals. Under Learn, students read how factory farms are not only bad for animals but also our environment and people. Activities in Play include, games, coloring, and musical links. There is also a section for teachers complete with field trip and humane education ideas as well as information about Adopt-a-Farm Animal Project. This website nicely complements character education programs currently implemented in many schools.

Geology.com is most appropriate for upper elementary students with advanced information on geology topics organized in a more formal manner than most sites for children. This site is great for differentiation because there is a broad range of material covering subject matter, such as rocks, minerals, and volcanoes in various manners. There are articles, maps, and satellite images to consult as well as news, career, and dictionary tabs. Upper elementary school students could access this site to complete either a scavenger hunt or a research project.

Kind News is all about animals. Children tend to be fascinated with animals, so this website is a great lesson motivator. Students can use the site to learn about different species through current event reports, quizzes, videos, riddles, Ask Dr. Kind, and stickers. Best of all, meaningful connections can be made because Humane Heroes reports about elementary school age children, and there are tips on how to stop animal cruelty in their own communities. Some schools have used the site to launch an after school club about animals. Through Story Mountain, Games, and Printables, students read thereby improving their science literacy skills, too. Kind News appeals to children, parents, educators, and teens because it is filled with timely information sponsored by a reputable organization, The Humane Society of the United States, using graphics and colors in a delightful manner.

National Geographic Kids presents Features, What's Popular, and News Bites sections where students can find out about how the heart pumps, what is a songbird, and what's it like to live in the tundra as a swan. These subjects change daily and can be accessed later on using the toolbar consisting of animals, games, videos, stories, activities, people and places, and photos. Children can explore space and science within the story tab complete with a Map Machine containing satellite photos and an atlas. After a student selects a story not only does the reading selection appear with photos but also a content related bar with games and additional links. National Geographic Kids allows children to travel the world from the safety of their homes or classrooms.

PBS has a Cool Science page where children can access activities through Science Thing, take a cyber field trip at Destination: Galapagos Islands, view a webcast about space From Mir to Mars, and learn about jobs at Cool Careers in Science. In Science Thing, students can scroll over a hawksbill turtle and find out about where they live and what they eat. During the cyber field trip, there are questions and answers from teachers and students. There are also journals and a scavenger hunt requiring students to recall information and draw conclusions. Students can self-correct by clicking on Show Me the Answers to assess how they have done. Afterwards, children select the Students tab for a page full of activities requiring analytical, classifying, comparing, and application skills. Upon completion of cruising this website, children will be eager to read through the Cool Careers in Science section.

Sally Ride Science - Engaging Girls is a beneficial addition to any classroom. Historically, girls have not studied mathematics, science, and technology in numbers as great as boys. These fields recognize that girls are just as capable as boys in achieving in these subject areas. Sally Ride Science provides an online role model for young girls and encourages them to explore science. For activities and homework help, there are numerous links provided depending upon what type of information a girl is seeking. Organizations, camps, and other resources like magazines and health websites are listed for girl students to explore. Girls may also choose to participate in the Toy Challenge. The website is useful in the classroom with a teacher or at home with a parent.

Smithsonian Education captures children's attention with catchy subject titles, such as Digging for Answers, Cats for Kids, and Solar Shingles. In Digging for Answers, students test their expertise in a specific subject area like food, which also leads to a bit of history and additional link for further information. If students answer incorrectly, they can try again or follow a link to the correct answer along with background information like how many calories do astronauts need to consume. Cats for Kids provides facts on cats around the world including their habitats, meals, and behaviors. There are also cards to color and puzzles to complete. With growing public concern over energy, Solar Shingles is a great resource for a hands-on activity that students can do with adult supervision. It's an effective project to open up the discussion about electricity, energy, and alternative forms of power. Don't forget to check out the activity sheets, too.

Visit the worldwide web with elementary school students and give them the opportunity to explore a plethora of science material at their own pace. Finding out what interests students is key to getting their attention. Technology offers an interactive learning atmosphere for children, and the above science websites are effective tools in honing scientific skills. Teachers will likewise find using the Internet in their classroom beneficial because it allows for differentiation of instruction and for accommodations to be easily met for each individual student.