Science Learning Activites
Part 1: Simulations
Good science methodology involves conducting tests and
making observations. For this assignment, I am selecting and testing 4 simulations to review
1. PhET Interactives
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Featured_Sims
I reviewed the high school Sugar and Salt Solution simulation on PhET Interactives:
What happens when sugar and salt are added to water? Pour in sugar, shake in salt, and evaporate water to see the effects on concentration and conductivity. Zoom in to see how different sugar and salt compounds dissolve. Zoom in again to explore the role of water.
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/index.php?cat=Featured_Sims
I reviewed the high school Sugar and Salt Solution simulation on PhET Interactives:
What happens when sugar and salt are added to water? Pour in sugar, shake in salt, and evaporate water to see the effects on concentration and conductivity. Zoom in to see how different sugar and salt compounds dissolve. Zoom in again to explore the role of water.
One can
download, embed, or run the simulation.
This simulation and others found on this site assume students have had prior experience with other PhET interactives. These do not seem to completely stand on their own. The simulation runs on Java and needed to update my computer before it could run. This might pose a problem for students at my online high school because they provide their own computer and may have not updated their current software. I had to download the Java update and agree to the Java version 8 update and click run to install the program. |
Lots of great teacher resources provided free for
each simulation – offered up by different authors:
Overall pretty easy to use once all the Java updates
are done. For students – they will need
practice with getting into it.
There are many simulations provided by PhET simulatives that would be able to demonstrate and let students practice every concept / lesson in a physical science classroom (my content area)
There are many simulations provided by PhET simulatives that would be able to demonstrate and let students practice every concept / lesson in a physical science classroom (my content area)
2. Gizmos
http://www.explorelearning.com/
High Quality math & science interactive virtual labs
http://www.explorelearning.com/
High Quality math & science interactive virtual labs
Teachers
can browse simulations by topic, grade level, and learning standard
These are aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
These are aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
I have
asked my own school to subscribe to this – get the school package so all math
and science teachers and students have access.
School will not subscribe which is disappointing. The virtual labs currently found in all science
classes at my online school are very poor quality – do not let students “mess
up” and always come out with the same answer for each student. With gizmo’s – there are also additional
activities and optional extra lessons to try out.
I am going to try out a high school gear physical science gizmo:
I am going to try out a high school gear physical science gizmo:
Visually entertaining – easy to find items
- the gizmo and lesson materials to download; student exploration worksheet, teacher guide, answer key, and a vocabulary sheet. Everything is included!
In middle of this gizmo – easy to read explanation of what is going on and help for what to do and how to adjust the gizmo. Big buttons to adjust gizmo – pointer, tooltips, copy screen button.
Gizmos could be used in my content classroom, physical science, everyday or at least once a week to demonstrate concepts and support learning. The math gizmos could also be used to practice and apply math concepts.
3. EdHeads Activities:
Crash Scene Investigation;
http://www.edheads.org/activities/crash_scene/index.shtml
Help the highway patrol recreate a deadly crash by examining the evidence and calculating the forces. Great simulation activity to apply concepts of force and motion found in my curriculum for physical science class to a real world event; a car crash
A little cartoonish – this could either be
entertaining and catchy for high school students or a put-off
Great interactive measuring tools and way to encourage students to take part in the simulation activity to collect data. They have to drag the measuring tool and place it correctly to gather data During this part of the simulation where calculations are being figured out – there is no Pause or Stop button – to pause and take notes. |
4. Web Adventures in Science
http://webadventures.rice.edu/index.html
http://webadventures.rice.edu/index.html
Very visually appealing simulations for science concepts - presented in a fun - game based learning environment. These are great supplemental visual games for students in physics, chemistry, biology, and physical science classrooms from middle to high school - and even elementary age students for some.
In this Simulation - I picked Infectious Diseases - a very relevant - real world application of science. In my physical science classroom I could use this simulation as a way to teach and use the scientific method. Very fun simulation to use - I liked the game based element
Part 2: Resources
Math and/or science Internet resources that can support my project theme - high school physical science
1. Physical Science Virtual Labs
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=304463 Many virtual labs/simulations to help meet Next Generation Science Standards and state standards for physical science – modeling and observing processes, forces, chemical reactions. These are great substitutions for hands-on labs or to use in case supplies are limited
2. Interactive simulations for Physics Works well for science classes – physical science and physics to teach physics principle
3.
5.
