Programs For Educators

Education Resources Library

The Education Resources Library provides educational and curriculum materials for loan to educators, Scout leaders, day care personnel, families, students, and all others who find themselves wanting or needing to teach children about science and the natural world.

Many of the materials in the Education Resources Library are hands-on and expressly meant for children to manipulate with the purpose of enriching and stimulating a child's view of science.

Available Resources

• Book Collection
• Discovery Boxes
• Science Activities for Special Education
• CD-ROM Collection
• Video Collection
• Outdoor Biological Investigation Strategies
• Science Games Collection

Check Out Policy

1. Check-Out Period Is One Week.
2. Materials Can Be Renewed by Telephone.
3. Printed Materials Can Be Mailed or Boxed for Shipping.
4. Borrower is Required to Pay Return Postage/Shipping.

Book Collection

These books, listed here by title only, represent a small portion of the Education Resources Library's holdings.

• Animals Anthropology Archaeology
• Astronomy Biology Birds
• Bubbles Chemistry Crafts
• Dinosaurs Environmental Education Evolution
• Fossils Genetics Geology
• Insects Mathematics Microscopes
• Nuclear Science Oceans & Seas Physics
• Plants & Trees Preschool Science Ranger Rick's Naturescope
• Reptiles & Amphibians Science Activities Science is Elementary
• Space Weather Wonder Science

Discovery Boxes

Discovery Boxes are composed of a collection of hands-on materials which explain and discuss a thematic subject. Most boxes are intended for use in a classroom and include subject and use information for the educator. The Boxes many be used by the teacher with whole class, small group, or in an interest center.

• Animal Adaptations ~ Box Theme: the physical traits by which animals adapt to their habitats and food resources. Includes activities, games, pictures, skin, armor, feathers and Teacher's Guide.
• Animal Tracks & Signs ~ Box Theme: the physical traces left by animals. Footprints, dung, hide and fur are all examples. Includes activities, games and Teacher's Guide.
• Art in Nature ~ Box Theme: Nature includes much which is pure art. Design, form, color, and texture. This box explores different aspects of nature's artistic bent. Includes Teacher's Guide.
• BirdFeet ~ Box Theme: physical structures of birdfeet and why different species have adapted different structures in the design of their feet. Includes: birdfeet, CD-ROM, videos, pictures, Teacher's Guide.
• Cordage Discovery Box - Box Theme: Cordage is a word used to describe any kind of rope, string, twine, thread, yarn, cable, or any flexible line. There is also an on-line learning module available by clicking the above link.
• Eagle ~ Box Theme: physical structures and anatomy of an eagle. Includes Teacher's Guide.
• Early Tools ~ Box Theme: real stone tools used for a variety of jobs by native Peoples. No Teachers' Guide. Tools Include: scraper, awl, mano, arrow straightened, and several projectile points.
• Echinoderms ~ Box Theme: invertebrate ocean life forms.
• Fossils ~ Box Theme: an exploration into the evidence of early life forms and fossils. Includes: Teacher's Guide, assorted fossil remains.
• Hagerman Fossil Beds ~ Box Theme: fossils and history of the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Includes: cast horse fossil skulls, Oregon Trail games, Teacher's Guide.
• Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks ~ Box Theme: investigation into the three major types of rocks. Includes: rocks specimens and Teacher's Guide.
• Insects ~ Box Theme: many different species of butterflies and insects. No Teacher's Guide.
• Mano & Metate ~ Box Theme: two of the most important grinding tools used by Native American women. The mano & metate comprise the first food processor. Fun recipes can be made and eaten.
• Mineral Properties ~ Box Theme: mineral specimens which illustrate hardness, tenacity, cleavage, fracture, luster and streak. Includes: Teacher's Guide.
• Minerals ~ Box Theme: 20 specimens of common minerals which display the six characteristics used to identify all minerals. Includes: Teacher's Guide.
• Reptiles ~ Box Theme: investigation into the world of reptiles. Includes: snake and lizard specimens. No Teachers' Guide.
• Rocks & Minerals ~ Box Theme: 21 identified rocks and minerals with descriptions. Included: Teacher's Guide.
• SeaShells ~ Box Theme: investigation of seashells. Includes: Teacher's Guide.
• SeaShells of the World ~ Box Theme: investigation of small seashells from around the world. Includes: Teacher's Guide.
• Skulls ~ Box Theme: how are the skull bones of animals different and why. Includes: marmot, jackrabbit, coyote, raccoon, skunk, bobcat, and beaver skulls.
• SongBird Blues ~ Box Theme: ecological focus on migratory songbirds living in Idaho. Features mountain bluebird, hummingbird, meadow lark, cowbird, warbler, thrush, and song sparrow. Includes: Teacher's Guide, activities, puppets, videos, posters.
• Volcano ~ Box Theme: investigation of volcanic rocks. Includes: Teacher's Guide.

