Category:

Science

Explore resources, tools, and strategies for teaching science. Discover activities to spark curiosity and enhance hands-on learning in the classroom.

Eight Children’s Books to Promote Girl Power in STEM

by Valerie Cox September 14, 2021

written by Valerie Cox

Encouraging girls to participate in STEM activities might seem daunting, but it can easily be done simply by reading books. Reading STEM books introduces girls to unique aspects of the STEM community and could encourage them to try STEM activities themselves. Whether reading to students after recess or reading to your daughter before bedtime, books are an ideal way to help promote STEM activities to girls.

1. “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed

In “Mae Among the Stars,” readers will learn about pursuing their dreams even when others don’t agree. This book tells the story of Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the first African American female to travel in space. Young Mae is fascinated with space, but discovers her teacher and classmates don’t think she can become an astronaut. With her parent’s support, Mae becomes a doctor, engineer, and astronaut and achieves her childhood dream.

2. “How to Code a Rollercoaster” by Josh Funk

For fans of “How to Code a Sandcastle,” Pearl and Pascal are back and learning more about how coding works. But this time, they’re at an amusement park. As they enjoy the amusement park, Pearl and Pascal use coding to track their tokens and the amount of time they spend standing in line for rides. “How to Code a Rollercoaster” is a great introduction to the world of coding and teaches basic coding fundamentals and principles.

3. “Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge” by Rachel Dougherty

Girls will discover the engineering story behind the Brooklyn Bridge in this interesting read. As a young girl, Emily studied science and math and continued building her skills as she grew, even though many didn’t understand why. After her father-in-law died and her husband was injured after starting the planning and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, Emily’s skills were put to good use when she completed this project which became one of the world’s most iconic bridges.

4. “The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague” by Julia Finley Mosca

As part of the Amazing Scientists series, “The Girl With a Mind for Math” presents the story of Raye Montague. She was the creator of the first computer-generated draft of a U.S. naval ship and the Navy’s first female program manager of ships. Young Raye’s interest was sparked by visiting a submarine with her grandfather. Despite having to overcome both racial and gender discrimination, she became one of the Navy’s most-celebrated civilian employees.

5. “Boxitects” by Kim Smith

Not only does “Boxitects” introduce readers to architecture, but it also teaches the importance of teamwork. Meg is a “boxitect” who loves building and creating structures out of boxes. Her creations are always the best until a new student and fellow boxitect arrives at school. Meg and her new classmate must find a way to work together and use their architectural talents to win the contest.

6. “Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist” by Linda Skeers

“Dinosaur Lady” tells the story of Mary Anning who discovered dinosaur bones on an English beach and became the first paleontologist. Mary made many fossil discoveries throughout her career, and some of her discoveries were housed in places that she couldn’t access simply because she was a girl. Mary persevered and continued her paleontology journey even when most didn’t believe females should be members of the science community.

7. “The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid” by Jeanette Winter

After reading “The World Is Not a Rectangle,” girls will know the story of esteemed architect Zaha Hadid. Born in Iraq, young Zaha discovers a love for math and engineering, and after studying in London, she becomes an architect. Soon, people all over the world wanted her to design a structure for their city. Readers will follow Zaha’s life as she builds upon her love for math and engineering by designing renowned structures around the world.

8. “Hello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer” by Linda Liukas

As part of the Hello Ruby series, “Journey Inside the Computer” teaches readers about the different components of a computer and how they operate. Ruby and Mouse discover the computer isn’t working, so they go inside it to find the missing Cursor. As they search for Cursor, they encounter other computer elements that help Ruby and Mouse learn how a computer works.

By reading books, girls are introduced to countless inspiring female STEM leaders as well as different aspects of STEM. Today, it might seem like just reading a book, but it could be the spark that ignites the interest of one of the next great female leaders in STEM.

Interested in learning more about STEM education? Check out TCEA’s self-paced STEM courses and certifications and other STEM and STEAM blog posts.

