Grades 6-8
Article
Mars: Past, Present, Future
In the early 1900s, some astronomers believed that the color contrasts on Mars' surface were great oceans. Today we know they are huge dust storms. Track how our knowledge of Mars has changed with this seventh-grader.
Article
Paleontology and Stratigraphy of the Rochester, New York, Area
When this ninth-grader from New York uncovered fossils in the state's Finger Lakes region, it was the first time they'd seen light in 400 million years. Learn what information they yielded after all those years.
Article
When Disaster Strikes
An earthquake prediction when she was young peaked the interest of this eighth-grader from Michigan. While the earthquake never occurred, her fascination continues to this day.
Article
My Fish-Shaped Home: A History of Changes
Did you know that Long Island was once part of a chain of volcanoes? Or that it was part of the tropics—and faced south? Step back in time with this seventh-grader for a look at the forces that shaped this giant sandbar.
Article
Saving Species
Take a world-wide tour of biodiversity. You'll meet mollusks in the reefs off the Bahamas, the aye-aye in the tropical forests of Madagascar, and the clever mimic-ant spider that lives in Australia.
Article
Work the System!
Did you know that forests with leaves above the water can grow in the ocean? Grab the magical magnifying glass, and see how many different plants and animals you can find in this virtual mangrove swamp.
Article
It Takes All Kinds to Make a World
The ocean's one diverse place—with alga so tiny that 10 million can fit in a single teaspoon to whales longer than three school buses. Take the surfboard challenge, and ride the waves of biodiversity!
Activity
Ocean Creature Feature
To survive in the icy Pacific, a sea otter has about a million hairs in every square inch of its fur. Now, that's dense! Take a close look at ocean adaptations while boosting your OLogy card collection.
Activity
Dive Into Worlds Within the Sea
Which squirmy little creatures does the spiny lobster eat? Can you spot the weird greenish glow on the belly of the cookie-cutter shark? Show off your good thinking with a game of good linking.
Article
How to Calculate a Biodiversity Index
One is the riskiest number... A more diverse plant population has a better chance of adapting to changes in the environment. Learn how to quantify the biodiversity of any area.