Science+Games

toc **Welcome To Our Science Links!

Have you heard of the scientific method? All scientists follow particular guidelines when exploring new concepts. A way that we can get junior scientists to follow in these footsteps is to encourage playful learning experiences. Science students learn through discovery, and playing online educational games to help them practice scientific concepts allows them to learn in a fun and exciting way! Below is a list of Science Lesson Plans that incorporate playing online games as well as a list of Science Educational Games that could extend the lessons that educators already teach. **

=**Example Educational Science Games:** =


 * = **Screen Shot** ||= **Name and Description** ||
 * = [[image:Engaging_science.JPG width="263" height="166"]] ||= [|Engaging Science]- An animated robot guides student through these interactive science games. ||
 * = [[image:Discovey.JPG width="263" height="172"]] ||= [|Discovery Channel Games]-Cool games and interactives based on Discovery Channel programming and United Streaming Videos. ||
 * = [[image:Kaboose_Screen_Shot.JPG width="265" height="169"]] ||= [|Kaboose Science Games-] Tons of Games ranging from heredity to physics and everything in between! ||
 * = [[image:Jefferson_Labs.JPG width="286" height="186"]] ||= [|Jefferson Labs]- Both Math and Science Games with a focus on chemistry and elements. Includes a science rendition of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? ||
 * = [[image:Nasa.JPG width="283" height="185"]] ||= [|Nasa Kids Club]- Real-life games that teach about Physical and Space Sciences ||
 * = [[image:School_Time_Science.JPG width="280" height="183"]] ||= [|Schooltime Games]- Interactive Games for various scientific concepts that include some of students' favorite cartoon characters, like Tom & Jerry, Animae, and characyers from thr movie "Ants". ||
 * = [[image:Surf_the_Net.JPG width="297" height="189" align="center"]] ||= [|Surf the Net]- An extensive list of online Science games. Includes a “Top Ten” weekly list of science games that students play the most. ||
 * = [[image:Vocab_Match.JPG width="296" height="188"]] ||= [|Free Elementary Science Games-] Games are organized by the 5 areas of science. The one featured shows a space vocabulary game that reveals hints about space as students make the match. ||
 * = [[image:Ed_Heads.JPG width="292" height="186"]] ||= [|Edheads]- Several engaging activities and online games appropriate for grades 6-12. ||
 * = [[image:Smithsonian.JPG width="284" height="181"]] ||= Smithsonian for Students - Science & Nature- A very deep resource with lots of fun science learning games and activities for k-12. ||
 * = [[image:Funology.JPG width="287" height="181"]] ||= [|Funology - The Science of Having Fun!]-Game and activity categories are How Odd, Brain Drain, In the Kitchen, In the Laboratory, Boredom Busters. Very fun! ||
 * = [[image:Food_Web.JPG width="295" height="187"]] ||= [|Food Web Game]- Students explore food chains and create their own webs using this interactive tool. ||
 * = [[image:CSI.JPG width="289" height="188"]] ||= [|Forensic Science Games]- In the true spirit of CSI, this site offers several games along with interactive activities for the classroom. ||

**Example Gaming Sites For All Subject Areas:**

 * = **Screen Shot** ||= **Name and Description** ||
 * = [[image:PBS.JPG width="309" height="195"]] ||= [|PBS Kids-] Students can choose from a range of topics, ELA Math, Geography or Science, all which include a series of online learning and play! ||


 * = [[image:Apple.JPG width="301" height="199"]] ||= [|Games in all Subject Areas]- This site from Apples for the Teacher lists a variety of games and is organized by subject area. These games are appropriate for pre-K through 6th grade.. ||
 * = [[image:Playful_Learning.JPG width="300" height="200"]] ||= [|Playful Learning-] Interactive learning experiences including games for music and nutrition as well as “playful spaces”, and “playful inspiration”. ||
 * = [[image:I_know_that.JPG width="318" height="209"]] ||= [|I Know That]- This site offers tons of free interactives, but students do have to have an email address in order to join. Teachers can set up the site for students, but an email address form the student is still required. Hurry! This site is free onlt until March 5th, then it becomes a Subscription only site. Students will be able to try out games, but their information will not be saved after this date. ||
 * = [[image:A_game_a_day.JPG width="313" height="208"]] ||= [|A Game a Day-] This site offers a different educational game in 2 levels on a daily basis. Perfect for an opening activity! ||


 * = [[image:Sheppard_software.JPG width="327" height="211"]] ||= [|Sheppard Software]- Free downloads for a variety of games with instructions. Their [|Kids Corner] has a series of free online games just for kids. ||

=Example Science Lesson Plans =

[|Eeko World-] This site from PBS offers 15 lesson plans for grades K-4 that incorporate leveled game play in [|Eeko World]. Each lesson plan is complete with handouts and links to each concept within the game. The lessons incorporate ecological concepts such as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Investigating Air Pollution, and Buying Green. Excellent resource for Earth Day!