Valerie Cox is a contributing writer for LOC Scientific. She is passionate about helping children learn more about the science community and has written a number of articles on involving children more in STEM activities. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and volunteering in her local community.

September 14, 2021 0 comments

Educational Research Science

Interactive Science: How to Design Research-based Science Lessons

by Miguel Guhlin August 9, 2021

written by Miguel Guhlin

Recently, a school district administrator emailed me and asked, “If you were going to blend strategies that work into a science lesson, how would you do it?” That question really piqued my interest. Mixing instructional strategies that are proven to work with best practices in science teaching and learning sounds like a win/win. After much thinking, here’s how I would accomplish this, based on the research.

Step #1: Set Goals for the Science Lesson

Dr. John Almarode, who wrote Visible Learning for Science, suggests setting the following goals for science lessons. The goals are straightforward and represent a wonderful response to the question asked.

Get students interested in lifelong learning and science that works.
Give students more control over their own learning.
Build in ways to assess students to discover where they are, and then match strategies to what they need to learn.

The first goal is practical and makes learning relevant to the learner. The second ties into John Hattie’s strong belief in the need for students to be self-regulated learners, individuals who must have agency and ownership over their learning and are able to track their progress. In tracking their own growth towards learning targets, they can make decisions, which gives them voice and choice.

Step #2: Pre-Assess Student Learning

When determining what students already know about a topic or skill, you have to ask, “How do we pre-assess students where they are at?” This leads to the question, “What are some formative assessments we could use?” These assessments provide insights into where students may fall on the SOLO Taxonomy. SOLO stands for “Structure of Observed Learning Outcome.” This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned SOLO, as have many others.

Let’s revisit what SOLO Taxonomy offers:

SOLO illustrates the qualitative differences. It indicates the differences between student responses and their levels of understanding. It classifies outcomes, relying on complexity and understanding.

SOLO does this so that you can make a judgement on the quality of student responses to assessment tasks. It relies on five levels of understanding:

Prestructural: at this level the learner is missing the point

Unistructural: a response based on a single point.

Multistructural: a response with multiple unrelated points.

Relational: points presented in a logically related answer.

Extended abstract: demonstrating an abstract and deep understanding through unexpected extension.

This FutureLearn chart clarifies the levels:

science lesson

The Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy (Adapted from Biggs & Tang, 2011) as cited in source

The main benefit of the SOLO Taxonomy is that it gives you, as the teacher, a set of specific terms (e.g., Unistructural, Multistructural, Relational) that can describe a student’s level of understanding. This level of understanding pinpoints what strategies may work best for them as they more through the learning process.

For students who are unistructural, they are in the surface phase of learning. This means that you might rely on those types of strategies, which could include vocabulary programs, direct instruction, and/or flipped classroom.

For learners who are relational, in the deep learning phase, different strategies work best. These may include concept mapping, metacognition, and reflection.

Knowing where a child falls on the taxonomy helps identify their level of understanding. It also assists you in knowing what to do next and to set success criteria.

What Is Success Criteria?

This phrase involves students knowing and understanding the answer to a simple question. That is, “How will I know I have learned it?” It is sometimes expressed as a statement, “I’ll know I’ve got it if….” You may want to revisit COLOSO in this blog entry.

Step #3: Build Learning into the Science Lesson

Ready to start on lesson design? Let’s take a look at the process Dr. John Almarode elaborates on. I’ve included a few resources for each area. What would you add?

“Science education needs a mix of demonstrations, labs, and experiments. It also needs reading, writing, and discussing with other scientists,” says Almarode. To that end, the lesson process he describes looks like this:

a) Paired Demonstration and Writing Down Observations

Demonstration
Encourage students to write about what they observed

b) Clarifying Terms and Vocabulary

Discussion about vocabulary terms
Have students revise their writing using correct terms

c) Wrap-Up

Final wrap-up

One key point that jumped out at me?

