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.
