 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Lawrence Hall of Science - 24/7
Common Sense Media says
Exceptionally fun edutainment games.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Lawrence Hall of Science is an educational site provided by The University of California, Berkley. The site is filled with fun and educational activities, videos and games that teach kids about science and the environment. Activities include: learning how energy is dispersed, the most efficient way to clean oil spills, which plants are edible and where they grow, and much much more. A few of the many games provided teach kids to think about survival strategies in the wild, why cells need to produce insulin, and the effects of gravity on various objects. Unlike most sites, The Lawrence Hall of Science is not chock-full of advertisements which makes for a pleasurable and uninterrupted online experience.
What's it about?
This site from the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley offers up online experiments disguised as fun games. Remember experimenting with varying amounts of water in a glass bottle and listening to all the musical notes you could make? "Juice Bottle Jingles" is a virtual version of that. "Alien Juice Bar" teaches kids to use virtual cabbage juice to indicate a liquid's pH. And in "Car Comparison," you'll need to select various auto bodies, tires, engines, and average speeds in order to find the best mix for high mileage and low pollution.
Is it any good?
The Lawrence Hall of Science is a wonderfully thought provoking site that will have kids intrigued about science and asking questions for further discovery. This site offers something for everyone, from chemistry to ecology to math and more. Also, rather than only reading articles, the site provides interactive ways of learning that are fun and easy to understand. Videos provide demonstrations on how to make rock candy, parachute testing in Mars, the effects oil spills have on the environment, and where to locate secret medicinal plants. The site has no ads, although there's a link to the museum store, where one may purchase educational toys. An added bonus is the upcoming Educators page which will be posted soon!
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the roles that science and technology play in our daily lives. How has technology changed the way we live? What are some of the advances (computers, cell phones, the Internet) that have most affected your life? Discuss how to manage media time more efficiently.
Families can also talk about which games and activities kids like best. Are you most interested in chemistry experiments? Animals? The mechanics of how things work?
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| Genre: | Educational |
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