Every lesson (surface, deep, transfer) needs to have a clearly articulated learning intention. That learning intention must connect to success criteria. Remember, that is “What am I learning?” (learning intention) and “How will I know I have learned it?” (success criteria).

That’s quite a jump. To help the process make more sense, I put this diagram together that captures my understanding. Don’t be afraid to share your version.

Get a copy of this image via Google Slides or via Diagrams.net (requires you to authorize Diagrams.net in Google Drive account).

As you can see from this diagram, there’s a lot going on. To complicate matters, I’ve included some additional tools and strategy suggestions. How would you approach lesson design in your classroom with these three steps?

Matching Process to Resources

To provide some support, please find some relevant resources organized by the step in the process. I’ve organized them into a meta-collection in Wakelet. Explore and have fun.

science lesson design
Access this Wakelet Meta-Collections online at https://tinyurl.com/stwscience

Feature Image Source

Photo by author.

August 9, 2021 0 comments

Science STEM/STEAM

Lab Diagrams Made Easy with Chemix

by Miguel Guhlin March 5, 2020

written by Miguel Guhlin

Are you a science teacher needing a quick way to explain lab procedures? Mr. Casanova, my high school chemistry teacher, would have loved this new digital tool. Chemix Lab Diagrams (@chemixlab) makes it easy for teachers to draw lab diagrams. You can then share those in a variety of formats. As of February 11, 2020, Chemix Lab Diagrams was still in beta, so you can look forward to improvements.

chemix

Why Chemix Lab Diagrams?

“I would use [Chemix Lab Diagrams] at the beginning of the school year. It would get students to recognize the lab equipment and how to use them,” says Efren Rodriguez (@EfrenR). Chemix is “an online editor for drawing science lab diagrams. It can be used for drawing school experiment apparatus. The app provides for easy sketching for both students and teachers.”

Listen to the creator of Chemix, Hai Mac, and Julia Winters (interviewer) share about Chemix:

Website for creating diagrams of labs
Show students how to set up an experiment
Create diagrams for lab reports
Save diagrams to the cloud
Arrange images in Google Slides, then export the images to make an animated GIF

Check out this example from Dustin Draughn on a basic setup for an enzyme lab:

chemix

Some are already using it, such as @MrsWBio1, to illustrate worksheets:

Do you think this is amazing? If so, you’ll love this collection of animated diagrams Efren Rodriguez put together. And you can learn more about how to create animated GIFs of Chemix diagrams via this blog entry.

How Does Chemix Lab Diagrams Work?

Using Chemix is an easy process. When you go to their website, you’ll see a blank canvas with a beaker on a shelf. A left hand sidebar features a wealth of containers. If you know your way around a lab, you’ll recognize many of the items, such as test tubes, bung/stopper, and more. Want to use a boiling flask? A thiele tube or calorimetry cup? Chemix has you covered.

Just a quick trial… Still working on it… pic.twitter.com/6H5ejdT7YW

— EfrenR (@EfrenR) January 21, 2020

Source: @EfrenR

Save images as JPGs, then convert them into animated GIFs. You can use a website like Gifmaker.me to make the animation. EfrenR has created a few animated GIFs which you can see in his Glide app (watch his Glide tutorial). Be sure to click on his “How To’s” tab in the app to see what Efren has come up with.

Students and teachers can explain what is happening in a lab. How can this be of benefit to students? Expecting students to create their own diagrams and to fine-tune them builds deeper conceptual understanding.

Deepening Conceptual Understanding

“We come to know ideas, and then we can be asked to relate and extend them. This leads to conceptual understanding, which can in turn become a new idea. These conceptual understandings form the ‘coat hangers’ on which we interpret and assimilate new ideas, and relate and extend them” says John Hattie. Teachers can create diagrams, illustrations, and animated GIFs that walk through concepts.

What leads to deeper learning is how students are able to use Chemix to teach themselves and others. It gives them control over a process they could only imagine before and makes their thinking about lab procedures visible. Teachers can check their students’ creations to verify understanding. This may assist them in deepening their learning as they transfer it to “multiple, fact-rich contexts.”

