More Free Science Interactives by NGSS Standard
A hand-checked directory of free science interactives from across the web, organized by NGSS standard. Every link is Chromebook-friendly, with no sign-up.
Middle school
Physical Science
MS-PS1-1 Models of atoms and molecules. PhET: Build an Atom, PhET: Build a Molecule, PhET: Isotopes and Atomic Mass, JavaLab: Molecule.
MS-PS1-2 Deciding whether a chemical reaction occurred. PhET: Reactants, Products and Leftovers, PhET: Balancing Chemical Equations, ChemCollective: Virtual Lab, JavaLab: Precipitation Reaction.
MS-PS1-3 Synthetic materials from natural resources. Reading and case-study materials only. No true interactive found yet.
MS-PS1-4 Thermal energy, particle motion, state changes. PhET: States of Matter: Basics, PhET: Energy Forms and Changes, Concord: Phase Change, JavaLab: Boiling Point.
MS-PS1-5 Conservation of mass in a reaction. PhET: Balancing Chemical Equations, PhET: Reactants, Products and Leftovers, JavaLab: Law of Definite Proportions.
MS-PS1-6 Design a device that releases or absorbs thermal energy chemically. JavaLab: Conduction. Nearest options model heat flow, not chemical hot and cold packs.
MS-PS2-1 Newton's third law and colliding objects. PhET: Collision Lab, Physics Classroom: Collision Carts, JavaLab: Collision.
MS-PS2-2 Net force and mass affect motion. PhET: Forces and Motion: Basics, Physics Classroom: Rocket Sledder, Physics Aviary: Newton's 2nd Law Lab.
MS-PS2-3 Factors affecting electric and magnetic forces. PhET: Balloons and Static Electricity, PhET: Magnets and Electromagnets, Physics Classroom: Charging, JavaLab: Magnetic Field Around a Coil.
MS-PS2-4 Gravitational interactions depend on mass. PhET: Gravity Force Lab: Basics, PhET: Gravity and Orbits, JavaLab: Gravity on Several Planets.
MS-PS2-5 Fields exist between objects exerting forces at a distance. PhET: Charges and Fields, PhET: Magnet and Compass, Physics Classroom: Electric Field Lines.
MS-PS3-1 Kinetic energy, mass, and speed. PhET: Energy Skate Park: Basics, Physics Aviary: Kinetic Energy Lab, Physics Classroom: Stopping Distance.
MS-PS3-2 Potential energy and relative position. PhET: Energy Skate Park: Basics, PhET: Masses and Springs, PhET: Hooke's Law.
MS-PS3-3 Design a device that maximizes or minimizes thermal transfer. Physics Aviary: Heat Transfer Lab, JavaLab: Room Convection, JavaLab: Conduction. These work as testbeds. Energy3D and Energy2D, often cited here, are desktop installs and excluded.
MS-PS3-4 Thermal energy transfer and equilibrium. PhET: Energy Forms and Changes, Physics Aviary: Specific Heat of Liquid, JavaLab: Specific Heat.
MS-PS3-5 Energy transfer changes kinetic energy. PhET: Energy Skate Park: Basics, Physics Classroom: Roller Coaster Model, Physics Aviary: Energy Loss on Bounce.
MS-PS4-1 Wave amplitude, frequency, and energy. PhET: Waves Intro, PhET: Wave on a String, Physics Classroom: Slinky Lab.
MS-PS4-2 Reflection, absorption, transmission. PhET: Bending Light, Physics Classroom: Boundary Behavior, JavaLab: Light Refraction.
MS-PS4-3 Digital signals are more reliable than analog. JavaLab: Digital Sampling, JavaLab: Radio Wave Communication. These show how signals are sampled and sent, though neither is built for the full analog-versus-digital argument.
Life Science
MS-LS1-1 Living things are made of cells. Learn.Genetics: Cell Size and Scale, Learn.Genetics: Inside a Cell.
MS-LS1-2 Function of a cell and its parts. SciMinis: Inside the Cell. BioMan: Cell Defense: The Plasma Membrane, Learn.Genetics: Inside a Cell, Biology Simulations: Cell Structure.
MS-LS1-3 Body as a system of interacting subsystems. BioMan: Respiratory Journey, BioMan: Endocrine Ed. Game-style tours of single body systems. Nothing models the interactions between subsystems yet.
MS-LS1-4 Behaviors and structures affecting reproduction. Biology Simulations: Sexual Selection. Covers mate choice only. Plant structures and other behaviors are not modeled.
MS-LS1-5 Environmental and genetic factors in growth. No interactive built for this PE was found.
