Hands-on science in an online interactive format.
Hands-on science projects are a vital step in helping students put the theory they have learned from the textbook into practice so that they may fully grasp the topic. Science labs may not always be available for use by teachers for a variety of reasons, though. That is when teachers can turn to fully interactive science projects available online that give the students the opportunity to explore space, tackle projectile motion or track the rate of photosynthesis in varying conditions.
NASA Quest
Provided by NASA's education department, NASA Quest provides online interactive science projects that include teacher guides, workbooks and printable lessons for all grades. Students of all ages have the opportunity to determine the differences of Earth and Mars in "What's the Difference." Older students expand upon the project with "Moon Math," where they will explore the mathematical concepts of a moon habitat. Elementary students test their design of aircraft with the interactive module "Future Flight Design." Most of the science projects available are geared toward the intermediate grades, with options that include the creation of a planet habitable by humans, predicting the outcome of a space biologist's experiments and the design of a robotic airplane. High school level projects are available also, in the form of radiation biology and requiring students to devise a way to solve air traffic problems that occur in real life.
PhET Interactive Simulations
The University of Colorado at Boulder provides interactive science simulations through its PhET program as free service to teachers. The simulation projects available cover the disciplines of physics, biology, chemistry, earth science and math as they relate to science, beginning at the elementary level continuing on to the university level. Ideas and activities submitted by teachers supplement the simulations. Elementary students have the opportunity to test the effect of rubbing a balloon on a sweater while learning about static electricity, and intermediate grades can test their skills with a project on natural selection. The simulations become more intricate in the higher grades with simulations that include "Nuclear Fission" and "Rutherford Scattering." For teachers and students whose first language is not English, many of the simulated science projects are available in translated formats in 48 different languages.
ExploreLearning
Access to the Gizmos (interactive science projects) at the ExploreLearning website is available through a school or district purchase or through group purchases for home educators such as the one offered at Homeschool Buyers Co-op. The interactive science projects are available for grades 3-12 and cover the topics of scientific method, measurement skills, life science, physical science, biology, chemistry, physics as well as earth and space science. The science projects include additional tools necessary to cover the topics with students, such as a teacher guide, vocabulary, student sheets, learning objectives and assessment questions. The ExploreLearning website holds numerous awards for the interactive projects provided including "Winner: Best Science Instruction Solution" at the 2006 and 2007 SIIA CODiE Awards.
Tags: projects available, science projects, interactive science projects, science projects available, interactive science, science projects, that include
