Virtual Science Lab
Learning by doing is a snap thanks to these cool Web sites
By Gail Junion-Metz -- School Library Journal, 10/1/2006
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Also in this article: Exploratorium: Online Activities  SEED: Science Lab Science Clips The Mission Science Lab Wonderville: Interactive Activities |
Exploratorium: Online Activities
www.exploratorium.edu/explore/online.html
Need some Web-based science activities in a hurry? Here you’ll find almost 60 projects for kids ages 10–18 on a wide variety of topics. Most take little prep time (“Common Cents,” for example) but a few activities, especially those for older students, are more involved (such as “Build a Solar System”). Created by: The Exploratorium Museum, San Francisco, CA. Don’t Miss: For all you baseball fans, there’s “Scientific Slugger,” a great way to learn the physics of hitting home runs. And for some tasty fun, visit the “Pickle Lab” and make some yummy virtual gherkins.
SEED: Science Lab
www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/lab/index_virtual.htm
The Science Lab offers up 13 online activities related to geology, physics, and space. Geared for ages 10–18, all of the projects come with a background lesson and most require minimal prep time. Created by: Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development, New York, NY. Don’t Miss: If you like the “Will It Float?” segment of the David Letterman show, be sure to check out the “Buoyancy Explorer.”
Science Clips
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/index_flash.shtml
This site’s the place for awesome physics and biology lessons tailor-made for younger kids. The 36 exercises are arranged by age (from 5 to 11) and alphabetically by title. Plus, each activity has a “full screen” button. Click on it and your project will fill your entire computer screen—a nice feature if you’re projecting the activity for an entire class. Created by: BBC Schools, London, England.
The Mission Science Lab
nfbkids.ca/lamission/home_e.php
This discovery game site teaches kids age 10–16 basic principles of physics in a most entertaining way. They click on a random object in the lab and complete a related “mission.” Meanwhile, they’re also trying to learn Professor XYZ’s secret identity and gain access to the final mission, “Professor XYZ’s Grand Tour.” Each mission comes with clues and an online quiz. Created by: The National Film Board of Canada, St. Laurent, Quebec. Don’t Miss: Click on the magnet to embark on the “Mutual Attraction Mission.”
Wonderville: Interactive Activities
www.wonderville.ca/v1/home.html
In the online town of Wonderville, kids will find 22 activities covering a wide range of science topics. Each animated activity opens up in its own window, which makes it better for projecting in class and keeping young kids on task. Created by: Science Alberta Foundation, Calgary, Alberta. Don’t Miss: The “Robot Factory” demonstrates just how fun learning science can be.
