Learn core science concepts! The games in this app are designed to encourage real-world exploration and build science inquiry skills. The Play and Learn Science app encourages kids to see the science in their world.
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EDC and SRI International conducted an independent study of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) KIDS Play & Learn Science app, which includes in-app and direct hands-on science explorations for children ages 3 to 6 and their parents. This study explored the impact of the PBS KIDS Play & Learn Science app, when used in a supportive context, on
Parents need to know that Play and Learn Science is a free, PBS Kids-created app with games and tips that help kids and parents explore basic earth science, physical science, and life science topics. The 12 interactive games can be played in English or Spanish. Games feature common science-related phenomena in light (shadows), physics (inclined planes), the study of nature (weather), and more. To help transfer learning offscreen, parents can use in-app tips for more real-world, parent-child activities related to the same science concepts. There's a sticker and drawing page for kids to use their creativity. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the types of information collected and shared.
To use PLAY AND LEARN SCIENCE, first tap Parents to read tips about how to explore the activities with your kid and "ways to learn more in the real world." Swipe right or left to view all activity categories -- ramp and roll, gear up, shadow play, or weather control -- and then tap on an activity. For example, tap "Read the Temperature" and listen to the verbal instructions to tap on one of three different thermometers to see how it works. The narrator of the game explains the basic concept of how to read a thermometer. There's also a sticker page where kids can make a scene by placing stickers and drawing objects.
Preschoolers have so much to learn about the world around them, and this app helps start that exploration. For kids, Play and Learn Science's games offer information about everyday science phenomena such as balls rolling, temperatures rising and falling, and shadows growing. Then the learning continues with parents' help through the parent tips and hands-on activity suggestions. Many kids will likely be quick to recognize the app's PBS-typical cute characters and not-too-hectic animation style, while parents will appreciate the quality content PBS Kids provides. Play and Learn Science is a terrific first science app for preschoolers.
We love to try out new toys, and as Ethan gets older and we get to play with more challenging and interesting things. We've been playing with the Primary Lab Set from Learning Resources, and we are loving it! Being able to do real little science experiments at home is so much fun.
My favourite thing about the set is just how realistic all of the equipment is and that Ethan now has his own little goggles, magnifying glass, beaker, test tubes, tweezers and pipettes. There are also a set of activity cards to give you a few ideas for experiments to start with, as well as more ideas that you can download from the website.
We've done a few of the experiments already, one that Ethan really liked was the 'dancing raisins' the involved putting some raisins into some sparkling water in the beaker, he used the tweezers to pick up the individual raisins and put them in. Then using the magnifying glass to observe the raisins moving up and down as the bubbles stuck to them and popped.
We also made up some of our own experiments, mostly just putting different liquids in the test tubes and mixing them together. Ethan loves pouring things through the funnel or using the pipette to drip a liquid slowly into the test tubes. I could see Ethan enjoying this set for a long time to come!
* This is a review post, we were sent the Primary Lab Set from Learning Resources to play with and to write an honest review. *
Dr. Brian A. Stone is a Senior Lecturer at Northern Arizona University. He received a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a Content Concentration in Science Education. He also specializes in elementary social studies education and play. Prior to teaching at the university, Dr. Stone was passionate about providing play opportunities both inside and outside his elementary classroom. His fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students often had the time and materials to play well in school. Play does not just belong to young children. Dr. Stone has published many articles, including how play develops conceptual understanding in science, the relationship between play and scientific identity, superhero play, content area play, and play and inquiry. Dr. Stone is also the editor of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) section of the International Journal of the Whole Child, where he advocates for child-centered practices including the many benefits of play. He was interviewed on national radio on the connection between play and science. His research interests include inquiry-based science, free play, constructivist practices, and child-development. Dr. Stone has consulted for schools and districts around the world, and advocates for a better system of education that respects children enough to let them play.
According to recent research, free play in science leads to greater conceptual development. For example, a child may discover static electricity concepts like static cling through playing with balloons. Now, keep in mind that she will not discover vocabulary through her play, but when that vocabulary is introduced, whether by parents or teachers, she has a meaningful experience to which she can attach those terms.
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Participants will be encouraged to download the free APP on their device during the session. The PBSKids Play and Learn App connects parents with free STEM learning opportunities and connects children with basic inquiry strategies with exploration of basic science concepts. Learn how you can guide children as they explore physical science properties like shadows, weather, water, and force and motion. We will discuss ways to get children excited about science using the APP, connecting vocabulary, and then connecting a hands on activity or two to tie it all together.
Their inborn curiosity compels them to ask questions, explore their surroundings, test their ideas, seek out relationships and patterns, communicate their discoveries, and figure out how and why the world works the way it does. Teachers can harness and nurture this inclination toward exploration by using guided play to help students ask, investigate, think, and talk about science questions like:
They can investigate light, and make shadows and reflections, with flashlights, mirrors, and small classroom objects. And they can use beans, cups, paper towels, and spray bottles to explore living things. Students can do both open and more focused science investigations with everyday objects and materials when teachers collect them thoughtfully and use them intentionally with students.
Before students can investigate structure and function in plants, they need time and space to openly explore a variety of indoor and outdoor plants with a hand lens. When teachers give students permission to play with materials before diving into more focused guided play investigations, they build equity among students with a range of prior experiences with the topic.
Think about students engrossed in studying an anthill, carefully using a tablet to document and compare the growth of their bean plants, or enthusiastically making diagrams of where they found living things outdoors. Pulling in the playful aspects of science engages students deeply in their own learning in a way that can be better described as joyful.
The October 2023 School Pulse Panel (SPP) release provides information on public school staffing vacancies, learning recovery, and tutoring during the 2023-24 school year, as reported by school staff in U.S. public schools. More info
Returning to the grocery store play example, we see that adults can actively take part in play with children, something these two studies do not take into consideration. In terms of science education though, Bulunuz and Jarret have investigated the importance of play as an aspect of interest development in science within the classroom. This study looked at not only students, but also preservice teachers engaged in science education. Their research suggests that background experiences that include hands-on science experiments in elementary school, play with LEGOs and science toys, visits to zoos and museums, and outdoor explorations all helped to develop interest in science among science majors, scientists, and preservice teachers. However, Bulunuz and Jarret also wanted to learn how interest in science could be developed among adults who failed to develop an interest as children.10
It is important to understand how Worch and Haney defined both play and science learning behaviors. For play, the researchers identified five different categories: sensory, constructive, dramatic, games, and functional. Sensory play is very tactile and can include behaviors like touching water, leaves, rocks, fur, and other elements of the exhibit. Constructive play refers to the act of creating or constructing something, such as building a sandcastle, fort, or dam out of available materials. Dramatic play is the act of performing fantasy actions and/or vocalizing fantasy situations, like dressing up in animal costume and pretending to be that animal. The games category is similar to cooperative play because it involves learners engaging with others in an activity with clear purpose and rules, with tag being a simple example. Finally, functional play involves repetitive muscle movement with or without objects, including locomotive actions like running and climbing. A learner can be engaged in just one or multiple categories of play at any given moment.14
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