The Why Files – The Science Behind the News

The Why Files is a good website that I discovered in a Classroom 2.0 discussion. The Why Files is a resource designed for students to learn about the science of stories in the news. The Why Files doesn’t cover every news story, just the stories that have clear connections to science concepts. For example, one of the stories on the front page over the weekend was about the start of Hurricane Season. The story goes on to explain in text, image, and video the science of hurricane formation.

Applications for Education
Most of the material on The Why Files is geared toward an elementary and middle school audience. The teachers’ section of The Why Files offers pdf guides and quizzes that you can use to teach the science of the stories featured on the front page of The Why Files. The Why Files could also be a good resource for students to explore independently or with their parents.

Here are some related resources that may be of interest to you:
Science Projects and Posters for Elementary Schools
Great Science Activities from Exploratorium
Earth Day Resources from Scholastic

Archives

Thank You Readers for 14 Amazing Years!