Science Activities for Special Education

SAVI ~ Science Activities for the Visually Impaired
SELPH ~ Science Enrichment for Learners with Physical Handicaps

These two science education modules are expressly for students with visual, hearing, or physical disabilities. A Teacher's Guide accompanies the modules to assist in their use and the development of lesson plans.

The SAVI ~ SELPH Modules can be loaned for a extended periods of time. Some replaceable materials must be provided by the user.

The two modules available are:

Scientific Reasoning Module
Science Concepts:

• A variable is something that can change and that might affect the outcome of an experiment.
• A meter is a standard unit of length.
• The human heart beats faster when the body is exercising.

Structures of Life Module
Science Concepts:

• Seeds are found in fruits.
• Different kinds of fruits have different kinds and numbers of seeds.
• A histogram is a method for recording data.
• Seeds are alive.
• Crayfish are living organisms.
• The behavior of crayfish includes how they interact with their environment and others of their kind.
• A territory is an area claimed as personal space by an animal.
• Models are representations of reality.

CD-ROM Collection

The following is a list of educational CD-ROMs available to Educators. The majority of these CD-ROMs are PC compatible, with a few being both PC and Macintoch compatible. CD-ROMs can be mailed to schools in Idaho and have a one week loan period. These CD-ROMs were provided with a grant from the Idaho / NASA Space Grant Consortium.

• Anatomy Animals Astronomy
• Biology Dinosaurs Fossils
• Geography Physics Science
• Space Weather

Video Collection

The following is a list of educational Videos available to Educators. The videos are all color VHS, with a few having Teacher's Guides to accompany video. Videos can be mailed to schools in Idaho and have a one week loan period.

• Animals Archaeology Astronomy
• Birds Botany Dinosaurs
• Ecology Forests Fossils
• Geology Habitats Idaho History
• Mathematics Native Americans Nuclear Science
• Space Weather

Outdoor Biological Investigation Strategies Collection

The following is a list of Outdoor Biological Investigation Strategies (OBIS) modules available for loan to Educators. Each module contains approximately seven related activities which are intended to be taught outside. The modules are developed for students Aged: 10 to 15 years old. OBIS modules can be mailed to schools in Idaho and have a one week loan period. OBIS was developed by Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley.

• Adaptations Animal Behavior Aquatic Animal Behavior
• Backyard Biocrafts Breakwaters And Bays
• Campsite Child's Play Desert
• For Eight To Ten Year Olds Forest Games And Simulations
• Human Impact For Large Groups Lawns And Fields
• Neighborhood Woods Nighttime Outdoor Study Techniques
• Pavement And Parks Ponds And Lakes Sampler
• Schoolyard Seashore Streams And Rivers
• For Small Groups & Families Trail Wintertime

Science Games Collection

• The Crazy Dinosaur Game
• Dinosaur Quiz
• Fun with Optics
• Game of Space
• Good Heavens
• Logicmaster
• Science Bingo
• The Solar System
• Space Hop
• Tangoes: A Puzzle Game
• Yotta Know Birds