Learning Games

There is a vast array of Internet games that are educational for students. Many of these games could work as an extension to a lesson but, if nothing else, serve as great leisure time activities. The Internet contains countless game websites that offer free learning games for subjects and levels at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Although I have not started teaching, I am going to direct this activity to the secondary level. Below are the four major content areas: English, math, science, and social studies. Under each category, I have listed the three best game websites along with a minimum of three game examples. These learning game websites and examples are most effective in my opinion.

English

School Time Games This learning game website provides several entertaining, yet educational games for the English curriculum. There are almost two dozen games including “chicktionary”, a creative word-spelling game that involves the use of letters to spell as many words possible before the time runs out. In addition, “writer’s block” is a game that forces one to spell words using a three-sided block of letters; a game that is advantageous for word development. These types of games are helpful for secondary English students because it forces them to develop a strong vocabulary. As I will make quite clear, this website surpasses others because of its effective and extensive number of games in multiple secondary subjects. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.schooltimegames.com/Language_Arts.html

Fun Brain This website provides specific learning games based on subject and level. Once a subject is selected, over 20 games are listed, each with appropriate grade levels. For the secondary level, the game “word confusion” is extremely helpful. This game requires students to read a sentence with a missing word, and then decide between two words listed in order to complete the sentence. The catch is that often times the two words listed are close in spelling, which forces students to use their spelling skills on top of their vocabulary. This game and website is an excellent learning source for English students at the secondary level. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.funbrain.com/kidscenter.html

To Learn English This website offers 200 English learning games for students. “Fridge” is an interesting game that helps students develop their vocabulary skills. Once they have selected letters, they then have to come up with, for instance, the longest word or word containing the most number of vowels. In addition, “mysterious words” forces students to unscramble letters. This also assists students with their vocabulary recall skills. One of the most helpful parts of this website is that it lists specific subject categories, for instance, “playing with words” and “interactive crosswords.” Surely teachers and students at the secondary level will find this a useful learning game website. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/pages/allgames.php

Math

School Time Games This learning game website, again, covers several subjects and levels. “Quick Calc” is an exciting game that requires students to work efficiently and effectively. Math equations of varying difficulty appear and students need to solve them both quickly and correctly. Students receive more points for doing so, which makes it a competitive game. “Greater than sudoku” is easily the most challenging game and suitable for advanced secondary math students. The format is just like ordinary sudoku; however, there are greater-than and less-than symbols, which add to the game’s complexity. Not only will students be able to place one letter in each square, they will also have to make the letters fit accordingly. This learning game website is easily top-notch across multiple subjects. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.schooltimegames.com/Mathematics.html

Learning Planet This website offers countless learning games for math students at all levels, particularly the secondary level. It includes another version of sudoku much like the previous game website. In addition, there was an interesting game, “code 13”, which requires students to look at cards and determine which have numbers that add up to 13. This game has multiple difficulty levels and is a great practice tool for secondary students, especially to review their basic skill tables. Teachers and students will surely be able to find a useful game on this website. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.learningplanet.com/

Gamequarium This interactive math game website provides a variety of learning games ranging from simple addition skills to percents and algebra skills. Within each category, there are several games with numerous levels. “Percentages” requires students to read a statement and decide the correct percentage. There are also problem solving games such as “story problems with mixed practice.” These particular games give a situation involving numbers and require students to provide the most sensible answer. Gamequarium is an effective website for math learning games especially for the different grade levels within the secondary level. Secondary teachers will find it useful. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.gamequarium.com/math.htm

Science

School Time Games Easily the top learning game website for science, School Time Games offers exciting games for science students at the secondary level. “Grow your garden” is an environmental game that forces students to be aware of proper steps to grow a garden. “Balance” involves objects’ mass and requires students to balance a scale using given facts, data, and information. These games are not only educational, but engaging. Students at the secondary level will enjoy them and learn from this website. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.schooltimegames.com/Science.html

Engaging Science This learning game website offers interactive games that reflect in-class science activities. There are three specific games: space science, physical science, and life science. The life science games were especially interesting because in a game format, it teaches students the importance of wetland conservation, as well as, human and animal life. These games serve as practical learning tools for science students at the secondary level. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.engagingscience.org/games/

Fun Brain This learning game website offers a few interesting games that pertain to the secondary science curriculum. The games are listed by grade level, which is extremely helpful for teachers to determine which games are most appropriate. The two most interesting games were “proton Don” and “scramble Saurus.” “Proton Don” is a spectacular practice game for students taking chemistry because it involves the periodic table. Students are given the name of an element and then have to identify its symbol, and vice-versa. This game is perfect for memorizing the periodic table, which typically is a requirement in most chemistry classes. “Scramble Saurus”, although not as specific towards content, involves scrambling letters to determine science terms and vocabulary. Although word scrambling games are sometimes broad, they force students to think about subject vocabulary. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.funbrain.com/

Social Studies

Fun Brain This learning game website has excellent games for social studies students at the secondary level. “Who is that?” is an exciting game that displays pictures of famous people in history. Students are then forced to guess who the person is. Although it does not necessarily provide information about the famous individual, it gives students a visual, which certainly assists the countless visual learners. This game is a perfect leisure time activity for social students at the secondary level. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.funbrain.com/

Primary Games This social studies game website offers interesting games for all levels, especially the secondary level. “Symbols match” and “name that flag” are two excellent choices for visual recall and memorization. “Symbols match” shows various historical symbols and requires students to identify the symbol. Similarly, “name that flag” displays various country flags. Students must determine which country the flag belongs to. Much like the Fun Brain website, this learning website includes games not necessarily for an extension to a lesson, but rather for leisure time and practice. Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.primarygames.com/social_studies.htm

School Time Games The only website to make the top three in all four major subjects, School Time Games is superior for its learning games. The most interesting of its social studies choices is “time trip”, which requires students to match four locations or items with their time in history. The content is related, for instance, the telephone, telegraph, radio, and television are example choices for one of the questions. This arguably is the most effective game I have found for this assignment! Date visited—6/29/09.

http://www.schooltimegames.com/Social_Studies.html