Based at the University of California at San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography has created the Explorations site to educate the public about their projects and research. On their website, visitors will find a trove of multimedia features, magazine articles, and information about conservation activities designed to protect the world's oceans for future generations. Clicking on the...

How can the drama and power of an actual earthquake be brought online? It’s a difficult task, but the good and talented people at the Exploratorium deserve multiple huzzahs for their fine efforts on this site. Designed to provide some basic information about the nature of earthquakes, the site contains five primary sections. Under the “Quake Basics” heading, visitors can expect to learn about the...

The California Department of Education and the foundation of the electronics firm, NEC, developed this great website that has snack-sized versions of many of the experiments at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California. The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art and human perception, and the Science Snacks website has more than 50 experiments for kids, and curious adults, to learn more...

First, the National Speleological Society (NSS) promotes its efforts to "study, explore, and conserve cave and karst resources; protect access to caves; encourage responsible management of caves and their unique environments; and promote responsible caving" (1). The website provides descriptions and pictures of many cave preserves, information on cave-related events, and numerous links to outside...

Understanding the power of magnetism on Earth isn't always easy, and students and teachers alike will be glad to find out about this handy guide to the subject. Created by experts at NASA, this 15-page teacher's guide was designed in partnership with other educators at Berkeley as well as several other participating institutions. The guide contains problems which examine Earth's changing magnetic...

The "Classroom of the Future" and "Exploring the Environment" are a collaboration between NASA and Jesuit Wheeling University, and they are responsible for this fine website that offers teachers unique ways to teach students about weather systems. The activities are for grades 5-12, and each activity indicates the applicable grade level, though most lean toward the upper grades. The homepage has...

First mentioned in the April 21, 2006 Scout Report, and significantly revised and updated since, Faultline provides the history and science of earthquakes in an accessible fashion that is appropriate for elementary through high school students and fun for adults. The broad sections of the site remain the same as they were in 2006: Live Eye on the Earth, Great Shakes, Quake Basics, Damage Control,...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) educates children about natural disasters and how kids can help prevent damage. The website features educational materials on the causes of catastrophes such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Visitors to the site can find out the natural disasters that affect each state in the United States. Students can read stories, play a variety of fun...

This dynamic site from National Geographic Education features invigorating ganders into four of nature’s most devastating forces. Start with Tornadoes. Six sections – What is a Tornado, What Causes Tornadoes, and Characteristics of Tornadoes, among others – provide an informative overview of these sudden, sometimes devastating wind events. Next, take a look at Volcanoes, and click on headings like...

The Forest Service's National Avalanche Center teaches users the basics of how to recognize avalanche terrain and how to travel safely in these environments. Users can view images of the four kinds of avalanches: slab, ice fall, point release, and wet. Through a slide presentation, visitors can discover how to safely spend a day in the backcountry. The website also addresses how to survive an...