Getting students to map out their own lab experiments empowers students. With Chemix, students can create their own lab materials and worksheets. This is important because it gives students control and mastery.

March 5, 2020 0 comments

Science STEM/STEAM

Investigating Science with Flip

by Dr. Bruce Ellis November 14, 2019

written by Dr. Bruce Ellis

Regardless of what grade you teach, science processing skills are critical for all students to master. Though the focus of the content may change by grade level, these processing skills can continue to be developed and refined. For this post, we’ll focus on how to support the processing skills of observation and inferencing using Flip, as well as give you some resources for finding photos and videos that you can use in you grids and topics.

What Is Flip?

If you don’t already use Flip in your classroom, you are missing out on a great and engaging way of having students interact with you, each other, and the content. This free video response tool by Microsoft encourages students to verbalize and think aloud. I remember being in the classroom and wanting to hear from each student, but not having time to, so only a few were able to answer aloud. With Flip, all students get a chance to answer. Reluctant students have the opportunity to listen to their classmates prior to recording. This opportunity allows them to self-correct any misconceptions based on the knowledge and application their peers have shared, as well as become more confident in the information they provide. Additionally, students (especially those struggling in the content area) have the ability to review other students’ responses as often as needed, thereby reinforcing the learning and better integrating proper use of the academic vocabulary of your subject. So if you are new to Flip and need some basics to get started, then consider checking out the Educator’s Toolkit to help you get up and running.

Observational Skills in Science

Students begin learning observational skills in science starting in kindergarten. Though the skill is not as robust or refined as what a high school student may demonstrate, there is still great value in having them engage in observing the world around them to start taking notice of how things work. Observation is a foundational science skill that leads to communication, classification, measurement, inferencing, and predictions.

In Flip, create a grid for observations. Each topic in this grid will show a photo or video that the student is to observe and describe. Depending on the level of skill, you can require students to use previously learned vocabulary in their responses. If you want students to use words from a given word bank that you have developed for them, create the document and add it as a topic attachment to the topic. You can reference this word bank in multiple topics by adding the link to each topic. If you have a rubric to guide the students in their work, add the rubric as another topic attachment; for younger students, you may need to record a video showing the rubric while you are reading it aloud.

Go to https://flip.com/investigativescience to see an example of a grid in which each topic – click on the drop down of the topic title (e.g.: #1 Description, #2 Description, etc.) – has a photo or video that the student is expected to describe. Examples I have provided are intended to be general in nature so they can fit a variety of grade levels. The topics you create for your students should be specific to the grade level standards they are expected to master. To streamline the production of the topics, consider using a standardized set of directions (such as “Assuming the role of a scientist, describe the object/material using at least three descriptive terms. Be sure to use complete sentences.”). If you do this, you will be able to duplicate the topic and change out the focus (photo or video) that the students will work with.
NOTE: You will need to log in to this grid using your Microsoft or Google account if you want to record an answer to one of the topics. You can, however, see all the topics without logging in.

Reinforcing Inferencing Skills

Inferencing is a skill that students typically have trouble with regardless of their grade level. This skill requires them to pay close attention to details and then draw conclusions based on what they see. Students may be noticing several characteristics of the object in the photo/video and then piecing those bits of information to infer what the item is. Though this is a critical reading skill, it is also a skill that is foundational to being a good scientist.

Begin by creating a grid to hold your inferencing topics. As done above, create a standard set of instructions for your students. You can go to ,https://flip.com/whatcoulditbe to participate in an example that I created for you. The samples that I gave are meant more for you than for students. Topic number 5 is a video while all the others are photos for you to observe closely.
NOTE: You will need to log in to this grid using your Microsoft or Google account if you want to record an answer to one of the topics. You can, however, see all the topics without logging in.