MS-LS1-6 Photosynthesis cycles matter and flows energy. SciMinis: Photosynthesis Explorer. BioMan: Photosynthesis Interactive, Biology Simulations: Cell Energy.
MS-LS1-7 Food molecules rearranged, energy released. HHMI BioInteractive: Cellular Respiration Hub, BioMan: Photosynthesis Respiration Game, Biology Simulations: Cell Energy. The HHMI interactive leans high school.
MS-LS1-8 Sensory receptors, signals, memory. PhET: Neuron, JavaLab: Neuron. Nearest options cover signal propagation only, not receptors-to-memory.
MS-LS2-1 Resource availability and populations. NetLogo Web: Wolf Sheep Predation, Biology Simulations: Population Dynamics, Virtual Biology Lab: Logistic Growth.
MS-LS2-2 Patterns of interaction among organisms. Biology Simulations: Competition, NetLogo Web: Wolf Sheep Predation.
MS-LS2-3 Cycling of matter and flow of energy. HHMI BioInteractive: Exploring Biomass Pyramids, Biology Simulations: Carbon Cycling.
MS-LS2-4 Changes to ecosystems affect populations. NetLogo Web: Rabbits Grass Weeds, Biology Simulations: Population Dynamics.
MS-LS2-5 Design solutions to maintain biodiversity. Biology Simulations: Biodiversity. Models biodiversity sampling, not competing design solutions.
MS-LS3-1 Mutations affect proteins, structure, function. Learn.Genetics: Transcribe and Translate a Gene, Concord: Mutations, Biology Simulations: Mutation.
MS-LS3-2 Sexual versus asexual reproduction and variation. Biology Simulations: Heredity, JavaLab: Meiosis, JavaLab: Mendel's Law of Heredity.
MS-LS4-1 Fossil record as evidence of change. HHMI BioInteractive: EarthViewer. EarthViewer shows life through deep time but is not a fossil-record analysis tool.
MS-LS4-2 Anatomical similarity as evidence. HHMI BioInteractive: Sorting Finch Species, HHMI BioInteractive: Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab.
MS-LS4-3 Embryological evidence. Comparative embryology material online is images, not manipulable models.
MS-LS4-4 Natural selection changes trait frequency. PhET: Natural Selection, Learn.Genetics: Rock Pocket Mouse, Biology Simulations: Natural Selection, NOVA Labs: Evolution Lab.
MS-LS4-5 Artificial selection and technology. Learn.Genetics: Pigeon Breeding: Genetics at Work. Covers selective breeding. Modern technologies like gene editing are not modeled.
MS-LS4-6 Mathematics of trait change over time. PhET: Natural Selection, Biology Simulations: Population Genetics.
Earth and Space Science
MS-ESS1-1 Earth-Sun-Moon: phases, eclipses, seasons. SciMinis: Seasons in Orbit. PBS LearningMedia: Lunar Phases Simulation, UNL Astronomy: Seasons: Tilt, JavaLab: Eclipse, Stellarium: Stellarium Web.
MS-ESS1-2 Gravity and motion within the solar system. SciMinis: Star Builder. PhET: Gravity and Orbits, PhET: My Solar System, NASA: Eyes on the Solar System.
MS-ESS1-3 Scale properties of solar system objects. NASA: Eyes on the Solar System, Solar System Scope: Solar System Model, JavaLab: Scale of Solar System, UNL Astronomy: Scale.
MS-ESS1-4 Geologic time scale from strata and fossils. HHMI BioInteractive: EarthViewer. EarthViewer explores deep time but does not build the time scale from strata.
MS-ESS2-1 Rock cycle. JavaLab: Rock, JavaLab: Igneous Rock. Nearest options cover rock types, not the full cycle.
MS-ESS2-2 Geoscience processes across time and space scales. SciMinis: Fold Mountain Builder. Concord: Tectonic Explorer, JavaLab: Continental Drift.
MS-ESS2-3 Evidence for past plate motions. Concord: Seismic Explorer, Concord: Tectonic Explorer, JavaLab: Plate Tectonics, JavaLab: Continental Drift.
MS-ESS2-4 Water cycle driven by sunlight and gravity. SciMinis: Exploring the Water Cycle.
MS-ESS2-5 Air masses and weather change. JavaLab: Weather Fronts, JavaLab: Dew, NOVA Labs: Cloud Lab.
MS-ESS2-6 Circulation determines regional climate. SciMinis: Seasons in Orbit. Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate.
MS-ESS3-1 Uneven distribution of Earth's resources. Map viewers only. No interactive models the geoscience processes behind resource distribution.
