McQuade LibGuides: STEM Education: Online Resources

Computational Thinking

Computational Thinking
Wing, Jeannette. (2006). Computational Thinking. Communications of the ACM. 49. 33-35. 10.1145/1118178.1118215.
Making the Connection: Computational Thinking and Early Learning for young Children and their Families
From Public Libraries July/August 2020
Message in a Backpack: Helping Your Preschool Child with Computational Thinking
From the National Association for the Education of Young Children
Unpacked DLCS Standards - Computational Thinker
Work It Out Wombats!
A preschool show from GBH which demonstrates computational thinking skills for preschoolers. Watch full episodes here!
“Break It Down” and Other Ways Preschoolers Can Practice Computational Thinking

Misconceptions in Science

Early Childhood/Elementary-focused Engineering Resources & STEM-focused lessons

Teach Engineering: Resources for K-12

Many of these excellent resources were found in this article published in ECRP:

Engineering Curricula in Early Education: Describing the Landscape of Open Resources (Bagiati, Yoon, Evangelou, & Ngambeki)

DuPage Children's Museum
eGFI
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education
NASA Educators
Engineering is Elementary
“Engineering Is Elementary” was the only Web site to mention having been developed based on any standards (in this case, the Massachusetts K-12 standards). It was also the only one of the 12 Web sites to present findings after testing the materials in class settings.
Teachers' Domain (Requires Registration)

Elementary School

Chem4Kids
An excellent tutorial for children learning scientific concepts and how math is integrated into science.
Cool Science
Activities include dust exploration, classifying critters, microscopy, plant parts, and more.
Discovery Channel School
Offers multimedia, interactive video options to the classroom.
Electronic Zoo
Includes a vast amount of resources and various links to the study of the animal kingdom as well the environments in which some they live.
ExplorA-Pond
Experience a simulated pond, take a virtual tour of an outdoor classroom, pond math and pond science activities, publish your adopted pond online, and chat with other K-6 students interested in pond stuff.
Galaxy Photography
Great pictures of galaxies throughout our universe.
HubbleSite
Many unique space photographs.
MARS: Exploring the Planet
Site for young students interested in exploring the planet Mars.
NASA Earth Observatory
In addition to many awesome space pictures, this web site contains a variety of interactive games with space themes which will engage young students.
NASA's Planetary Photojournal
A NASA database with over 1200 space images.
National Geographic Kids
Site for kids to explore the fascinating world of National Geographic. Interactive games and explorations make this Web site very engaging for young students.
Nine Planets Solar System Tour
Take a virtual tour of our solar system.
Science-class.net
UC Museum of Paleontology
Great site for information on dinosaurs. Has a very good rubric (fossil record section) tying the National Science Standards to the study of dinosaurs at all grade levels.
Volcano World
An outstanding resource for kids interested in learning about volcanoes.
K8 Science
Online educational resource for educators, students, and parents, utilizing technology to provide instant access to reliable, up-to-date information and educational tools in life, physical, and earth/space sciences appropriate for grades K-8.

Additional Websites

Science.gov
A gateway to government science information

Decoded Science
Science news written by scientists, but for a general audience

Encyclopedia of Life
Scientific knowledge about all living things

National Science Digital Library
Online portal for education and research on learning in STEM

Science Daily
Breaking science news and articles

Science News
Bi-weekly magazine of The Society for Science & the Public

National Geographic
One of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world

Smithsonian Insider: Science & Nature
Examines many complex and time-sensitive problems

Museum of Science and Industry
The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere

NOVA
PBS's highest rated science series on television

Science Friday Online
A weekly science talk show from NPR

Evolution
Comprehensive PBS site

Understanding Evolution
Multimedia resource from Berkeley

Animal Diversity Web
From the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

MIT Technology Review
Analyzes the impacts of emerging technologies

STEM Education

Case Studies

Concept Mapping

Technology Resources

Digital Collections & Repositories

General Resources

Computational Thinking

Misconceptions in Science

Early Childhood/Elementary-focused Engineering Resources & STEM-focused lessons

Elementary School

Additional Websites