Electric circuit construction set (Screen shot)
Crocodile Clips Elementary is a freeware program for Windows and Macintosh
that allows students to build simulated electric circuits of batteries, light
bulbs, switches, motors, buzzers, variable resistors, and fuses. Includes an
interactive tutorial with questions. Useful
as an extension to the usual "batteries and bulbs" experiment.
The software can be downloaded from
http://www.crocodile-clips.com/m6.htm.
Interactive microscopic model of a gas (Screen shot)
This interactive Web site shows that the molecules in a gas are moving
constantly and colliding with the walls of its container. One wall
of the container is a movable piston which is free to move up and down.
Students can experiment with this model by pressing down on the piston
(placing more weight on the piston, adding or removing gas
molecules, or changing the temperature (velocity of the molecules). Helps students
understand that gas pressure is simply the result of collisions of gas
molecules with the walls of the container. Plot
pressure against volume to observe the inverse relationship (Boyle's Law).
Address:
http://didaktik.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~pkrahmer/ntnujava/idealGas/idealGas.html
Simulated chemistry Set (Screen shot)
Chem Lab 2.0 allows students to perform simulated chemistry experiments
using a large set of realistically-simulated grassware, chemicals, and laboratory
equipment. A functional demo version of the software can be used to perform
basic chemistry laboratory procedures such as titration, calorimetry,
kinetics, and crystallization. Versions for PC or Macintosh can be
downloaded from http://modelscience.com/.
Dynamic mechanical construction set (Screen shot)
SodaConstructor is an interactive Web site that allows student to build
and operate stick-figure mechanisms consisting of masses, springs, and "muscles"
that expand and contract. Students can change gravity, spring stiffness, and friction.
Lots of fun. Useful for reinforcing concepts of structure, stability, friction, gravity, force,
frequency and phase.
Address:
http://www.sodaplay.com/constructor/index.htm
Multi-level genetics simulation (Screen shot)
GenScope is a computer-based manipulative that allows students and teachers to
manipulate the processes of inheritance of imaginary creatures on six levels:
DNA, chromosome, cell, organism, pedigree, and population. Allows students not
only to read about genetics, but actually observe and manipulate processes at
one biological level that affect life at another. Extensive
curriculum activities have been developed and tested for this program. For Macintosh.
Download fully functional free program from
http://www.concord.org/genscope/downloads/index.html.
Solar System construction set (Screen shot)
Gravitation is a shareware program for Macintosh that allows students
to design, build, and operate their own solar systems under the laws of
gravitation and planetary motion. Solar systems can have any number of suns,
planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. Reinforces concepts of mass, gravitational attraction,
orbital motion, velocity and acceleration, escape velocity.
Download from ftp://mirror.apple.com/mirrors/Info-Mac.Archive/sci/.
Planetarium simulator (Screen shot)
CyberSky shows the location and movement of the stars, constellations, planets, sun
moon at any time and date - past, present, or future. Flexible time-step animation
acts like a time machine, speeding up time so students can see motions
clearly. Helps students understand how the season arise, how solar eclipses happen and
where to view them, why the stars are important to navigation.
Shareware. "When Dragons Eat the Sun",a discovery-oriented lesson plan that
utilizes this software.
The program can be downloaded from http://www.cybersky.com/.
Simulation of electron microscope (Screen shot)
This is a simple Web site that allows students to view
specimens of cells, crystals, insects, etc., at various magnifications. Courtesy of
Pfizer Corp., part of the Pfizer Fun Zone site.
Requires Shockwave plug-in.
Address:
http://www.pfizerfunzone.com/funzone/discovery/microscope/index.html.
Interactive Physics (Screen shots)
Interactive Physics is a
commercial program that allows students to create
mechanical models by drawing onscreen
with objects like springs, dampers, ropes, and joints. Measure attributes of your
objects like velocity, acceleration, momentum, and energy. You can also display
these measurements as numbers, graphs, or animated vector displays. Then interact
with your model in real time by changing parameters as the simulation runs.
