Playground Physics: Learning Science Through Play

Playground Physics is a middle-school science program that blends physical play with virtual activities to support inquiry-based learning aligned to Next Generation Science Standards. Students discover and explore the physics in their everyday lives through their physical play.

There are three components of Playground Physics: an app, a teacher activity guide, and professional development.

Using the app, they record a video of themselves playing, and then tap points along the way to trace a path of motion, and discover the motion, forces, and energy involved!

Students then analyze the data in their play performances via app-generated graphs and lenses focused on energy, force, and motion. Click on the video below to see it work.

Noticing Tools(TM): Playground Physics from NYSCI on Vimeo.


Learn more and sign up to try this app on the Playground Physics Website.

The Science Book - a collection of Interactives for Middle and Elementary students

Science can be hard for younger student to understand I love that this website brings it to like.  While it accompanies a physical book it can completely be used on it's own.  It has video clips and interactive animations that all your students to go inside plants, around the body, deep into the earth and to the depths of space.

Just pick the area of science you want to learn more about, and which type of item you want to try:

• Apply It! – Investigate and research key scientific concepts, just like any real scientist
• Art In Motion – Watch scientific processes come to life with fantastic animations
• Interactive Art – Click on the diagrams to interact with scientific processes
• Real-World Enquiry – See how science is used to help us in the real world
• Untamed Science – Join the Untamed Science crew in these high-energy videos
• Visual Analogy – Understand tricky scientific concepts by comparing them to everyday objects or scenarios

BrainPop meets primary sources

Take a look at this post from BrainPop about how they are connecting primary sources to their movies.  Right now about 20 of their videos have primary sources attached to them, but more are being added.  To access the primary sources simply click on the activities icon from the main topic page and then you'll see a tab for primary sources.  Once you are on that page there is a worksheet that you can print out and then a link to the primary source.  If you take a look at the images below you will see the link on the Galileo page to the primary source, which in this case happens to be another quick video to watch.  I think this is a great way to connect subject areas.  Many students associate primary source documents with Social Studies, but now they can see that primary sources are in all subject areas

This post is crossposted on my technology blog The Tech Savvy Science Teacher

EdTechLens is looking for pilot testers for its new program, Rainforest Journey!

While not for secondary teachers, you might know someone who can benefit from this.

EdTechLens is looking for teachers of grades K-5 to pilot their new program. In exchange for participation you will receive a license to use Rainforest Journey for a full year. This online program engages students with the life science portion of the science curriculum through a trip to the rainforest. Vibrant images and video combined with leveled text in this standards-aligned program can be used with a range of learners. Rainforest Journey contains lessons, assessments, hands-on activities, 3 types of primary sources, and a student blog. Teachers can track student usage and grades. Students can learn in teacher-led group lessons at a digital whiteboard; individually or in small groups at a computer; or individually on a tablet.

Visit them to learn more.