Carol Briggs

SLM 521

6/3/09

Web Link Bibliography

Educational Games for Elementary School Students

For my web link bibliography I have created a resource of educational games that are appropriate for an elementary school.  A collection of educational games is a useful resource for a school to have.  Teachers can use them with their classes to reinforce lessons.  If students have free computer-time at school it is a real benefit to have a list of appropriate, educational games that they can play.  Students love to play computer games . . . and when the games are educational the students are learning and don't even realize it! 

            This bibliography is divided into several sections: math, reading and language arts, social studies, science, and a section of other games that are good for the brain. Some games are more appropriate for younger elementary-aged students and some are more appropriate for older elementary-aged students.  I have noted this in the write-up about each link.

 

Math:

A+ Math  

Have fun while you practice the four math functions!  This site offers a number of middle and upper elementary –aged appropriate games.  The site also features flash cards and work sheets.  Date visited: 6/3/09  http://www.aplusmath.com/Games/index.html

 

Kids Math Games (Room 108)

This site features a large assortment of math games.  Games feature such skills as practicing with money, addition/subtraction, measuring, patterns, and more.  There are games appropriate for all levels in elementary school, especially the younger grades.  Date visited: 6/3/09  http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/Math/math_kids.html

 

Cool Math 4 Kids

This site features a number of different games, some with more or less educational content.  Below is the link that will get you directly to the part of the site that has the most substantial math games.  There are games here for most elementary school students, with most games appropriate for middle and upper-elementary aged students.  There are games to practice the four functions, Sudoku, and this site contains the ever-popular game Lemonade Stand.  Date visited:  6/3/09  http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-math-games.html

 

Basket Math

When students solve a math problem correctly, the man on the screen will slam-dunk a basket.  Students can practice a variety of math skills:  the four functions, graphs, decimals, and more.  Because this site covers a variety of math skills, it would be appropriate for most elementary-aged students.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.scienceacademy.com/BI/index.html

 

 

Reading and Language Arts:

Mad Libs

Make a crazy, funny story by typing in the right parts of speech!  This is a computerized version of the classic Mad Libs game.  This is especially appropriate for students in middle and upper-elementary school who are learning the parts of speech.   Date visited: 6/3/09   http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html

 

Between the Lions

Site features games, video clips, and stories.  There are reading and alphabet games on this site that are especially appropriate for students in the lower grades of elementary school. This site features sound, so students will need headphones to use it.  Date visited: 6/3/09  http://pbskids.org/lions/

 

Fun with Fire Engines

This is a good game for students in the younger elementary grades.  Students can read the story and count the fire engines. Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.meddybemps.com/9.401.html

 

Sesame Street Games

These games are most appropriate for students in kindergarten and 1st grade.  Games include animal sounds, counting, and more.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.sesamestreet.org/games

 

Free Rice

This site features a vocabulary game.  For every answer that the student gets right 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program to help end world hunger.  Some of the vocabulary words may be challenging, so this game is most appropriately used with students in the upper-elementary grades. A geography game is also available on this site.  Date visited:  6/3/09  http://www.freerice.com/index.php

 

Social Studies:

Where is that?

This game tests player’s knowledge of every continent, plus the United States.  The game can be played at different levels of difficulty.  It can also be played on two player mode.  This game is probably best for students in middle and upper-elementary school. Date visited:  6/3/09  http://www.funbrain.com/where/index.html

 

Cool Quiz (Map Quiz)

This quiz  test a player’s knowledge of national capitals, US geography, and more.  While there is a place to log in and join cool quiz, users do not have to do this to play the Map Quiz game.  This game is best for middle and upper-elementary students who have already had a good exposure to geography. Date visited:  6/3/09  http://www.coolquiz.com/quizzes/map/

 

The Time Tunnel

Students can identify which objects in the scene did not exist during the time depicted and send them through the “time tunnel.”  Viking times, Victorian times, the 1950’s, and more are depicted.  The game can be used with a discussion about technological development.  The game is most appropriate for students in the middle and upper-elementary grades.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/walk/games_index.shtml

 

 

Science:

EcoKids

This site has science games that are appropriate for all levels of elementary-aged students.   There are some games labeled “primary” that are more appropriate for younger elementary-aged students.  Older students may be more interested in the games labeled “junior.”  This site covers a number of ecology-oriented games and activities, such as wildlife, climate change, and energy.  Date visited:  6/3/09  http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/games_activities/index.cfm

 

NIEHS Kids’ Page

This site is created by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  There are a number of science-oriented games for the range of elementary-aged students.  Many, but not all, games focus on the environment.  Date visited:  6/3/09  http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games.htm

 

ARKive Education: Animal Games

This site has several games that have a focus on animals.  You can design a habitat for a black-footed ferret, see if you can keep a sand-lizard alive, and several others.  Some games could be use in conjunction with a discussion about animals and the natural environment.  These games are most appropriate for middle and upper elementary-aged students.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.arkiveeducation.org/games.html

 

Other Games that are Good for your Brain:

Tic-Tac-Toe

This is the classic tic-tac-toe game that you play against the computer.  Good for any age of elementary-school students.  Date visited: 6/4/09  http://boulter.com/ttt/

 

Kids Games

This is a good game site for students in the younger elementary grades.  Online games include coloring and counting, among others.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.kidsgames.org/

 

Jigsaw Puzzles:

Solve jigsaw puzzles online. This is appropriate for students of all ages, as you can choose either easier or more difficult puzzles.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.jigzone.com/

 

Online Coloring Books

Color pictures right on the screen!  This is especially appealing for the younger elementary-aged students.  Date visited:  6/4/09  http://www.cartooncritters.com/onlinecoloring.htm

 

Crossword Puzzle Maker

Students or teachers can make their own crossword puzzles for free using this website!  Users may plug in their own words and make a crossword puzzle.  Students enjoy making their own crossword puzzles. Teachers can use this site to make crossword puzzles to reinforce vocabulary lessons.  Date visited:  6/6/09   http://www.armoredpenguin.com/crossword/