We create educational games ourselves: the best services to help teachers

We create educational games ourselves: the best services to help teachers

Services for creating educational games

• eTreniki is a designer of educational simulators, included in the TOP 30 best projects of the Competition for Innovations in Education. Offers several task concepts: Kartofan (correlation of signatures with objects on the map), Kokla (dividing words into categories), Krypton (solving words with mixed up letters), Morfunks (parsing a word according to its composition), UFO (searching for extra objects in a group).

• Learningapps is a service already known to many with interactive learning modules. The tasks are aimed at choosing the correct answer, distribution, sequencing, filling. The developers offer a wide variety of interesting templates, for example: “Who wants to be a millionaire?”, “Guess”, “Horse racing”, “Hanging”, “Couples”. The service removes a significant part of the burden of constructing and checking tests from the teacher.

• Online Test Pad is another popular service. Types of constructors: test, survey, crossword, logic games. To combine several types of exercises, a complex task designer is provided.

• Quizlet is an online service for working with virtual cards, as well as audio and written prompts. Supports about 130 languages. Among other things, it can use the “Memorization Mode” with the creation of an adaptive curriculum and a reminder function via mobile devices.

• ClassTools is an online service for creating interactive Flash resources. There are interesting templates for “QR Game Generator”, “Arcade Game Generator”, “Countdown Timer” and many others. If we talk about flash technology, it is also worth taking a closer look at the sites Jigsaw planet (creating puzzles) and Flashcard machine (creating cards).

• Hot Potatoes is a program for creating tests and crossword puzzles (download link). There are paid and free versions. Slightly outdated design, but very user-friendly interface. Ready crosswords can be printed.

• Socrative is a service for creating online surveys that students answer via mobile devices. Aimed at implementing the new global concept of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). The teacher can add an explanation to each question, providing instant feedback. It is also worth paying attention to another quiz service: Kahoot!.

• Canva is a graphic editor in which you can create diagrams and process photographs, and then use them in educational games. Large selection of colorful templates.

• PlayPosit is a service for creating interactive videos. With its help, any video can be turned into a didactic basis for a lesson. Materials from other services are easily integrated.

• Google Maps (custom layer) is a service that allows you to build educational games based on the principle of geocaching. Other sites for working with maps: StoryMap and TimeMapper. The latter allows you to present the material both geographically and chronologically.

What else should I read?
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Classification of didactic games in the Russian language

Entertaining astronomy for schoolchildren: games with cards

How to make educational games as effective as possible

• Use mobile phones.
  Many modern electronic educational services provide work via smartphones. The teacher can write a note to the school management asking for permission to use them in class. Lessons aside, educational mobile apps are also suitable for extracurricular activities and homework.
• Pay attention to the design.
  Most educational Internet services have the same content, the same set of templates and differ only in design capabilities. But design should not be considered a secondary element. We are dealing with children, and a bright picture is very important for them.
• Teach by playing.
  Many educational online games are essentially tests, simply presented in a beautiful “wrapper”. Use them to achieve substantive results.
• Integrate.
  To make the project versatile, integrate some services with others. Try inserting a link to an interactive map into a QR code or colorful videos into your timeline. If there are many services, they can be combined on one site (for example, Google Sites).
• Provide instant response.
  It is advisable to program in the service a quick response to a student’s question or answer. This function is available, for example, in the Hot Potatoes program and the Socrative service. Just like colorful design, increased interactivity helps keep students engaged.

Let's get to know the world. Educational games with cards for children 5-6 years old (set). Didactic materials

Double-sided cards of various thematic series and a playing field with six transparent plastic pockets are used in games that develop speech, perception, attention, memory, and intelligence of preschool children. The choice and number of cards depends on the goals and level of difficulty of each game activity. In the methodological manual, the authors talk about the characteristic features of the development of children of senior preschool age, and provide recommendations for organizing play activities. A description of games with cards is also given, on the basis of which new options can be created based on the individual characteristics and pace of development of the child.

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What PISA teaches us

In 2021, Russia once again took part in the international program for assessing the educational achievements of students, PISA. The results will not be available until the end of 2021, so for now we can only consider the results of the 2012 and 2015 studies. These results are not reassuring:

Why does this happen? The study tests how well students can apply school knowledge to real life, which requires critical thinking skills. We, however, often make knowledge “bounce off the teeth” without much analysis. This approach really turns out to be useful in preparing for many domestic and foreign tests, but we should not forget about the student’s general literacy. When creating online simulators, experts recommend introducing creative tasks that are close to life, involving observation, analysis and other interdisciplinary competencies.

