Math and Science Simulations
Simulation software is a powerful tool that allow students to practice using a real-life system as though they are part of it. There are many applications of such software in an educational environment. In math and science, students are able to manipulate data, form hypotheses, and calculate results. Various problem-solving and real-world scenarios give students an authentic learning experience.
I test-drove four different simulations below. For each one I created a separate Clarify-It page with screenshots and observations along the way. Click on the images below to be taken there.
My activities are geared for parents of K-6 grade students to assist them in finding fun and educational math/science summer enhancement activities to do with their children.
I test-drove four different simulations below. For each one I created a separate Clarify-It page with screenshots and observations along the way. Click on the images below to be taken there.
My activities are geared for parents of K-6 grade students to assist them in finding fun and educational math/science summer enhancement activities to do with their children.
Gizmo: Road Trip (Problem Solving) Simulation
Overview of site
Explorelearning allows students to explore math and science with what they call Gizmos that contain "over 450 highly interactive online simulations for grades 3-12." These are categorized by grade, subject, state and textbook correlations. There is a fee for membership access as either a parent or educator, but a free 30-day trial is available.
Personal Reactions
I tried the Road Trip Gizmo because we do a lot traveling during the summer, and I wanted an activity that the kids could do to make it educational and fun. This Gizmo really grew on me the more I used it. I initially found it a little too simple and not customizable enough. The graphic resolution is a little low. Only major cities and routes are shown, which likely will not include a student’s home town. However, after trying several of the related activities, and doing many of them with my 5th-grade son, I became more impressed with its usefulness and versatility.
Ease of Use
I initially found the interface a bit cumbersome, though simple and intuitive, because I became annoyed at having to refill the tank of gas so many times as the car moved across the country. I soon realized that it was actually a very authentic part of the simulation. The user learns quickly that gas runs out fast during a road trip and frequent fill-ups are a necessity. If students didn’t realize this before playing, they certainly will after.
Educational Value
This simulation provides exceptional educational opportunities. There are many possibilities outlined in both the teacher guide and within the simulation itself. There are several extension activities in addition to Activities A, B, and C, along with several resources listed for further exploration. I felt it helps strengthen both math and science academic skills, as well as authentic problem-solving skills.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
Because of its simplicity and versatility, I felt this simulation could easily be adapted for 3rd-6th grade students. Older students would benefit from the content and application, but the interface may be not be engaging enough.
Note for Parents
There are so many uses at home for this activity that your imagination is really the limit. This helps reinforce life skills and can be applied to all ages of children. Even teenagers could use it to help them calculate mileage and gas money, though the interface is very simple. The attached teachers guide has some wonderful ideas and resources or you could come up with your own. Parents might find the most success and motivation when this activity is paired with real-life practice at the gas station and on road trips.
Explorelearning allows students to explore math and science with what they call Gizmos that contain "over 450 highly interactive online simulations for grades 3-12." These are categorized by grade, subject, state and textbook correlations. There is a fee for membership access as either a parent or educator, but a free 30-day trial is available.
Personal Reactions
I tried the Road Trip Gizmo because we do a lot traveling during the summer, and I wanted an activity that the kids could do to make it educational and fun. This Gizmo really grew on me the more I used it. I initially found it a little too simple and not customizable enough. The graphic resolution is a little low. Only major cities and routes are shown, which likely will not include a student’s home town. However, after trying several of the related activities, and doing many of them with my 5th-grade son, I became more impressed with its usefulness and versatility.
Ease of Use
I initially found the interface a bit cumbersome, though simple and intuitive, because I became annoyed at having to refill the tank of gas so many times as the car moved across the country. I soon realized that it was actually a very authentic part of the simulation. The user learns quickly that gas runs out fast during a road trip and frequent fill-ups are a necessity. If students didn’t realize this before playing, they certainly will after.
