Welcome! I’m Merv Lapisi, the Senior Education Program Manager at Common Sense Education. Today, we’re diving into some fantastic tools that can ignite scientific curiosity in line with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for elementary students. We’ll explore Curiosity Machine, Classify It, and Smithsonian Quests, all of which are highly rated on the Graphite platform.
Curiosity Machine is a dynamic platform where students can engage in engineering projects, share their creations, and receive feedback from real engineers and scientists. It’s suitable for students from grades 2 to 12 and is accessible for free online, making it a great resource for classrooms with internet access.
While these tools align with NGSS, they may not cover all standards comprehensively. However, they excel in engaging students deeply and fostering a passion for science. Curiosity Machine encourages students to explore topics like flight by tackling design challenges that involve concepts such as volume, air pressure, and density.
Students can watch videos from scientists or engineers to understand the challenges better, conduct research, and then create videos or presentations to propose their solutions. This interactive approach not only enhances learning but also develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Classify It is an app that helps students learn how to classify living organisms. Designed for grades 4 to 8, it’s available on both iOS and Android platforms. Before diving into the app, it’s beneficial to provide students with foundational knowledge about classification systems to maximize their learning experience.
As students play short games within the app, they unlock creature cards. Working in small groups, they can classify these cards, reinforcing their understanding of classification systems. This collaborative activity not only enhances learning but also allows for peer teaching and assessment of comprehension.
Smithsonian Quests, developed by the Smithsonian Institute, offers engaging activities for grades 4 through 10. This platform extends learning by providing hands-on experiences related to NGSS topics. For instance, students studying the solar system can delve deeper into astronomy through interactive quests.
One exciting activity involves using online telescopes to capture images of celestial objects, which students can then enhance and analyze. This practical approach allows students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways, culminating in presentations or science fair projects.
All these tools are available on Graphite.org, a platform by Common Sense Education that helps educators find top-rated learning tools. With over 2,000 reviewed apps and games, educators can search by standards or explore lesson plans crafted by fellow educators to find the best resources for their classrooms.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of tools that can spark scientific inquiry and enthusiasm in young learners!
Explore the Curiosity Machine platform and select an engineering project that interests you. Work through the design challenge, document your process, and share your creation with peers. Reflect on the scientific principles involved, such as air pressure and density, and discuss how these concepts apply to real-world engineering problems.
Download the Classify It app and form small groups to tackle classification challenges. As you unlock creature cards, collaborate with your group to classify them accurately. Discuss the characteristics that define each classification and present your findings to the class, highlighting any new insights gained through the activity.
Participate in a Smithsonian Quest focused on astronomy. Use online telescopes to capture images of celestial objects, then enhance and analyze these images. Create a presentation or a science fair project showcasing your findings and explaining the astronomical concepts you’ve learned through this hands-on experience.
Visit Graphite.org and research additional tools that align with NGSS standards. Select one tool, explore its features, and prepare a presentation for your peers. Explain how this tool can be integrated into classroom activities to enhance scientific inquiry and engagement among elementary students.
Using the tools discussed in the article, design a lesson plan that incorporates Curiosity Machine, Classify It, or Smithsonian Quests. Ensure your plan aligns with NGSS standards and includes objectives, activities, and assessment methods. Share your lesson plan with classmates and gather feedback to refine your approach.
Welcome everyone! My name is Merv Lapisi, and I’m the Senior Education Program Manager for Common Sense Education. Today, we are going to discuss the best tools to spark scientific inquiry for Next Generation Science Standards in elementary school. I also want to note that I am Graphite certified. As we move forward, we will reference Graphite, and the products we will discuss today include Curiosity Machine, Classify It, and Smithsonian Quests.
I want to clarify that we did not receive any support or funding from any of these developers to discuss their tools. We found them on the Graphite platform, where they are rated highly for learning in the classroom. Our focus today will be on use cases in the classroom, so you can take these ideas back and see how they might apply to the students you engage with daily.
