STEAM Games, Apps, and Sites

Top Pick

When their forces combine, science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) are a super group of essential subjects that lead to long-lasting learning. Using an interdisciplinary STEAM approach in the classroom increases critical thinking, broadens perspectives, and reduces overall misconceptions. And it's this constructivist type of learning that builds a culture of students willing to tinker and remix with confidence. Mix and match these picks to help students cultivate design sense and inventiveness, gain transferrable skills, and make cool, useful stuff.

Advance Scientific Practices

Defined STEM Visit Website: https://app.definedstem.com/home Stellar collection of STEM resources supports project-based learning	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
DIY Nano Publisher: The Lawrence Hall of Science Turn kids into budding nanoscientists who explore the tiniest things	Grades 2-5 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Autodesk Digital STEAM Measurement Publisher: Autodesk Inc. Interactive, lab-like exploration of measurements is a good STEAM tool	Grades 3-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 3 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
Science Buddies Visit Website: http://www.sciencebuddies.org A magic wand for those seeking science project support and success	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Exploratorium Visit Website: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ Science experiments and activities abound in this comprehensive resource	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
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
Science Journal Publisher: Marketing @ Google Turn your Android into a lab sensor to collect and analyze data	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free Platforms Android Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4

Be A Maker

ArtsEdge Visit Website: https://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators.aspx Impressive cross-curricular resource helps put the A in STEAM	Grades K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
DIY - Skills For Kids Publisher: DIY From cardboarding to cooking, this app helps kids find the fun in DIY	Grades 3-8 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
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 Visit Website: http://www.diy.org Design, build, and share new things offline and online	Grades 3-8 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
KidsThinkDesign Visit Website: http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/index.html Projects inspire creativity; a place for kids' sharing would boost fun	Grades 4-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Instructables Visit Website: http://www.instructables.com Endless collection of DIY projects; good for sharing and inspiration	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Make: Online Visit Website: http://makezine.com/ Fuel creative makers with project ideas, reviews, and community	Grades 8-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4

Build Engineering Skills

littleBits Invent Publisher: littleBits Electronics Inc. Top-notch tool empowers kids to invent, build, and control wirelessly	Grades 2-8 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
3D Slash Visit Website: http://www.3dslash.net Minecraft-like 3D modeling (and printing) made super easy for all ages	Grades 2-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
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
Autodesk Digital STEAM Visual Design Publisher: Autodesk Inc. Cool tool helps teach principles and elements of design in 3-D	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 2
NOVA Visit Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications	Grades Pre-K-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
SketchUp Visit Website: http://www.sketchup.com/ Make learning meaningful through 3D design	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Tinkercad Visit Website: http://www.tinkercad.com Amazingly simple yet powerful and flexible online CAD tool	Grades 6-12 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Codecademy Visit Website: http://www.codecademy.com Terrific hands-on coding practice with live feedback	Grades 7-12 Type Website Price Free, Paid Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4

Create and Play Games

Robot Factory Publisher: Tinybop Improve designs, collect favorites in robot creation sandbox	Grades K-8 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Minecraft Publisher: Mojang Spiraling sandbox of adventure and creation gets kids to dig deep	Grades 3-12 Type Game Price $26.95 for desktop, $19.99 for consoles (except Wii U at $29.99) Platforms Linux, Mac, Wii U, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Gamestar Mechanic Publisher: Institute of Play and E-Line Media Captivating manga romp teaches kids game design	Grades 4-9 Type Game Price Free, Paid Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
LittleBigPlanet 2 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Accessible yet deep game creator will dazzle and challenge	Grades 4-12 Type Game Price 19.99 Platforms PS3 Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
Autodesk Digital STEAM Applied Mechanics Publisher: Autodesk Inc. Kids explore concepts in fun but sometimes frustrating mini-games	Grades 7-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
Portal 2 Puzzle Maker Publisher: Valve Mind-bending level editor for beloved physics game	Grades 7-12 Type Game Price $19.99 Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
Garry's Mod Publisher: Valve Complex physics sandbox is daunting but rich	Grades 8-12 Type Game Price $9.99 Platforms Linux, Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
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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Advance Scientific Practices

Be A Maker

Build Engineering Skills

Create and Play Games

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