Teachers can order a free CD with demo version (Windows and Macintosh) on-line at
http://www.workingmodel.com/free_demo.html.
Physics demonstrations (Screen shot)
This is a collection of interactive Web pages
with manipulatives for mechanics (free-fall, projectile motion, pendulum),
wave motion, and electricity. Requires browser with Java capability.
Address: http://www.cath-mem.org/physics/Demoes.htm.
Visualization of sound (Screen shot)
Soundview and Spectrogram are freeware programs that display any sound
picked up by the computer's microphone in real time as a waveform and as a spectrogram
or soundprint. Suitable for voice or musical instrument sounds. Use to reinforce concepts of frequency, pitch, amplitude, waveform.
Download links: Soundview for Macintosh;
Spectrogram V4.12 for
Windows.
Visual sound wave maker (Screen shot)
Fourier Synthesis is a Web site that allows students to create sound waveforms by
varying the harmonics (overtones). Shows the soundwave graphically as well
as playing the sound through the computer's speakers.
Address: http://didaktik.physik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~pkrahmer/ntnujava/sound/sound.html.
Interactive music and math manipulative (Screen shot)
Play a piano is an interactive Web site where students can play a piano
using the mouse or the computer keyboard. The frequency of each note (in Hz or cycles per
second) and its waveform and envelope are displayed. Helps students understand the relationship
between the sounds, music theory, musical scales, and
the underlying math and physics of how sounds are produced
and perceived.
Address: http://www.frontiernet.net/~imaging/play_a_piano.html.
KaleidoTile (Screen shot)
KaleidoTile is a freeware Macintosh program that students can use to
create and manipulate tessellations of the
sphere, Euclidean plane and hyperbolic plane, and to see how the Platonic solids are
related to tessellations. Very colorful and easy to use.
Download from
http://www.geom.umn.edu/software/download/KaleidoTile.html.
Geometry construction set (Screen shot)
The Geometer's Sketchpad is a commercial program for
Euclidean, coordinate, transformational, analytic, and fractal geometry construction. Extensive
curriculum materials have been developed for this program, including
Sketchpad for Little Ones,
Sketchpad Classroom Resources,
and Sketchpad Classroom Resources on the Web.
Download demo version (Mac or PC) from http://www.keypress.com/sketchpad/sketchdemo.html.
Shape and pattern exploration (Screen shot)
Shapari is capable of producing patterns from very
simple shapes and operations.
A conceptually simple but none-the-less challenging shape matching game.
A light exploration of many mathematical concepts including shape, size, count,
multiplication, symmetry, transformations, periodicity, convergence, exponential
growth, recursion and fractal geometry. Emphasizes abstract thinking, creativity and
open-ended exploration. Ages 4 and up. Built-in instructions and demonstrations.
Download trial version from http://www.spelunkcomputing.com/.
Tessellation construction set (Screen shot)
Tesselmania allows students to explore and construct colorful tessellations
using a set of specialized drawing tools. Has a built-in tutorial and lots of colorful and cute examples.
Download demo version from ftp://forum.swarthmore.edu/software/demos/tesselmania.sea.hqx.
(Note: set your screen to 256 colors before running this program: right-click on the desktop, select
Properties, click on the Settings tab, and select 256 colors from the Colors pop-up menu). Both
Math puzzle games (Screen shot)
Prime Time Math covers prime numbers, factoring, squares, cubes, remainders, fractions, percentages, algebra and most of all logic.
Math Function Mania covers functions and predicion of trends. Shareware versions
of both programs can
be downloaded from http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/.
Function graphing programs (Graphin' Gadget) (2D MathCurve) (3D MathCurve)
Gus and Gertie's Graphin' Gadget is a simple program for plotting functions.
Very simple but versatile.
Download the trial version from http://www.somewareinvt.com/gusandgertie.htm.
MathCurve is a slightly fancier shareware 2D function plotter with a slick 3D companion program.
