Simulations
Personal Reactions: When I first began this game, I wasn't sure how to change the gradient, and that was frustrating. Also, at the bottom, I clicked on 'big weight' and then hit release. It is only until I saw the second screen that I realized I was supposed to drag the big weight into the back of the truck. This game will be a nice addition to our unit on balance and motion.
Ease of Use: After feeling frustration during the first part, the game was very easy to use as I progressed. The words at the top guide you along and give you directions on what to do. The screen where you had to input data could be a bit confusing for second-graders. With directions prior to use, it should not be challenging for students.
Ease of Use: After feeling frustration during the first part, the game was very easy to use as I progressed. The words at the top guide you along and give you directions on what to do. The screen where you had to input data could be a bit confusing for second-graders. With directions prior to use, it should not be challenging for students.
Educational Value: Students will learn about force and motion and how results can change when different factors are involved.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Appropriate for elementary school-age children.
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Science
Standard: 1. Physical Science
a. Identify and predict how the direction or speed of an object may change due to an outside force (DOK 1-2)
b. Analyze and interpret observable data about the impact of forces on the motion of objects (DOK 1-2)
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Appropriate for elementary school-age children.
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Science
Standard: 1. Physical Science
a. Identify and predict how the direction or speed of an object may change due to an outside force (DOK 1-2)
b. Analyze and interpret observable data about the impact of forces on the motion of objects (DOK 1-2)
Personal Reactions: I played both games, reporting the weather and predicting the weather. In each game, I started at Level 1. Each game was easy to use. I was surprised that this science based game included map skills as well as math skills. Players have to locate cities on maps, during weather icons over top of cities, and creates temperatures on a thermometer. Students will enjoy working with this activity during our weather unit at the beginning of the year. They can create their own weather forecasts and report on them.
Ease of Use: Very easy to use. Words on the screen guide you. A blinking light encourages you to click to advance the game. There is a help button if assistance in needed. A teacher’s guide is available.
Educational Value: While these games address different types of weather, map and reading skills are also involved.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Recommended for grades 4-9. Even though these games are recommended for grades 4-9, I am confident that my second grade students can play them successfully. If a student is struggling, they could be paired with a higher-functioning student.
Colorado Academic Standard - Standard: 3. Earth Systems Science
1. Weather and the changing seasons impact the environment and organisms such as humans, plants, and other animals
b. Analyze and interpret data such as temperatures in different locations (Sun or shade) at different times and seasons as evidence of how organisms and the environment are influenced by the weather and changing seasons (DOK 1-3)
Ease of Use: Very easy to use. Words on the screen guide you. A blinking light encourages you to click to advance the game. There is a help button if assistance in needed. A teacher’s guide is available.
Educational Value: While these games address different types of weather, map and reading skills are also involved.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Recommended for grades 4-9. Even though these games are recommended for grades 4-9, I am confident that my second grade students can play them successfully. If a student is struggling, they could be paired with a higher-functioning student.
Colorado Academic Standard - Standard: 3. Earth Systems Science
1. Weather and the changing seasons impact the environment and organisms such as humans, plants, and other animals
b. Analyze and interpret data such as temperatures in different locations (Sun or shade) at different times and seasons as evidence of how organisms and the environment are influenced by the weather and changing seasons (DOK 1-3)
Personal Reactions: When attempting to begin this games, I had problems with Shockwave plug-in on all browsers on my Mac. I then transferred over to a PC and still needed a Shockwave plug in. Once the plug-in was installed and working, this was a good game for creating bar graphs. Each bar was easy to move. Changing the size of the graph was intuitive. The five-minute trial period was frustrating because I wanted to explore more. There is a student exploration worksheet available for students that pre-assesses their knowledge of graphing as well as guides them through activities. Even though there is a vocabulary sheet available, this worksheet would be too challenging for my second graders due to the vocabulary/reading level. Assuming that I can put in my own data to this graphing activity, students will be able to use this to compare and contrast the different sizes of the insects we study.
Ease of Use: Easy to use. Visually appealing.
Educational Value: A great activity where students can easily transform data into appealing bar graphs.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Grades 3-5.
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Mathematics
Standard: 3. Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
1. Visual displays of data can be constructed in a variety of formats to solve problems
ii. Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. (CCSS: 2.MD.10)
iii. Solve simple put together, take-apart, and compare problems using information presented in picture and bar graphs. (CCSS: 2.MD.10)
Ease of Use: Easy to use. Visually appealing.
Educational Value: A great activity where students can easily transform data into appealing bar graphs.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Grades 3-5.
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Mathematics
Standard: 3. Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
1. Visual displays of data can be constructed in a variety of formats to solve problems
ii. Draw a picture graph and a bar graph (with single-unit scale) to represent a data set with up to four categories. (CCSS: 2.MD.10)
iii. Solve simple put together, take-apart, and compare problems using information presented in picture and bar graphs. (CCSS: 2.MD.10)
Personal Reactions: I had problems with Java plug-in on all browsers on my Mac. I went to a PC and needed a plug-in as well. Once I was able to use this, I loved it! After just finishing teaching my students “trade-first subtraction”, I wished that I would have had this for that instruction. It breaks apart the top number for you automatically. It was powerful to see the 10 break apart into 10 ones. It's a great visual of something that we can talk about in class and demonstrate with base-10 blocks. Your own math problems can be put into this activity. Students can find the difference between temperatures of different cities and sizes of insects.
Ease of Use: SO easy!
Educational Value: A great resource to reinforce concepts of double-digit subtraction.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Grades PreK-2
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Mathematics
1. The whole number system describes place value relationships through 1,000 and forms the foundation for efficient algorithms
b. Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract. (CCSS: 2.NBT)
i. Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. (CCSS: 2.NBT.5)
iii. Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method.2 (CCSS: 2.NBT.7)
Ease of Use: SO easy!
Educational Value: A great resource to reinforce concepts of double-digit subtraction.
Age/Developmental Appropriateness: Grades PreK-2
Colorado Academic Standard - Content Area: Mathematics
1. The whole number system describes place value relationships through 1,000 and forms the foundation for efficient algorithms
b. Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract. (CCSS: 2.NBT)
i. Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. (CCSS: 2.NBT.5)
iii. Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method.2 (CCSS: 2.NBT.7)