Another Friday, another edition of Fresh Look Fridays.
Our focus turns to a great interactive website -- Algodoo -- that encourages exploration and experimentation within the world of Physics. But don't be fooled - this isn't simply a high school appropraite site...your middle schoolers and elementary students will find it intriguing as well.
I thought about trying to explain this website in my own words, but then I realized that I really wasn't going to do it any better than the "about" section on their website:
ALGODOO is a unique 2D-simulation software from Algoryx Simulation AB. Algodoo is designed in a playful, cartoony manner, making it a perfect tool for creating interactive scenes. Explore physics, build amazing inventions, design cool games or experiment with Algodoo in your science classes. Algodoo encourages students and children’s own creativity, ability and motivation to construct knowledge while having fun. Making it as entertaining as it is educational. Algodoo is also a perfect aid for children to learn and practice physics at home.
It really is a fun simulator. You can download a free trial that allows you to try ALL the features of the full version, but with a 15 hour time limit. More than enough time to become proficient and decide whether or not it's a good investment for your classroom or school.
Play around and see what happens when you build different shapes out of different materials such as wood, rubber, helium and steel; add hours of more fun with hinges, axis, motors and water; take it to the next level for your secondary students by graphing your simulation and viewing its velocities and momentum. Of course, all of these activities work really well as a center for a small group of students to work on on your SMART Board.
Clearly, by the scene I managed ot make above, I'm not a Physics teacher.
I highly recommend checking out YouTube for the hundreds of videos that show what people have done with Algodoo. In the meantime, here are two:
Vanessa
