Teacher Resources

Welcome to the Teacher Resources section of Windows to the Universe, where we try to collect resources of our own, as well as of partner organizations that we think you will be interested in. We regularly update this section with information about our web seminars, workshops and new classroom activities. We also provide links, below to several of our key resources, including motivational quotes, Earth science literacy frameworks, materials from our professional development workshops, our Teacher Opportunities calendar (Members Only), and a link to our free monthly Earth and Space Science Educator Newsletter. Windows to the Universe and its educational resources have been reviewed by NASA's Office of Space Sciences and Earth Science Enterprise, receiving exemplary status.

Teachers - Become an Educator Member of Windows to the Universe for special benefits and opportunities, including information about valuable special offers for classroom grants, professional development with travel and/or stipends, research grants, and more!

Windows to the Universe is now offering on-site professional development workshops for teachers. Find out more about this opportunity here. Information about our upcoming workshops and events at the NSTA conference in Indianapolis is available under 2012 on our Teacher Resources/Workshops page.

<b><i>Looking for online resources about climate and climate change for your classroom?</i></b> Windows to the Universe is a free interlinked learning ecosystem to a wealth of resources on our site and elsewhere that support you on these topics, including <a href="/teacher_resources/climate_change_course.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">course readings</a>, <a href="/php/teacher_resources/activity.php#6">classroom activities and presentations</a>, and online interactives. Our <a href="/teacher_resources/climate.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">Climate Change Education Resources page</a> provides links to content you can use right away in the classroom!<p><small><em> Ute Kaden/PolarTREC</em></small></p>Our <a href="/teacher_resources/teach_glacier.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">Glaciers: Then and Now</a> activity is an effective tool for discovering changes in land-based glaciers. The activity includes a set of eight image pairs of Alaskan glaciers from 1899 to 2004. The activity is available in our <a href="/php/teacher_resources/activity.php#6">Classroom Activities section</a>, including a free html version and a pdf version free for <a href="/new_membership_services.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">Windows to the Universe members</a>. <a href="/store/product.php?productid=173&cat=27&page=1">Glaciers: Then and Now Classroom Activity Kits</a> are available in our <a href="/store/home.php">online store</a>, including the activity description, student worksheet, and eight laminated image pairs.<p><small><em></em></small></p>As we remember the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami this week, teachers should remember that they can make a very big difference, with the lessons they teach. <a href="/teacher_resources/AGU-NESTA_GIFT/2011/Preller/lessons-save-life-hr.wmv">This video</a> tells the story of Tilly, who put her geography lessons into action and saved many lives in Puket, Thailand in 2004. We have a great set of free tsunami resources and activities for teachers <a href="/teacher_resources/2011_AGU-NESTA_GIFT_Workshop.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">here</a>.<p><small><em></em></small></p>Please help support Windows to the Universe, a project of the <a href="http://www.nestanet.org">National Earth Science Teachers Association</a>, with a <a href="https://www.nestanet.org/cms/content/support/donate/form">donation</a> today (select Windows to the Universe in the box on the form). Your support helps fund our professional development workshops for educators, as well as our efforts to update and improve the website. Thank you for your support!<p><small><em></em></small></p>The massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake off of Honshu, Japan on <a href="/headline_universe/march112011earthquaketsunami.html&edu=elem&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/�">11 March 2011</a> generated a tsunami that exceeded 10 meters on the coast near the epicenter. <a href="http://www.iris.edu/hq/">IRIS</a> has developed <a href="http://www.iris.edu/hq/retm">"Teachable Moment" classroom activities</a> for your use. NESTA's new journal issue on <a href="http://www.nestanet.org/cms/sites/default/files/journal/Spring11.pdf">Earthquake Hazards and Seismology</a> is available for free.<p><small><em><a href="http://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/files/2011/03/680_20110311-TsunamiWaveHeight.jpg">NOAA Tsunami Wave Height Projections image</a></em></small></p>Does Earth science matter? The power outage experienced by residents in New York City on 10/30/2012 due to Hurricane Sandy demonstrates the interconnectedness of our society, and the power of the Earth system. Every person should have an understanding of how the Earth system works so they can live better lives, protect those they love, and make wise choices. Earth science education is critical!<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Hybirdd, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.</em></small></p>

Explore Teacher Resources

Web Seminars for Educators

Windows to the Universe and NESTA offer occasional web seminars on a variety of topics in Earth ...Read more

Literacy Frameworks for Earth Science Education

A set of conceptual frameworks have been developed to describe what we should know ...Read more

Classroom Activities

Click the topics below to find hands-on activites for your classroom ...Read more

Windows to the Universe Journal

Record your thoughts and discoveries with this on-line Journal. Your students can use this tool too! ...Read more

Workshops & Presentations by Windows to the Universe Staff

Our staff conducts workshops and presentations at conferences and other venues for the professional ...Read more

Earth and Space Science Educator E-Newsletter

...Read more

Research Highlights

Windows to the Universe is now highlighting breaking science news and cool multimedia from ...Read more

Motivational Quotes

Everyone needs some inspiration sometime! Here are some quotes that you may enjoy, or find useful in your work, play, or everyday life. ...Read more

More about Teacher Resources

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Did you know that we have tons of resources for Elementary School Science?

Did you know that you can play games on Windows to the Universe? Have fun!

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Eutrophication
xEutrophication : Accumulation of nutrients that supports dense growth of algae which decays and depletes the water of oxygen

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Even in the Desert, Plants Feel the Heat of Global Warming

Global warming is a hot topic, and it's causing concern for scientists studying winter annuals in the Sonoran Desert. While desert winters have become warmer and drier over the years, climate changes have...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA