Awesome Earth Science Apps, Websites, and Games

Explore challenging concepts with beautiful, interactive free play

Bottom Line: When used in conjunction with the handbook, this interactive model is a good way to help teach kids about Earth.

Big questions, kids' curiosity drive impressive science curriculum

Bottom Line: Powerful, quirky science units encourage inquiry and experimentation, inspiring students to ask and answer big questions.

Fact-heavy site could shake things up with more kid-friendly design

Bottom Line: Lots of great earthquake facts and data to be found, but most of it needs to be filtered through an adult.

Vast array of impressive, interactive science and math simulations

Bottom Line: This powerful and extensive set of math and science tools puts the learning in students' hands.

Gorgeous ecology AR model is simple but compelling

Bottom Line: The free price tag makes this app a no-brainer for including in any lesson on water resources, though teachers will still need to provide context.

Piece together Earth's plates with fun science activities

Bottom Line: This great Earth science tool gives kids an opportunity to interactively explore concepts related to plate tectonics.

Captivating, focused map activities support larger curricular lessons

Bottom Line: These inquiry-based activities are a valuable visual and investigative resource for teachers and students in many different subjects.

Virtual labs epitomize the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices

Bottom Line: Earth, life, and physical science simulations coach kids through the NGSS Practices.

Content-rich resource digs deep into the causes and consequences of earthquakes

Bottom Line: This content-rich Earth science resource uses a range of formats to engage kids and to support diverse learning styles.

Highly relevant site teaches how to construct arguments, defend claims

Bottom Line: Provides a crucial and timely earth science backdrop to lessons on analysis, data, and modeling that are important for all students to grasp.

Slick sim explores global natural disasters

Bottom Line: Few other browser-based sims better illustrate the potential of gaming for learning about serious issues in our world.

Top geography resource site provides global exploration opportunities

Bottom Line: This is a must-bookmark site for classrooms across the curriculum hunting for inspiring place-based resources.

Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications

Bottom Line: Unparalleled science documentaries offer a window into real-world scientific topics in a high-interest way.

STEM and social studies resource with highly customizable content

Bottom Line: Making content accessible to kids with different learning styles, CK-12 could be the key to students understanding STEM topics.

Visually super NASA-backed treasure trove may overwhelm

Bottom Line: A visually stunning way to get kids interested in science and space exploration.

Earth's deep geologic history and real science data at your fingertips

Bottom Line: An unbeatable Earth Science app for its data, scope, and potential for learning.

Expansive world history courses powered by great open-source materials

Bottom Line: A stellar program for exploring foundational concepts in history, humanities, critical thinking, and science with tons of support for teachers.

Adorable sandbox tool lets kids safely explore, experiment, observe

Bottom Line: A fun, cheerful way for kids to explore weather while appropriately touching on more serious issues like safety.

Kid-friendly, expert site explores key climate issues

Bottom Line: A great launching point for engaging in accurate and timely climate change information.

Dynamic data-exploration tool offers large collection of data sets

Bottom Line: Partner with another teacher (preferably a data whiz) and work together to develop cross-curricular activities.

World habitat app full of intriguing visual comparisons, useful data

Bottom Line: This biome reference app helps students get local when understanding their planet Earth.

Enticing display of climate data updated regularly

Bottom Line: There's a lot of potential in this visually stimulating resource tool, but teachers will need to do some serious legwork to make the data meaningful.

Tons of climate change info from expert sources in one easy place

Bottom Line: This is a one-stop shop for climate change info, from basic intro content to practical guides and raw data; good for middle schoolers and up.

Young explorers discover oceans through puzzles and free play

Bottom Line: This fun app helps kids gain an appreciation for the waters that cover much of the Earth's surface.

Dazzling globe-trotting tool has endless classroom applications

Bottom Line: This tool defines engagement and offers a completely open-ended experience perfect for use across the educational spectrum.

Massive collection of excellent (and free!) science and math simulations

Bottom Line: Instantly add meaningful lab experiences to math and science classrooms for exactly $0? It's tough to beat that.

Earth comes alive with interactive textbook; some content lacks depth

Bottom Line: Though it's pricey and its progress tracking is limited, these interactive graphics will spark curiosity while teaching kids about a variety of Earth Science concepts.

Explore the world with an incredible new perspective and sense of scale

Bottom Line: An amazing experience that brings the world to life, despite the heavy investment in VR required.