Elementary Science Software Review

Anyone who has spent time with young children has most likely endured endless "why" questions, and most of the time the standard "because" answer just won't cut it. Children are intuitively curious about the world around them—asking how things works and why things are the way they are. This curiosity, in a nutshell, is science. Elementary science software can help channel that curiosity for children in grades 1-5 by providing these budding scientists with hands-on activities, answering some of those "why" questions and even posing more questions to push their thinking further.

For the purposes of this review site, we looked at applications aimed at teaching basic science concepts to elementary school-aged children in grades 1-5 (roughly ages 7-11). If you're looking for applications geared to other age ranges, please see our related review sites for Middle School Science Software and Educational Science Software for high school students. You'll also find articles on elementary science software. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

Elementary Science Software: What to Look For

When choosing science applications for your child, consider programs that use a variety of teaching tools. You should also look at the topics the application covers. Some provide a broad overview of several scientific disciplines, while others narrow in on one topic. Both are excellent approaches, depending on your child's need and interests. It's important that you be aware of a program's ease of use—both in installation and in functionality. Also consider the available documentation and technical support in case a problem or question arises.

Teaching Tools
Children learn through a variety of different learning styles. Some learn best by reading about a subject, others need to see visual representations. For others, concepts sink in as they handle an object or do something physical related to the subject. And for all students, repetition of ideas through several teaching techniques helps to solidify their learning. A variety of teaching tools is especially important for young children who are just beginning to learn and explore the science in the world around them. In this category, we considered the availability of teaching tools such as textual instruction, video instruction, hands-on learning activities (like science projects), charts and diagrams, learning games, and quizzes. Top applications for kids will offer a variety teaching tools.

Topics Covered
Not all of the applications we considered have the same goal. Some offer a broad survey of several science subjects, and others are focused on more in-depth coverage of a specific subject. We didn't expect a biology program to cover physics, but we did expect that it would cover a wide range of topics under the life science umbrella. On the other hand, a program designed to teach information from several scientific disciplines was not expected to have as much depth in any one topic. Accordingly, this criterion refers to how well each application met its individual objective. Regardless of the aim—breadth or depth—the best applications will offer students enough material to engage them in learning and making connections.

Ease of Use
The best applications should be relatively simple to install and easy to use. While your child is learning about science, she shouldn't also have to divert brain power to deal with a frustrating application. Controls should be clearly labeled and intuitive to use and navigation should be fairly intuitive, as well.

Support/Documentation
Even with quality applications, sometimes things go wrong. It is important that there is a way to contact publishers with a request for technical support.

Using a variety of teaching tools and other features, elementary science software provides instruction and activities to foster your child's curiosity about science. Our top three picks for the best elementary science software are Elementary School Succes Deluxe, Elementary Advantage and KidScience: Physics.  With a little adult guidance, young children can begin to learn basic concepts, and older children will enjoy the independence of learning and exploring on their own. With quality science applications, your child's interest and enthusiasm for science can continue to grow through hands-on activities and age-appropriate science content.