MS-ESS3-2 Natural hazards and forecasting. SciMinis: Earthquake Simulator. SciMinis: Volcano Eruption Simulator. Concord: Seismic Explorer, JavaLab: Seismic Waves.
MS-ESS3-3 Monitor and minimize human impact. Concord: High-Adventure Science: Land, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Air.
MS-ESS3-4 Population growth and consumption. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Land. En-ROADS leans high school.
MS-ESS3-5 Rise in global temperatures. PhET: Greenhouse Effect, PhET: Molecules and Light, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator.
Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1 Define criteria and constraints. A design practice rather than a model. Any simulation above can host it.
MS-ETS1-2 Systematically evaluate competing solutions. Same as MS-ETS1-1: a practice, not a model.
MS-ETS1-3 Analyze test data across solutions. PhET: Circuit Construction Kit: DC, Physics Aviary: Energy Loss on Bounce. Both give measurable outputs across repeated design trials.
MS-ETS1-4 Iterative modeling and refinement. Concord: SageModeler, NetLogo Web: NetLogo Web.
High school
Chemistry (HS-PS1)
HS-PS1-1 Periodic trends from electron structure. PhET: Build an Atom, PhET: Isotopes and Atomic Mass, JavaLab: Electron Configuration, MolView: MolView.
HS-PS1-2 Predict products of simple reactions. ChemCollective: Virtual Lab, ChemReaX: ChemReaX, PhET: Balancing Chemical Equations.
HS-PS1-3 Bulk properties from forces between particles. SciMinis: Water Up Close. PhET: States of Matter, PhET: Atomic Interactions, Concord: Seeing Intermolecular Attractions, Concord: Hydrogen Bonds.
HS-PS1-4 Energy absorbed or released as bonds break and form. ChemReaX: ChemReaX. Manipulable reaction-energy and enthalpy diagrams remain the thin spot.
HS-PS1-5 Reaction rate: concentration, temperature, catalysts. ChemReaX: ChemReaX, JavaLab: Temperature and Reaction Rate, JavaLab: Reaction Rate of Solution. PhET's Reactions and Rates is legacy Java, so it is excluded here.
HS-PS1-6 Adjust conditions to maximize yield, Le Chatelier. ChemReaX: ChemReaX, ChemCollective: Virtual Lab, JavaLab: Le Chatelier's Principle.
HS-PS1-7 Conservation of atoms and mass, stoichiometry. PhET: Balancing Chemical Equations, PhET: Reactants, Products and Leftovers, ChemCollective: Virtual Lab.
HS-PS1-8 Nuclear processes: fission, fusion, radioactive decay. SciMinis: Fusion Forge. PhET: Build a Nucleus, JavaLab: Nuclear Chain Reaction.
Physics (HS-PS2 to HS-PS4)
HS-PS2-1 Newton's second law for macroscopic objects. SciMinis: Cannon Kinematics. PhET: Forces and Motion: Basics, Physics Aviary: Newton's 2nd Law Lab, Physics Classroom: Atwood's Machine.
HS-PS2-2 Conservation of momentum. PhET: Collision Lab, Physics Classroom: Collision Carts, Physics Classroom: 2D Collisions.
HS-PS2-3 Engineering: minimize force during a collision. Physics Classroom: Egg Drop, Physics Aviary: Impulse Lab, PhET: Collision Lab.
HS-PS2-4 Newton's law of gravitation and Coulomb's law. PhET: Gravity Force Lab, PhET: Coulomb's Law, Physics Aviary: Universal Gravity, Physics Classroom: Coulomb's Law.
HS-PS2-5 Current produces magnetic field; changing field induces current. PhET: Faraday's Law, PhET: Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab, Falstad: Circuit Simulator, Physics Classroom: Electromagnet.
HS-PS2-6 Molecular-level structure in designed materials. PhET: States of Matter, PhET: Atomic Interactions, MolView: MolView.
HS-PS3-1 Compute energy changes within a system. PhET: Energy Skate Park, Physics Classroom: Roller Coaster Model, Physics Aviary: Energy Transformations.
HS-PS3-2 Energy as particle motion plus stored field and position energy. PhET: Energy Skate Park, PhET: Charges and Fields, PhET: Gas Properties.
HS-PS3-3 Engineering: device that converts energy forms. PhET: Energy Forms and Changes, Physics Aviary: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat. Energy3D, often cited here, is a desktop install and excluded.
HS-PS3-4 Thermal energy flows toward uniform distribution. PhET: Energy Forms and Changes, Physics Aviary: Heat Transfer Lab, JavaLab: Conduction.
