Check out these web resources!

http://www.primaryscience.ie/site/index.php This is a website developed by the public sector in Ireland. Over 1300 elementary teachers were involved in the process!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html Enchanted Learning is free, but if you want to download pages without adbars and such, there is a $20 subscription fee. Many homeschoolers use this site as well as teachers. There is quite a bit of science and natural science buried in its pages.

http://www.nh-di.org/ Destination Imagination is a split from/new iteration of 'Odyssey of the Mind'. It has creativity programs for k - college age students. Programs focus on problem solving, presentation, and drama which are evaluated in regional tournaments. DI is very hands on and requires substantial parent support. Costs are minimal, but DI does take time after school and runs from early November through March every year. This link takes you to the New Hampshire chapter which is very well run and organized. Look for DI literature in late October at your school. If you don't have DI currently, lobby your administrator to get a program going! Some schools use DI in class as an enrichment activity at the elementary level. If you are not from New Hampshire, Google 'Destination Imagination' plus your state.

http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=70 First Lego League is an outgrowth of the FIRST robotics competitions held at the high scool level. FLL has two age components: Junior FLL in grades 1-3, which does design problems using LEGO bricks, and the regular FLL grade 4-8 component which uses programmable 'bricks' to solve yearly problem sets. FLL teams may be found in an after school program, tech ed program, home school, or as an independent team. This is a very hands on and parent supported program which usually starts in September and ends in late November/early December. Ask your administrator to support the program at your school. FLL does have costs associated with registration - it is often underwritten by a business or through fundraising.

http://pbskids.org/zoom/grownups/index.html I'm not a big fan of TV as a vehicle for teaching science, but the PBS show 'ZOOM' is an exception with very good parent resources to go along with their shows. Activities can be done without seeing the shows as well. The main page will get you to many activities, including some for pre-schoolers.

http://www.nyelabs.com/ Bill Nye is an icon for promoting the popularization of science to children. His shows are in 'reruns' now, and are all available on DVD from Disney. As with ZOOM, his website has some hands on activities. Again, I don't endorse TV for teaching science, but Bill deserves a look.

http://scienceafterschool.blogspot.com/ This link has cool tidbits including demos, links to other sites, etc. The author directs a national After School coalition.