Biology

Online Resources    Materials and Equipment    Miscellaneous    For Teachers

Online Resources

Dinosaursounds
Listen to sounds of dinosaurs and the environment through different ages of the Earth, such as the Hauterivian Age (127 million years ago).  Users can also visit the dinosaursounds navigator, where they can move the timeline, hear the sounds of specific dinosaurs of that age, and learn more about how those dinosaurs lived.
*Please note that this site may, at times, be difficult to navigate with a screen reader.
Organization: Spacesounds.com, Inc.
Cost: Free
Listen to Dinosaur Sounds Online 

Whalesounds
Listen to the sounds of the seas!  This site offers users an insight into the “songs” of these majestic creatures.  Users can also view the whalesounds navigator, allowing them to follow the migration and different calls of the humpback whale.
*Please note that this site may, at times, be difficult to navigate with a screen reader.
Organization: Spacesounds.com, Inc.
Cost: Free
Listen to Whale Sounds Online 

Materials and Equipment

Books

Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 Revision
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: $40
Ordering information:  Catalog number Braille 5-87430-00, print 7-87430-00
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274. 

Addendum 1 to the Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 Revision: Ancient Numeration Systems
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: $5
Ordering information:  Catalog number Braille 5-68654-00, print 7-68654-00 
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274.

Videos

NASA Core Descriptive Videos
This library of audio descriptive videos covers a variety of topics for students from fifth grade through college.  The videos range from ten to sixty minutes in length and come with a resource guide for educators with background information and suggestions for classroom activities.
View the Video Catalog
Organization: NASA CORE
Cost: $10-$32
Ordering information: Have title, format, and item number for each selection. 
Order by phone: 866-776-CORE
Order by mail: Fill out the Printable Order Form and send to: 
CORE, Lorain County Joint Vocational School
15181 Route 58 South, Oberlin, OH 44074 or Fax to 866-775-1460.

Tactile Materials

Anatomy in Clay
This offers a chance to mold a clay musculature to an animal skeleton, a human skeleton, or parts of a human skeleton.  The Maniken^® system consists of a twenty-nine inch model of the human body, clay, and the tools for the students to build this tactile form.  You can read about the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind's project using the Maniken^® curriculum.
Organization: Zahourek Systems
Cost: $349
Ordering information:  View and Order Products Online
Order by phone: 800-950-5025
Order by mail: Fill out Printable Order Form and send to:
Zahourek Systems (Anatomy in Clay), 2198 W 15th Street, Loveland, CO 80538  

Basic Science Tactile Graphics
These raised-line drawings depict objects, concepts, and relationships that are taught in elementary science classes, including an insect, blood flow, and a water molecule.  These are intended to supplement the graphics found in the students’ adapted textbooks.  The basic kit contains 52 graphics.          
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: $60
Ordering information: Catalog number 1-08850-00
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274.

Various Tactile Images
Photo-Form, LLC, plans to create the most extensive library of tactile images in the world.  Using a new method for creating tactile graphics, the company will be able to create these graphics using any image.  Please note that the texture of the images is grainy, so it may be difficult at times to feel the relief.
For more information, visit Photo-Form Online
Organization: Photo-Form, LLC
Cost: Contact company
Contact information: Contact Online
Contact by phone: 888-744-FORM (3676)
Contact by mail: Photo-Form, 285 San Joaquin Street, Laguna Beach CA 92651

Miscellaneous

Brain Quest
This large print/Braille edition of the quiz game series by Workman Publishing quizzes students on scientific concepts.
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: $65
Ordering information: Catalog number 6-17000-00
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274.

Sense of Science: Plants
The first module in a series for students in kindergarten through third grade introduces different types of plants.  The module includes a guidebook with activities that use real objects as well as tactile overlays, which are included in the kit.
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: Complete kit $115; Large print guidebook $30
Braille guidebook $21
Ordering information: Catalog numbers--Complete kit 1-08980-00; Large print guidebook 7-08980-00; Braille guidebook 5-08980-00
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274.

Sense of Science: Animals
The first module in a series for students in kindergarten through third grade introduces different types of animals.  The module includes a guidebook with a list of needed materials, step-by-step procedures, and a list of vocabulary words.  The kit also includes visual and tactile overlays.
Organization: American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
Cost: Complete kit $212; Large print guidebook $38
Braille guidebook $23
Ordering information:  Catalog number--Complete kit 1-08980-00; Large print guidebook 7-08980-00; Braille guidebook 5-08980-00
Order Online 
Order by phone: 1-800-223-1839
Order by mail: Fill out the APH Order Form (pdf) and send to:
APH, P.O. Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085 or Fax to 502-899-2274.

Talking Thermometers
Independent Living Aids has a variety of thermometers to meet the needs of students and teachers.
Organization: Independent Living Aids, LLC
Cost: $12.95-$59.95
Ordering information: Order Online
Order by phone: 1-800-537-2118

Science Courses
The Hadley School for the Blind offers home-study courses in math and science at the high school and remedial levels.  These course are available in a variety of formats.
Organization: Hadley School for the Blind
Cost: Varies
Ordering information: Visit the Hadley School for the Blind Online for more information about courses and ordering. 
Contact by phone: 1-800-323-4238
Contact by mail: The Hadley School for the Blind
                        700 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL 60093-2554.

For Teachers

Tactile Diagram Manual
This downloadable manual is helpful for educators who would like to convert science and math diagrams into tactile images. 
Organization: Purdue University
Cost: Free
Ordering information: Download the Tactile Diagram Manual Online 

VIEW International Foundation Tactile Diagrams
This is a large number of tactile diagrams for use in by Purdue students. These diagrams were previously known as the TAEVIS collection.  
Organization: VIEW International Foundation and Purdue Research Foundation
Cost: $59 for individual CDs; $259 for the complete collection of 10 CDs
Ordering information:
Order by phone: 318-396-1853
Order by e-mail: ttsinfo@earthlink.net (please put "tactile diagrams" in the subject line)