Finding Photos and Videos

Pixabay -(https://pixabay.com) This site hosts copyright free photos, illustrations, and videos. Under the Pixabay license, you are able to use at your discretion without asking permission or giving credit (thought giving credit to the creator is appreciated). If you are using Pixabay images in an online format, you do need to download them to your server as hotlinking (linking to the images directly on Pixabay’s servers) is allowed. If you would like share to photos and/or videos that you have created on Pixabay’s platform, visit their Image Quality Guidelines page for details.

Pexels (https://www.pexels.com) Another great site that provides photos and videos that are free to use, attribution is not required (but appreciated), and you can modify them as desired. Similar to Pixabay, you can become a contributor to submit photos and videos that you create to Pexels – just go to their License page and scroll down to the bottom to get started.

Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/) – This is another good site for free photos.

USB Microscope – Consider purchasing a USB microscope that you can connect to your device in order to take photos and videos of actual materials in your classroom…or on fieldtrips! Read the details carefully as some microscopes will work with some devices but not all…such as Android phones/tables, PC computers, and Mac computers but not iPhones or iPads. If you need a microscope that connects with your iPhone or iPad, be sure that it explicitly states that it connects. Likewise if you are wanting to connect the microscope to a Chromebook. If it is not clearly stated, look for a link in which you can ask the seller or locate that microscope on another seller’s website to see what information they provide.

For the https://flip.com/whatcoulditbe topics, we used a digital USB microscope purchased from Amaazon for $19.98. It didn’t have the best directions on connecting with a laptop, but I was able to get it to work with a little bit of effort. You will probably [hopefully] find that more expensive USB microscopes will have better directions…though I’m sure this is not always the case. This one was purchased because it was cheap and could be used with teachers in training. This microscope could be used with lower elementary, but the focusing may take a bit to get exact; older kids will have no problems. This microscope will take photos and videos. Though this isn’t an endorsement for this microscope, I would advise you to explore and decide on which microscope might be the best for your needs and purchase one to test out; if it works as intended and with ease, you can then confidently purchase additional ones if you need a set for your classroom/lab.

How Do You Use Flip in Science?

How do you use Flip in your science teaching? Share with us as we would love to hear about it. Here are the answers to the inferencing Flip referenced above (1. rose petal; 2. beard hair; 3. a Puffs Plus Lotion tissue; 4. stamens and pistils of a rose; 5. scroll wheel of a mouse; 6. college ruled notebook paper; and, 7. the end of a USB cable).

November 14, 2019 0 comments

Google Tips and Tricks iOS Tips and Tricks Science

Taking Science to the Next Level

by Lori Gracey August 13, 2018

written by Lori Gracey

Google, as we all know, provides a wide variety of amazing tech tools and resources that are used every day by millions (billions?) of us. I recently discovered another of their free offerings, the Science Journal app.

Google Science Journal App

“Available for both iOS and Android, the app is a free digital science notebook that includes more than 70 hands-on science activities.” (Please note that the link to the Android app in the Google Play store only works with a personal Gmail account, not a G Suites for Education account. Make sure you are logged in using your personal Gmail.) While doing the activities, students can record measurements and their observations in the app itself. Sensors in a student’s phone can record and graph phenomena such as light, sound, and motion; they can also connect to external sensors via Bluetooth if some are available. This includes sensors from Vernier and those made using an Arduino. Additional experiments and teacher lesson plans are available as a free download from Google partners like the Exploratorium, Science Buddies, and more.

Google Science Journal

The provided experiments can run anywhere from 15 minutes to two or more hours. And, of course, the app can be used to journal other experiments as well. While the experiment is running, students can take photos of the results and post them in the notebook, as well as adding their own notes and observations. It’s definitely a way to better engage today’s youth with science. There is an excellent, step-by-step tutorial available here.

Because the app is running on a device such as a smartphone, it makes it easy to take science out doors and engage students in hands-on learning. And the price is definitely right! The app is perfect for a STEM, STEAM, or maker space, as well as something that can be shared with families for extended learning.

