In this hands-on OLogy activity, kids learn how camouflage allows flounders to blend into a variety of backgrounds. The activity begins with a kid-friendly look at animal camouflage and how chromatophores contain colors, or pigments, that can change the skin's appearance. The illustrated, step-by-step directions challenge kids first to color a flounder drawing so that it matches the provided background, and then to create their own backgrounds and make more drawings of camouflaged flounders.

This online activity is part of the museum's Online Field Journal Web site, where young children can explore the wonders of nature with the help of an adult. The challenge here is to compare examples within categories of field evidence. On the opening page, the 11 comparison activities are listed: Seashells, Birds, Insects, Butterflies, Rocks, Leaves, Animal Tracks, Reptiles, Flowers, Fish, and Spiders. On the first page of each comparison activity, there are side-by-side photos of three different objects; students are asked to describe the differences between them. Clicking a photo takes students to a magnified view of the object; this subpage also has additional questions that hone students' observation skills. When students click on the magnified photo, they get a fun fact.

This online activity is part of the museum's Online Field Journal Web site, where young children can explore the wonders of nature with the help of an adult. Here, they get guidance about how to observe nature with printable field journal pages. On the opening page, the 11 field journals are listed: Seashells, Birds, Insects, Butterflies, Rocks, Leaves, Animal Tracks, Reptiles, Flowers, Fish, and Spiders. The first page of each field journal activity includes instructions designed to focus the exploration, along with questions to think about. The field journal, which is a printable page, has places to record a name, the date, weather conditions, and written and illustrated observations.

This collection of fish-skull animations is from Diversity of Fishes, part of the Museum's Seminars on Science series. These distance-learning courses are designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. The three QuickTime movies take a look at the following aspects of jaw protrusion: how this feeding mechanism allows fish to extend their reach in order to envelope prey; how jaw protrusion increases mouth volume and forces water and prey into the fish's now tube-like jaws; the complexity of a fish's head, with more than 30 movable bony parts controlled by more than 50 muscles.

This BioBulletin Web site reports on an international scientific expedition in Gabon to study freshwater biodiversity. The site includes text, videos, photographs, and interviews with key scientists. The Introduction presents the idea that freshwater ecosystems hold great diversity and are at great risk. About the Expedition explains why Gabon's rain forests and freshwater ecosystems were selected for studyBiologists in Action is an annotated photo album of the expedition. Why Gabon? takes an in-depth look at this country on the west coast of Africa, including its people and history as well as its habitats and species. About Dr. Stiassny profiles this expedition scientist, who serves as the museum's Chair of the Department of Ichthyology.

This BioBulletin Web site takes an in-depth look at how seafood lovers can "eat smart" when it comes to the environment.

This biodiversity Web site for kids, part of the museum's Kids in Our Halls program, was produced by high school interns at the Museum. In includes these sections: What Do You Think About Extinction?, an interview with kids visiting the Hall of Biodiversity; Did You Know?, a collection of fun facts that includes challenges to be solved; a five-question interactive biodiversity quiz; a Q&A interview with the head of the museum's Ichthyology Department; brief articles about the origins of chocolate and the ecological importance of coral reefs; a downloadable poster to color.

CK-12 Life Science Honors For Middle School covers seven units: Understanding Living Things; Cells: The Building Blocks of Life; Genetics and Evolution; Prokaryotes, Protists, Fungi, and Plants; The Animal Kingdom; The Human Body; and Ecology.

CK-12 Life Science For Middle School covers: Cell Biology, Genetics, Evolution, Prokaryotes, Protists, Fungi, Plants, The Animal Kingdom, The Human Body, and Ecology.

This OLogy matching game challenges kids to match pictures of eight ocean creatures with their descriptions. The reward? Eight new OLogy trading cards.

This BioBulletin Web site takes an in-depth look at the power of dams to sustain and destroy life near rivers, and the process and results of setting dammed rivers free. The site includes text, videos, photographs, and interviews with key scientists.

This gallery of online resources is from the Museum's Seminars on Science, a series of distance-learning courses designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. The Sharks and Rays: Myth and Reality seminar examines six popular myths: Myth 1: Sharks Must Swim Constantly or They Die! Myth 2: Sharks are the Number One Cause of Animal-Related Deaths! Myth 3: All Rays Have Poisonous Stingers!Myth 4: All Sharks Are Like the Great White! Myth 5: Sharks Can Detect a Single Drop of Blood in the Ocean! Myth 6: Sharks Do Not Get Cancer!

This video gallery is from the Museum's Seminars on Science, a series of distance-learning courses designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. Part of the How to Think About Life in the Universe seminar, Video Gallery: Life at the Deep Sea Vents features four videos: Black Smokers (1 minute, 40 seconds); Crabs (1 minute, 8 seconds); Fishes (27 seconds); Worms (1 minute, 19 seconds).

This gallery of online resources is from the Museum's Seminars on Science, a series of distance-learning courses designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. Video Gallery: Man Bites Shark, part of the Sharks and Rays: Myth and Reality seminar, features three videos: Man Bites Shark I, which looks at the reasons sharks are threatened by people. Man Bites Shark II, which looks at Tampa Bay and how contamination from human development is affecting sharks. Man Bites Shark III, which looks at the role of sharks as a sentinel species, alerting us early on to problems within a habitat.

This video gallery is from the Museum's Seminars on Science, a series of distance-learning courses designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. Part of the Sharks and Rays: Myth and Reality seminar, Dissection Gallery features 16 videos, each with a printable PDF transcript:Introduction to DissectionOverview of SpecimenDissectionDiscussion of Alimentary TractLiver DissectionEsophagus and Stomach DissectionIntestine DissectionNostrils of the Shark RayElectric Organ of the Electric RayElectrosensory SystemLateral Line SystemMale Reproduction OverviewFemale Reproduction OverviewMating and FertilizationOvary DissectionUterus Dissection

This video gallery is from the Museum's Seminars on Science, a series of distance-learning courses designed to help educators meet the new national science standards. Part of the Sharks and Rays: Myth and Reality seminar, Video Gallery: Why Conserve Sharks? features two brief videos, each with a printable PDF transcript:Resistance to Cancer discusses why sharks make an interesting model to look at when investigating resistance to cancer. Immune System looks at the Mote Marine Laboratory's project to study sharks' immune systems.