Computer simulations can represent real or imaginary situations. They allow users to study or try things that would be difficult or impossible to do in real life.

Simulations are particularly useful when a real-life process:

• is too dangerous,
• takes to long,
• is too quick to study,
• is too expensive to create.

Learning from Simulations

Children should use simulations to make and explore predictions and to identify patterns and relationships.

Questions to think about when using a simulation program:

• Was the simulation program realistic?
• Does the simulation represent a real life or fantasy situation?
• How realistic is it?
• Did the same things always happen - was there a pattern?
• What are the variables, can you think of any others which might make the simulation more accurate?
• Was there more than one solution to the problem?
• What were the good points/bad points?
• What did you find out?

Web based Simulations

Children should be encouraged to keep accurate notes during their use of the simulation so that they can discover any patterns and make predictions. It has been found that the children who keep the best notes always progress through the levels successfully (not necessarily the higher achievers!)

A variety of 3D simulations
www.forgefx.com/demos.htm

Simulations suitable for Year 3 ICT unit

Duck Builder Game - Can you build a duck to fly over the canyon or will he soar into space or flop to the ground?
Build your duck, change its body, wing, leg and beak size before launching it off a cliff to see if it can reach its destination. Requires a free file to be downloaded.
Lesson plan to go with the Duck builder simulation can be found here

Collin's Coffee from the Northumberland grid for learning

1. Rabbits - Start with this one

2. Rabbits and Hunters:
from the Greenwich grid for learning

Y3 Grow a plant simulation (needs Virtools Webplayer - automatic download)
This simulation is particularly particularly relevant to Year 3 because children already have the opportunity do the real experiment in science (unit 3b). Children can compare the simulation with the experiment. They can then use the information they gather about each of the plants to discuss where it would grow best in their house and where it would grow outside (possibly in another country). Download a recording sheet (textease file)

Science Simulations online

Plant Force
You work for a plant development company and and have to try and find out the optimum conditions for its growth. Which is the cheapest option?

Grow Alien plants Change the variables to grow Universe record breaking plant.
There are four plants that need feeding:

BBC virtual garden planner. Allows you to plan a garden then view it in '3D'

Parachute Man Simulation Help the parachutist land safely. Good link for Science work on Forces.

Roller Coaster Designer - Design your own roller-coaster. Good link for Science work on Forces.

Global Warming simulation. Science museum climate change simulation. What happens if you don’t turn the light off?

Food Chain Simulation

Morphases - Changing Faces

Discovery Channel Space Walk Simulation A space walk to fix cables on the space shuttle.

Planet10 - Build your own planet in this virtual universe

Design your own Satellite

Maths Simulations online

Grow Alien plants Change the variables to grow Universe record breaking plant.
There are four plants that need feeding:

Interpreting a line graph
Bath time with Archimedes Turn the tap on, turn the tap on, put the plug in, take the plug out, Archimedes gets in and out of the bath...a line graph is drawn in real time. Interpret the graph.

Design and Technology Simulations online

Pontifex. Bridge building simulation. Highly sophisticated simulation where you build a bridge then see if it will take a train without going for a swim!

Robot Sim Construct your own robot from a range of different materials and components, and try it out in one of many treacherous Zones.

Supercity Planner You have a budget of £10 million pounds to construct your own section of Supercity. How well will you do?

City Creator
Build towns and cities. It is similar to some of the old MyWorld screens and SIM City.

Geography Simulations online

Dumptown A recycling simulation

History Simulations online

Tudor Simulations
Tudor Joust | The Train | shopping game | Crime and punishment | Tudor Hackney virtual world | Victorian Crime | Codemaster | It's World War Two: How would you cope? |

Viking simulation on the BBC Site

And here's one for teachers!

Virtual School - (What more could we ask for?)
http://devvirtualschool.ncsl.org.uk/