FOR FAMILIES

Biology Experiments ('E' 'M')
Some really interesting experiments to conduct around the house -- for students and their families. By Arizona State University.
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/pages/experiments.html

Bird Observation Projects for Families ('E' 'M' 'H')
A grand listing of observation and data gathering projects that will enrich and foster scientific inquiry. Look through the entire list as there is sure to be something of interest, such as "The Great Backyard Bird Count" or the "Urban Bird Studies Projects." By the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/Birding123/ReportObservations.html

College: Get Ready ('M' 'H')
Very helpful advice about the process. It is never too early to learn about this for your child.
www.studyworksonline.com/cda/parentscorner/main/0,,NAV8,00.html

Celebrating Chemistry ('E' 'M')
"Celebrating Chemistry is a collection of hands-on activities, games, interactives and articles written for children in the 4th-6th grades. Originally composed for National Chemistry Week and Chemists Celebrate Earth Day publications, these fun-filled materials have been republished in individual PDF files for easy download by parents, teachers or students."
www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC=kids%5ccc_kidspage_index.html
Versión en Español: www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC=kids%5ccc_kidspage_index_sp.html

Create Your Own Newspaper ('M')
Make your own (family)newspaper from the various options offered. The links used for the creation may be valuable to you in and of themselves.
crayon.net/

Digital Imaging: Family Projects ('E' 'M' 'H')
Kodak has designed an online book to help you learn and enjoy digital imaging. This chapter provides "projects and activities for the family to explore. Anyone can learn how to use digital images in fun projects like creating photo stickers for greeting cards." More and more teachers are incorporating such imaging into school projects and reports. Not only fun, it is a skill area important for your child to learn.
www.kodak.com/US/en/digital/dlc/plus/chapter2/index.shtml

Earthcare Stories ('E' 'M')
List of many conservation/ecology issues that your child may be studying. Each is text based and accompanied by a short audio re-broadcast of the radio show (the text). You may find these short pieces to be good aids for your child and for his/her listening skills practice as well.
www.earthsky.org/shows/earthcare/topics.php?s=s

EcoKids ('E' 'M')
Very well done, delightfully creative collection of online interactive games and activities, downloads and printables on environmental issues, science and nature, energy, and 'hot topics.' As the site says, "EcoKids is Earth Day Canada's environmental education program for youth who care about the planet."
www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm
Play and Learn:www.ecokids.ca/pub/fun_n_games/index.cfm
Parent info and guide:www.ecokids.ca/pub/parents/index.cfm

Encouraging Your Child to do Worthwhile Activities Online ('E' 'M')
By the Smithsonian.
smithsonianeducation.org/students/index.html

Evening Skywatching ('E' 'M')
A great activity for families since the evening/night is the best time to star gaze. This site provides you with tips and materials for each night's viewing. A second link (below) lets you explore specific topics. By the Earth & Sky Radio Show web site.
www.earthsky.org/skywatching/
Dive in deeper with articles, science FAQs, radio shows, and more: www.earthsky.org/search/topics.php?t=805

Family Corner: Figure This! Math Challenges for Families ('M')
Interesting and fun math challenges for the whole family, resources for parents interested in helping their child succeed in mathematics. By the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, among others.
www.figurethis.org/
Versión en Español: www.figurethis.org/espanol.htm

Family Education ('E' 'M')
Activities presented in an easy to access style. Note that this site is commercial, so sometimes you will be led to something that is being sold. Despite that, there are many free activities provided in a number of school subjects and across varying grade levels.
www.familyeducation.com/home/

Fun Brain ('E' 'M')
Activities/games that supplement a number of school subjects and across varying grade levels. Available online or download to play off line.
www.funbrain.com/parents/index.html

Fun With Science! ('M')
Build pop rockets, comet models, hold egg drops, have fun. While this is designed as an engaging after-school science activity program for middle-school students, we think that some of the hands-on activities would be fun for families. By the Lunar and Planetary Institute and the State Library of Louisiana under NASA sponsorship.
www.lpi.usra.edu/education/EPO/fun_w_sci.html

Happy Earth Day Coloring Book ('E')
Eleven downloadable pages for young children, from the EPA.
www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.htm

Helping Your Child Learn Geography ('E' 'M')
An archived site by the US Dept. of Education that contains many suggested activities for parents to help stimulate your child's interest in geography. Downloadable.
www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Geography/index.html

Helping Your Child Learn Math ('E' 'M')
An archived site by the US Dept. of Education that contains many suggested activities for parents to help stimulate your child's interest in geography. It includes activities in the home, at the grocery store, 'on the go' and just for fun. Parents will enjoy the site's suggestions. Primarily for ages 5-13 years. Downloadable.
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Geography/index.html

Helping Your Child Learn Science ('E' 'M')
An archived site that hold many suggested activities with clear directions, plus types of local community trips you can make with your child, and what you might emphasize on the trip. Designed especially for parents to start and encourage their child's interest in science Primarily for children ages 3-10 years. Downloadable. From the U.S. Department of Education.
www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Science/index.html

Home Activities ('E' 'M')
A site that provides homework aids plus many activities across different school subject areas. By Houghton Mifflin.
www.eduplace.com/parents/index.html

How Stuff Works ('E' 'M')
A site that will intrigue you and your child. Explore together to find out the hows and whys of how many common 'things' in our lives work.
science.howstuffworks.com

IdeaLabs ('E' 'M' 'H')
The Smithsonian has a delightful collection of activities, project ideas, and boasts an "online opportunity to explore American history, science, and culture."  We think that many of these features lend themselves well to family participation. You might want to look at 'Smithsonian Kids' and 'Kids Collecting' for starters.
smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/idealabs/idealabs.html

Japan: Visit It With Your Family! ('E' 'M' 'H')
Learn Japanese culture together as you immerse yourself in this highly interactive, creative approach to learning about Japanese culture (i-irasshai). No need to know the language, but you may well pick up a few words! Produced by IMTC and CEISMC at the Georgia Institute of Technology under contract with Georgia Public Broadcasting. Background information here.
www.imtc.gatech.edu/i-irasshai/

KidSpace@the Internet Public Library ('E' 'M' 'H')
This site is a departure from the 'direct link' premise of the Busy Teacher site, but we think it will be worth it to you to  'click a bit.'  The KidSpace culled resources and the efficient site organization provides incredible materials and activities in multiple areas with substantial references for parents.
www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/
Parent resources: www.ipl.org/kidspace/browse/tcn0000

Joseph Wu's Origami Page ('E' 'M' 'H')
Great, great origami site! You will be amazed at the creations. The whole family can get involved here. Diagrams to print out for your own creations. Photo gallery.
www.origami.as/

Kids' and Teens' Health: For Parents ('E' 'M' 'H')
Interesting, well-written guide that will help you understand healthy development, deal with illnesses, and handle some tough problems. "You will find doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence." Well worth glancing at to see the full scope of what is covered. There are separate kid and teen sections design specifically for each age group. Information and activities also provide solid information on the science of the body. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/

Living in Space ('E' 'M')
Fun for the family. Games and activities in support of learning science by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
www.childrensmuseum.org/parents/homeactivities.htm

Make Your Own Weatherstation ('M')
Excellent hands-on activities to do together. Instructions for a barometer, hygrometer,rain gauge,and more. From the Franklin Institute.
sln.fi.edu/weather/todo/todo.html

Medical Mysteries: Solve Them Together Online ('H')
Well-done and engaging mysteries that you and your high school student can solve together. Promotes good observational skills and scientific reasoning. Grades 9 - 12. From the National Health Museum.
www.accessexcellence.org/AE/mspot/

Microscopes: Build One With/for Your Child ('E' 'M')
A part of the Museum of Science site, instructions for building your own microscope, preparing slides, and making collections. As the site says, "A good microscope is a wonderful way to introduce a child to the wonders of the natural world."
www.mos.org/sln/SEM/resources/labs/myomicro.html
Once you have it built: www.mos.org/sln/SEM/resources/labs/labs.html

NASA Science Files ('E' 'M')
In addition to parental advice for encouraging/involving children in science and mathematics (grades 3-5), there are online games for families to play together.
scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/parents/index.html

NASA Space Games ('E')
Plenty of fun here with these games for your elementary student. Parents will enjoy as well.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/games/index.html

National Geographic: Activities and Experiments ('E' 'M' 'H')
You will be amazed at how many enjoyable activities you will find here that you can do together with your child. Be sure to scroll down the entire page to see all the categories of activities and experiments. Parents can also subscribe to a free family newsletter.
www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/index.html
Family newsletter: reg.cheetahmail.com/regp?aid=304608334&n=1

National Geographic Parents Guide ('E' 'M')
www.nationalgeographic.com/parents/

Paper Modeling: Build Your Own Spacecraft ('E' 'M')
NASA provides the information and the patterns. Families can download the materials and have fun. Each activity rated for ease/difficulty. solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/kids/papermodels.cfm

Parents' Section: US Dept. of Education ('E' 'M' 'H')
Plenty of information on a multitude of educational topics/subjects for today's parents. It is worth looking over. Free materials. www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?src=pn

Reeko's Mad Science Lab ('E' 'M')
Offers simple science experiments you can do with your child at home with common materials/ingredients. Has a 'just for fun' section as well.
www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/

Science Experiments You Can Do at Home ('E' 'M' 'H')
The site boasts, "Explore the fun and excitement of science and technology with these activities!" We agree. Activities are laid out clearly, with simple 'ingredients.' They would be fun for any family willing to get in there and put 'hands on.' Some activities are online, but many are for home and some ingredients require parental involvement. A very engaging site by the Australia's National Science and Technology Centre.
www.questacon.edu.au/html/activities.html and
www.questacon.edu.au/html/science_circus_activities.html
Teens: www.questacon.edu.au/teens.asp

Space Place for Kids (NASA) ('E')
Games, projects, animations. Fun! Elementary level. Enhanced by adult participation.
spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/
Versión en Español: spaceplace.nasa.gov/sp/kids/

Virtual Science Exhibits ('E' 'M')
Enjoy any or all of these excellent exhibits with your children. Secrets of Aging, Oceans Alive, Build your Own Robot, ...are among the many excellent exhibits offered online by the Museum of Science.
www.mos.org/doc/1016

Wondernet ('E' 'M')
"WonderNet is full of science activities that kids can do (under adult supervision). The fun and friendly format makes it suitable for kids to visit on their own from home. Currently WonderNet contains activities covering over 25 different topics." By the American Chemical Society.
chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/wondernetdisplay.html?DOC=wondernet%5Cindex.html

Yucky Fun & Games - Science Entertainment ('E' 'M')
Calling itself "the YUCKIEST site on the internet," this Discovery Channel's site is full of information, interactives, and for kids, just straight talk. Definitely fun and very appealing.
yucky.kids.discovery.com/index.html