Top Apps, Games, and Websites for Scientific Inquiry

Top Pick

These tools offer students the techniques to design their own "scientific method" through inquiry-based learning: making observations, asking questions, gathering data, uncovering answers, revising their thinking, and asking new questions. Use these tools to harness students’ natural curiosity and inspire them to think critically and creatively as they make sense of the world around them.

Sid's Science Fair Publisher: PBS KIDS Good interactive way for young kids to learn and practice science	Grades Pre-K-K Type App Price $2.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, Fire phone Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
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
California Academy of Sciences Visit Website: http://www.calacademy.org/explore-science Bring the California Academy of Sciences into your classroom	Grades K-10 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
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
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
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
ExploreLearning Gizmos: Science Grades 3-5 Visit Website: http://explorelearning.com Mostly age-appropriate manipulatives offer inquiry without the mess	Grades 3-5 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
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 App - Creative Community 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
Meet Science: Magnetism and Electricity Publisher: NCSOFT Super-handy classroom resource has lessons, quizzes, videos, and more	Grades 4-8 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
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
ExploreLearning Gizmos: Science Grades 6-8 Visit Website: http://explorelearning.com Fun experiments let kids choose variables and explore	Grades 6-8 Type Website Price Free to Try, Paid Common Sense Rating 4 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
CK-12: Earth Science Visit Website: http://www.ck12.org Multimedia resources inspire kids to hypothesize, investigate, prove	Grades 6-9 Type Website Price Free Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Frog Dissection Publisher: Emantras Inc Amazingly detailed virtual lab means a clean, frog-friendly dissection	Grades 6-12 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 5
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
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
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
Stop Disasters! Publisher: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Slick sim explores global natural disasters	Grades 7-12 Type Game Price Free Platforms Mac, Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Solve the Outbreak Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Become a disease detective -- read clues, analyze data, save lives	Grades 8-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Collisions: Play Chemistry Publisher: PlayMada Games Game-based challenges build crucial chemistry concepts	Grades 9-12 Type App Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms Android, iPad 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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