Paper Helicopters - Learn about Flight

If you are looking for something fun to spice up your writing sessions that you can do with students of all ages then look no further.  Simply Download this template pack I found on Paper Helicopters from Primary Science and you can choose to fo as little or as  far as you like with the science elements from the planner.

Then get you students to create a procedural text explaining how the paper helicopter works.  If you are looking for somewhere to start with procedural texts then look no further than here.

you kids will find this a fun writing activity and really enjoy the opportunity to do something different.  I hope you enjoy it.

Awesome science experiments for your classroom

ScienceBob has been a self confessed science nut for years and has appeared in hundreds of classrooms, textbooks and even television shows around the globe. He has a great collection of really fun and innovative science lessons that can be done in nearly any classroom.

My kids did the hoop glider experiment today and it was a real success. Access ScienceBob here and let me know how you go with any of his experiments below by adding a comment.

Teach your students anatomy with Google Body Browser

Google Body is a detailed 3D model of the human body. You can peel back anatomical layers, zoom in, and navigate to parts that interest you. Click to identify anatomy, or search for muscles, organs, bones and more.

You can also share the exact scene you are viewing by copying and pasting the corresponding URL.

Students and Biology teachers will find this a really useful tool for gaining a visual understanding of the human body.  Access the site here and below is a video explaining how it works.

Everthing you need to know about the 5 senses

Article

As per usual the BBC have put together another excellent website about the human senses, what they do and how they work. Below are some great activities from the site which can be accessed here.

Are your eyes being tricked by your brain? Do you know what a supertaster is? Or how to avoid travel sickness? Put your senses to the test in our Senses Challenge.

Discover why food tastes bland if you can't smell.

Are you a supertaster?

Does everything on the menu sound unappealing or delicious? Take our test to find out if you're a supertaster.

Supertaster | Science of Supertasters

Sniffing the decades

See if we can predict which decade you were born in from the smells that remind you of your childhood.

Sniffing the Decades | Nostalgic smells

Nervous system game

Wire up the body parts to the correct nerves in our nervous system game.

Nervous System Game

Brain map

Use our brain map to navigate your way to the part of your brain you use to see.

Amazing Space: How to use the Hubble Telescope in your Classroom

Amazing Space is a website specifically designed for teachers to use the images from NASA's hubble telescope in the class. If you are doing a unit of work on space then this something that you may really want to take a look at. You can access it here.

Physics Game: Wallace's Workshop

Send the ragdoll down the tube by completing contraptions with batteries, cables, motors, wheels and other items in your inventory.

Online Physics Games

Tsunami Resources

I came across this brilliant video from the BBC that explains perfectly how a Tsunami occurs and why they are such a risk to coastal areas.  You can also view some amazing footage of the destructive force of the Japanese Tsunami here.  Finally here is a great video for teachers and students that explains the radiation risk associated with the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Teaching and Learning About Energy With The New York Times

BySHANNON DOYNE,CATHERINE HUTCHINGSandHOLLY EPSTEIN OJALVO

Cosmo Oil plant in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, was one of two refineries that suffered major damage from the earthquake.Go to related article »Energy is a prominent topic in the news, both explicitly and implicitly, because of developments like anuclear plant failing in Japanin the aftermath of the tsunami and arise in United States gasoline prices– both with far-reaching implications.

The damage done to Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant by the tsunami has raised pressing concerns, both about the impact of the plant’s failure as well as how it will affectenergy policyin theUnited Statesand around the world.

And gas prices touch many aspects of life and policy, includingoil reservesandPresident Obama’s approval ratings. People arechanging their spending and driving habits, and our slowly recovering economy isfeeling the effectsof rising prices.

In light of all this and more, here are lesson plans and other teaching and learning resources on various forms of energy and issues related to its consumption and conservation.

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