FREE Science Review GAMES for High Stakes Tests!

How about science game sites to motivate kids to remember everything they learned over the year?  Or what about giving upcoming students a head start on the science classes they will be taking in the new school year?  What about using science games for in class competition--team against team?  Have some ELLs who need more time to process new information in a non-traditional format?  This site would fit the need of probably any student including those with special needs and make the process fun:)

SCIENCE REVIEW GAMES --here, you will find games for astronomy, geology, meteorology, and earth science.  Why not let students use textbooks and notes to assist them in selecting their answers?  You could also have students explain why the answer choice they made was correct and why the others were wrong.  Being able to explain why certain answers were wrong better prepares students for finals.  Another idea, ELLs (and anyone else who would like to try for that matter) could draw labeled diagrams/illustrations to go with the final answer choices. 

With the new common core standards coming out in science shortly, teachers will need to spend more time on academic writing, reading comprehension, and academic vocabulary.  If teachers make use of the many tools already out there on the internet, they will not be inundated come the fall.  In fact, if you consider this a reference "book,"  you may already have much of what you need here already!

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Encourage Students to Enter Careers That Protect Our Planet:)

USGS (US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY)--is a science organization that offers information the health of the planet. It studies ecosystems, watches out for natural disasters that may affect us, monitors natural resources, and watches the impacts of climate and land-use change. It was created in 1879 and is still alive and continues to be an instrumental in keeping our planet and its inhabitants safe and informed.

The site's EDUCATION section is a treasure trove of resources, videos, pamphlets, lessons, maps on every corner of the planet (and beyond in some sections). For grades 8 and up, there are free lectures on natural phenomena. Each is about 50 minutes on average. Here is another link for the older students on LAND AND PEOPLE (Cape Cod, Everglades, Los Angeles). This site also has a student book as well as the teacher resource one as downloads. For grades K-7 USGKIDS, there are coloring books, stories, games, and fun projects. US CORAL REEFS Again, it is all free.

This type of exploration might inspire some of your students to enter careers that protect the planet:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Great Academic Game Site for Kids:)

Biology for Kids covers many academic subjects and delivers both an easy to follow instructional format that kids can easily follow as well as games on all the subjects covered (math through geometry, astronomy, biology, dinosaur, geography, geology, history, math, memory, spelling, and more). Also, everything is free. If students have access to computers at home, they can easily go into the site with parental support to assist where needed. Parents may enjoy it as well since they will be actively involved in learning with their children.

This site could also be used in class as a supplement to the topic the teacher is working on. Through the use of a document camera and LCD projector, the entire class can take part in the learning process. ELLs especially benefit here since oral participation is basically choral in nature. Further the vivid visuals enhance the lesson for them.

If teachers are fortunate enough to have computers in their rooms, struggling students can be assigned time on the site to work on the areas that the teacher believes they need more help in. Since they would be working at their own pace, their stress levels would drop. This would allow them additional productive time to absorb the material.

I hope you like the site.

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS