Awesome websites for kids – Physics version
I think the most difficult part of this week’s assignment was in getting myself to stop playing with these websites and start writing about them instead. I used many of these websites with my classroom this week as part of a review for our state tests. My students were fascinated and deeply involved when checking out these websites, it was all I could do to get them off their computers and out the door for lunch.
This website had to have been my favorite. The graphics were excellent- ForgeFX simulations paired with the textbook publisher Prentice Hall to create over 100 simulation based learning applications, this is just a sampling. Student’s computers have to be able to download Adobe flash. In my class, some of my student’s computers were able to and some not, which created some frustration for my class.
I have used the cell structure sim as well as the solar system sim with my class via my Smart Board, although my student’s favorite was the design and test simulator.
The next site is called the Strange Matter Exhibit. It’s all about materials science, introducing the field to students, with a link to videos with scientists that work with materials along with some great interactive activities like Zoom!- where kids examine the structure of materials, Materials Smackdown, where kids learn about the properties of materials, The Transformer where kids learn about processing materials and lastly, the Change The World Challenge, where kids explore the performance of materials.
Then there’s the yuckiest site on the internet- http://yucky.discovery.com/flash/ this website was created for Discovery Kids. There’s a page for science fun and games with well thought out explanations for our future doctors and scientists; subjects like Gross and Cool Body, Roach World and Worm World are a blast to investigate.
I liked the forgefx website. Thanks for the link. The seismic wave simulation is great. I will share it with the eighth grade teachers in my building. They study in depth about earthquakes that will allow the students see exactly how the earth is affected during an earthquake.
ReplyDeleteKathie,
ReplyDeleteThe forgefx website was great. I like how so much of it was very visual. I think there was a lot of reading to it, and that mihgt be hard for some of my students. Overall I think the websites were great and would be a ncie added resource to my collection. Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you KellyK for posting, I'm glad you found a great activity for the teachers in eighth grade. One of the advantages of the Forgefx website is that the kids can also use it at home at their convenience as well as in class.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I'm glad you enjoyed the website. What grade do you teach? If your students are younger, it may be easier for you to initially walk your students through it, then let some try it on their own. Like I told KellyK, if your students really liked the site, they can easily try it at home as well as in school.