I'm a big fan of online games and simulations that allow children to virtually experience and experiment with concepts that may otherwise be difficult to test out, or in preparation for a physical experiment. That's why I'm highly recommending the University of Colorado's free online PhET project: Interactive Science Simulations.
The PhET project provides free online physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math simulations that are fun, interactive, and research-based. Educators can browse the activities section by simulation type and grade level. PhET offers special workshops and materials for educators.
Science Simulations
In Science Activities Online, Amy Martin says that educators who teach science online don't have to give up doing traditional hands-on experiments, because science simulations can replicate classroom labs. Martin recommends several sources for online simulations:
- The Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT)
- The Virtual Chemistry Laboratory created at Carnegie Mellon University
- The Pendulum Lab developed at the University of Basel
Follow Up With Hands-On Science
Of course, running simulations doesn't mean we can't do both virtual and physical experiments. Even with online simulations, you're using the scientific method with kids. If you want to set up some physical experiments, homeschoolers can join together on group buys for discount science lab supplies. In addition, citizen science projects in the community are another way kids can get some hands-on field science experience.
Free Online Science Games
You and your kids can play some climate change and conservation online games in preparation for a citizen science project (i.e., salmon watching or weather monitoring), or just for fun.
In addition to science simulations, the MERLOT website offers numerous online science activities across disciplines.
Tabula Digita, the folks responsible for the award-winning math series DimensionM, have also created The League of Scientists, a collection of competitive multi-player science games covering life sciences, earth and space sciences, and physical sciences in the forms of quiz, puzzle, and arcade type games.
In addition to online games, educational smartphone apps provide opportunities to, for example, perform a virtual frog dissection or test physics simulations.
Online science games, apps, and simulations are a fun way for kids to explore and test out scientific concepts, instead of some activities (i.e., frog dissection), or in addition to others (i.e., chemistry labs).
You might also enjoy:
- Online Educational Games for Children
- Online Math Games
- Do-It-Yourself Free Online Homeschool Curriculum
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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