Simulations

The first simulation that I explored is actually one that we are using with our 5th graders this week in Science.  It's called "Energy Skate Park" and the link to use the simulation is:  http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/energy-skate-park-basics.  This simulation explores different types of energy including kinetic and potential energy.  It also includes different additional concepts that students can add to their skate park including friction.  The mass of the skateboarder can be changed so that students can see the effects of different masses on the energy track.  Students can customize the track and change the configuration to compare the differences in the amounts of energy created and consumed by different tracks.  The students who have had the chance to use this already are loving the fact that it relates to skateboarding. We have several students who skateboard regularly and this has really captured their attention.  This is also providing them a little bit of competition to see who can create the best track.  The students can also create different graphs to compare the different amounts of potential energy, kinetic energy, and friction created by each track.  This simulation could best be used with upper elementary students.

The second simulation that I explored is called "Eating and Exercise".  The link is:  https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/eating-and-exercise.  I was trying to find a simulation that could be used with younger students as they study nutrition each year, but in further exploring this simulation, it may be too complicated to use with younger students.  It could easily be used by middle school students.  The object of the simulation is to see what happens when calorie intake and exercise and activity are factored together each day.  Students can select the criteria for their own body (age, height, weight, etc.) and then track their food intake along with activity completed.  Once they run the simulation, they can see the effects of their diet and exercise on their constructed body.  I would suggest using this simulation in the context of a health/science unit on nutrition and be mindful of the body image issues that might be present with middle schoolers. 

Both of the simulations that I spent time using this week are from the University of Colorado Boulder.  They have a multitude of different simulations geared for different age groups. What is also nice is that many of the simulations seem to also have lesson plans and suggestions for teacher uses available.  It's a great resource that I'll be sharing with all of my teachers this week!