Westlake Elementary

A

Agriculture

• Brussels Sprouts
  Learn all about one of Santa Cruz' most inportant crops.
  http://www.brussels-sprouts.com

Art/Architecture

• ArchKIDecture
  This is a great site for kids intersted in exploring architecture.
  http://www.archkidecture.org

• American Art
  Explore a database of American artists. You will be able to read biographies and look at individual paintings. Sponsored by the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. Check out "Ask Joan of Art!"
  http://americanart.si.edu

• Art Safari
  New York's Museum of Modern Art has this site that helps students think more deeply about art. Make sure you check ou the, "make your own artork" section. Good family art activity.
  http://www.moma.org/momalearning/artsafari/

• The Artists'Toolkit
  Explore color, positive and negative space, symmetry and more! This great site is sponsored by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
  http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/index.html

• Building Big!
  Learn all about big buildings and structures. Then try your own hand at building skyscrapers, bridges, domes and other structures. From PBS and David Maccaulay.
  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/

Animals

• Animal Adaptations
  Visit this site and really think about how animals are adapted to the habitat where they live.
  http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Esheet.cfm?DocID=139

B

Birds

• All About Birds
  This site, from KidZone, is a great way to start learning about our feathered friends!
  http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/birds1.htm

• All About Birds - Cornell Lab or Ornithology
  Use the drop-down menu to learn about any bird of North America. You can even hear the birds' songs!
  http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

• Audubon: Birds and Science
  Named for John James Audubon, the Audubon Society's goal is to protect our natural heritage. They also have lots of information about birds!
  http://www.audubon.org/bird/index.html/

• KidsClick Birds!
  KidsClick has links to dozens of great sites about birds. Explore and have fun!
  http://www.kidslick.org and search for "birds"

C

Chemistry

• Element Research
  This list of links for chemistry and elements was put together by 5th grade students at Glorietta.
  http://www.orinda.k12.ca.us/glorietta/curric/classes/classpages/har/chem/elements/elem.htm

Colonial America

• Colonial America (1492 - 1763 (All Groups)
  The Library of Congress has a collection of short stories and articles about Colonial America. All of the stories are illustrated with primary sources including paintings, drawings, and documents..
  http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/colonial

• Colonial Kids (Pennsylvania - Middle)
  This Thinkquest site was created by six 4th and 5th graders. Their information about kids during Colonial times is wonderfu!
  http://library.thinkquest.org/J002611F/index.htm

• A Colonial Family and Community (Connecticut - New England)
  Follow the directions on this site to learn about a family from northeastern Connecticut. Short movie clips, pictures, interviews with docents, and interesting articles. From the Henry Ford Museum. Don't forget that the photos and movies are done with actors!
  http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/colonial/intro/index.html

• Colonial Williamsburg Where History Lives (Virginia - Southern)
  Good site to read about people, clothing, and the daily lives of people from Colonial Williamsburg.
  http://www.history.org/history/

• Colonial Kids Welcome (Maryland - Southern)
  Nice interactive information about life in Colonial Times.
  http://www.stmaryscity.org/Colonial%20Kids.html

• The History Place - Early Colonial America (All groups)
  This site has a wonderful timeline of important dates in Colonial America up to 1700. You can also see 1700 to 1763.
  http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-early.htm

• Learn at Plimouth Plantation (Massachusetts - New England)
  You can read articles on the "Historical Background" link or explore the "Online Activities".
  http://www.plimoth.org/learn/

• Your Teacher Takes you To Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia - Southern)
  A tacher from Palo Alto put together this site about Willimasburg, VA. She has lots of pictures that will help you learn about Colonial life. Much of her information, including pages on clothing and trades is good for all the Colonies.
  http://www.ohlone.palo-alto.ca.us/Williamsburg/page1.htm

E

Energy

• Energy Kids
  Ms Diebert recommends this site. It's from the Department of Energy, part of the U.S. Government!
  http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/

Explorers - California

• California History Online: European Exploration
  Good overview for all students of the exploration, reasons for it, etc. Sponsored by California Historical Society.
  http://www.californiahistory.net/explo_main_frame.htm