Download from http://mathcurve.cjb.net/.
Making change (Screen shot)
Change Maker is an interactive Web site that uses a game format to practice
making change. Students have to figure out how many of each bill or coin that you expect
to get back when you pay for something. Shows the money graphically in your choice
of national currencies.
Address: http://www.funbrain.com/cashreg/.
Interactive math workbook (Screen shot)
Internet Educational Workbook is a Web site that provides a large mathematics database which is
useful for practicing and sharpening various skills for the student in Kindergarten
through grade 6. Address: http://www.inew.com/.
Math practice (Screen shot)
Learning Planet is a Web site with K-6 math practice activities.
Address: http://www.learningplanet.com/.
Coin fliping and probability
The Flip Site looks at the probability of coin flipping. Has a large database with
a number of ways to see some neat things about random processes. Has recorded the
results of 6 million continuous coin flips (to verify the probability of "run" of heads
or tails).
Address: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mobius/flip/.
Measuring angles (Screen shot)
Angle Activities is a Web site with interactive activities measuring
angles with a virtual protractor.
Address: http://www.ambleside.schoolzone.co.uk/ambleweb/mentalmaths/angleshapes.html.
One of a larger collection of similar math activities at http://www.ambleside.schoolzone.co.uk/ambleweb/numeracy.htm
Virtual World Globe and Database (Screen shot)
AmiGlobe 2000 is a delightful shareware interactive world globe and database. Up-to-date world
map may displayed as a globe or in several projections. Impressive zoom feature. Extensive
database on most countries. Automatically downloads annotated photographs via the
Internet. Measures distance between any two points on map. Even plays the
national anthem of each country, complete with sing-along lyrics.
Download freom their website: http://www.amiglobe.com/.
Online quiz database and construction tool (Screen shots)
Quia is a free Web site with a directory of thousands of online games and
quizzes in more than 40 subject areas; templates for creating twelve different
types of online games, including flashcards, matching, concentration (memory),
word search, hangman, challenge board, and rags to riches (a quiz-show style
trivia game); tools for creating online quizzes; quiz administration and reporting tools.
Address: http://www.quia.com/.
Templates for quiz construction (Screen shot)
Teaching Templates is a authoring program with many examples of the tests,
quizzes and exercises it can create - some for English grammar
and vocabulary and some "just for fun" (Prepositions, Abbreviations, Proverbs, James
Bond, Academy Award Winners, Dates in History, American Presidents etc.)
Makes HTML files which can be viewed with any web browser. The tests, quizzes and
exercises you make can be inegrated in a web page or run as stand-alone programs at
home or in the classroom. Includes sounds and images to liven up the exercises.
Download link: http://www.tac-soft.com/.
Social studies game (Screen shot)
The Great Debate is a government trivia game program from Time for Kids.
Choose two opponents from a selection of fun characters, including Al, George, and
Britney. Answer questions about the President's powers and abilities, and test your
knowledge about Congress and the Supreme Court.
Download link.
Games for young children (Screen shot)
Ray's Letters and Numbers is a freeware letters and numbers game for very young
children.
Address: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/RayLec/.
Grammar computer-aided instruction (Screen shot)
Diagnostic Prescriptive Grammar has six diagnostic tests determine students'
understanding of the parts of speech and
direct them to the appropriate lesson to improve performance.
The program evaluates the students work before moving him/her on to the next lesson.
Each individualized lesson focuses on several grammar skills, is self-correcting, and
allows the student to progress through each skill area at his/ her own pace without
teacher intervention. Students are able to track their progress and print results.
Student scores are kept in a management system that allows teachers to view and print
reports. Designed for Grades 6 to 10.
Website: http://www.meritsoftware.com.
Multimedia slide show presenter (Screen shot)
Alcyone is a neat freeware slide show presenter that can easily create
slideshows from any collection of graphics or digitized photos. Very simple
to use. Large collection of accompanying background music in many different styles.
