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STEM Games and Lessons for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Early Elementary
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Coding and Programming
Blue-Bot
Simple robot ideal for introducing programming to young learners
Bottom line: Students will develop logical and sequential thinking with Blue-Bot, creating a foundation for future coding activities.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free, Paid
Tynker Junior
Variety and creativity come together to get early learners coding
Bottom line: Early coders will enjoy the colorful interface and variety of activities as they progress through different worlds and develop foundational programming skills.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free to try
ScratchJr
Drag-and-drop programming is an effective intro for budding coders
Bottom line: With a little adult help, this is a rich platform for getting kids into programming and digital creation.
Grades: K–2
Price: Free
Codeable Crafts
Animate stories with accessible drawing tools and coding blocks
Bottom line: Kids get a simple peek at computer programming principles by animating stories using their own creations.
Grades: K–3
Price: Free
Kodable
Fun programming logic for kids, great resources for teachers
Bottom line: A fun way for young students to understand coding, and an impressive resource for teachers to support their progress along the way.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free to try
Code.org
Popular games, big names get kids and teachers pumped to program
Bottom line: A thoughtfully planned, produced, and curated set of free resources bound to get kids hooked on learning to code.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues - Mystery Coding Game
Simple coding mystery fueled by fashion, friendship, and STEM
Bottom line: This girl-targeted STEM game is ambitious but shallow.
Grades: 1–3
Price: $3.99
Creation and Engineering
Faces iMake - Right Brain Creativity
Open-ended collage maker teaches symbolism and revs up creativity
Bottom line: Faces iMake - Right Brain Creativity is a don't-miss art app that encourages creativity at the same time as modeling it.
Grades: Pre-K–6
Price: Paid
Toca Builders
Students not quite ready for Minecraft get a creative, fun alternative
Bottom line: Fun, engaging, open-ended play can work in a variety of content areas.
Grades: K–4
Price: $.99-$2.99
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
STEM lessons creatively build off of NASA data and real space missions
Bottom line: These hands-on lessons approximate the work of NASA scientists, engineers, and astronauts and make use of actual NASA satellite data.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Minecraft: Education Edition
Stellar collaboration tools, controls make Minecraft classroom-ready
Bottom line: An excellent tool to engage students in learning, collaboration, and critical thinking is now more accessible than ever to teachers.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free to try
Busy Water
Solve, create, and share puzzles that gush with STEM learning
Bottom line: This challenging yet kid-friendly set of logic puzzles wonderfully allows kids to solve problems and experiment with light science concepts.
Grades: 1–5
Price: $3.99
Hello Ruby
Crafty, mostly screen-free approach to computer science
Bottom line: These creative, beautifully made craft- and interest-based projects have the potential to bring students -- particularly girls -- into the world of coding and computers.
Grades: 2–5
Price: Free
The Infinite Arcade by Tinybop
Simple game-design app has endless creative potential
Bottom line: Letting students design, play, improve, and share their own games opens up opportunities for learning potential in many subject areas.
Grades: 2–6
Price: $3.99
Gizmos & Gadgets
Top-notch tool empowers kids to invent, build, and control wirelessly
Bottom line: Easy-to-use, versatile electronic invention set that works wirelessly with your hand-held device.
Grades: 2–8
Price: Free, Paid
3D Slash
Minecraft-like 3D modeling (and printing) made super easy for all ages
Bottom line: This may be the fastest, cheapest route from idea to 3D printing out there, if you don't mind low-res, pixelated designs.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid
SAM Labs
Kids use block code and wireless blocks to program, design, and create
Bottom line: With some perseverance, it's a great fit for PBL and STEAM, helping students learn programming skills and engineering concepts through invention.
Grades: 2–8
Price: Free, Paid
Fundamentals and Problem Solving
Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem
Fun games require spatial reasoning to help Cat jump out of a tree
Bottom line: Get kids problem-solving and thinking about basic spatial reasoning in a fun, welcoming setting.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $2.99
Picture Dots
Kids connect the dots with multisensory, interactive media creator
Bottom line: Kids will love playing with this one, but it needs more developed features and additional support to be effective for classroom use.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free
Thinkrolls Play & Code
Puzzle solving and building boosts problem-solving skills
Bottom line: Delightfully adaptive and engaging experience offers opportunities to practice important thinking skills and essential habits of mind.
Grades: Pre-K–3
Price: Free to try
PBS LearningMedia
Treasure trove of lesson resources will benefit from adaptation
Bottom line: For teachers with time to sift through and adapt materials, PBS LearningMedia has a lot to offer with some highly useful support materials.
Grades: Pre-K–12
Price: Free
Crazy Gears
Highly applicable STEM-themed free play; easy appeal for wide audience
Bottom line: A clear, simple, and fun introduction to science and engineering topics that may otherwise feel unapproachable for some kids.
Grades: K–3
Price: $2.99
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.
Grades: K–5
Price: $2.99
BrainVentures
Inquiry-based mini-units for solid, free, student-led learning
Bottom line: This could be a nice solution for teachers wanting to hand over student-led, prepackaged learning bundles, though they'll need to provide lots of support.
Grades: 2–6
Price: Free
Science and Math
Nico & Nor Coconut Star
Early education force and motion app ramps up student learning
Bottom line: Coconut Star, along with its companion app, are great additions to any pre-K–1 physical science unit.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free
Pattern Shapes, by the Math Learning Center
Virtual pattern blocks with some extra useful teaching tools
Bottom line: If you don't already have a bucket of pattern blocks, or you want a more portable option, this free version may be a great fit for your classroom.
Grades: Pre-K–4
Price: Free
Photo Stuff with Ruff
Materials science photo app gets kids examining their surroundings
Bottom line: Perfect for physical science lessons in classrooms with handheld devices, but the app needs an update to prevent crashing.
Grades: K–3
Price: Free
Osmo Tangram
Fun hybrid puzzles with excellent classroom supports
Bottom line: Classic puzzler combines toys with digital play to engage and teach all ages.
Grades: K–3
Price: Free
Ready Jet Go! Space Explorer
Super cool to see real sky, yet astronomy info only scratches surface
Bottom line: Despite the downsides, there's enough appeal to make this a nice first step to explore the sky -- even more so because it's free.
Grades: K–4
Price: Free
Lawrence Hall of Science: 24/7 Science
Outdated site still useful for science games and investigations
Bottom line: Many of these interesting and highly educational activities, though a bit disorganized, still challenge and engage kids in important ways.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free
Mystery Science
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.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free to try
SplashLearn
A colorful, fun way for students to build math skills mastery
Bottom line: These engaging math games for younger kids are great for math skills practice, but you'll need a paid account to access a substantial amount of the content.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free
Tinybop Schools
Collection of STEM simulations that students will love to explore
Bottom line: Tinybop Schools offers meaningful scientific exploration to students, particularly when partnered with good teaching and discussion.
Grades: K–8
Price: Free to try, Paid
CK-12
Super STEM, 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 mastery for some students.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
