Spotlight on Sources:
Welcome to Renzulli Learning’s Spotlight on Sources, some of our most engaging resources to excite and inspire your students!
Now that you’ve had a chance to explore some of our Enrichment Activities we wanted to make sure you knew all about the amazing sites presented by the American Museum of Natural History that we have in our system and how you can utilize these exhibits in your instruction.
These activities provide your students opportunities to explore, collect data and research, summarize and synthesize the information. Your students can take deeper dives, complete hands-on products, watch videos and so much more. You can even incorporate The American Museum of Natural History into a Language Arts or Math Lesson!
To locate these activities within Renzulli Learning:
Under the 'Teach' navigation, click 'Search'.
On the Search page, type in the title of the activity you would like to locate.
For more ideas to infuse enrichment activities with your curriculum, please visit the Unit Supplements on the Teacher Site, under “Teach.” We can also link these enrichment resources to your regular curriculum if you send us a theme or topic.
K-2
American Museum of Natural History: Be an Energy Saver
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
When it comes to global warming, our personal actions can make a big difference—if millions of people do it! Together, we can lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessen the impacts of climate change. Here are some things that you and your family can do to save energy.
American Museum of Natural History: Be an Ocean Helper
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Even if you live nowhere near the water, there are some simple ways in which kids can help protect oceans and ocean life. Can you get involved? How many of these things can you do to help? Read more about what you can do to protect the oceans and ocean life.
American Museum of Natural History: Build the Big Dipper
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
When you look up into the night sky, the stars look like tiny points of light. But stars are not tiny - they're huge, burning balls of gas, like our Sun. They just look small because they are so far away. To see what the Big Dipper would look like from outer space, build a mobile.
3-9
Welcome to Ology!
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Archaeology, biology, zoology — there are so many different types of ologies! This fun website has activities about biology, genetics, earth science, astronomy, and more! There is sure to be an activity for everyone. Click the link to check it out!
American Museum of Natural History: Create a COmpass
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Walk 10 blocks north. Drive three miles east. Fly two hours south. We rely on directions every day to get where we need to go. Without knowing north, south, east, and west, we would be lost! See if you can find north by making your own compass.
American Museum of Natural History: Around the World with DNA
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Scientists travel around the world to observe many different animal species and to collect their DNA . By analyzing DNA, scientists can figure out the kinds of animals that live on our planet, where they live, and the ways in which they’re related. This information helps protect endangered animals and the habitats they live in. Check out these scientists' journals from around the world!
9-12
American Museum of Natural History: Biodiverrsity Counts
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Biodiversity Counts helps teachers get middle school students out into their own backyards to gather and identify plants and arthropods (spiders, insects, and more). Lesson plans, essays, and interactives focus on dozens of topics, such ashow to capture arthropods, mount dried plants, make a net, keep a field journal, set up guest quarters for visiting arthropods, establish rules for field trips, and find local specialists.
American Museum of Natural History: North American Mammals
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
This website includes detailed descriptions, images, and distribution ranges for more than 400 mammals native to the North American continent. The primary resources for the site have been based in the continental United States, but, as the opportunity occurs, the site will be expanded to complete the species found in Canada and Mexico. The site includes includes high-quality range maps, photographs, scientific illustrations, family tree diagrams, weights and measures, and more. Adobe Flash Player, Apple QuickTime Player, and Adobe Reader are required for some features at this website.
American Museum of Natural History: Language in the Brain
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
Science / STEM / Technology / Online Activities
The human brain is wired for language in ways that no other animal can match. Watch a short video to learn what modern brain research reveals about our language system.
Thanks for being a part of the Renzulli Learning family and we hope you find these resources helpful.
Your Renzulli Learning Team