An Interactive Science Website Using FOSS
Using Online Technology for Inquiry Based Scientific Investigations
Jun 5, 2008
Finding good resources for teaching science can be difficult at times. However, there is one online science teaching website which is excellent for teaching elementary and middle school sciences. This website is by Full Option Science Systems (FOSS) Web. It provides science education resources which are interactive for children and parents.
The science is also provided in an inquiry-based format. This FOSS Web website provides supporting resources for each of the science content areas, such as:
- Images and Pictures – related to the science topic
- Media – movies which are related to the science topic
- Audio Stories (K-2) – designed to support each science topic
- Library Resources – which include videos, books, websites, software for each science topic
- Duplication Masters in PDF format – English and Spanish
Teaching Inquiry Science
Inquiry-based science teaching on this website involves children asking questions and designing interactive experiments using the resources provided. This is the best attribute about this site; it allows children to conduct interactive experiments which are difficult or impossible to perform any other way in the typical home school setting.
If you would like to find out more about science inquiry visit Understanding Science Inquiry. Visit Web-based Science Inquiry for strategies and techniques for integrating FOSS into lessons.
For example:
- Levers and Pulleys (3-6) – children can arrange a system of levers and pulleys to cause a clown to accomplish a task
- Environments (3-6) – children are tasked with designing a virtual aquarium which will keep fish alive for 30 days
- How Far Away Is It (3-6) – children can move a virtual lightning rod around to determine have far away it is after lighting strikes it and the sound arrives
- Insects and Plants (K-2) – children move a virtual magnifying glass around on the screen to find insects on land and ponds
- Watch it Grow (K-2) – children grow a virtual garden and get to examine each part of the plants in their garden
Teaching Elementary Science
The interactive elementary science on this website is broken down into two grade bands: K-2 and 3-6. Some of the inquiry-based science topics you will find for K-2 grades include:
- Air and Weather
- Animals
- Insects and Plants
- Solids and Liquids
Some of the inquiry-based science topics for grades 3 – 6 include:
- Earth
- Environment
- Food and Nutrition
- Human Body
- Levers and Pulleys
- Matter and Energy
- Mixtures and Solutions
- Water
- Living Systems
Teaching Middle School Science
The interactive middle school science on this website covers the following topics and more:
- Chemical Reactions
- Ecosystems
- Earth history
- Human Brain
- Force and Motion
- Weather and Water
Middle school science requires you register with FOSS to have access to all the materials and resources. Registration indicates it is for teachers, however FOSS has indicated homeschool parents can register as well.
Science Website Requirements and Standards
The FOSS Web website will require you to have Quick Time and Shock Wave media viewing software on your computer. If you do not have them or the latest versions, FOSS Web will guide you in downloading to your computer. Downloading and setup is very easy.
The science education resources on this website are in full compliance with the National Science Education Standards (NSES). This also means your local school district in which you live and your state science standards are required to follow the NSES, although they can add more standards if they desire.
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