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Suggested Web Sites for Using Media Literacy and Primary Sources for the Science Classroom

 

Media Literacy Resources:

This section provides a variety of media literacy materials for teaching science.

BOOKS

Don't try this at home!:The physics of Hollywood Movies By Weiner, 2007.

  • Takes a look at Hollywood films from the perspective of a physicist, explaining and busting various scenes through the laws of physics.

Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics: Hollywood's Best Mistakes, Goofs and Flat-Out Destructions of the Basic Laws of the Universe By Tom Rogers, 2007.

  • A comedic book on Hollywood stunts that defy the laws of physics and why they work on the big screen.

ARTICLES

Science Scope: Teaching Critical Thinking Through Media http://learningcenter.nsta.org/files/ss1209_56.pdf

  • Overviews a curriculum initiative across Upstate New York that developed and published lessons integrating media literacy into K-12 science.

KQED: How to Use Science Media Effectively for Enhancing Teaching and learning http://science.kqed.org/quest/files/downloads/2011/06/QUESTMediaTips.pdf

  • Gives steps on how to use media in the classroom effectively and offers suggestions on how to engage a classroom in media presentations and activities.

WEBSITES

Media Literacy Clearinghouse http://www.frankwbaker.com/math_science_connections.htm

  • Articles, research, and essays on media literacy integration and its role in science lessons.

Snopes: Science Myths and facts! http://www.snopes.com/science/science.asp

Chemistry in Movies http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2006/Macgee/Web%20Project/home_page.htm

  • A web project that takes scenes from popular movies and explains the chemistry behind them.

National Science Foundation http://www.mediasciencelearning.com

  • Media and Informal Science Learning page includes lots of examples using new media forms to teach and learn science.

Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/search?query=science

  • The George Lucas Foundation's journal and web site for promoting educational technology integration. The site has over 100 different videos in its library, searchable for "science".

Classroom 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topic/search?q=science

  • A social network for those interested in integrating social media into educational settings. Type "science" into the Forum section of the site for teacher discussions on integrating technology in the science classroom. Worth sifting through the thousands of hits.

iLearn Technology Blog http://ilearntechnology.com/

  • For educators on integrating technology into the classroom, searchable for science.


Primary Source Documents for Analysis:

This list includes websites that provide primary source materials for science education.

Library Of Congress http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/imagesources.html#biology

  • Government primary source videos and photos of science categorized by subject.

Stanford University http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/largest.dtl

  • Largest Free Full-Text Science Archives. Includes databases and journal archives.

US Geological Survey http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/

  • Photo gallery, database includes photos from pioneers, Earthquakes, National Parks, and more!

Teacher's Domain http://www.teachersdomain.org/

  • Online library with over 1,000 media resources for teachers. Included are interactive flash programs, documents, images, audio pieces, video pieces, and even lesson plans and activities to use in the classroom. Once teacher's register, the resources are there to use for free.