What is Resources for Learning?
Resources for Learning was developed by the American Museum of Natural History to make our extensive collection of scientific and educational materials more readily available to anyone who is interested in teaching and learning about science. This includes educators, parents, kids, after-school coordinators, and informal learning center staff.

What is a resource?
Resources on this Web site can help you explain and explore scientific topics and methods. Each resource has a concise description that includes a title, resource type, grade level, and key concepts. These will help you decide if the resource is appropriate for you or your learners.

What types of resources are available?
Resources for Learning offers materials organized under the following headings:

	Activities: resources that actively engage learners. Some are computer-based interactives; others are instructions for activities away from the computer.
	Curriculum Materials: resources intended primarily for educators. These provide a structured approach to a topic, and may include strategies for presentation and evaluation.
	Articles: resources focused on a theme or themes, and intended to be read or viewed by the learner. These include text, photos, and videos.
	Evidence and Analysis: resources that present the "real stuff" of science, the artifacts and specimens, data, tools, and methods that scientists use.
	Exhibition Materials: resources that are drawn from exhibits at the Museum. These include exhibit graphics and text, videos, and interactives.
	Reference Lists: resources such as booklists, lists of Web sites, or directories of useful people and places to know.

How do I find a resource?

search the collection for resources that meet your needs for specific topics, grade levels, and resource types

browse the online catalog to find resources in astronomy, earth science, biology, paleontology, and anthropology

explore special collections of resources curated around a particular theme, such as a Museum exhibit or research area

How do I find out about a resource?
Whenever you browse or search the collection, the result will be a resource list. For each resource on the list youčll see a brief listing that shows the title ("Responsible Collecting"), resource type ("Article"), grade level ("grades 5 to 12"), and a brief description. You can get more information about a resource by clicking the icon next to the title. Go ahead and try it now:

		Responsible Collecting Article for grades 6 through 12 Collecting specimens is necessary for studying and documenting new species—making responsible collecting all the more important. Find out how you can practice it.
		Webpage [pages: 1] PDF [plugins: Adobe Acrobat; filesize: 285kb] [pages: 4] More about this Resource

Clicking the icon next to the title displays the full resource description. Youčll see whether the resource is available in a print format, Web format, or both. Click the "Go To" button to go to the Web page, or click the "Get" button to download the PDF print format.

Go the Website  1 page(s)

Download the PDF  285 kb;  4 page(s)

Do I need any special software to use the resources?
Resources in Web format can be viewed in a typical Web browser like the one youčre using now. If a resource requires a special plug-in, the Web format listing will explain what you need.

To view resources in print format, you'll need a copy of Adobe Acrobat © Reader. Acrobat Reader is free. You can learn more about Acrobat Reader, and download a copy for your personal use, at the Adobe Website.

Questions or comments?
We would be happy to answer your questions or hear your comments about Resources for Learning. Send them to resources@amnh.org.