What are parents and teachers most worried about over the summer? That kids will lose their sharp education edge, dulled by sun and sand and something else. Worry no more.
Your cure: learning disguised as play. Kids will think they’re playing games, but are actually participating in [mostly] free simulations available in the education field. A note: some must be downloaded and a few purchased, so the link might take you to a website that provides access rather than play. Choose what works for you:
- iCivics—experience what it means to be part of a democracy
- Second Life—simulates just about anything if you can find it
- Coffee Shop—run a coffee shop business
History
- Civilization--Sid Meier’s Civilization game (fee required)
- History Mystery–play the game
- History Simulations–fee and free
- Mission US–students role play the American Revolution or the Civil War
- Past/Present—life as an American immigrant in the early 1900’s
Math
- Adventures of Jasper Woodbury–fee based but great reputation for teaching math in a game environment
- Math by Design--design with math
Problem Solving
- CSI Online Adventure
- Quandary–an ethics problem solving game from MIT
Science
- Science simulations—lots of choices at 7th grade level
For more, visit Ask a Tech Teacher’s resource page for Games and Simulations.
Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm
“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
