Archives: Resources

Council for Exceptional Children has developed a best practices for students with disabilities. It includes info for administrators as well as teachers.

The Special Education program at the University of Kansas has enjoyed a world-renowned reputation for excellence for decades, and provides a number of programs and resources.

If you use the Google Chrome browser, this resource shows you how you can change the language Chrome uses and have Chrome translate webpages for you.

Tom Scott explains how Unicode and UTF-8 “hack” solved the problem of representing all the symbols, characters and letters that are used worldwide. Blame it all on the … learn more

The Understanding Language Initiative, developed at Stanford by well-respected specialists in the ELL world, links the common core standards in science with literacy. This site provides resources to … learn more

Type text or a website address and Google can translate it into the language of your choice. Constantly improving and one of the better options out there. Google … learn more

The American Indian Library Association has compiled a list of resources for the native American communities. Everything from American Indians in Children’s Literature and FCC Internet Tribal Initiatives … learn more

SACNAS is dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. … learn more

Ask almost any minority parent and they’ll tell you the hardest thing was giving their children “The Talk”, not about the birds and the bees, but about what … learn more

Gifted children often lead double lives. Intellectually, they may seem like small, eccentric adults, and they may prefer the company of adults, but in many ways they are … learn more

In this TEDx talk, Heidi Hass Gable relates that being “gifted” often feels far from a good thing, especially when you’re the one living it. And yet the … learn more

Psychology Today has a good article for parents (and educators) explaining gifted children, signs to look for, and the importance of proper assessment. That troubled student with poor … learn more

Marty Nemko, Ph.D, posits that all children are entitled to an appropriate education, and to not be bored too much of the time. But in today’s mixed-ability classes … learn more

NAGC is the nation’s leading organization focused on the needs of gifted and talented children. Dedicated to uplifting and empowering those who support children with advanced abilities, NAGC … learn more

This page lists a wide variety of resource available from the federal government for people dealing with disabilities.

This site was created to provide a “one-stop shop” for resources related to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations.

With a mission to serve the needs of the ASL Educational Community, this site provides free, easy-to-use reference and learning tools to enhance in-classroom learning for ASL Educators … learn more

All Kinds of Minds, based on the work of Mel Levine, offers activities for kids while serving its main purpose — educating parents about the origin and resources … learn more

Being challenged doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! This video is an ASL interpretation of Pharrell Williams’s “Happy.” An expression of music in ASL composed by Rosa Lee … learn more

Learning Disabilities Online includes useful information for adults (and also students).

The Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE) is focused on improving the education of students who are challenged by language or cultural barriers, race, geographic … learn more

Provides resources by language. Another resource for your “newly arrived” students.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages is the professional association for teachers at all grade levels. You will find resources and up-to-date information on controversial … learn more

A monthly ‘zine, including updated links, for Teachers of English as a Second Language, is published at the Internet TESL Journal.

Estrellita is a beginning Spanish reading program for students in Bilingual and Dual Language classrooms. Estrellita serves as a bridge to English, they say, by laying a strong … learn more

YourDictionary is more than a standard on-line dictionary. It provides lots of tools and resources to help students choose their words precisely, avoid usage pitfalls, and gain confidence … learn more

The Center for Applied Linguistics provides a comprehensive range of research-based language and cultural education resources. Their focus is on developing practical resources related to language teaching and … learn more

There are many A/V resources available on the Internet to help ESL students. This one is memorable in that it takes the ABC song and adds a contemporary … learn more

EFL Playhouse is a wonderful resource for the very young English language learners. The activities include crafts, games, phonemic awareness, songs. This site has won many awards.

This site takes a few lines of The Little Prince and shows it translated from French into 251 different languages. For many languages, multiple translations are displayed, showing … learn more

In many areas of the United States, particularly in the southern and western portions of the country, a growing number of K-12 teachers are becoming English as a … learn more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has a range of resources on Autism at the web site.

A go to place from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for resources on everything from the latest news to therapy and coping information.

Nicole Mays talks about teaching students with Autism. Includes personal insights and helpful ideas. Highly recommended.

RJCooper makes special software and hardware products for persons with special needs.

