TOP PICKS | 32 TOOLS
Best NGSS Apps, Games, and Websites
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Analyze Real-Life Data
Lawrence Hall of Science: 24/7 Science
Outdated site still useful for science games and investigations
Bottom line: These interesting and highly educational activities, though a bit disorganized, still challenge and engage kids in important ways.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free
Playground Physics
Fun video app lets students track motion to explore physics concepts
Bottom line: This is a cheap way to get students out of their chairs to make physics real and tangible, empowering learners and encouraging curiosity.
Coach's Eye - Video Analysis
Robust video analysis for sports, science, fine arts performances
Bottom line: Cool video-analysis tool is great for the sports field and beyond, but prepare for an onslaught of hidden costs to access all features.
Tuva Labs
Access to curated data sets has tons of potential, needs more teacher support
Bottom line: Partner with another teacher (preferably a data whiz) and work together to develop activities that will support learning in your classes.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free, Paid Free: Tuva Basic: access to 25 Tuva data sets and five data set uploads
Paid: Tuva Premium: $400/teacher/year; $4,000/school/year; other custom rates available. Tuva Premium includes access to all 300+ Tuva data sets, unlimited data set uploads, and further features.
CODAP
Drag and drop data to investigate nearly any subject
Bottom line: A bit awkward to use, but far more engaging than traditional spreadsheet/graphing tools.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Lab4Physics
Bring physics to life using lab sensors built right into your smartphone
Bottom line: Use your smartphone to gather data and study speed, gravity, waves, and other physics concepts.
NOVA Labs
Online science, mastered: exceptional content within meaningful tasks
Bottom line: Serious, sophisticated science engagement -- but be prepared to take some prep time to connect these labs with your classroom.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
The PocketLab
Gather and analyze live data anywhere
Bottom line: A science sensor that pairs with your device to gather and analyze data is perfect for inquiry-based learning.
BioInteractive
High-quality multimedia brings biological research to life
Bottom line: Superb multimedia tools and lesson plans help kids explore biology through real-world examples.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Develop a Global Perspective
Mystery Science
Big questions, kids' curiosity drive impressive science curriculum
Bottom line: These powerful science units capitalize on elementary school students' natural curiosity.
Grades: K–5
Price: Paid First-time users may be eligible for a free membership. Classroom memberships are $99 per year; school and district memberships are $499 for the first year and then $999 for subsequent years (if purchased before a certain date). Otherwise, regular school and district memberships are $1,499 per year.
Journey North
Long-standing citizen science site continues to inspire learners
Bottom line: Extensive resources can help kids collect, share, and analyze evidence about seasonal change.
Grades: 1–8
Price: Free
Zooniverse
Real research powered by volunteers makes classroom content relevant
Bottom line: Engage in meaningful, relevant research with citizen scientists from around the world.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free
EarthViewer
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.
NASA Global Climate Change - Vital Signs of the Planet
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.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free Free
Big History Project
Fascinating look at life's bigger questions with a fresh perspective
Bottom line: A wonderfully innovative and divergent way to teach foundational concepts in history, humanities, critical thinking, and science.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Engage in Engineering Practices
Workbench
Find and assign STEAM tasks with dynamic project-based learning hub
Bottom line: Dynamic resource for finding, creating, and rating lessons that support STEAM and PBL.
Grades: 1–12
Price: Free
Curiosity Machine
Kids build, share, receive pro feedback with awesome engineering site
Bottom line: Though it may not be an instant fit for your classroom, the exceptional quality of the site’s projects and processes makes it worth any problem solving.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free
Design Squad Global
Fun engineering problems encourage classroom competition, innovation
Bottom line: Design Squad Global makes learning STEAM concepts fun through hands-on activities and easy-to-understand scientific explanations.
Grades: 3–8
Price: Free
DIY Sun Science
Exciting astronomy resource brightens learning in the classroom
Bottom line: Excellent, free reference tool inspires and teaches kids about the sun.
Mosa Mack Science
Engaging design challenges turn kids into actual science detectives
Bottom line: An engaging way to weave some engineering into your middle school science lessons.
Grades: 5–8
Price: Free, Paid Animated mysteries are free; contact the developer for a quote of Mosa Mack Pro.
UL Xplorlabs
Safety engineering site blends in-class experiments with online sims
Bottom line: Middle school students get to design and test solutions to actual safety problems.
Grades: 6–8
Price: Free
Autodesk Design Academy
Outstanding project-based tutorials for popular engineering software
Bottom line: The projects found here are a great way to teach and learn digital design; all are truly fantastic (and free!), with everything you need ready to go.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free Free with .edu email account
Play with Simulations and Sandboxes
Simple Machines by Tinybop
Excellent elementary NGSS engineering practices embedded in fun games
Bottom line: Fun gameplay lets kids explore important physics concepts in a solid standards-aligned context.
PhET Interactive Simulations
Massive cache 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.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Space by Tinybop
Zoom into our solar system, solve mysteries with open-ended play
Bottom line: Learn about the sun, moon, and planets through interactive open-ended play.
ExploreLearning Gizmos
Vast array of science and math simulations impresses
Bottom line: This powerful set of math and science tools puts the learning in students' hands.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free to Try, Paid Free accounts allow access to a rotating collection of free Gizmos, as well as a preview of all Gizmos for up to 5 minutes a day. School and district licenses available; pricing available upon request.
Algodoo
Sandbox tool enables engaged, conceptual physics inquiry
Bottom line: A robust, free pedagogical tool that's like a digital workbench where kids build and apply conceptual science knowledge.
Inq-ITS
Virtual labs epitomize the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
Bottom line: Earth, life, and physical science simulations coach kids through the NGSS Practices.
Grades: 5–10
Price: Free to Try, Paid Pricing available upon request; school and district licenses are available.
The Concord Consortium
Vast collection of science resources emphasizes written reflection
Bottom line: A selection of online science simulations paired with a teacher dashboard to track progress.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Prepmagic
Customize science simulations to highlight phenomena
Bottom line: Science simulations become more effective with teacher-added edits and formative assessments.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Tyto Ecology
Well-developed biome sim provides cheap, endless learning
Bottom line: This affordable ecosystem balancing game teaches life science skills while keeping students engaged.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Paid $6.99 for base game (3 biomes); $3.99 for each biome expansion pack.
Kerbal Space Program
Design and launch a rocket into space in realistic astrophysics sim
Bottom line: This accurate rocket sim encourages trial-and-error learning and makes for great (and often explosive) physics and engineering experiments.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free to Try, Paid $39.99, free demo
