Friday, July 29, 2011

Two Great Sites for Science and Math

Here are links to two great sites for science and math. They are filled with dozens of free computer simulations. What I really like about them is that are "hands on" and they come with innovative lessons and ideas for turning mathematical and scientific concepts in to real applications that cause students to experiment, read, and write. As you explore the sites, you will see that they come with all kinds of lesson plans and ideas for teachers. I provided a sample from each site.

Interactive Simulations (from University of Colorado)
http://phet.colorado.edu/


Sample
Plinko Probability Screenshot
Click here for an example: "Plinko"-style probability tool that you can play and experiment with.




Teaching Math and Computing through Culture (RPI)
 http://csdt.rpi.edu/

Sample

Click here to see how a lesson on Navajo Rug Weaving is used to teach Cartesian Coordinates.