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Resource reviews are provided for teachers to support their teaching and learning programs.
The views expressed by reviewers are not necessarily those of the NSW Department of Education and Training. Copyright for reviews is held by the NSW Department of Education and Training. Permission for reproduction of reviews in part or full for any purpose must be sought in writing. For further information contact colleen.foley@det.nsw.edu.au
Sites are listed alphabetically by title. Those reviews which note links to other sites, especially as a major part of the site, will require additional exploration time by teachers to verify specific curriculum applications relevant to their classes. The USER LEVEL descriptor, Professional, is a pertinent reminder of such issues. Please note that changes happen daily on the Internet. Sites come and go. We cannot guarantee that the following sites are permanent or are structured as they were when they were reviewed.
Atlas Obscura: a compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoteric
Climate challenge
Cosmos: the science of everything
The encyclopedia of Earth
Experience math & science with Gizmos
Our environment: it's a living thing
Safe drinking water is essential
Science Learning Network
The world's biomes
Atlas Obscura: a compendium of the world’s wonders, curiosities and esoteric 
A collaborative and ongoing project, the atlas is a fascinating site that includes interactive maps, writing, photographs and short videos about the world’s bizarre and unusual places and events. Ideal as an IWB activity or for self directed extension work by students, the site offers a great opportunity to integrate ICT skills across KLAs. Students can focus on a specific country or investigate the Categories of wonders & curiosities. The latter includes a very wide range of material on syllabus related topics such as Microminature art, landscapes, flora and fauna, disasters, archaeology, architecture, and technology. Most of the material will work best as an inspirational illustration of where education can take students. For example, Creative Arts students can admire the artists who added resonating tubes to a bridge, in Musical wonders. The site is not merely a catalogue, it succeeds in expanding the user’s sense of identity in a wider and wondrous world. C. Sheppard
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: CA; HSIE; Science; TAS; VET
SYLLABUS: Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7-10; Geography Stage 6; Music 7-10; Science 7-10; Tourism Curriculum Framework Stage 6; Visual Arts 7-10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Civilisation; Geography; Natural history; Wonders of the World
PUBLISHER: Atlas Obscura, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/04/10 [910] SCIS 1434156
Climate challenge
Demonstrating the intricacies of the climate change challenge, this wordy game puts the player in the shoes of the President of European Nations, whose job it is to make decisions and see how they affect the vital resources of food, water, energy and money. The President must also deal with carbon dioxide emissions. Every decision is reflected in panels that record the effects. Only devoted investigators of climate change issues and able readers are likely to persist. More generally useful are internal links to The science behind climate challenge, which outlines research incorporated into the game and provides external links to more information about a variety of topics, such as climate prediction and climate change news. Video: climate change shorts offers eight short films showing the effects of climate change. M. Davis
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: Science
SYLLABUS: Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Science 7-10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Climate change - Problems, exercises, etc.; Educational games
PUBLISHER: BBC, UK
REVIEW DATE: 01/04/10 [363.738] SCIS 1449496
Cosmos: the science of everything
This daily online news service from Australia’s award winning magazine, Cosmos, deals with every aspect of science. A major advantage of the site for teachers trying to enthuse students with scientific interest is that it is constantly changing and being updated. The best sections are the News articles, which cover a wide variety of what is current in science, and Life and environment and Technology. An option that Science teachers may find useful is to subscribe to the magazine via this website and receive comprehensive teacher’s notes with discussion topics and creative activities. Educators may also like to make use of Reviews when selecting DVDs, videos and print material for school use or professional development. L. Doyle
USER LEVEL: Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: Science; SciTech
SYLLABUS: Biology Stage 6; Chemistry Stage 6; Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Physics Stage 6; Science 7-10; Senior Science Stage 6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Science - Periodicals
PUBLISHER: Luna Media, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 01/04/10 [505] SCIS 1438897
The encyclopedia of Earth
A wikipedia-like web reference for Earth sciences and environmental sciences, the creators of the site are, however, keen to distance themselves from the reliability issues that surrounds internet research. The site is precise about authorship, editing accountability and objectivity, and FAQs is a good place to explore the site’s credentials. Each article undergoes a process of peer review before being posted on the site. Articles can be searched by title, author and Topics, with the latter being a quick route to an alphabetical list of the site’s main areas of information. Many of the hundreds of articles available contain graphics, however much of the language is pitched at tertiary level. The site would be useful for extending students and for teachers seeking a deeper understanding of Earth related topics, up-to-date statistical data, and diagrams. J. White
USER LEVEL: Stage 6 Professional
KLA: HSIE; Science
SYLLABUS: Biology Stage 6; Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7-10; Geography Stage 6; Science 7-10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Earth; Geomorphology
