TOP PICKS | 25 TOOLS
Excellent Ecology and Environmental Science Apps, Games, and Websites
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Become Citizen Scientists
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
Project Noah
Contribute kid research to stellar crowdsourced field guide
Bottom line: An outstanding resource that makes science relevant with lots of classroom potential.
Project Noah
Engaging online community for relevant, hands-on science fieldwork
Bottom line: Project Noah is a free and easy way to take part in biodiversity research with the support of a knowledgeable and global community.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
iNaturalist
Global citizen-science community for real-world research
Bottom line: Teens can do hands-on nature research, but in a limited way.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Explore Earth's Ecosystems
MarcoPolo Ocean
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.
Coral Reef by Tinybop
Quality coral reef ecosystem app a no-brainer for young explorers
Bottom line: With this fun, well-packaged app, young students will learn how interconnected life in the coral reef is.
PBS Kids: Plum Landing
Web games, outside adventures offer in-depth tour of Earth’s ecosystems
Bottom line: Student-directed investigations and outdoor extension activities elevate Plum Landing beyond just a companion site for the TV show.
Grades: 1–4
Price: Free
DIY Lake Science
At home or on location, explore and model watersheds and ecosystems
Bottom line: The combination of easy-to-use task directions and accessible materials make this great for class centers or family extensions.
Crack the Books
Interactive biomes textbooks impress; subscribe for premium features
Bottom line: If it fits your budget, an excellent interactive science resource that can work for students who have a range of reading abilities.
iBiome -- Ocean
Fun interactive app dives deep into aquatic food webs
Bottom line: With some extra scaffolding, this interactive resource can be a unique way to reinforce concepts related to ocean ecosystems.
Expeditions
Fire up the warp drive to bring VR field trips to your classroom
Bottom line: With stunning scenes and a flexible delivery method, your students will thank you for journeying together through space and time.
iBiome -- Wetland
Smartly designed environmental sim great for learning about ecosystems
Bottom line: iBiome -- Wetland is a fun, interactive way to learn about ecosystems without the hassle of getting wet.
BiomeViewer
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.
Habitactics
Keep your ecosystem from crashing in this addictive puzzle game
Bottom line: Habitactics employs game-based learning to help students discover relationships in ecosystems.
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.
Investigate Global Issues
National Geographic Kids
Stunning photos and in-depth stories of Earth's peoples and wildlife
Bottom line: This amazing collection of multimedia resources teaches kids about animals, habitats, countries, and cultures.
Grades: 1–6
Price: Free, Paid Online content is free; magazine subscriptions are $15 per year for print and iPad versions (digital-only subscriptions are $12 per year).
Climate Kids
Kid-friendly, expert site explores key climate issues
Bottom line: A great launching point for engaging in accurate and timely climate change information.
Grades: 3–6
Price: Free
ARKive
Captivating catalog of biodiversity with great classroom resources
Bottom line: Powerful images and videos capture kids' attention and make them want to learn more.
Grades: 6–10
Price: Free
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
Fate of the World: Tipping Point
Complex global-influence game in which players’ choices rule the world
Bottom line: Complex multi-issue game succeeds in teaching world politics and global development while building perspective and decision-making skills.
Grades: 10–12
Price: $18.99
Promote Environmental Awareness
Earth Rangers
Kid conservationist's paradise with great images, vids, animals galore
Bottom line: Great ecology lesson plans and videos are rich with engrossing animal goodies, but the accompanying games don't teach much science.
Grades: 2–8
Price: Free
EcoKids.ca
Eco-minded site with fun games and a wealth of teacher resources
Bottom line: Kids will learn about the environment in a fun and interactive way, while teachers will find useful lessons, templates, and printables.
Grades: 3–8
Price: Free
SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge!
Truncated environmental city-planning sim geared toward classrooms
Bottom line: This version of the SimCity game still has something to offer, but it's probably not worth the subscription cost on its own.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Free to Try, Paid Free for individuals; Premium Plan includes access to all GlassLab games and ranges from $25 to $1750 depending on the number of students and educators.
Enercities
Environmentally-minded city sim models sustainable building
Bottom line: It carves out a useful niche in a popular genre, showing how city planning, technological development, economics, and quality of life intersect with sustainability.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
