Annotated+Links

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Resources for Computer Based Simulations Across Content Areas//Bridgit Spielman//

How online simulations work in the classroom:
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Large list of simulations for all grade levels and all subject areas:
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====Has simulations for all subject areas but great language arts materials. You have to, however, be willing to make an investment. The average price is about $480.00 for the software, materials and more.====

[]  These activities focus on the reading activities for second graders.

Math:
//Bridgit Spielman//

[| http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm] Math and Science simulations that are easy to use and promote inquiry and understanding of all sorts of concepts.

Science:
**//Sean Ferguson//**

The University of Colorado provides a Collection of Science simulations and related lesson information. The site provides a searchable listing of available simulations. Unfortunately, a search for Kindergarten - 5th grade appropriate simulations only listed 2 simulations. Searching for content specific simulations was much more rewarding.

The main site is at **[]**

The following link is to a light, sound and water wave simulator that allows students to experiment with the effect of frequency, amplituted and interference in waves.
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The following link is to a visable light simulator that allows students to experiment with creating different colors by changing the combinations of primary lights.
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The site also provides a catagory index allowing the teacher to find simulations based on topics. Simulations available include Gravity simulators demonstrating interactions of bodies in space, light, environmental effects on temperature and many others that parallel Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations. []**
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The University of Wisconsin hosts a site with numerous simulations primarily focused on weather.
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A particular one demonstrates the relationship between surface temparature and the strength of hurricanes. Students can change the time of year, placement of a low pressure system and a high pressure system and watch how these factors affect the formation of a hurrican from the low pressure system.
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**Social Studies:**
Sam Sicilia

Real Lives 2007 is a program that simulates the lives of people around the world. Students can become a farmer in Bangladesh, a factory worker in Brazil, a policeman in Nigeria, etc.. Based on real events and situations, students control their character and experience the consequences or their decisions, all while learning about the world their character inhabits. Although this software has powerful potential, it does cost about $50 per lisence, or about $700 for a set of 30. [|**http://www.educationalsimulations.com/index.html**]

Netlogo is a modeling environment, where simulations of natural and social phenomena can be created. The simulations focus on mathematical representations, but models have been created in just about every subject area you can think of. One example relative to social studies model is an AIDS simulator, where the spread of AIDS is demonstrated in a small population where the user can adjust several variables related to the way AIDS is spread in real life that change the outcome of the simulation. [|**http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/**]

This collection of simulation links created by the Heartland Area Education Agency. an intermediate school district in Iowa, is subject specific (there are pages for language arts, math, and science as well). Simply type in key words related to the type of simulation you are looking for and a list of simulations is created with detailed descriptions of each. Most of the simulations are free. [|**http://currweb.aea11.k12.ia.us:8080/4DACTION/Web_Search**]

Civilization is a video game series that simulates the rise and fall of civilizations throughout history. Through various mods this game could be used to teach and/or reenforce history and geography themes for a variety of social studies classes. The game is relatively complex and would be most appropriate at a secondary level. []

Sim city is a city building simulation game. It's uses could be similar to the Civilization game, but instead of focusing on large civilizations this game focuses on individual cities in great detail. Many aspect of social science could be explored using this simulation. []