Educational Value
This simulation provides exceptional educational opportunities. There are many possibilities outlined in both the teacher guide and within the simulation itself. There are several extension activities in addition to Activities A, B, and C, along with several resources listed for further exploration. I felt it helps strengthen both math and science academic skills, as well as authentic problem-solving skills.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
Because of its simplicity and versatility, I felt this simulation could easily be adapted for 3rd-6th grade students. Older students would benefit from the content and application, but the interface may be not be engaging enough.
Note for Parents
There are so many uses at home for this activity that your imagination is really the limit. This helps reinforce life skills and can be applied to all ages of children. Even teenagers could use it to help them calculate mileage and gas money, though the interface is very simple. The attached teachers guide has some wonderful ideas and resources or you could come up with your own. Parents might find the most success and motivation when this activity is paired with real-life practice at the gas station and on road trips.
FOSSweb: Balance and Motion
Overview of site
These Foss modules are designed for young students to explore science concepts through simple simulations.
Personal Reactions
I tried the balance and motion module because my 2nd-grade daughter just studied this concept in class and I thought it might be fun to reinforce these principles at home. She also has ridden roller coasters before and I thought she might enjoy designing her own.
Ease of Use
This simulation is meant to demonstrate the principles of balance and motion through trial and error. It extremely easy to use, probably too easy. The goal is to make the ball roll through the completed track. The instructions are short and don’t tell students how many pieces they need to make the completed track, or how many times they can use each piece. Maybe it is to allow the students to experiment on their own and form their own conclusions, but initially it is a little confusing.
Educational Value
This simulation provides good practice with simple balance and motion principles. I tried several tracks, some that I knew would work, some that I knew wouldn’t. The accompanying teacher resources and module notes are exceptional, far more detailed than this simulation allows practice for. It was helpful to see the ball get stuck because I had made the hill too steep and didn’t allow enough motion to overcome it. It would be nice if there were other related simulations to choose from within this module. My main complaint about this simulation was its lack of feedback. There is no encouragement or praise given. When I built a successful track, the ball rolled off and disappears. In fact, a few times it looked like the ball fell off the track rather than get to the end. I wasn't quite clear. I think there should be some sort of "Good Job!" or "You did it!" after a successful build or a “Whoops, try again!” My Kindergartner son tried out a few of the modules -- there is no audio, only text, so I had to be right there with him to guide him along. To use in a classroom setting, it would be helpful to have audio instructions and prompts.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is appropriately designed for K-2 students. I don’t think it could be adapted for older children, who would likely find it boring very quickly.
Note for Parents
These simple but fun activities can help your child solidify scientific concepts h/she has learned in school. They are not tutorials, but simulations, which allow practice of skills already learned. There is one activity in each section and teacher/parent notes are provided with great details and ideas. The simulations themselves are very basic. There are no sound prompts, so non-readers will need help navigating and reading directions.
These Foss modules are designed for young students to explore science concepts through simple simulations.
Personal Reactions
I tried the balance and motion module because my 2nd-grade daughter just studied this concept in class and I thought it might be fun to reinforce these principles at home. She also has ridden roller coasters before and I thought she might enjoy designing her own.
Ease of Use
This simulation is meant to demonstrate the principles of balance and motion through trial and error. It extremely easy to use, probably too easy. The goal is to make the ball roll through the completed track. The instructions are short and don’t tell students how many pieces they need to make the completed track, or how many times they can use each piece. Maybe it is to allow the students to experiment on their own and form their own conclusions, but initially it is a little confusing.
Educational Value
This simulation provides good practice with simple balance and motion principles. I tried several tracks, some that I knew would work, some that I knew wouldn’t. The accompanying teacher resources and module notes are exceptional, far more detailed than this simulation allows practice for. It was helpful to see the ball get stuck because I had made the hill too steep and didn’t allow enough motion to overcome it. It would be nice if there were other related simulations to choose from within this module. My main complaint about this simulation was its lack of feedback. There is no encouragement or praise given. When I built a successful track, the ball rolled off and disappears. In fact, a few times it looked like the ball fell off the track rather than get to the end. I wasn't quite clear. I think there should be some sort of "Good Job!" or "You did it!" after a successful build or a “Whoops, try again!” My Kindergartner son tried out a few of the modules -- there is no audio, only text, so I had to be right there with him to guide him along. To use in a classroom setting, it would be helpful to have audio instructions and prompts.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is appropriately designed for K-2 students. I don’t think it could be adapted for older children, who would likely find it boring very quickly.