For students with ADD/ADHD, Grey Olltwit has created a number of software titles to take advantage of different learning styles, such as matching skills via music and games … learn more

“Assistive Technology: An Introductory Guide for k-12 Library Media Specialists” by Janet Hopkins at Linworth Publishing talks about creating an accessible library media center. Identifies some of the … learn more

CAST is a multifaceted organization with a singular ambition: Bust the barriers to learning that millions of people experience every day. We do this by helping educators and organizations apply … learn more

Kathy, a special education teacher, talks about some of the assitive technology pieces she uses in her classroom.

The Assistive Technology Industry Association outlines the types of assistive technology, how to choose the right device(s), and the various sources of funding for the devices. There are … learn more

Assistive technology (AT) are tools that let people with differences work around challenges. They make tasks and activities accessible at school, work, and home. Learn how AT apps … learn more

This Education World article defines the wide range of assistive devices, technologies commonly used in schools, and the effect of this technology in the classroom. Assistive devices include … learn more

As the Internet’s premier collection of online encyclopedias, Encyclopedia.com provides you reference entries from credible, published sources like Oxford University Press and Columbia Encyclopedia. At Encyclopedia.com, you get free access to over 300,000 … learn more

Britannica now provides on-line (for free!) the complete, updated Encyclopedia Britannica, the oldest and largest general reference in the English language, plus selected articles from more than 70 … learn more

Wikipedia, “the new kid on the block”, as of March, 2016 had approximately 38 million articles in 253 languages, with more than 5 million English language entries. While … learn more

Another option for exploring technology is your local MakerSpace. Here’s an example of a dedicated maker space for kids in Toronto. Use the Maker Movement link below to … learn more

Although Leonardo is commonly known as a “universal genius”, the exhibitions dedicated to him have almost always focused on some specific area of his activity: art, anatomy, technology, … learn more

Education is at the heart of everything we do at The Tech. We encourage curiosity for science, engineering, math, and technology in students on field trips, educators in … learn more

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD provides a wide range of resources, programs, and workshops for both teachers and students.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and its national education center for the Great Barrier Reef, Reef HQ Aquarium, offer an extensive range of educational resources and … learn more

MARE, developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, is not an online project. However, MARE is included here because it is designed specifically for limited-English speaking … learn more

MBARI is the Research Institute for the Monterey Aquarium. You will see images of the canyon beneath Monterey Bay there. Students can participate in experiments first-hand and possibly … learn more

We advance marine science worldwide The oceans are our passion. Marine science is our mission. As an independent, nonprofit institution with 38 programs and centers in our global … learn more

Part of NOAA, the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s education and outreach programs promote understanding, support and participation in the protection and conservation of marine resources. Scroll down … learn more

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has links to many servers and is great for research.

What does it mean to be human? How might emerging brain science change the answer? The applications of neuroscience have far-reaching implications for our self-identity, health, relationships, and … learn more

The Exploratorium’s (San Francisco) permanent collections emphasize physics and a unique version of psychobiology. Students serve as explainers for the exhibits and visitors can observe the making of … learn more

The National Museum of Women Artists has placed some rare works of even well-known artists like Frida Kahlo online – an opportunity to inspire budding young women who … learn more

Another specialized art site is Asian Arts – exhibitions, articles and links for older students.

The National Museum of American Art within the Smithsonian libraries has mounted a wonderful exhibit on Latino art over several centuries. Discover how to integrate American art into … learn more

Exploravision shows how pop culture and science can be integrated, such as the movie Avatar and ecosystems. Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision contests challenges teams of students to design future technologies. … learn more

A natural science illustrator is an artist who works in the service of science, creating images of animals, objects and complex processes that teach, inform, and create understanding … learn more

Kennedy Center Education is here to help you succeed with newly revised lesson plans and digital resources that incorporate best practices for classroom and remote learning—providing you with … learn more

The artist Diego Rivera has painted numerous murals tied to specific themes and times in American history. Use his artworks as a springboard to explore community values and … learn more

Here’s an interesting take on the classic classroom demonstration. While using a full vacuum is a little overkill, using a partial vacuum can better demonstrate the pressure difference … learn more

Volcano Cafe tracks the activities of volcanoes around the world. Postings range from current eruptions (especially in Iceland) to volcano formation and geology to a look at when … learn more

This Science Channel video looks at what happens when you pour molten lava on ice. (Hint: it’s not what you’d expect.) They interview the scientists involved, describe how … learn more

Volcanic activity is the most powerful force in nature. Some volcanic eruptions are much more powerful than the largest nuclear explosion. Volcanoes have killed thousands of people and … learn more

The Alaska Volcano Observatory updates activity continuously. The contents can be adapted to several age groups.

