Simulations
Simulation #1: EdHeads - Weather
Personal Reactions
This simulation is a neat way for students to learn about weather as a cause and effect process. The visuals are appealing and interactive. It is nice that there are three different levels for both predicting weather and reporting weather. Students can work at their own differentiated level or work their way up as they learn and understand more.
Ease of Use
The simulation is easy to use and it loads quickly. For young students it is important to note that there is no icon that allows for text to be read aloud. The EdHead character does a nice job talking the student through the steps and scaffolding assistance.
Educational Value
This weather simulation allows students the opportunity to make decisions based on multiple contributing factors. The cause and effect implications are powerful for student use. The character and scenario is engaging, but doesn't take away from the learning focus.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
The Weather simulation by EdHeads is deemed appropriate for grades 4-9. I may use it whole class with a 2nd or 3rd grade class.
Applicability to Theme
Students at the elementary level can use this simulation with ELA as they explore the cause and effect relationships of weather. I can see this activity being used for all domains: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The teacher could break students into turn-and-talk groups where they practice their language production while making choices about the weather scenarios. Students can also be tasked with writing sentences or small paragraphs describing their weather predictions based on causation of the previous day's weather.
NGSS: K-2
NGSS: 3-5
This simulation is a neat way for students to learn about weather as a cause and effect process. The visuals are appealing and interactive. It is nice that there are three different levels for both predicting weather and reporting weather. Students can work at their own differentiated level or work their way up as they learn and understand more.
Ease of Use
The simulation is easy to use and it loads quickly. For young students it is important to note that there is no icon that allows for text to be read aloud. The EdHead character does a nice job talking the student through the steps and scaffolding assistance.
Educational Value
This weather simulation allows students the opportunity to make decisions based on multiple contributing factors. The cause and effect implications are powerful for student use. The character and scenario is engaging, but doesn't take away from the learning focus.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
The Weather simulation by EdHeads is deemed appropriate for grades 4-9. I may use it whole class with a 2nd or 3rd grade class.
Applicability to Theme
Students at the elementary level can use this simulation with ELA as they explore the cause and effect relationships of weather. I can see this activity being used for all domains: listening, speaking, reading and writing. The teacher could break students into turn-and-talk groups where they practice their language production while making choices about the weather scenarios. Students can also be tasked with writing sentences or small paragraphs describing their weather predictions based on causation of the previous day's weather.
NGSS: K-2
NGSS: 3-5
Simulation #2: Science Games for Kids - How Plants Grow
Personal Reactions
This simulation by Science Games for Kids is a very simple simulation, but the point comes across well. Students are tasked with growing a plant by continually managing the water, heat and sunlight supply. It is very easy to give the plant too much or too little and the plant will die. This simulation is quick and easy to use. There are some questions posed by the game that get the students thinking and trying different combination of factors.
Ease of Use
While it did take me a moment or two to understand how to get the levers to add water or heat, overall the game is easy to use with little confusion. The game is visually appealing with little bells and whistles, rather it shows very matter of factly factors in plant growth. Within the game it is very easy to kill your plant if you don't monitor your inputs constantly.
Educational Value
This game can be used by classrooms as a supplement to actual plant growth. It is nice as it speeds up the process and gives a very clear visual to the contribution factors or hindrances to growth. Another value is that each student can have the chance to control the growth to see and understand for themselves how plants grow and their needs.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
Elementary levels
Applicability to Theme
This simulation applies to early elementary, specifically well to second grade. With that an elementary teacher could tie this science topic to ELA very easily through writing and speaking. Students can gather information from the online simulation to write answers to factors contribution to plant growth. The teacher could also tie this to a unit with books on plants to read and respond.
NGSS 2
This simulation by Science Games for Kids is a very simple simulation, but the point comes across well. Students are tasked with growing a plant by continually managing the water, heat and sunlight supply. It is very easy to give the plant too much or too little and the plant will die. This simulation is quick and easy to use. There are some questions posed by the game that get the students thinking and trying different combination of factors.
Ease of Use
While it did take me a moment or two to understand how to get the levers to add water or heat, overall the game is easy to use with little confusion. The game is visually appealing with little bells and whistles, rather it shows very matter of factly factors in plant growth. Within the game it is very easy to kill your plant if you don't monitor your inputs constantly.