Note for Parents
These simple but fun activities can help your child solidify scientific concepts h/she has learned in school. They are not tutorials, but simulations, which allow practice of skills already learned. There is one activity in each section and teacher/parent notes are provided with great details and ideas. The simulations themselves are very basic. There are no sound prompts, so non-readers will need help navigating and reading directions.
NLVM: Virtual Manipulatives for Percentages
Overview of site
The virtual manipulatives found on this NLVM site are simple but powerful tools that can help kids grasp mathematical concepts through visual representation.
Personal Reactions
I tried this percentage activity with my 5th-grade son because he is having trouble with the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages. It is a no-frill basic simulation that allows the user to input two of the three missing numbers and get both a calculation and graphical representation.
Ease of Use
This simulation is very easy to use. The instructions are very basic but do contain some good example problems for practice. The teacher information offers some additional ideas for discussion topics and how to apply student competencies to other areas.
Educational Value
While simple, this simulation can be very helpful for students who are struggling with these mathematical concepts. It gives the student the opportunity to enter various parts of the equation and see what happens visually. That is one of the key ways that simulations prove helpful: the ability to manipulate information or scenarios and see the result. Once a students becomes more confident in these skills, he/she can use these skills to progress to more difficult story problems. Another strength of this manipulative is its graphical representation of numerical data in both a bar graph and pie chart. This helps students make an instant correlation to what they are computing.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is listed under each age category (K-12) on the NLVM website. Every student that has been exposed to the concepts of fractions, percents, and decimals can benefit from this practice. Even older students could benefit from a brief review of these concepts, as similar questions appear on many standardized tests. Due to its simplicity and lack of versatility, the activity will likely hold attention for about 10 minutes or so.
Note for Parents
This is a worthwhile activity that will take about 10 minutes or less if your child is needing to review or practice these skills. It's not very versatile or pretty, so children may get bored easily. It is still a good activity, especially when accompanying other activities and practice.
The virtual manipulatives found on this NLVM site are simple but powerful tools that can help kids grasp mathematical concepts through visual representation.
Personal Reactions
I tried this percentage activity with my 5th-grade son because he is having trouble with the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages. It is a no-frill basic simulation that allows the user to input two of the three missing numbers and get both a calculation and graphical representation.
Ease of Use
This simulation is very easy to use. The instructions are very basic but do contain some good example problems for practice. The teacher information offers some additional ideas for discussion topics and how to apply student competencies to other areas.
Educational Value
While simple, this simulation can be very helpful for students who are struggling with these mathematical concepts. It gives the student the opportunity to enter various parts of the equation and see what happens visually. That is one of the key ways that simulations prove helpful: the ability to manipulate information or scenarios and see the result. Once a students becomes more confident in these skills, he/she can use these skills to progress to more difficult story problems. Another strength of this manipulative is its graphical representation of numerical data in both a bar graph and pie chart. This helps students make an instant correlation to what they are computing.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is listed under each age category (K-12) on the NLVM website. Every student that has been exposed to the concepts of fractions, percents, and decimals can benefit from this practice. Even older students could benefit from a brief review of these concepts, as similar questions appear on many standardized tests. Due to its simplicity and lack of versatility, the activity will likely hold attention for about 10 minutes or so.
Note for Parents
This is a worthwhile activity that will take about 10 minutes or less if your child is needing to review or practice these skills. It's not very versatile or pretty, so children may get bored easily. It is still a good activity, especially when accompanying other activities and practice.
