Welcome to an exciting session about the best science games for learning! Today, we’ll explore some amazing tools that can help you understand science concepts better. These games are designed to align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which means they’re great for learning important science topics. Let’s dive into three fantastic games: Possible Worlds, the Radix Endeavor, and SimCity EDU: The Pollution Challenge.
Possible Worlds is a fun and educational game that helps clear up common science misconceptions. It’s perfect for students from grades 4 to 12 and is free to use on any device. Here are some cool ways you can use this game:
In the game, you can explore modules like photosynthesis, where you’ll learn new vocabulary words. For example, if you’re learning about photosynthesis, you might play the game to find three new words. This helps you get a head start before diving deeper into the topic in class.
In another part of the game, you get to work with a robot named BioBot Bob. Your mission is to create essential items like fuel and food for him. This activity helps you understand how molecules change and form new substances, connecting the game to real-life science.
Possible Worlds also encourages you to think deeply about topics like photosynthesis. After playing, you can engage in activities that challenge your thinking, such as discussing how photosynthesis relates to redwood trees.
The Radix Endeavor is an online multiplayer game suitable for students in grades 8 to 12. It’s free and can be played on any platform. Here are some ways to use this game in your learning:
If you finish your work early, you can play the Radix Endeavor to explore missions related to what you’re learning in class. It’s a great way to stay engaged and motivated.
The game includes mini-games that teach you about genetics, like dominant and recessive genes, through fun stories. Teachers can use this as a way to assess your understanding of these concepts.
In the Radix Endeavor, you can take on missions where you diagnose patients and provide treatments. This helps you apply what you’ve learned about human body systems in real-world scenarios.
SimCity EDU: The Pollution Challenge is designed for middle school students in grades 5 to 8. Although it’s a paid tool, it offers a powerful teacher dashboard to track your progress. Here’s how you can benefit from this game:
The game includes modules about environmental systems and their effects on things like school attendance. It encourages you to think deeply about how different factors are connected.
Each lesson plan in SimCity EDU includes activities that help you analyze texts and reflect on what you’ve learned. This leads to engaging discussions and a better understanding of the material.
These three tools—Possible Worlds, the Radix Endeavor, and SimCity EDU—are excellent resources for learning science in a fun and interactive way. They align with NGSS standards and can make your science classes more engaging. You can find these tools on Common Sense Graphite, a platform that helps teachers create tech-rich lessons. Happy learning!
Play the Possible Worlds game and focus on the photosynthesis module. As you play, jot down three new vocabulary words you encounter. Afterward, create a mini-poster illustrating each word with definitions and images. Share your poster with the class to help everyone learn new terms.
In Possible Worlds, work with BioBot Bob to create fuel and food. After completing the game, write a short story about your adventure as a chemical change agent. Include descriptions of the molecules you worked with and how they transformed. Share your story with a partner and discuss the science behind the changes.
Play the Radix Endeavor and complete a mission focused on genetics. As you play, take notes on dominant and recessive genes. Create a family tree diagram using fictional characters to illustrate how these genes are passed down. Present your diagram to the class and explain the genetic traits.
Engage in a mission where you diagnose patients and provide treatments. After completing the mission, write a reflection on how the human body systems were involved in the diagnosis and treatment process. Discuss your findings in a small group and compare your approaches to solving the mission.
Play SimCity EDU: The Pollution Challenge and focus on the environmental systems module. After playing, write a report analyzing how pollution affects school attendance and propose solutions to reduce pollution in your virtual city. Present your report to the class and engage in a discussion about real-world applications.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Welcome to the Common Sense Graphite session on the best middle and high school science games for NGSS. Today, I will discuss several top tools available on wwf/e.org and other resources that address NGSS. The three tools we will specifically cover are Possible Worlds, the Radix Endeavor, and SimCity EDU: The Pollution Challenge.
Let’s get started!
The first tool is Possible Worlds, which features entertaining and well-researched games that help correct scientific misconceptions. It is best suited for grades 4 through 12, is free, and accessible across all platforms.
I will share three use cases for Possible Worlds. The first use case is to introduce vocabulary. For example, in the module on photosynthesis, students are introduced to key vocabulary words. As a fifth-grade teacher discussing photosynthesis, I might assign students to play the game and find three new vocabulary words. After they find these words, I can seamlessly transition to direct instruction, knowing they have some background knowledge to facilitate a conversation about the content.
The second use case involves transforming students into active chemical change agents. This can occur during a guided practice activity on photosynthesis. In this game, students interact with a robot called BioBot Bob, and they must produce essential items for him, such as fuel, food, and self-defense. This helps students understand how molecules split apart and form new substances, connecting the gameplay to real-world scenarios.
The third use case encourages higher-order thinking skills and a deeper dive into photosynthesis. Possible Worlds provides supplementary materials, including a slide deck for presentations. After gameplay, teachers can engage students in activities that promote critical thinking, such as discussing the relationship between photosynthesis and redwood trees.
Next, we have the Radix Endeavor, an online multiplayer game best for grades 8 through 12. It is free and available across all platforms. One effective way to introduce the Radix Endeavor in the classroom is as a motivational tool for students who finish early. Teachers can assign specific missions related to topics discussed in class.
Another use case is to use it as a formative assessment tool for a genetics lesson. The game includes mini-games that explore concepts like dominant and recessive genes through engaging narratives. Teachers can monitor student progress and understanding, making it a valuable assessment tool.
The last use case for the Radix Endeavor is as a blended learning tool for human body systems. Students can engage with missions that involve diagnosing patients and providing treatment, allowing them to apply their learning in real-world contexts.
Finally, we have SimCity EDU: The Pollution Challenge, designed specifically for middle school grades 5 through 8. This paid tool offers a robust teacher dashboard that allows educators to track student progress and identify areas where students may struggle.
One use case for SimCity EDU is to introduce game-based learning to students. The game includes specific modules that relate to environmental systems and their impact on school attendance, encouraging deeper thinking about causal relationships.
Additionally, each lesson plan includes closing activities that promote textual analysis, allowing students to reflect on their learning and engage in discussions.
In summary, these three tools—Possible Worlds, the Radix Endeavor, and SimCity EDU—can effectively address NGSS standards in middle and secondary science classrooms. You can find these tools on Common Sense Graphite, a platform that helps teachers discover, evaluate, and design tech-rich lessons.
Thank you!
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This version removes any informal language and clarifies the content while maintaining the original intent and structure.
Science – The study of the natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand how the world works, from the smallest atoms to the vast universe.
Games – Activities engaged in for fun that can also be used to teach scientific concepts. – Educational games can make learning about ecosystems and biodiversity more engaging for students.
Learning – The process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study or experience. – Learning about the water cycle helps students understand the importance of conserving water resources.
Photosynthesis – The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. – Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth as it provides oxygen and food for plants and animals.
Genetics – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. – Genetics explains how traits like eye color are passed from parents to their children.
Environmental – Relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition. – Environmental studies teach us how to protect our planet from pollution and climate change.
Systems – Complex networks of interacting components that work together as a whole. – The human body is made up of several systems, such as the circulatory and respiratory systems, that keep us alive.
Molecules – Groups of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound. – Water molecules consist of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, forming H2O.
Critical – Of crucial importance in the success, failure, or existence of something. – It is critical to reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming effectively.
Pollution – The presence or introduction of harmful substances into the environment. – Pollution from factories and vehicles can harm wildlife and degrade air quality.