• Coastal Navigation and Exploration of the Monterey Bay Area
  includes information on Cabrillo, Drake, Vizcaino, Cermeno, and other explorers.
  http://www.mchsmuseum.com/coastalnav.html

• Time Line for the Establishment of the Pueblo de Branciforte by Phil Reader
  From the Santa Cruz Public Library. Includes dates of exploration including mentions of several different explorers.
  http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/spanish/b40chron.shtml

• Zoom Explorers
  Excellent database of explorer biographies. Some have more than others, but there is something here for pretty much everyone.
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/index.shtml

• Juan Cabrillo
  Good biography of Cabrillo. From the U.S. Department of the Interior
  http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/Cabrillo.htm

• Juan
  Biography of Juan Cabrillo from the National Park Service.
  www.nps.gov/cabr/juan.html

• Juan Cabrillo
  Biography written for students from Gold Ridge School in Rohnert Park
  http://www.crpusd.org/goldridge/cabrillo.htm

• Sebastián Rodríguez Cermeño
  Nice summary of Cermeño's life and career.
  http://www.toucanvalley.com/caexp_s.htm

• Hernando Cortes and the Conquest of the Aztecs
  Brief biography of Cortes and a detailed description of his conquest of the Aztecs. Advanced reading.
  http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/aztec.html

• Juan Bautista de Anza
  Biography written for students from Gold Ridge School in Rohnert Park
  http://www.crpusd.org/goldridge/anza.htm

• Gaspar de Portola
  Biography written for students from Gold Ridge School in Rohnert Park
  http://www.crpusd.org/goldridge/portola.htm

• Sir Francis Drake
  Biography written for students from Gold Ridge School in Rohnert Park
  http://www.crpusd.org/goldridge/drake.htm

• Sebastian Vizcaino
  Bio written for students at Gold Ridge School in Rohnert Park
  http://www.crpusd.org/goldridge/vizcaino.htm

• Sebastian Vizcaino
  From the San Diego Historical Society. Biography of Vizcaino
  http://www.sandiegohistory.org/bio/vizcaino/vizcaino.htm

Explorers of the World

• Zoom Explorers
  Excellent database of explorer biographies. Some have more than others, but there is something here for pretty much everyone.
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/index.shtml

• Amerigo Vespucci
  A nice biography written by an author and geographer, Matt Rosenberg.
  http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa050498.htm

G

Grammar

• Edugames
  Check out this site for lots of fun games. Like Mad Libs? Try the Wacky Web Tales. Power Proofreading is pretty fun, also.
  http://www.eduplace.com/edugames.html

• Grammar Practice Park
  Games with grammar? You bet! Try Plural Play in the Grade Four section. Check out this site. Games for grades 3 - 5.
  http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/grammar_park.html

I

Insects

• eNature.com - Nature and Wildlife Field Guides
  Good information but students may need help with it. Associated with the National Wildlife Federation.
  http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/intermediate.asp?curGroupID=4

• Information Sheets
  This information was written for elementary teachers by the University of Arizona center for Insect Science. Good inormation with parental help.
  http://insected.arizona.edu/info.htm

• Insect printouts - AllAboutNature.com
  Child friendly pages to print out. Includes some diagrams to color and basic information. Adult assistance will still be required for navigation, printing, and some of the information.
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ptintouts.shtml

• Koday's Kids Amazing Insects
  Put together by an elementary computer teacher and her students. Pictures, facts, and more. Better with some parental assistance.
  http://209.174.8.139/4th/kkhp/1insects/bugmenu.html

• Let's Talk About Insects
  Child friendly introduction to insects. Put together for children by the University of Illinois Extension.
  http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects/08.html

• Zoobooks - The Encyclopedia of Animals
  From the makers of Zoobooks magazines. Click the icons at the bottom of the page for general insect info.
  ttp://www.zoobooks.com/animalsAtoZ/directoryi.htm

K

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Day of Service
  This Day of Service encourages citizens to follow Dr. King's words: "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."
  http://www.mlkday.org

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Enchanted Learning
  From Enchanted Learning. Many of the resources on the site are free for all. Some are only available to subscribers.
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK/

• The King Center
  Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.
  http://www.thekingcenter.org/