Gizmo: Percents and Proportions
Overview of site
I liked using Explorelearning’s Gizmos last time so I thought I’d try another one. I was not disappointed. This is a similar module I tested on the NLVM website above, but this one was far superior. I just might have to subscribe to this site! There were several Gizmos I found myself wanting to try.
Personal Reactions
I tried this activity because my son is having trouble with the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages. I wanted to find something that could help give him some practice, and this simulation is a winner. The student inputs two values and then solves for the third. The student exploration guide gives student example questions that include asking the student to estimate and think logically before computing. The Gizmo contains sliders that adjust graphically and it really gives the student a visual of what happens when you change the numbers.
Ease of Use
This simulation is very easy to use and yet quite beneficial. It allows students to select whether they are trying to find the whole, part, or percentage, so students need to read the question and determine which variable they are trying to solve for. It is intuitive to figure out and instructions aren’t needed or provided.
Educational Value
I loved this simulation module because it was easy but extremely powerful. It’s been years since I’ve figured percents, ratios, and proportions and I’ve been struggling with how to explain these to my son. This module cemented things in my mind and my confidence is back. It’s strength is in the visual representation. The NLVM module also had a visual representation but this one is better, I feel. It has a full bar graph showing 100% and then a separate bar graph with the percentage at hand. This allows students to instantly make estimations and use logic to solve the problem. The educational value of this Gizmo is best when students are encouraged to think and solve a problem on their own first and then check their work using the Gizmo.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is listed on the website as appropriate for grades 6-8, but could easily be used by other students as well. It is an easy, quick review for any student who has learned these concepts but has forgotten or is struggling.
Note for Parents
Depending on the level and confidence of your child, you may need to work through things with him/her first and try through a few problems. Your child should then be able to work through it on his/her own. This is a short activity that doesn’t take much time but is a great review, no matter what level your child is on.
I liked using Explorelearning’s Gizmos last time so I thought I’d try another one. I was not disappointed. This is a similar module I tested on the NLVM website above, but this one was far superior. I just might have to subscribe to this site! There were several Gizmos I found myself wanting to try.
Personal Reactions
I tried this activity because my son is having trouble with the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages. I wanted to find something that could help give him some practice, and this simulation is a winner. The student inputs two values and then solves for the third. The student exploration guide gives student example questions that include asking the student to estimate and think logically before computing. The Gizmo contains sliders that adjust graphically and it really gives the student a visual of what happens when you change the numbers.
Ease of Use
This simulation is very easy to use and yet quite beneficial. It allows students to select whether they are trying to find the whole, part, or percentage, so students need to read the question and determine which variable they are trying to solve for. It is intuitive to figure out and instructions aren’t needed or provided.
Educational Value
I loved this simulation module because it was easy but extremely powerful. It’s been years since I’ve figured percents, ratios, and proportions and I’ve been struggling with how to explain these to my son. This module cemented things in my mind and my confidence is back. It’s strength is in the visual representation. The NLVM module also had a visual representation but this one is better, I feel. It has a full bar graph showing 100% and then a separate bar graph with the percentage at hand. This allows students to instantly make estimations and use logic to solve the problem. The educational value of this Gizmo is best when students are encouraged to think and solve a problem on their own first and then check their work using the Gizmo.
Age/developmentally Appropriateness
This module is listed on the website as appropriate for grades 6-8, but could easily be used by other students as well. It is an easy, quick review for any student who has learned these concepts but has forgotten or is struggling.
Note for Parents
Depending on the level and confidence of your child, you may need to work through things with him/her first and try through a few problems. Your child should then be able to work through it on his/her own. This is a short activity that doesn’t take much time but is a great review, no matter what level your child is on.
Startpage Resources
Have you ever made a startpage? They are kind of fun. I created this one using symbaloo. It's kind of like a place to jump start your Internet experience and keep everything organized. This one below is a collection of math and science resources for teachers (or parents). There are many helpful sites out there, but I chose these specifically because they are loaded with great information. Many of them are from government agencies or large corporations. It is exciting to live in a time when so many valuable resources for our children are just a click away! I have chosen 10 of these sites to review further below.
