Science games are much more difficult to come by in stores, unless you head specifically to a school supply store, and then it’s pretty much regurgitation of what you’ve learned in a trivial pursuit style.
My goal in finding games here is to find games that employ some amount of critical thinking skills, because of that most of these games are printables or games made up by parents or teachers around the web.
Why to play science games
- You can make sure your kids really understand the lessons you’ve just covered.
- It gives your kids a chance to critically apply their lessons, not just how something happens, but why.
- It gives your kids to apply critical thinking skills, does this animal go into this group or that group?
- Science games can provide an informal assessment for your to know your kids strengths and weaknesses.
- Science games can be a way to informally attempt experiments.
Human Anatomy Science Games
Easter egg sound matching game– Something to do with all of those plastic Easter eggs that are still laying around your house (or they are mine).
Body systems matching game– Match the picture to the description of the body system.
Touch and Feel game– We used this game when we were learning about sense of touch
Skeletons in the Closet Game– This is one of the few purchased science games we have (unless you count the inventing the time travel game, and the Captain Park’s Imaginary Polar Expedition, which I don’t really). You’re trying to build a skeleton by answering questions about the skeletal system. I bought this before I figured out I don’t need to buy something for every single unit……….
Botany Science Games
Wildcraft– it’s a game you can buy! Almost Unschoolers shared this, and it’s on my to buy list when we reach botany.
Parts of a seed– As I’ve said with my kids any printable becomes a game because they can play with it, same can be said of this one. As of when I linked it, this product was free, that may change at some point).
Zoology Science Games
Cougar hunting game– Since we studied cougars, my kids have constantly requested to play this over and over again. It lets you see how many deer a cougar needs to survive and the reasons over-population can be so devastating.
Tiger hunting game– Another game my kids have loved playing over and over. One kid is blindfolded and the others are trying to escape the hungry tiger.
Rodent animal sort– I’m including several different animal sorts people have shared over the years on Science Sunday because they can easily be adapted into all sorts of games: go fish, memory, categorize and defend (one we do often).
Animal tracks matching game– I need to print these off because my kids would love it, especially after the tracks we’ve found recently at the park.
Herbivore animal sort– My kids enjoyed using this to try and trade with their siblings to create their own zoo.
Food chain war– A very fun way to learn about the food chain. I tried printing off two copies to mix together to make the play last longer, and for some reason that didn’t work right.
Insects/Not Insects game– Because any time you can bring in small toys the activity is much more popular.
Build a bug- I was going to include the Cooties game, but here’s a free version that is more accurate for learning about insect body parts.
Match a bird (Go Fish)– Great pictures included in this post.
Whale sizes– You could play it as a simple matching game or try to collect the largest whale game.
Chemistry and Geology science games
Build an earthquake proof house– This is a combination of experiment and fun game for the kids because they get to challenge each other with the most outrageous houses. And who doesn’t like to eat the gum drop or marshmallows afterwards?
Lego Earthquake towers– Again who wouldn’t want to build and knock over Lego towers? The challenge is who can get the tallest earthquake proof building.
Things that Go Boom– Okay, so this is my pinterest board, but let’s face it blowing things up and making messes is fun. It may not be a game, but it’s fun.
Do you have a science game I’ve missed that you’ve written about? I’d love for you to add it in the links in the comments, because this is an area I’m looking to expand what we have. Two bookshelves of games is not enough, obviously.
For more game ideas to play with your family, check out my pinterest board:
Here’s my overall plan for this series:
Day 1: benefits of using games in school, and links of other reasons to play
Day 2: Active Games/Outdoor Games
Day 8: Science Games (today)
Day 9: Travel Games
Day 10: Solo or Two Player Games
We don’t have a ton of science games because there are so many excellent hands on experiments to bring most lessons home – but we do like the Wild Craft game – it’s still a favorite, and Scholastic has a number of short online games to go along with the Magic School Bus on their website – and of course, there’s Zoo Empire – another computer game – but a lot of fun for learning about animals and habitats.
I really need to work on our selection of computer games. For whatever reason, I’m reticent to let the kids play too many of them, and so I’m not familiar with most computer games for kids. Aside from the ones that don’t really have super a lot of thinking involved (Plants vs. Zombies).
I would like to add two of our favorites games to the list…
Into the Forest, Nature’s Food Chain Game ( https://www.amazon.com/Ampersand-Press-Forest-Natures-Chain/dp/B008HVKOH8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_indust_1 )
and, Some Body ( https://www.amazon.com/TaliCor-4102706-Somebody-Board-Game/dp/B00000IZHN/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1366899457&sr=1-1&keywords=body+game )
Those both sound like they’d be popular here, I’ll have to check them out!
Anatomix is another on the human body. I’ve not played it much (surprise, surprise!!), but I intend to once the children have finished their anatomy study. I think there’s a road somewhere paved with good intentions!
You really know your games! I think some of these look really interesting.