Archive

Current and past selections of exemplary sites--browse month by month through every year. When sites are no longer available, they are not listed as Digital Dozen winners.

October 2003

October is a great month for expeditions of all kinds--from the National Geographic variety to a dinosaur dig to a trip to Alaska for a math lesson or two! Not to mention two web sites that take you to our neighbor Mars.

1. Geology of Mars
   Grade(s): K - 12 ENC#: 028088
   Synopsis: So you think the Grand Canyon on Earth is pretty cool? Wait 'til you check out the one they've got on Mars! Landslides, cyclones, tectonic activity, sand dunes, floods and gullies.... This planet is more exciting than even Ray Bradbury could imagine! So settle down for an in-depth romp across the rocky terrain of the Red Planet.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
2. Girls go tech: a Girl Scout initiative
   Grade(s): K - 12 ENC#: 027978
   Synopsis: Check out what today's girls can do and become in this new site devoted to exploring and understanding what and how technology is influencing our lives today. Divided into three age bands, the site provides activities, links, and additional resources on topics ranging from nutrition to fabric to PDAs and credit cards.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
3. How everyday things are made
   Grade(s): 6 - Post-Sec. ENC#: 028066
   Synopsis: This is the place for every kid, grown-up or otherwise, who has ever wondered how stuff gets made, whether that stuff is candy, airplanes, Sprite bottles, or blue jeans. Videos, many with narration, provide an inside look into the manufacturing processes that shape many of the things we take for granted, while "Think About It" and "Apply It" questions give users the opportunity to discover gaps in their knowledge and to apply new knowledge.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
4. Manipula math with JAVA
   Featured in ENC Focus  
   Grade(s): 5 - Post-Sec. ENC#: 011230
   Synopsis: This site is a classic--we like it so much, we've featured it as a Digital Dozen selection three times! This month, we encourage you to focus on the middle school section, which is bursting with powerful applets. The Middle School area features geometry, including 19 applets about the Pythagorean Theorem alone, and there are six other topics to explore. Find out for yourself why we keep coming back to this site--maybe for you it will be the Life Game applet or the slide rule applet.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
5. Mr. Pitonyak's pyramid puzzle
   Featured in ENC Focus  
   Grade(s): 6 - 8 ENC#: 025768
   Synopsis: Why should there only be seven wonders of the world, when this webquest provides all the resources, guidance, and encouragement your students will ever need to build a pyramid of their own? This expertly crafted project divides students into construction teams that research the cost of building a pyramid, explore actual pyramids through online exhibits, and submit calculations on building a pyramid.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
6. National Geographic xpeditions
   Grade(s): K - 12 ENC#: 028073
   Synopsis: The National Geography Standards come to life at this site, which provides interactive lessons and activities for both home and the classroom, printable atlas maps, and additional classroom lesson plans correlated to the standards. Topics addressed include ecosystems, natural disasters, paleontology, sharks, and more.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
7. Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC)
   Grade(s): K - 12 ENC#: 028071
   Synopsis: We all know that southern California is a seismic time bomb, given to sudden and often devastating earthquakes. It stands to reason, then, that the folks at the SCEC have become experts on the phenomena that rock the state. Here you'll find information about recent earthquake activity around the world, publications and articles on current research, and links to other major research projects, as well as lessons, activities, and background information for students and teachers.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
8. The virtual Smithsonian
   Grade(s): K - 12 ENC#: 028072
   Synopsis: Commemorating 150 years of exceptional service to the American public, the Smithsonian's web site highlights some of the renowned institution's most prized artifacts and exhibits. Visitors can explore three online galleries: the Exploring gallery, which features real-world science lessons and activities; the Remembering gallery, which celebrates American history, inventions, and culture; and the Imagining gallery , which looks at design and creativity.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
9. Tox town: an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances
   Grade(s): 6 - 12 ENC#: 027855
   Synopsis: You probably don't want to raise your kids in a place called Tox Town--but it sure is a good web site when it comes to educating them and adults about the toxins that populate the world in which we live. Clickable items in a city or town map bring up information on common pollutants and environmental risks associated with each object. For example, clicking on one of the cars in the town picture brings up information about air pollution from the National Library of Medicine, fuel economy from the EPA and Department of Energy, and the National Safety Council's site on mobile source emissions.
   (For more details, see ENC Record.)
   
   
10. Village math
    Grade(s): 9 - 12 ENC#: 027979
    Synopsis: Go native and do math Alaska-style at this site that uses examples from Alaskan culture to provide a unique context for problem solving. For example, in the chapter entitled "Beaver Boards," you'll learn the difference between a blanket beaver and a superblanket beaver--while discovering how to determine the area of a circle. Similarly, the section on berries addresses both the cultural resonance of berries and measurement concepts.
    (For more details, see ENC Record.)