PUBLISHER: National Council for Science and the Environment, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/02/10 [551.41] SCIS 1310326
Experience math & science with Gizmos
Exciting and colourful, these interactive simulations use inquiry and exploration to engage students in mathematical and scientific activities. Subject areas are divided into grade levels. Mathematics subjects are consistent across Years: Number & operations; Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; and Data analysis and probability. Science topics move from Earth and space and general science activities into the senior sciences. Subtopics facilitate use and each activity has clear instructions, specific learning objectives, lesson materials, a Student exploration guide, an answer key, teacher guide, and vocabulary sheet. This award winning site has relevance to the NSW curriculum. A free 30-day trial is available, and users can undertake any gizmo for free for five minutes per day. The site is easy to navigate and downloads quickly. A. Frost
USER LEVEL: Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: Mathematics; Science; SciTech
SYLLABUS: Biology Stage 6; Chemistry Stage 6; Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; General Mathematics Stage 6; Mathematics K-6; Mathematics 7-10; Physics Stage 6; Science 7-10; Science & Technology K-6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Mathematics - Simulation methods; Science - Data processing; Simulation games
PUBLISHER: ExploreLearning, USA
REVIEW DATE: 10/01/10 [500] SCIS 1435816
Our environment: it's a living thing
Information about ways we can live more environmentally friendly lives is collected here in sections of Save at home, Save at work, and Save at play. Within these topics, students can research Water, Energy, Green power recycling, Transport, Chemicals and Waste. The site has detailed data on what individuals can do to change homes and habits, ideas on environmentally friendly products and design ideas. These are commonly found environmental topics, but Resources has some unusual material, such as school, community and industry Case studies of sustainable behaviours. This area of the site will be useful for senior research in Geography and Science. The site provides a good central databank of environmental initiatives that is easy for students to access and use when researching ways of becoming more environmentally aware, and also for studying the concept of sustainability. R. Parnis
USER LEVEL: Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Community
KLA: HSIE; Science; SciTech
SYLLABUS: Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7-10; Geography Stage 6; Science & Technology K-6
SCIS SUBJECTS: Conservation of natural resources; New South Wales - Environmental aspects; Sustainable living
PUBLISHER: NSW Environmental Trust, Australia
REVIEW DATE: 24/04/09 [333.72] SCIS 1395553
Safe drinking water is essential
Developed to help students explore solutions to this global issue, the site includes an absolute wealth of easy to access information and simple and informative graphics. Sources, Treatment and Distribution have detailed sections on water use around the world, interactive graphics and video support. An Atlas describes access to sanitation and safe drinking water. Of particular use for Science 7-10 and Geography 7-10 is the explanation of the water cycle that includes stages of the cycle and pie charts of the types of water on Earth. The site’s material is engaging and useful, and a comprehensive list of links will help further investigation of water issues. J. White
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: HSIE; Science
SYLLABUS: Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7-10; Geography Stage 6; Science 7-10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Water supply
PUBLISHER: National Academy of Sciences, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/02/10 [333.91] SCIS 1427020
Science Learning Network
Focusing on inquiry based science educational resources, the main sections of this useful site are Check out news and links, Visit our museums and Explore our resources. Visit our museums provides links to each museum in the Science Learning Network giving students a taste of science activities from across the world. The most interesting part of the website, Explore our resources, is a selection of resources developed by each museum in the group. Of interest to teachers of Stage 6 Biology is the section on Living things, with detailed information on classification, ecosystems and anatomy. The Atoms family allows Stage 4 Science students to explore the behaviour of matter and energy changes. Teachers would find pH factor interesting, with lesson plans and interactive tasks based around Excite, Expand, Examine, Explore, Explain, Exchange and Extend. J. Haeusler
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
KLA: Science
SYLLABUS: Biology Stage 6; Science 7-10
SCIS SUBJECTS: Science - Problems, exercises, etc; Science - Study and teaching
PUBLISHER: Science Learning Network, USA
REVIEW DATE: 01/02/10 [507] SCIS 1428722
The world’s biomes
Six biomes are presented on this informative site: Freshwater , Marine, Desert , Forest , Grassland and Tundra . There is a strong focus on the conservation and preservation of biomes with a useful summary of the impact of human activities. Comprehensive information is included on each biome, as well as representative photographs. Each page contains a link to a gallery of photographs that shows the diversity of ecosystems that exist in each biome. This site is relevant to Focus Area 4G2 in the Geography 7–10 syllabus and outcome 5.10 in the Science 7–10 syllabus, as well as supporting the Stage 6 Biology Module: Evolution of Australian biota and aspects of Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6. J. Morgan
USER LEVEL: Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Professional
KLA: HSIE; Science
SYLLABUS: Biology Stage 6; Earth & Environmental Science Stage 6; Geography 7–10; Science 7–10
SCIS Subjects: Biomes; Earth sciences; Human ecology
PUBLISHER: University of California, USA
REVIEW DATE: 20/11/08 [577] SCIS 1139372
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