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Puzzles for children - main advantages

The advantage of puzzles for children is that they will spend time productively - there is a chance that the child will not spend too much time on the computer or tablet. There are many types of puzzles, so it's easy to find one that your little one will love. However, if puzzles are a way for children to develop their skills, it is worth choosing more than just one type of puzzle.

Types of puzzles for children:

• math skills
• spatial imagination
• observation
• ability to make comparisons
• logical thinking
• concentration.

If you find that your child is having trouble solving certain problems, it is recommended that you revisit them often to help your little one develop their intelligence. The advantage of puzzles for children is that they often have an attractive shape for the little ones, and learning occurs through play. It has long been known that learning through play is the most effective way of early childhood education.

Games for children aged 2 years

Below are three types of puzzles for children: 5 mazes of varying difficulty, 5 logic puzzles and 5 math puzzles. Browse the activities and choose ones that may be suitable for your child. Click on the selected picture and print it. Give your child the selected tasks and help them solve them.

Tasks - mazes for children

Mazes are one of the simplest puzzles for children. The goal of such a task is to find a path from the entrance to the exit from the maze of corridors. This type of task requires focus and attention, as well as skillful pen control. They form the ability to concentrate attention, spatial orientation and graphomotor skills. It is worth noting that labyrinths have a calming and calming effect on children.

Early child development

When solving labyrinth-type puzzles for children, it is worth preparing a pencil, eraser and felt-tip pen. First, the baby must run his finger through the maze, looking for the right path. When he finds it, he can use a pencil - if he makes a mistake, the wrong path can be erased. Finally, the child marks the correct path with a felt-tip pen.

Puzzles for kids - easy maze

The task is suitable even for a three-year-old child. Encourage your child to solve the puzzle by asking him to find the path the princess must take to find the exit. Finally, your little one can color the princess silhouettes and flowers. When your child solves this puzzle, give him another one of our mazes that is just a little more difficult.

Puzzles for children - a maze with Santa Claus.

Puzzle for children with a labyrinth of medium difficulty. Ideal for three year olds familiar with mazes, as well as beginners, five year olds and older children. Which direction does Santa Claus follow to get to the Christmas tree? He must get to her, because the kids will be waiting for gifts!

Puzzles for children - a complex maze.

Which path must the snowman take to get to the bucket? This is a puzzle for older children who already have their first impressions of the maze. There are many ways and it takes longer concentration to find the right path. A good memory will also come in handy, because to draw a road after you point your finger at it, you will need to remember the route.

Puzzles for children - round labyrinth.

Help the hippopotamus get to the pond. The labyrinth is of medium complexity and shape, allowing you to easily move the handle along the path. There are many dead-end roads here, so solving the puzzle requires concentration and patience. Ideal for five year olds, older children and smart four year olds.

Puzzles for children: a labyrinth for older children.

Help the dogs find their toys? This task can be given to slightly older children who are good at concentrating. Confusing paths is a real puzzle, and narrow paths that need to be navigated correctly can be a big challenge for younger children.

Puzzle for children - math

1. Puzzles for kids: find 7 differences

Puzzle for children from 3 years old. Before giving it to your child, cover the small picture with the solution to the task so that the child does not help himself by looking at it. There are not many elements in the picture, so the puzzle will not be difficult. If your little one enjoys this challenge, you can print out more puzzles and find the differences.

Mathematical Puzzles for kids - find the same piece of paper.

The riddle develops spatial imagination and teaches analysis. The different arrangement of leaves makes the task more difficult because the baby has to mentally turn them over. Ask your child to connect two identical sheets with a line.

Math puzzle for kids: count the same pieces.

Command: Count the blue cones, pink buttons, bobbins, scissors and needles. The task requires concentration and intelligence. Suitable for children who can already count to 10, regardless of age. Crossing off items that have already been counted can make counting easier.

Math puzzle for kids: color the rooster.

If your child is starting to add and subtract within ten, this coloring page will help them practice this skill. To determine what color to fill the field with, you need to do a simple calculation and see what color corresponds to the resulting number. These kinds of math coloring pages for kids can be used for both learning and younger children.

Math puzzle for kids: sticks.

The problem is logical and mathematical at the same time. It is suitable for children who are already quite good at math because solving it requires constant calculations. At the same time, the child must figure out which match to move where and to create new numbers. Can you solve these problems? Test yourself and yourself!