With ExploreLearning Gizmos, students can model observable phenomena, take on the role of STEM professionals, and get hands-on with science and math concepts using inquiry and exploration. Events that might typically take days, weeks, or years to observe can now be experienced in classrooms with the world’s largest library of virtual simulations and labs.
Now with a new expansive collection of supplemental Spanish resources for elementary Gizmos, all students can access and apply science and math knowledge in meaningful ways. Gizmos are aligned with learning standards in all 50 states, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas.
New supplemental Spanish resources
Each Gizmo simulation comes with pre-made, customizable lesson materials for easy planning and implementation. Elementary Gizmos lesson materials are now available in Spanish and English! Resources can be fully adapted to meet each teacher’s lesson goals and classroom needs.
- Teacher Guide: This resource includes an overview of the Gizmo, lesson objectives, vocabulary, a suggested lesson sequence, discussion questions, background information, follow-up activities, and selected online resources.
- Student Exploration Sheet: This document guides students through the use of a Gizmo. Each sheet includes prior knowledge questions, warm-up activities, and guided investigations to complete within the Gizmo. The answer key is available for teachers.
- Vocabulary: Each Gizmo includes a list of related vocabulary and definitions for students.
Currently, offline materials for elementary Gizmos are available in both English and Spanish, while simulations are offered in English.
Using the Weight and Mass Gizmo, students can apply their knowledge and foster language development using the Student Exploration Sheet in English or Spanish.
How do Gizmos support English Language Learners?
Gizmos simulations use a learning approach validated by extensive research as a highly effective way to build conceptual understanding in math and science. In a meta-analysis of over 100 research studies involving 4,000+ experimental/control group comparisons, the following Gizmos instructional techniques were all shown to have a large, positive impact on student achievement:
Gizmos utilize best practices to support differentiated instruction through:
- Rich visuals and virtual models support student understanding
- Multiple modes of representation (discussion, pictures, graphs, writing, etc.)
- Varied activity levels scaffold and differentiate learning
- Opportunities for individual and guided practice
- Concepts and vocabulary connections to real-world experiences
Gizmos bring evidence-based results.
Rigorous independent efficacy studies show that the use of Gizmos math and science simulations drives increases in student classroom engagement, content knowledge, scientific skills, and standardized test scores.
Dr. Scott Sutherland studied how Gizmos impacted English Language Learners and their ability to demonstrate verbal and written comprehension of science content at a proficient level. Dr. Sutherland noted a strong correlation between the use of Gizmos and English Language Learners’ written and oral comprehension of science content, evident through answers on lab sheets and in interviews.
Language barriers were reduced using Gizmos because students could access more interactive visuals instead of reading complex text when learning about new content. “I concluded that Gizmos had a positive effect on English Language Learners' ability to understand science at proficient levels due to the visual connections that they provide that maximize what’s considered comprehensible input,” he said.
