Best NGSS Apps, Games, and Websites

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With their three-dimensional blend of Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science & Engineering Practices, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have tons of potential to reshape how students learn science. However, teachers know that it can be a tall order to find edtech well-suited to NGSS's unique style of inquiry-driven and conceptually focused STEM learning. These tools are the best we've found for investigating phenomena and doing science, not just learning content.

Analyze Real-Life Data

Lawrence Hall of Science: 24/7 Science Visit Website: http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kidsite/ First-class site for science games and investigations	Grades K-5 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 3
Playground Physics Publisher: New York Hall of Science Fun video app lets students track motion to explore physics concepts	Grades K-10 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Coach's Eye - Video Analysis Publisher: TechSmith Corporation Robust video analysis for sports, science, fine arts performances	Grades 2-12 Type App Price Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Windows Phone, Apps for Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Tuva Labs Visit Website: https://tuvalabs.com/ Access to curated data sets has tons of potential, needs more teacher support	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
Lab4Physics Publisher: Lab4U Inc. Bring physics to life using lab sensors built right into your smartphone	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free, Free to Try, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
NOVA Labs Visit Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/ Online science, mastered: exceptional content within meaningful tasks	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
The PocketLab Publisher: Myriad Sensors Gather and analyze live data anywhere	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, Chrome, Windows Phone Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
BioInteractive Visit Website: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive High-quality multimedia brings biological research to life	Grades 9-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

Develop a Global Perspective

Ansel and Clair's Adventures in Africa Publisher: Cognitive Kid, Inc. Find lions, giraffes, and a robot (oh my!) in this fab app adventure	Grades K-3 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 3
Mystery Science Visit Website: http://mysteryscience.com Big questions, kids' curiosity drive thoughtful science curriculum	Grades K-5 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Journey North Visit Website: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/ Long-standing citizen science site continues to inspire learners	Grades 1-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Zooniverse Visit Website: https://www.zooniverse.org/ Real research powered by volunteers makes classroom content relevant	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
NASA Global Climate Change - Vital Signs of the Planet Visit Website: http://climate.nasa.gov Tons of climate change info from expert sources in one easy place	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

Engage in Engineering Practices

Curiosity Machine Visit Website: https://www.curiositymachine.org Kids build, share, receive pro feedback with awesome engineering site	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
PBS LearningMedia: Teaching NGSS Engineering Design Through Media Visit Website: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ Videos, lessons, essays, PD help bring engineering practices to kids	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Design Squad Nation Visit Website: http://pbskids.org/designsquad Classmates can compete to solve fun engineering problems	Grades 3-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
DIY Sun Science Publisher: The Lawrence Hall of Science Exciting astronomy resource brightens learning in the classroom	Grades 3-8 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Mosa Mack Science Visit Website: https://www.mosamack.com/ Engaging design challenges turn kids into actual science detectives	Grades 5-8 Type Website Price Free, Free to Try Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Autodesk Design Academy Visit Website: http://academy.autodesk.com Outstanding project-based tutorials for popular engineering software	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

Play with Simulations and Sandboxes

Simple Machines by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Excellent elementary NGSS engineering practices embedded in fun games	Grades K-5 Type App Price 2.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
PhET Interactive Simulations Visit Website: https://phet.colorado.edu Massive cache of excellent (and free!) science and math simulations	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Space by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Zoom into our solar system, solve mysteries with open-ended play	Grades 1-8 Type App Price $2.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
ExploreLearning Gizmos Visit Website: http://explorelearning.com Vast array of science and math simulations impresses	Grades 3-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Algodoo Publisher: Algoryx Sandbox tool enables engaged, conceptual physics inquiry	Grades 4-12 Type Game Price Free Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Inq-ITS Visit Website: www.inqits.com Virtual labs epitomize the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices	Grades 6-8 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
The Concord Consortium Visit Website: https://learn.concord.org/ Vast collection of science resources emphasizes written reflection	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Prepmagic Visit Website: https://www.prepmagic.com/ Customize science simulations to highlight phenomena	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Kerbal Space Program Publisher: Squad Design and launch a rocket into space in realistic astrophysics sim	Grades 9-12 Type Game Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated

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Analyze Real-Life Data

Develop a Global Perspective

Engage in Engineering Practices

Play with Simulations and Sandboxes

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