In case extra-terrestrial life is encountered The SETI Institute – a seriously scientific site – has prepared a set of protocols which will help your students respond. They … learn more

The Stardust Education page was designed to enhance the breadth, flexibility and knowledge of science, mathematics, and technology between higher education and K-12 education, recognizing and supporting a … learn more

The Space Telescope Science Institute site has scores of satellite images, such as the revived Hubble mission data, and other surprises, such as Amazing Space, a comet simulation … learn more

Learn the latest on planets outside our solar system. This NASA JPL web site looks at the search for planets outside our solar system. It includes current news, … learn more

While there are a number of tour videos of the ISS available, this is one of the most detailed. Steven Swanson takes us on a relaxed and informal … learn more

Tracks NASA’s current missions to the red planet. Includes All About Mars, News, videos, and even 3D & interactive images of Mars. Everything you ever wanted to know … learn more

This site includes a stunning collection of 64 videos and essays from women across the agency who contribute to NASA’s mission in different ways. Includes a section for … learn more

Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa is an interactive, 500-acre outdoor museum that tells the amazing 300+ year story of how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the … learn more

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago is now the home of “Sue”, the largest-ever fossil of a T-rex. The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago … learn more

The Oregon-California Trails – Learning Center helps to educate people about the westward emigrant trails. The story of the emigrant trails is immensely rich and spans not only … learn more

The Galapagos Conservancy site has a wide range of resources, with information on the history of the Islands, biodiversity, conservation challenges and “Sustainable Tourism”. Check out their “wallpaper” … learn more

Since Darwin’s time, the natural wonders of the Galapagos Archipelago have inspired and awed its visitors. This 23 minute YouTube adventure follows Fred and Peggy Hillman’s journey from … learn more

Ethnologue is a comprehensive reference work cataloging all of the world’s known living languages. Since 1951, the Ethnologue has been an active research project involving hundreds of linguists … learn more

This page lists the official language of each country as well as other major languages spoken. For some countries, the percent of the population that speaks each language … learn more

There are lots of interesting features in other languages, some of which English would really benefit from having. Tom Scott talks about four of them: time-independence, clusivity, absolute … learn more

A fun song for younger students showcasing how to say hello in nine different languages.

The EPA has compiled a list of environmental games and find other activities to play online, including crossword puzzles and word searches. Topics include recycling, water, and sunburns.

At The Franklin Institute, we help people understand science and technology in ways that empower them to make decisions about critical issues that affect their lives. Stay connected … learn more

This short video shows the difference between natural and built and explains why we build.

How do people interact with and change the natural environment? A major focus of urban ecology is comparing how ecosystems function in nature and how they are changed … learn more

This video contrasts natural and built environments in the Philippines.

Ecology Explorers is an example of how universities are teaming up with the K-12 community to give teachers and students opportunities to learn through real scientific research. We … learn more

Lesson plans and activities are created or gathered from throughout COSEE NOW projects and listed by Topic Categories.

Compare the 1908 earthquake to images of a “recent” earthquake in the same area.

The impact of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 was the first national disaster of its scope recorded through photography.

Did You Feel It allows those in the vicinity of an earthquake to help scientists identify the strength and reach of the quake.

USGS’ Earthquake Hazards Program displays real time maps of earthquake epicenters in the U.S. and world wide. You’ll also find maps and articles and more.

Many museums and botanical gardens have an on-line section with educational material. Here is an example from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which exhibits an extensive collection of plants … learn more

Created by Henry Shaw and given as a gift to the city of St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden opened to the public in 1859. It combined horticultural … learn more

Wish for a paradise or the Garden of Edens? The Living Edens is an inspiring natural history available from PBS, opening magical vistas through the expertise of world-acclaimed … learn more