Integration Ideas
- Thinkfinity: This Verizon Foundation site is is loaded with links to student interactives, lesson plans, activities, video and audio resources in various content areas. Parents will like activities and games in the Parents & Kids section. For example, if you have a Pi-lover like I do, this activity about Pi is a winner. [Common Core State Standards: Standards for Mathematical Practice: 2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.]
- iearn: This is a global collaboration site that connects students and their projects from all over the world. For example, a project called "Connecting Math to Our Lives" invites students to choose one of the math-related activities listed and post their project for others to see. Students can also collaborate in collecting and analyzing data. [Common Core State Standards: Standards for Mathematical Practice: 1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them, 3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.]
- Illuminations: This site by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has hundreds of online activities and lessons for students. I tried the Five Frame activity to help my Kindergartner work on counting by 5s. I liked that it had good voice prompts because he can't read yet but enjoys math. [ Common Core State Standards: KOA.5 Fluently add and subtract within 5.]
- National Geographic Explorer: This is the site for the NG Explorer magazine and is full of helpful activities and interactive activities. I like this interactive video quiz about thunder and lightning. We have had some severe thunderstorms lately that have prompted several discussions about these forces of nature. [Virginia SOL: Earth Science: ES.13c Severe weather occurrences, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and major storms]
- Discovery Education: Free resources for administrators, teachers, parents, and students for use at school or at home -- or both. This site has interactive games, videos, contests, virtual labs, and activities. When I help my son with his difficult math problems, I frequently consult the WebMath tool, which offers a solution to any math problem. It's perfect for when students get stuck on a problem and just need the answer so they can learn and move on. [Common Core State Standards: Standards for Mathematical Practice: 5. Use appropriate tools strategically.]
- Annenberg Learning: One of their activities is Journey North, an immersive online experience that explores the aspects of seasonal change. Real-life stories, videos, slideshows spark discussion and encourage scientific thinking. It is a gold standard activity for inquiry-based authentic learning that meets several content area standards. [[Virginia SOL: Earth Science: ES.12 physical, chemical, and biological systems and variations]
- ARKive: This site has fun-packed science K-12 resources and a few online games. Because we have had so many butterflies around our home lately, I chose to explore the "Butterfles and Blooms" activity for 5-7 year olds. It contains a lesson plan, PowerPoint presentation, study sheet, and related craft activity. [Virginia SOL: Kindergarten: K.6 basic needs and life processes of plants and animals]
- Exploratorium: This science museum's site full of activities, online exhibits, articles, videos, and other resources that teachers and parents can use. The Ice Balloon activity appealed to me because I like balloons and my Kindergartner has been asking about solids and liquids. My kids love to put anything in the freezer to see what happens, so this is a great idea for us to try. This activity includes a short video introduction, activity instruction sheet with lots of questions students can ask as they explore, activity concept map, and ideas for going further. [Virginia SOL: Kindergarten: K5. investigate and understand that water flows and has properties that can be observed and tested]
- USGS: This United States Geological Survey site has many activities and resources related to biology, geography, geology, and water. Since a major earthquake is long overdue where we live, earthquake preparedness is always on the brain. The earthquake site has many resources for students, including science fair ideas, earthquake ABCs, cool facts, latest quakes, puzzles and games. I looked at the recent quakes because we have friends in Indonesia and India who recently felt tremors of a recent earthquake there. I saw a map of the epicenter, its strength and nearby cities, and could read more about what caused it. There are several other tools that students can explore to learn more about earthquakes. [[Virginia SOL: Earth Science: ES.8 geologic processes including plate tectonics and processes]
- NG Education: This National Geographic site has multimedia activities aligned with national standards and educational projects. I liked the Geography of a Pencil activity that has students "map the origins of a pencil, predict and map trade and transport networks, and consider global connections." It includes directions, objectives, preparation, vocabulary, and external resources. [Geography standard Standard 11: patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface]