Amazing Science Facts

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Review Overview

A. Instruction - 4.3

B. Design - 7

C. Engagement - 4.6

5.3

Amazing Science Apps: An App for Discovery

Summary : Interesting Tid-Bits About Science

Free!

Amazing Science Facts is a searchable reference of all-things science and also presents science facts. After launching the app, users can tap the box by the magnifying glass and enter a search term. Amazing Science Facts will then pull up a list of facts related to the term entered. Users are also able to tap the app’s icon on the top right of the screen. By doing so, the app presents users with random science facts, and users can tap the “Rainbow” button on the bottom right of the app to share those facts over email or save them. Users can also tap the “Star” button by a fact to bookmark it. That way, when launching the app, users will be able to see the fact they bookmarked.

Instructional Ideas

As a research activity, teachers can present their students with a fact they found on this app. Next, teachers can require students to find three pieces of evidence online that support the fact. To conclude the activity, students can write a short rationale using the Polaris app that explains how the evidence supports the fact and include that evidence using in-text citations. Students can email the teacher their rationale.
Teachers can present students a fact using this app. In response, students can outline an experiment to test the fact’s reliability and/or validity. Students can post their outline to a class website, and students can respond to the posting stating if and why they think the experiment will or will not work.
When defining key terms, students can enter a term into this app and review the information the app provides them. Next, students can synthesize the information into a definition. Students can then share their definition with a classmate who has also created a definition for the term using the same process. Finally, the two students can share definitions and together form one that uses both of their ideas.
Teachers can use this app for the “Two Truths and a Lie” game. To do so, students can each choose a fact listed in this app. Next, each students would have to research their fact and come up with one related fact that is a truth and one related statement that is false. When ready, students can present their two truths and a lie to the class. In response, the class will have to decide which statement is the lie and their reasoning for why it is a lie.
As an introductory activity into a unit, teachers can tell their students that they will be studying the given topic. Next, students can search the topic with this app using keywords related to it that they either know or researched. Finally, students can write a short journal entry where they state what they already know about the topic and what they still want to know about it. Students can email their journal entries to their teacher, and the teacher will be able to use them while planning future instruction.

A1. Rigor
A2. 21st Century Skills
A3. Conn. to Future Learning
A4. Value of Errors
A5. Feedback to Teacher
A6. Level of Material
A7. Cooperative Learning
A8. Accom. of Individual Diff.

B1. Ability to Save Progress
B2. Platform Integration
B3. Screen Design
B4. Ease of Use
B5. Navigation
B6. Goal Orientation
B7. Information Presentation
B8. Media Integration
B9. Cultural Sensitivity