Science 2 - Energy Websites

URL: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments

Synopsis: This is an amalgamation of different musical tools, some of which really support the outcomes within this science unit, and others which really let students explore the field of music in a digital realm. Specific to science within this site are the Spectrogram (illustrating pitch and volume), Sound Waves (illustrating that vibration is a back-and-forth movement), Voice Spinner (illustrating volume, pitch, and duration) and Oscillators (illustrating that vibration is a back-and-forth movement).

URL: https://intro.novationmusic.com/retro-grain

Synopsis: This is a completely free version of a LaunchPad, a device often used by DJs to mix various tracks with various types of sounds. Whether you create one as a class or have students work independently, there are many elements of the curriculum that can be taken from here, such as pitch, volume, duration, and the wide variety of sounds, that in these cases, are human-made. 

Note: The squares with a loop-shaped arrow will repeat on their own (until they are clicked off) while the ones with a straight arrow need to be held down. 

URL: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/wave-interference/latest/wave-interference_all.html

Synopsis: Though the vocabulary (such as "Frequency" and "Amplitude") are certainly for science classes well above grade two, what is great with this simulator is that you can illustrate what changes in pitch/colour (frequency) and volume/brightness (amplitude) look like when given as a visual representation along side the sound itself (click on "Play Tone.")

URL: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/bending-light

Synopsis: With both refraction and dispersion as components of the Science 2 curriculum, this simulator really helps students to see an explanation behind why they are seeing refraction when they see it, and shows a simplified simulation of dispersion through a prism (or to really split up the light, many prisms).

URL: https://plays.org/game/rubis-lazer-maze/

Synopsis: Though there may be many games like this one, there are few that are free without any advertising. (Here's an example of another that is similar, but seems bombarded with ads.) The emphasis on this game being played by parents and their children really adds to the idea that the developer wanted this designed to really highlight the principles of light and reflection for students. Ideally, if there is one thing that students will take after playing this as a class, is that light does travel in a straight line.