Website Analysis

Amazing Space
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/



This NASA-based website is a wonderful interactive online resource for students and teachers. I would recommend it to any teacher who wants to create a science unit on the solar system, space, or physical science topics.
This site offers very engaging, lessons through interactive games. Students can, for example, learn about the nature of gravity through an activity called “Planet Impact.” In this game, students test all of the variables that affect gravity—such as mass, speed, and distance—by firing comets at the Jupiter. Students can change the variables and fire the comet to simulate Jupiter’s gravitational affect on the comet. This game becomes even more fun when students correctly choose the right variables to make their comet smash into Jupiter’s surface.
Students can also learn about the light spectrum, make their own comets, play a card game on objects in our solar system, and assemble the Milky Way. All of these activities include high-quality digital images or illustrations and feature kid-friendly definitions. In the “Create the Milky Way” activity, students piece together the Milky Way one feature at a time, and as the features are put in place a little box appears next to the object that has a symbolic picture and a simple-phrase definition. For instance, when a student clicks on the “Blue Stars” a label pops up that says, “Young and hot.” Above this phrase appears a picture of little, blue, crying babies.
This website also provides instant assessment for students. Once a game is completed, the student can take a quiz on the topics covered. If the student misses a question, an explanation of the right answer is shown. Or, the student who wishes to explore more after a quiz can click on a number of extension activities that give more details and facts about this topic. This assessment feature makes this website a powerful learning tool for students.
This site is a very practical for teachers as well because it bridges the students’ exploration of space topics with resources for the teacher. Teachers can easily follow up a student’s experience on this website with fun, engaging activities. Each interactive activity includes fast facts, concepts, and lesson plan ideas (“Teaching Tips” as the site calls them). These lesson plans are extremely thorough. They are based on standards and are formatted in a teacher-friendly style. Each lesson includes vocabulary, big ideas, misconceptions students may have, assessment tools, etc. If this site does not offer enough resources for the topics, the teacher can click on a variety of researched links that offer more information.
I believe this is one of the most teacher and student-friendly websites I have ever seen. It has been carefully prepared. It is highly-interactive. It can be an excellent supplement for a science unit.