Internet Exploration

Chapter 1 – The Scientific Method

A) Brainpop.com – This site offers a cartoon-type movie about the scientific method. There is also a multiple choice quiz on the scientific method that you can take to see if you’re wise in the ways of the scientific method.

B) Discovery.com – This site includes many experiment ideas. Although these experiments aren’t interactive things you can do on the computer, most of the experiments require common materials that should be easy to find at home. Try the experiment called “ZZZZZZ’s” (about snoring) if you can find wax paper, scissors, and a ruler!

C) Visionlearning – Visit this webpage for a description of the parts of the scientific method and then try the interactive reenactment of Galileo’s experiment of two different objects falling at the same rate of speed.

D) Sodium polyacrylate and diapers – Here you will find information on the super-absorbent substance that keeps a baby dry. This “sodium polyacrylate” stuff is the same substance that was in the final cup in the “Shell Game” that was done in class.

Chapter 2 – Viruses, Cells, & Microscopes

A) cellsalive.com / “How Big is a…?” – This site provides a fantastic interactive magnification animation.

B) Museum of Science / Scanning Electron Microscope images – Look at some very large and very detailed images taken with a scanning electron microscope like a “Black Widow Spider Claw”, a “Staple through Paper”, and a “Dentist Drill” (ouch!).

C) Molecular Expressions / Secret Worlds: The Universe Within – Another cool magnification animation. I recommend clicking the “Manual” button right away so you can control how quickly the images change and read the headings for each one.

D) Cellular Biology / Cell Structures and Functions – This site reviews some of the cell parts that we’ve been studying and also provides information on other cell parts that we haven’t studied in class.

E) cellsalive.com / Animal Cell Model – This is an interactive model of an animal cell which will present detailed information about each cell part when you click on it.

F) Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells – Here are some diagrams which show the differences and similarities between these 2 types of cells.

G) Animal & Plant Cells – Study the similarities, differences, and primary characteristics of animal and plant cells.

H) Viruses vs. Bacteria – Information is provided about the differences and similarities between these two microbes.

I) cellsalive.com / T4 Bacteriophage – Information about a specific virus that actually kills E. Coli bacteria.

J) General virus and vaccine information – Get information about various diseases and the shots that help to prevent them.

Chapter 4 – Cell Reproduction

A) Lew-Port’s Biology Place – Watch several animations showing the details of mitosis, meiosis, and other processes related to cell reproduction.

B) Mitosis vs. Meiosis – Another great animation site. This one provides a side-by-side comparison of mitosis and meiosis… which we discussed in class.

C) Nova Online / “How Cancer Grows” – This site provides an interactive look at how carcinoma cancer cells develop and reproduce.

D) “The Cell Cycle Game” – This site explains the cycles of cell reproduction through a simple interactive game.

E) A List of More Cell Reproduction Sites – A list with many more sites covering aspects of mitosis, meiosis, DNA, etc.