[|A Touch of Class]- Students use this [|E-sheet] to play the [|Touch of Class game] that helps students understand the concepts of classification. The first part of this lesson is completely internet- based and students use the web for most of their learning. It also gives an interactive response to demonstrate learning after playing the game (which can also be copied, depending on the teacher’s preference) and the lesson ends with students creating their own classification game! This lesson is appropriate for grades 2-6.

[|The Carbon Cycle] – Students are introduced to the carbon cycle by playing this online [|Carbon Cycle Game]. Students read an article from the Windows of the Universe and are transformed into carbon atoms floating through the atmosphere. The object of the game is to become a carbon atom at designated areas along the carbon cycle by answering guided questions. It is a cool way to discover how carbon interacts in the environment. This lesson can be adapted for grades 4-8.

[|Rat Attack]- This in depth lesson focuses on the ecological effects of a population taking over an environment. Students use the interactive game, Rat attack to battle against the rats invading their territory. All handouts and downloads are linked right on this lesson plan. Excellent tools to teach the interaction of living things. This lesson is appropriate for grades 6-8.

[|Make a Mission]- In this interactive lesson plan, students play the [|Make a Mission Game: Build a Spacecraft to Travel to Mercury] Within the game, students must use critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and communication in order to design a vessel that will be able to travel to Mercury. There are different levels of the game, where each level becomes a harder task since the cargo bay becomes smaller and students must choose what they can do without. This game can be used in a variety of lessons dealing with the solar system. It is a fun and engaging tool to get students interested in both engineering and how our solar system works.

[|The Mysteries Of Memory]- This grade 6-8 lesson gives students the strategies and techniques they will need to memorize and remember the information that they have received. The lesson includes online memorization games that the students explore both before and after research to access their own levels of memorization. All links and handouts are provided at the site.

[|What ever happened To Polio?] These three activities, include an interactive game called "Got Ramps?", an animation illustrating the Lifecycle of the Polio Virus and a downloadable sheet for coloring. Got Ramps is an interactive game that allows students to chose a postcard to mail about Polio. It also teaches the history of the disease before 2005. By viewing the animated "Lifecycle of the Polio Virus", students will learn how the poliovirus begins the infection process. Students can then use the downloadable illustration to color in the poliovirus lifecycle.

[|Cells 1: Make a Model]- In this lesson, students use the interactive website Cells Alive both to enhance motivation at the beginning of the lesson and then to review materials learned through the hands-on activity (making a model of an animal cell). Students play interactive simulations to learn about cells and then can choose from a series of puzzle games to review parts of the cell. This site contains great graphics and simulations of cell activity, including diffusion, osmosis, mitosis and meiosis. It’s amazing! [|Heart Transplant]- This web-based exploratory lesson begins students learning of the heart by introducing them to the interactive game [|Heart Stat] from PBS. This lesson also has a [|E-File] for student directions via the internet. This lesson is appropriate for grades 9-12.

**More Science Lesson Plans Can be Found By Searching These Sites:**
[|Science NetLinks] [|Thinkfinity] [|PBS Teachers]

= **Interactive Game to Teach The Methods of Science:** =

 This is a video introducing the educational game, [|Science Pirates] and how teachers could use the game in their curriculum: The link provides the free download for the game and classroom activities that involve the game. This is excellent tool in middle school science classrooms!

media type="youtube" key="sF6wiBBH5oo" height="340" width="560" align="center"

=Organizations=

[|National Science Teachers Association-] This collaboration of science teachers is the largest in the United States. They strive to promote a quality education through leadership and research-based instruction for learners in the 21st Century. [|Michigan Science Teachers Association]- The goal of this organization is to advocate a community of both scientific learners and educators that promote best practices in the scientific field, including ethical, social, and political issues. Their vision exemplifies excellence and diversity in a technological world. [|The Association for Science Teacher Education]- This is an international committee of science educators who provide professional development for science teachers. Their focus is on promoting the success of science education through innovations, collaborations and scholarships.