First up is Curiosity Machine. This is an excellent engineering site that allows kids to build, share, and receive feedback using fantastic tools, with connections to actual engineers and scientists. It is suitable for grades 2 through 12 and is free, which is always a plus for the classroom. It is web-based, so as long as you have internet access, you can use it.
One important thing to note is that while these tools support the Next Generation Science Standards, they may not fulfill all the standards directly. However, they do allow for deeper engagement and help kids apply the knowledge you want them to gain, fostering a love for science.
Curiosity Machine allows students to explore and create their own projects. For example, if you want to focus on the topic of flight, you can guide students to consider concepts like volume, air pressure, and density. The site provides various design challenges related to flight, giving students choices in how they want to apply their learning while still encouraging critical thinking about the core ideas.
When students choose a challenge, they are often prompted to watch a video by a real scientist or engineer, which helps them learn more about the problem. After that, they can conduct research and create a short video or answer questions about their proposed solutions, which they can then pitch for feedback from mentors.
This tool is also great for project-based learning. If you want to incorporate a rubric for assessing collaboration and individual contributions, you can easily do so, as the projects align with project-based learning standards. However, be prepared for some messiness and the need for critical thinking and problem-solving, as these projects can be complex.
The next tool is Classify It, which is an app designed to teach kids how to classify living organisms. It is suitable for grades 4 through 8 and is available on iOS and Android platforms. Before using this app, it’s essential to provide students with background information on classification systems, as this knowledge will help them navigate the app more effectively.
As students complete short games within the app, they unlock creature cards. You can have students work in small groups to classify these cards based on what they’ve learned about classification systems. This collaborative activity allows students to educate each other and gives you a chance to assess their understanding.
Lastly, we’ll discuss Smithsonian Quests, a platform created by the Smithsonian Institute for grades 4 through 10. This tool extends learning through engaging activities related to the Next Generation Science Standards. For example, if you’re teaching about the solar system, students can use Smithsonian Quests to dive deeper into astronomy and apply their knowledge.
One of the activities involves using online telescopes to take pictures of celestial objects, which students can then enhance and analyze. This hands-on experience allows students to engage with the material in a meaningful way and can culminate in presentations or science fairs.
In conclusion, all the tools I discussed can be found on Graphite.org, a platform by Common Sense Education designed to help educators find the best tools for learning in the classroom. With over 2,000 reviewed apps and games, you can discover these tools by searching for standards or exploring lesson plans created by other educators.
Thank you for your time!
Tools – In the context of science and education, tools refer to instruments or software used to facilitate learning, experimentation, and research. – Example sentence: The laboratory is equipped with advanced tools that allow students to conduct complex experiments efficiently.
Inquiry – Inquiry is a process of exploring and investigating questions or problems to gain deeper understanding and knowledge. – Example sentence: The inquiry-based learning approach encourages students to ask questions and seek answers through scientific methods.
Science – Science is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation. – Example sentence: Science plays a crucial role in developing new technologies and solving real-world problems.
Education – Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and habits. – Example sentence: Modern education systems emphasize critical thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare students for future challenges.
Students – Students are individuals engaged in learning, typically enrolled in educational institutions to acquire knowledge and skills. – Example sentence: The university offers a variety of resources to support students in their academic and research endeavors.
Learning – Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences. – Example sentence: Active learning strategies have been shown to improve student engagement and retention of information.
Classification – Classification in science refers to the systematic arrangement of organisms or objects into categories based on shared characteristics. – Example sentence: The classification of organisms helps scientists understand evolutionary relationships and biodiversity.
Organisms – Organisms are individual living entities that can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow, and maintain homeostasis. – Example sentence: Studying the behavior of different organisms provides insights into ecological interactions and environmental adaptations.
Exploration – Exploration in science involves investigating unknown areas or phenomena to gain new insights and knowledge. – Example sentence: Space exploration has expanded our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Engineering – Engineering is the application of scientific and mathematical principles to design, build, and analyze structures, machines, and systems. – Example sentence: Engineering students are trained to develop innovative solutions to complex technical challenges.
