Models and Designs: The Scientist Says…
Your link to scientists! Discover science facts from the experts from established institutions with
renown in the field (museums, universities, or government
offices) and find out about the lives and work of
scientists.
Come closer to scientists.
Discover Engineering Online
Upper elementary or middle school students can "meet"
electrical engineers that have done spectacular work in
their field. Includes information about several engineers,
including Ray Dolby, who designed the sound for the Star
Wars movies.
Exploring Leonardo
The Boston Museum of
Science has created a great resource for students in grades
four through eight for exploring the life and work of
Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo's mechanical inventions
discussed in the Inventor's Workshop section will be particularly
relevant to your classroom studies.
Flights of Inspiration
Follow the history of
Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inspired thinkers who made
the first sustained, powered flight. On this site, you can
view images of their notebooks, sketches, and photos not
available anywhere else in the world.
Innovative Lives
The Smithsonian
Institution has created this valuable resource profiling the
lives and works of famous and important inventors. It's
fascinating to explore the roles that simple machines,
robotics, and the principles of physics play in many of
these inventions.
Forgotten Inventors
Explore the
indispensable items listed on this page— including the
can opener, the blood bank, and the frisbee—and the
problem-solvers who invented them. Some of these inventions
relate to your kit studies, and others can simply help to
inspire you and your class to think creatively.
At these sites, experts answer questions
from curious people seeking science answers.
Engineer Girl: Ask an Engineer
This page, offered by the National Academy of
Engineering, is a great resource—kids can select the
field of engineering they're interested in (construction,
energy, entertainment, machines, etc.) and submit a
question. An engineer will answer the question and respond
by email. While on this page, check out the other links to
information about future careers in engineering.
Physics Van: Ask a Science Question
This site tackles questions from kids
covering a wide range of science topics; be sure to check
out their archive of answered questions to see what they've
had to say in the past. There's a useful subsection called
"Pushing and Pulling…Forces" that could be particularly
relevant. The Physics Van is a traveling science program at
the University of Illinois Physics Department.
Ask
Dr. Universe
From Washington State
University, Dr. Universe provides a friendly and accessible
format and as well as lots of valuable questions and answers
about the world of science. Users can search a database of
previously answered questions and submit questions of their
own.
Scientific American's Ask the Experts
Scientists answer
questions about geology, astronomy, biology, chemistry,
computers, the environment, mathematics, medicine, and
physics.
Mad Scientist Network
Includes a thorough
archive of answered questions in all science disciplines, an
area to submit a question of your own, links to other Ask a
Scientist sites, and information about careers in
science.
The Last Word
A Q&A site from the
British periodical New Scientist filled with truly unique
and fascinating science tidbits.
