Big Science Ideas Systems helps students understand the “big idea” of systems! Through engaging simulations, puzzles and hands-on activities, students refine and apply their science and systems understanding.
They investigate diverse, real-world systems in physical science, life science, and earth and space science. An electronic notebook and puzzles allow students to summarize their work.
Product Overview
Explore Big Science Ideas Systems, and discover how the world works.
Systems. They’re all around us, but rarely do we get to climb inside a system and tinker. That’s where Big Science Ideas Systems comes in. It helps students learn about systems, a part of the science curriculum that both national standards and state programs have determined to be critical.
In Big Science Ideas Systems, students can first explore systems of household plumbing, pond eco-systems, and the earth’s tectonic plates through simulations and hands-on experiments.
After exploring, students can apply their knowledge in two unique ways. Challenge activities pose problems for kids to solve, using what they’ve learned from exploring the system. Kids “put it all together” in the puzzles, synthesizing their understanding of the whole system so they can see “the big picture.”
Using Big Science Ideas Systems, students will make important connections between math, science, and communication. Other skills strengthened by this software are observation, data recording, graphing, and pattern recognition. Students can record everything in electronic lab notebooks, which teachers can then use to evaluate students’ work.
When students are engrossed in learning, the learning is both real and personal. That’s the secret of the success of Big Science Ideas Systems. Kids will be completely engaged in exploring the fascinating systems in our world.
Features and Benefits
- It’s comprehensive. Big Science Ideas Systems helps students build their understanding of systems by experiencing and comparing examples of physical science, life science, and earth and space science systems.
- It supports The National Science Standards and state science frameworks.Students take a more active and thoughtful role in developing their own scientific knowledge through real-world problems.
- Students make all decisions. Students control and analyze all parts of the systems through simulations and hands-on experiments.
- Packed with information. If kids get stumped, they can learn more about each system from the information book.
- Authentic assessment made easy. Teachers can assess each student’s work through the electronic lab notebook and through summaries of the student’s challenges and puzzles.
Computer System Requirements Information
| Macintosh® Product Information: | Windows® Product Information: |
| System Compatibility: 68030 required (LC III or greater) System 7.1 or greater 13″ or larger color display (640 x 480, 256 color) 8MB RAM Double-speed CD-ROM drive (required for the CD-ROM version only) Hard disk | System Compatibility: 486 or higher Microsoft® Windows® 3.1 or higher 256-color SVGA display 8MB RAM Windows-compatible mouse Sound Blaster compatible sound card and speakers recommended Double-speed CD-ROM drive (required for the CD-ROM version only) |
Big Science Ideas System Versions
| Target Audience: | Ages 9-13 (Grades 4-8) |
|---|---|
| MECC Learning Category: | Science |
| Support Materials: | User’s Guide, on-screen help |
| Description | Product Number | Retail | Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| CD-ROM Based – Macintosh and Windows | |||
| Single Product | CD662 | $69.00 | $48.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | CD662LAB | $169.00 | $118.00 |
| Building Site License | CD662BSL | $699 | $489.00 |
| District Site License | CD662DSL | Call for pricing | |
| Description | Product Number | Retail | Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disk-Based Macintosh | |||
| Single Product | CD262 | $69.00 | $48.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | CD262LAB | $169.00 | $118.00 |
| Building Site License | CD262BSL | $699 | $489.00 |
| District Site License | CD262DSL | Call for pricing | |
| Description | Product Number | Retail | Member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disk-Based Windows | |||
| Single Product | CD462 | $69.00 | $48.00 |
| Lab Pack (5) | CD462LAB | $169.00 | $118.00 |
| Building Site License | CD462BSL | $699 | $489.00 |
| District Site License | CD462DSL | Call for pricing |