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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Science-focused educational site offers cool homework help.

On this site kids can:   do activities, do research, get homework help, play games

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The site explains a variety of scientific concepts in easy-to-follow language and uses interactive games to reinforce the lessons. The entire point of the site is to help people understand chemistry, electricity, the structure of an atom, and more.

  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    Chemistry doesn’t have to be intimidating, and learning about atoms and other scientific concepts can be interesting and fun.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    The site is organized by the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, an advanced physics lab and particle accelerator affiliated by the Department of Energy. The lab is mentioned often, and some parts of the site promote its science programs for high school students.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    Not an issue.

  • Online interaction:

    Not an issue.

  • Parental controls:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Jefferson Lab Student Zone

Parents need to know that this educational Web site, developed by an advanced government physics lab, provides in-depth science and mathematics lessons and games aimed at high school students and older. They cover electricity, magnetism and other topics, but the main focus is chemistry, including the periodic table, chemical equations, and the basic structure of atoms. The explanations are clear and simple, and the interactive features will help students understand some tough concepts. Still, the activities are not as fun as other gaming and entertainment Web sites; think of this as a cool homework aid rather than a destination site for recreation.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • How do you incorporate the Internet into education? Do you think Web sites and games can help students learn? Are some sites and games better than others? Can you think of any Web sites that should be off-limits during homework time?
  • Discuss the difference between using computers to play and using them to study. Technology has much to offer students and teachers, but it can also be a big distraction. Can you think of ways that computers can help you learn? What about ways that computers can distract you from an important task?
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