August 13, 2018 0 comments

Google Tips and Tricks Science

To Infinity and Beyond: Taking Your Classroom on a Journey to Space

by Susan Meyer June 27, 2018

written by Susan Meyer

I’ve always loved learning about space. I remember as a kid seeing the first photos the Sojourner rover took on Mars. It was surreal to see real images of an alien landscape 33 million miles away. It made learning about the red planet so much more concrete.

We often talk about breaking down classroom walls and creating global experiences. But why limit learning to our little globe? Opportunities abound for students to experience our galaxy right from their classrooms. And they’ve come a long way since the mid-90s. We haven’t just upgraded our rovers and satellites; we’ve improved our ed tech as well. Today’s classroom space exploration has clear videos, opportunities for collaboration, and great resources! And these aren’t only powerful ideas for science class. You can use these across the curriculum.

Here are a few free resources to get students excited about exploring our universe and some ideas for how to use them.

With Google, the Sky Isn’t the Limit

Few people aren’t already on board with Google Earth. Satellite images that allow you to explore the far reaches of our globe with a touch of a button? I’m in. But turn the lens the other way and you get Google Sky , Google Moon, and Google Mars. These programs bring together tons of photos, both modern and historical. Students can search to find specific places or events or browse to see what they can discover. There’s also a Chrome experiment that lets you explore the billions of stars in our galaxy. You can zoom in to see our Sun or zoom way out to see the true enormity of our galaxy.

Lesson Ideas:

Ask students to find a constellation and research its background in mythology. They could even write their own story of how the constellation got its origin.
Provide news stories on recent NASA research and ask students to locate the stars or celestial bodies mentioned.
Have students collaborate in groups to create scavenger hunts for their fellow students. They can do research, write descriptions, and even provide coordinates. Groups can race to see who can solve each other’s scavenger hunt first.

Virtual Field Trips

“Traveling to Pluto” falls squarely into the “not physically possible” category of potential field trips. But as a virtual field trip? There’s no end to what you can do!

Here’s one exploring the International Space Station. It’s also available in 3D for a more immersive experience.
Take your own journey across Mars with these videos from the Curiosity rover.
This simulation lets you journey through the solar system and simulates the orbit of the different planets.

Lesson Ideas:

Give students some leeway to explore on their own. Before the trip, ask them to come up with questions they have and list what they know about the place.
Have students put together their own virtual field trip of a chosen planet, star, or space object. They can use simple video recording or presentation tools to share their field trip with the class.

Connecting with Astronauts

The life of an astronaut in space is endlessly fascinating. How do they do simple tasks like take a shower or make a bowl of soup in zero gravity? With video technology, these men and women don’t seem so far away. For a real treat, consider applying for a Skype chat with a working astronaut. It’s not a guarantee, but you can find the guidelines to apply with NASA here.

In the meantime, you don’t need an astronaut to come speak to get some of your burning questions answered. There are many videos online where astronauts on the International Space Station talk about what they do and what it’s like living in space.

Lesson Ideas:

Crowdsource questions the class has about being an astronaut or space exploration. See if they can find the answers to their questions through online research. They can even make videos from the point of view of astronauts answering the questions.
Have students write a story about what they think it would be like to live in space. They can share what they might do on a single day.

Don’t Let Gravity Keep You Down!

Literally, gravity holds us down here on Earth. But with a few online tools and some creativity, your students can soon be floating in space. From the physics of space flight to the history of astronomy and space exploration to the ripe atmosphere for storytelling, exploring space is the perfect way to create memorable, cross-curricular lessons for your students.

June 27, 2018 0 comments

Science STEM/STEAM

Molecular Workbench Science Simulations

by Lori Gracey June 27, 2016

written by Lori Gracey

The Molecular Workbench free software (available for Mac, Windows, and Linux) is an incredible modeling tool for secondary science teachers and students to use in conducting computational experiments. Educators are provided robust curriculum materials to make using the tool easier, and students and teachers can create their own simulations as well.

