Site Review: Try Science

Site URL: TryScience.org

Content:  Expose K-12 students to contemporary science and technology through online and offline interaction with science and technology centers worldwide. In many ways, Try Science acts as a gateway to some of the best science centers in the country.

Design:  The site’s design is somewhat lacking due to a strange use of space, whereby all of the page elements appear condensed into a fraction of the screen. That limitation aside, all of the site’s elements look good and work well, and the layout does open up a bit as users explore.

Review:  Try Science stands out for many reasons, not the least of which is the wealth of content offered across science disciplines and grade levels. Teachers can select from any number of topic categories including Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Space Science and others. Each category is home to a group of classroom-appropriate experiments and activities.

In addition to resources for direct instruction, the site designates an area for helping teachers not only integrate Try Science materials into classroom activities, but also connect with parents and students.

The final piece of the Try Science puzzle is a dedicated professional development section. Here, users can find items such as professional development courses for middle-school science teachers developed by The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Bottom Line:  For science-based K-12 classroom materials, ideas on how to integrate them into instruction, and great PD resources, look no further than Try Science.

Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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