Re: Science software for elementary/middle school kids?

["Scott Rippetoe" <rippetoe@tenet.edu>]

Tom Snyder had a series of programs called "Decisions, Decisions" which
took students through different scenarios as they made decisions regarding
use of resources. The one I remember was where a company came into an area
and discovered something worth mining and refining. The town (represented
by four or five students in a group) would make decisions and then see the
outcome of their actions. One computer sufficed for the entire class as
each group took their turn at the computer. I do not know if this series is
still available.

I use computer interfacing software with my high school students, but have
not been convinced of its appropriateness for the general populace at the
middle or elementary level.

Scott Rippetoe
Academy of Science and Technology
27330 Oak Ridge School Road
Conroe, TX 77385

----------
> From: Cody Sandifer <sandifer@sunstroke.SDSU.EDU>
> To: phys-l@atlantis.uwf.edu
> Subject: Science software for elementary/middle school kids?
> Date: Sunday, January 25, 1998 3:34 PM
>
> Hello everyone.
>
> I'm currently looking for science software appropriate for
> elementary/middle school kids.  Here's what I've found so far:
>
> Boxer (diSessa's simulation)
> Cocoa
> Agentsheets
> Star Logo (not science software per se, but -- like Cocoa, Boxer, and
> Agentsheets -- useful for building simulations)
> Interactive Physics
> Various commercial games:  Castle/Island of Dr. Brain, Paper Plane Pilot,
> Gizmos and Gadgets, the Incredible Machine.  (Some of the commercial
> software is pretty good, but most is just OK.)
>
> So, is there anything that anyone would care to add?  I've done lots of
> web-searching, but without much luck.
>
> Just to set up the context, the elementary and middle school kids work on
> the software in pairs -- with the additional help of an undergraduate in
> elementary education/human development.  At the moment, the kids are
> limited to one hour a week for this activity -- although this severe time
> limit may be lengthened in the future.
>
> Thanks for any and all suggestions,
>
> Cody Sandifer
> Center for Research in Math and Science Education
> San Diego, CA