What It Includes

MW has hundreds of already-created simulations, as well as embedded assessments for each. It covers a range of topics, including:

Gas Laws
Fluid Mechanics
Properties of Materials
States of Matter
Phase Change
Heat Transfer
Chemical Bonding
Chemical Reactions
Structure-Function Relationships
The Genetic Code
Protein Synthesis
Light-Matter Interactions
Electron-Matter Interactions
Quantum Phenomena

Using the Simulations in the Classroom

Understanding all of the complex concepts that must be taught and learned in secondary science classes can seem almost impossible. But the Molecular Workbench software makes it much easier. I recommend the teacher use it first as a demonstration tool, showing students how it works and what a simulation should look like. Then divide the students up into groups of four and have them run through the simulation on their own. Provide them with several reflection questions about the concept covered in the simulation so that they are doing deep thinking and not just playing around.

Once they understand the concept, have them get into pairs and create their own simulation that helps to explain the science concept. This will really stretch their understanding of what they’ve been taught and may prove frustrating for them the first time. But encourage them to stick with it. And be sure to include a “gallery walk” afterwards so that they can see what other students have created.

While the software must be downloaded and does require Java to work, it is so robust and real-world that it is definitely worth the small amount of extra effort required in getting it installed.

June 27, 2016 0 comments

Google Tips and Tricks iOS Tips and Tricks Science STEM/STEAM

Rock Solid Science Apps

by Peggy Reimers April 19, 2016

written by Peggy Reimers

Magnets, balloons, batteries, beakers, and microscopes all belong in the science lab. The tablet generation has also brought us a new resource: apps. Here are six that are as necessary as safety goggles and an eye wash station.

Kids Discover Apps (iOS)

The Kids Discover magazine was a subscription I held for many years as an elementary teacher. The very informative and gorgeous photos were great for student research. But magazines are going by the way of the dinosaurs and apps are becoming a better resource. Fortunately, Kids Discover has changed with the time and converted their magazines into $2.99 apps. Each app has a wide variety of quizzes, puzzles, video, audio, and animations. Several science topics are available: cells, ecology, energy, extreme weather, and geology.

Elements 4D (Google Play and iOS)

This app goes beyond interactivity, but it takes a little preparation. First of all, you will need to visit the Daqri site and print six pages of the papercraft blocks, which then need to be cut out and glued together. You can use standard copy paper, but I like to use card stock for a sturdier block. After downloading the Elements 4D app, point your device at one of the elements and you will see the element name, image, and atomic weight. Even cooler, try moving two blocks together. If they go together, you get a chemical reaction. Bonus: The website has detailed elementary, middle, and high school lesson plans.

WWF Together (Google Play and iOS)

Discover 16 amazing and endangered animals through photos, videos, and interactives in this World Wildlife Fund app. Do you know what a panda and a stick of butter have in common? Find the answer, and other unusual animal facts, in this beautifully-designed free app. Bonus: Discover multiple ways to get involved and protect these amazing animals.

Frog Dissection (Google Play and iOS)

This $3.99 app has been around since the beginning of iPad time. Geared toward middle school students, it walks you through the process of dissecting a frog without the smell of formaldehyde. Bonus: The app also includes the frog lifecycle, wet lab process, videos, interactive activities, and more.

Global Shark Tracker (Google Play and iOS)

The OCEARCH app lets you follow the navigational pattern of sharks that have been tagged with satellite tracking technology. Be informed about shark conservation, biology data, shark health, and migration with this free app. Bonus; The tagged sharks have very cool names such as Big Kahuna, Einstein, Lonesome Jorgita, and of course, Sam Houston.

Video Science (iOS)

The Science House Foundation houses more than 80 hands-on science lessons in this free app and provides great ideas for home or in the classroom. The short videos demonstrate inexpensive and easy-to-recreate experiments that will inspire kids of all ages.

Featured Image: Image by ennea2 from Pixabay

April 19, 2016 0 comments

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