HS-PS3-5 Fields change the energy stored in a system. PhET: Charges and Fields, PhET: Gravity and Orbits, Falstad: Circuit Simulator.
HS-PS4-1 Wave frequency, wavelength, speed, media. PhET: Wave Interference, PhET: Waves Intro, Physics Aviary: Speed of Wave on String, Falstad: Ripple Tank.
HS-PS4-2 Advantages of digital transmission and storage. JavaLab: Digital Sampling. Shows analog-to-digital sampling. The storage-and-reliability argument is not modeled.
HS-PS4-3 Electromagnetic radiation as wave and particle. Physics Aviary: Photoelectric Lab, JavaLab: Photoelectric Effect, PhET: Models of the Hydrogen Atom, PhET: Blackbody Spectrum. PhET's old Photoelectric Effect sim was legacy Java and has been retired.
HS-PS4-4 Effects of EM frequencies on matter. PhET: Molecules and Light, PhET: Blackbody Spectrum. The ionizing versus non-ionizing framing is not directly modeled.
HS-PS4-5 Wave and photon technologies. JavaLab: Radio Wave Communication, Physics Aviary: Photoelectric Lab. These cover the physics more than the devices built on it.
Biology (HS-LS1, HS-LS3, HS-LS4)
HS-LS1-1 DNA sequence determines protein structure and cell function. Learn.Genetics: Transcribe and Translate a Gene, Concord: DNA to Protein, HHMI BioInteractive: Central Dogma and Genetic Medicine, NOVA Labs: RNA Lab.
HS-LS1-2 Hierarchical organization of interacting body systems. BioMan: Respiratory Journey. Paid tools dominate this topic. Free options tour one system at a time.
HS-LS1-3 Feedback maintains homeostasis. BioMan: Endocrine Ed, Biology Simulations: Enzymes.
HS-LS1-4 Mitosis and differentiation. HHMI BioInteractive: The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle and Cancer, Biology Simulations: Cell Cycle, JavaLab: Cell Division, JavaLab: Differentiation.
HS-LS1-5 Photosynthesis stores light energy in chemical bonds. SciMinis: Photosynthesis Explorer. HHMI BioInteractive: Photosynthesis.
HS-LS1-6 Carbon-based molecules assemble into macromolecules. MolView: MolView, HHMI BioInteractive: Biomolecules on the Menu, Concord: Protein Folding.
HS-LS1-7 Cellular respiration rearranges molecules, releases energy. HHMI BioInteractive: Cellular Respiration Hub, BioMan: Photosynthesis Respiration Game, Biology Simulations: Cell Energy.
HS-LS3-1 Chromosomes and DNA carry inherited instructions. Biology Simulations: Heredity, JavaLab: Mendel's Law of Heredity, Learn.Genetics: Pigeon Breeding: Genetics at Work.
HS-LS3-2 Variation from mutation and sexual reproduction. Biology Simulations: Mutation, JavaLab: Meiosis, Concord: Mutations.
HS-LS3-3 Statistics of trait variation and distribution. Biology Simulations: Population Genetics, PhET: Natural Selection.
HS-LS4-1 Evidence for common ancestry and evolution. NOVA Labs: Evolution Lab, HHMI BioInteractive: Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab, HHMI BioInteractive: Sorting Finch Species.
HS-LS4-2 Natural selection from variation and differential reproduction. PhET: Natural Selection, HHMI BioInteractive: Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab, Learn.Genetics: Rock Pocket Mouse, Biology Simulations: Natural Selection.
HS-LS4-3 Advantageous heritable traits become more common. Biology Simulations: Population Genetics, Biology Simulations: Evolution, HHMI BioInteractive: Human Skin Color: Evidence for Selection.
HS-LS4-4 Natural selection leads to adaptation of populations. PhET: Natural Selection, Biology Simulations: Natural Selection, HHMI BioInteractive: Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab.
HS-LS4-5 Environmental change drives adaptation, speciation, extinction. Biology Simulations: Genetic Drift: Bottleneck, Biology Simulations: Genetic Drift: Founder Effect, HHMI BioInteractive: EarthViewer.
HS-LS4-6 Engineering: simulate solutions affecting biodiversity. NetLogo Web: Wolf Sheep Predation, Concord: SageModeler, En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator.
Astronomy (HS-ESS1)
HS-ESS1-1 Nuclear fusion in the Sun's core. SciMinis: Fusion Forge. NOVA Labs: Sun Lab.
HS-ESS1-2 Astronomical evidence for the Big Bang. JavaLab: Cosmic Expansion, JavaLab: Doppler Effect and Redshift, JavaLab: Spectrum of Hydrogen.
