Online Projects

It's time for our annual back-to-school guide to Web-based projects you can do with your students. Participating in an interactive project can be a great way to integrate technology use into your curriculum. Participation is free unless otherwise noted.

The Noon Day Project offers teachers and students throughout the world an opportunity to recreate the remarkably accurate measurement of the earth's north-south circumference made over 2200 years ago by Erasthenes in Alexandria, Egypt. Sponsored by the Center for Innovation in Science and Engineering Education (CIESE). Ages 11-18, 7/01/06 to 12/30/08

CIESE sponsors online collaborative projects, partner projects, and projects that utilize primary sources and real-time data such as earthquake monitoring or remote sensing data from cargo ships. More projects are available. Most projects are for grades 5-12; various start dates.

Join a high school class of English Language Learners in Building Bridges: Cross-Cultural Understanding. Global Studies and Foreign Language Learners can explore cultures throughout the world using e-mail, blogs, and other formats. Ages 14-18, 8/07/06 to 10/14/06. E-mail Mrs. Fields through the Web site to register.

The World Time Trackers project asks middle school students around the world to collect and analyze data about how they spend their time using a data collection table and Excel spreadsheets. Students can compare results with students from other countries as well. Ages 12-18, 7/13/06 to 5/25/07.

In Seasonal Changes through Our Eyes and Yours, students will observe, record, and measure seasonal changes for a particular object (tree, temperature, sunrise, etc.) over the course of one week during the winter and spring. They will then communicate their results to participating schools. Ages 7-10, registration 6/01/06 to 9/30/06

National Geographic's Genographic Project invites people to submit their personal DNA in an attempt to chart ancient human migrations from Africa across the continents. Participants submit a cheek swab and will receive a personal DNA analysis showing how mutations on their genes show the migration paths their ancestors followed. The Web site provides additional information. Cost $99.

Journey North from the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project, engages students in a global study of animal migration. Students track the migration patterns of birds and mammals and other natural events. Scientists provide their expertise, while students share their own field observations on seasonal change with other classrooms. Grades 4-12; Journey South begins in fall, Journey North in Spring.

Journey South's Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration is a great way to integrate art, science, social studies, and language arts for elementary students. Students in the United States and Canada create paper butterflies that will migrate to their counterparts in Mexico for the winter. This is also an excellent activity for bilingual or Spanish immersion classes. Grades 1-6; butterflies must be mailed by October 14.

The International Schools CyberFair is a White House-endorsed program that encourages youth to become community ambassadors by working collaboratively and using technology to share what they have learned. Students will conduct research about their local communities and publish their findings on the Internet. Grades K-12; register in fall for 2007 program.

The Internet Science and Technology Fair offers students an opportunity to work online with technical advisors from corporations, federal laboratories, and academic research centers. Students relate National Critical Technology applications to real-world problems and present their research findings on a Web site. Grades 3-12; October - February.

Quest Atlantis uses strategies from online role-playing games to motivate students to go on learning "quests". Completing Quests requires that members participate in real-world activities, such as conducting environmental studies, researching other cultures, and developing action plans. Ages 9-12, ongoing; this is a pilot project, teachers not in the pilot may contact project staff to join.

Wise , from the University of California-Berkeley, provides Web-based science activities that encourage students to examine real-world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies. Each unit includes goals and lesson plans. Teachers must register (no cost) and may then customize units for their own classroom use. Grades 5-12; ongoing.

The U. S. Department of State sponsors the Doors to Diplomacy educational challenge, encouraging middle and high school students around the world to produce Web projects on the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Each student team-member of the winning Doors to Diplomacy Award team receives a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches' schools each receive a $500 cash award. Ages 12-20; competition begins in October.

GeoGame, from Global SchoolNet, teaches students geography terms and map-reading skills while increasing their awareness of culture and geography. Students use maps, atlases, and other reference materials to match the description of each location in the game with the name of the corresponding city. Students may also create clues about their city for other students to use. Grades 3-6; ongoing.

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