Kinetic City is a web-based science program that teaches a variety of science concepts via challenges, games, and activities. The theme of the program is “knowledge-eating viruses destroying our world’s science” with the solution being to complete the games and projects to “beat the bugs and set things right.” It is designed for students aged 8-11 or grades 3-5. Students and teachers log on and play along with Super Crew characters Keisha, Curtis, Megan, and Max to battle the viruses that have deleted science and save planet Vearth by learning the lost science.
Kinetic City is produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and funded by the National Science Foundation. It has won a variety of awards for innovation in educational software. Based in DC, Kinetic City originated as a weekly radio show to share science knowledge and then was transformed into an after-school science club. Online, students can enter four sections—The Lab Car, Science Gym, Spark Club, or Kinetic City—Mission to Vearth.
The Lab Car incorporates mind games, the Science Gym combines physical activity with science learning, and the Spark Club involves hands-on activities on energy and sustainability topics. The Mission to Vearth section is where students take on the ‘Deep Delete’ virus to save Vearth. It is important to note that this virus has 60 strains, representing different areas of science, so there’s no shortage of engaging, educational activities! By leveraging activities that incorporate ELA, physical activity, and art, students will get the true STEAM experience from these interactive science games.
Kinetic City is an ideal way to combine online learning with hands-on activities. It is standards-based and provides for an engaging way for students to learn required science concepts. It is also easy to access since it is web-based and sign-ups are completely free. Whenever students log in and play, they gain power points, which allow them to climb the scoreboard and rise in rank from “Bug Zapper, second class” to “Supersonic Virus Stopper.”
Teachers or after-school instructors can set up a Kinetic City Club and receive extra benefits for their club, including a training workshop, student journals, accessories, and an official club website. The details for this pricing can be found on the Kinetic City website. You can also find Leader Guides and a Getting Started Guide for starting a club available for download online.
If you’ve been searching for an easily accessible web-based program to engage your students with science topics that incorporate other STEAM concepts, head over to Kinetic City and get started against ‘Deep Delete!’ Once you’ve checked out Kinetic City, make sure to head over to our store to see hands-on EdTech tools for your school. We have everything from classroom kits to robotics and much more that can help enrich your EdTech initiatives. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for the latest Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram updates on all things EdTech-related as well!