Free Online Science Games for Kids: 11 Interactive Sites by Grade

Science has so many topics that make more sense when students can see and move them. Online science games let students build a food chain, wire a circuit or drive a Mars rover, which is hard to do on a worksheet. Since science often gets less class time than reading and math, these free interactive science games are also a great way to sneak in extra practice. Use the grade levels below as a loose guide, since many sites have games for nearby grades too.

My undergrad is in science, so I have a soft spot for science apps and websites. I utilize them whenever possible.

Science games for K-2

  • PBS Kids has character-themed games about weather, pollinators, fossils and constellations.
  • Turtle Diary has dozens of science games for preschool through grade 5, organized by grade. It’s free with a sign-up, and a paid option removes ads.

Science games for grades 3-5

  • Science Kids has free games on food chains, circuits, magnets, friction, light and melting points. Students change one thing and see what happens.
  • Sheppard Software has free games on animal and plant cells, food chains, the human body, dinosaurs and the periodic table.
  • Experimonkey mixes science facts, quizzes and brain games with hands-on experiments students can try at home.
  • Mr. Nussbaum has simulations like Tornado Maker, Planetary Gravity Lab and Solar System Maker. A subscription unlocks the full site.
  • NASA Space Place has space, weather and earth games, like driving a Mars rover with code and building a CubeSat.

Science games for middle school

  • PhET Interactive Simulations from the University of Colorado has free sims for physics, chemistry, biology and earth science. Students can build circuits, balance forces or mix solutions right in the browser.
  • Legends of Learning has standards-aligned games for earth and space, life and physical science in grades K-8. Basic teacher accounts include all of the science games.

Science games for high school

  • SciChamp has free games for middle and high school chemistry, physics and biology, like balancing chemical equations and Ohm’s law circuits.
  • Science Game Center reviews science games for older students, from biology to physics. Check “Available on” in each game profile, since some games need a download or cost money.

More free science resources

For videos, experiments and museum collections, try WowScience and the Smithsonian Learning Lab. If you can’t find a game for your unit, search Google for “[topic] game for [grade level]” to find one that matches.

Science activities from my store

Want to mix science with tech skills? My CODING IN SCIENCE bundle has students code their way through science topics, my Guided Research Projects Science Bundle gives them a structured way to research online, and my Science Virtual Classrooms Bundle has students practice 13 science topics while they navigate websites and work between browser tabs.

FAQ

What are the best free online science games for kids?

For K-2, PBS Kids. For grades 3-5, Science Kids, Sheppard Software and NASA Space Place. For middle school, PhET simulations.

Are online science games good for learning?

Yes, when they match what you’re teaching. Simulations let students test ideas, like changing a circuit or a plant’s light, and see the results right away.

 

 

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