HS-ESS1-3 Stars produce elements over their life cycles. SciMinis: Star Builder. UNL Astronomy: HR Diagram, NOVA Labs: Sun Lab. Star Builder covers star formation and fusion ignition. Element production itself is still unmodeled.
HS-ESS1-4 Kepler's laws and orbital motion. PhET: Gravity and Orbits, PhET: My Solar System, UNL Astronomy: Kepler's 1st Law, UNL Astronomy: Kepler's 3rd Law, JavaLab: Kepler's Law.
HS-ESS1-5 Crustal rock ages as evidence of plate tectonics. Concord: Seismic Explorer, Concord: Tectonic Explorer, JavaLab: Plate Tectonics.
HS-ESS1-6 Radiometric dating and the record of early Earth. PhET: Build a Nucleus, HHMI BioInteractive: EarthViewer. PhET's Radioactive Dating Game is legacy Java, so it is excluded here.
Environmental Science (HS-LS2, HS-ESS2, HS-ESS3)
HS-LS2-1 Factors affecting carrying capacity. NetLogo Web: Wolf Sheep Predation, HHMI BioInteractive: Population Dynamics, Virtual Biology Lab: Logistic Growth, Biology Simulations: Population Dynamics.
HS-LS2-2 Factors affecting biodiversity across scales. Biology Simulations: Biodiversity, HHMI BioInteractive: Population Dynamics.
HS-LS2-3 Cycling of matter, aerobic and anaerobic. HHMI BioInteractive: Cellular Respiration Hub, Biology Simulations: Carbon Cycling.
HS-LS2-4 Energy transfer between trophic levels. HHMI BioInteractive: Exploring Biomass Pyramids, NetLogo Web: Wolf Sheep Predation.
HS-LS2-5 Carbon cycling among Earth's spheres. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, Biology Simulations: Carbon Cycling.
HS-LS2-6 Ecosystem stability and response to disturbance. NetLogo Web: Rabbits Grass Weeds, HHMI BioInteractive: Coral Reefs and Global Warming.
HS-LS2-7 Engineering: reduce human impact on biodiversity. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Land. These cover the policy half more than the biodiversity half.
HS-LS2-8 Group behavior and individual survival. NetLogo Web: Flocking, NetLogo Web: Ants. Classic group-behavior models, though neither was built for this PE.
HS-ESS2-1 Internal and surface processes shape Earth. Concord: Tectonic Explorer, Concord: Seismic Explorer.
HS-ESS2-2 Feedback among Earth's systems. Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator.
HS-ESS2-3 Mantle convection drives plate motion. Concord: Tectonic Explorer, Concord: Seismic Explorer, JavaLab: Plate Tectonics, JavaLab: Convection.
HS-ESS2-4 Solar and Earth system variation drives climate. PhET: Greenhouse Effect, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator.
HS-ESS2-5 Properties and movement of water. SciMinis: Water Up Close. Concord: High-Adventure Science: Water. Water Up Close covers the properties-of-water half. No clean groundwater sandbox exists yet.
HS-ESS2-6 Carbon cycle among Earth's spheres, quantitative. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, NetLogo Web: Climate Change.
HS-ESS2-7 Coevolution of Earth's systems and life. HHMI BioInteractive: EarthViewer.
HS-ESS3-1 Resources, hazards, and climate shaped human activity. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Energy.
HS-ESS3-2 Cost-benefit tradeoffs of energy and mineral resources. SciMinis: Fusion Forge. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Energy.
HS-ESS3-3 Computational simulation of resources and sustainability. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: SageModeler, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Land.
HS-ESS3-4 Engineering: reduce human impact on natural systems. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Air.
HS-ESS3-5 Forecast climate change from global climate models. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, PhET: Greenhouse Effect, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Climate, KCVS: Climate Resources.
HS-ESS3-6 Computational representation of Earth systems and human activity. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: SageModeler, NetLogo Web: Climate Change.
Engineering Design (HS-ETS1)
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a global challenge to specify criteria and constraints. A design practice rather than a model. Simulations above can host it.
HS-ETS1-2 Break a complex problem into smaller solvable problems. Same as HS-ETS1-1: a practice, not a model.
HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution against prioritized criteria and tradeoffs. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Energy. Both support the practice inside a specific context.
HS-ETS1-4 Computer simulation to model the impact of a proposed solution. En-ROADS: En-ROADS Climate Simulator, Concord: SageModeler, Concord: High-Adventure Science: Land. The best served of the four engineering PEs.