Educational Value
This game can be used by classrooms as a supplement to actual plant growth. It is nice as it speeds up the process and gives a very clear visual to the contribution factors or hindrances to growth. Another value is that each student can have the chance to control the growth to see and understand for themselves how plants grow and their needs.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
Elementary levels
Applicability to Theme
This simulation applies to early elementary, specifically well to second grade. With that an elementary teacher could tie this science topic to ELA very easily through writing and speaking. Students can gather information from the online simulation to write answers to factors contribution to plant growth. The teacher could also tie this to a unit with books on plants to read and respond.
NGSS 2
Simulation #3: Science Games for Kids - Reversible & Irreversible Changes
Personal Reactions
This simulation takes a student through reversible and irreversible changes. First they have to try to dissolve flour, sugar and sand in water, then try to take these back out. Another part to the simulation is trying to reverse items such as adding heat or removing heat from an ice cube or raw egg. This simulation easily shows that some physical changes are reversible while others or not. The directions and questioning at the top of the screen drives the student through the process and learning.
Ease of Use
Students who are not independent readers would struggle with this simulation, however, you can always pair student strategically or ask certain students to use screen readers (Read & Write Gold) to access the text. The simulation is easy to follow and work through with the directional help.
Educational Value
This simulation will be intriguing to students as an independent discovery activity, thus increasing motivation to learn the content. This simulation also allows for visuals of process that may in the past have been explained orally or modeled over time (i.e ice cube melting). This simulation becomes more immediate and shows items that a teacher may not have traditionally modeled in class like the irreversibility of a cooked egg.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
Elementary level
Applicability to Theme
This topic is appropriate for 2nd and 3rd grade ELA as the Science simulated is at that level as well. Students can practicing speaking about reversibility and irreversibly with their partner while also practicing reading about it throughout the simulation. The teacher can also have students write about the informational content through a cause and effect graphic organizer or paragraph causation assignment.
NGSS 2
Simulation #4: National Library of Virtual Manipulative - Base Blocks Subtraction (K-2)
Personal Reactions/Educational Value
This simulation is good as it shows the process of regrouping very clearly. As you move to subtract red from blue one must take a tens rod to the ones place value and here you can digital watch it separate into its ten individual pieces. This is very powerful for students as the necessity for regrouping becomes more clearly apparent.
Ease of Use
The subtraction simulation was easy to use, the directions are helpful, but it is pretty self-explanatory. The user moves the base ten blocks from red to hover over the blue to subtract them from the total.
Note:Changes with Java has caused this site to become less accessible. I was able to get the manipulative to work in Firefox only, but running on an older version of Java. It seems that the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has a new site now where you can download the manipulatives and in multiple languages (Spanish included), however using this simulation in Firefox worked this time around after some trial and error.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
Elementary, specifically 2 and 3rd for subtraction purposes with regrouping
Applicability to Theme
My theme throughout this website has been ELA for mid-level elementary. This math simulation fits best with the 2nd and 3rd-grade level. The teacher can run the simulation in partner groups and have partners take turns describing the process of regrouping while the other student solves. Students may also write about how subtraction strategies work with the place value system.
CCSS 2
This simulation is good as it shows the process of regrouping very clearly. As you move to subtract red from blue one must take a tens rod to the ones place value and here you can digital watch it separate into its ten individual pieces. This is very powerful for students as the necessity for regrouping becomes more clearly apparent.
Ease of Use
The subtraction simulation was easy to use, the directions are helpful, but it is pretty self-explanatory. The user moves the base ten blocks from red to hover over the blue to subtract them from the total.
Note:Changes with Java has caused this site to become less accessible. I was able to get the manipulative to work in Firefox only, but running on an older version of Java. It seems that the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has a new site now where you can download the manipulatives and in multiple languages (Spanish included), however using this simulation in Firefox worked this time around after some trial and error.
Age/Developmentally Appropriateness
Elementary, specifically 2 and 3rd for subtraction purposes with regrouping
Applicability to Theme
My theme throughout this website has been ELA for mid-level elementary. This math simulation fits best with the 2nd and 3rd-grade level. The teacher can run the simulation in partner groups and have partners take turns describing the process of regrouping while the other student solves. Students may also write about how subtraction strategies work with the place value system.
CCSS 2
Math & Science Resources
This Symbaloo contains both math and science resources.
Row 1: Science Resources for Elementary Students (2nd-3rd Grade)
Row 2: Math Resources for Elementary Students (2nd-3rd Grade)
Row 3: Math Resources for Teachers
Row 4: Science Resources for Teachers
Row 1: Science Resources for Elementary Students (2nd-3rd Grade)
Row 2: Math Resources for Elementary Students (2nd-3rd Grade)
Row 3: Math Resources for Teachers
Row 4: Science Resources for Teachers