10. The Science Channel; games and interactives
http://www.sciencechannel.com/games-and-interactives/newtons-laws-of-motion-interactive.htm
demonstrating laws of inertia, Newton's laws of motion - 1 through 3 through simulation. Great for use in physical science, physics classrooms at high school and middle school science level
11. Newton's Laws of Motion explained
http://rubble.heppell.net/simulations/newton_home.htm
through simulations to explore each law and motion
short simulations to support and explain concepts - for use in a physics and physical science classroom
12. Interactive Java based simulations for light and optics
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/java.html
for use in physical science classroom to demonstrate light properties
13. Animations to demonstrate Physics concepts - which are also needed for Physical Science classrooms
http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/Flash/
14. Physics simulation software -
http://www.design-simulation.com/ip/index.php
software needs to be downloaded to computer. Demonstrates physics concepts -which are also needed in physical science
15. http://www.brainpop.com/
games and activities across a full range of content areas. Games for science class can help engage students and practice their knowledge. Game based learning can also keep students attentive and interested in class
16. Virtual Physics Labs
http://virtuallabs.ket.org/physics/
Labs need to be purchased/subscribed to
These can be used instead of a hands on lab to demonstrate physics concepts in physical science class
17.Virtual Physics Lab
http://www.physics.ccsu.edu/LEMAIRE/genphys/virtual_physics_labs.htm
More practice with demonstrating force, energy, motion
18. Pearson educational company virtual lab option
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZu6g&PMDbProgramId=64142&elementType=programComponents
Great option for schools with limited resources/budget for lab supplies.
19. Games , Simulations, and Virtual Labs for STEM classes
http://flyrussell.com/reviews/
20. Smart Science Labs
complex virtual lab experiments; http://www.smartscience.net/SmartScience/SmartScience.html
Can be used for chemistry concepts in physical science class
replaces the need for lab equipment
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=304463 Many virtual labs/simulations to help meet Next Generation Science Standards and state standards for physical science – modeling and observing processes, forces, chemical reactions. These are great substitutions for hands-on labs or to use in case supplies are limited
2. Interactive simulations for Physics Works well for science classes – physical science and physics to teach physics principle
3.
- http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/index.html
Java and applet simulations that involve physics principles – students need to be able to describe, view, and model processes that involve force, motion, and newton’s laws
5.
- Practice
problem sets regarding Newton’s Laws of Motion – essential learning concepts
for state standards and Next Gen Science Standards. With Audio recordings to
listen to an answer
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/calcpad/newtlaws/problems
- This
is a great website for science classes and in particular for physical science
and this topic; Mechanics – how natural forces work. Essential for state
learning standards. Student could use the website and look up their question or
read for background information
http://science.howstuffworks.com/physical-science-channel.htm
- Virtual
Molecular Model Building Kit
http://chemagic.com/JSmolVMK2.htm?rid=
Excellent resource for students to practice building molecular models. This could be a replacement for hands on kits or a supplementation.
- Chemical
Reaction Balancer
http://funbasedlearning.com/chemistry/chemBalancer/
Fun way to practice chemical reaction balancing!
Great way for practice and chemical reaction balancing is a fundamental part of a chemistry classroom and is introduced in physical science classrooms
- Teacher
Resources from the classroom – a physical science classroom
http://mrsj.exofire.net/ipc/lessons.htm
Teacher created handouts, powerpoints, lecture notes – very helpful to get ideas in presenting lessons and concept
10. The Science Channel; games and interactives
http://www.sciencechannel.com/games-and-interactives/newtons-laws-of-motion-interactive.htm
demonstrating laws of inertia, Newton's laws of motion - 1 through 3 through simulation. Great for use in physical science, physics classrooms at high school and middle school science level
11. Newton's Laws of Motion explained
http://rubble.heppell.net/simulations/newton_home.htm
through simulations to explore each law and motion
short simulations to support and explain concepts - for use in a physics and physical science classroom
12. Interactive Java based simulations for light and optics
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/java.html
for use in physical science classroom to demonstrate light properties
13. Animations to demonstrate Physics concepts - which are also needed for Physical Science classrooms
http://faraday.physics.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Harrison/Flash/
14. Physics simulation software -
http://www.design-simulation.com/ip/index.php
software needs to be downloaded to computer. Demonstrates physics concepts -which are also needed in physical science
15. http://www.brainpop.com/
games and activities across a full range of content areas. Games for science class can help engage students and practice their knowledge. Game based learning can also keep students attentive and interested in class
16. Virtual Physics Labs
http://virtuallabs.ket.org/physics/
Labs need to be purchased/subscribed to
These can be used instead of a hands on lab to demonstrate physics concepts in physical science class
17.Virtual Physics Lab
http://www.physics.ccsu.edu/LEMAIRE/genphys/virtual_physics_labs.htm
More practice with demonstrating force, energy, motion
18. Pearson educational company virtual lab option
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZu6g&PMDbProgramId=64142&elementType=programComponents
Great option for schools with limited resources/budget for lab supplies.
19. Games , Simulations, and Virtual Labs for STEM classes
http://flyrussell.com/reviews/
20. Smart Science Labs
complex virtual lab experiments; http://www.smartscience.net/SmartScience/SmartScience.html
Can be used for chemistry concepts in physical science class
replaces the need for lab equipment