24/7 Science Receives Highest Rating for a Second Year in a Row from Common Sense Media

For the second year, the Lawrence Hall of Science’s 24/7 Science website has received the highest 5 out of 5 rating from Common Sense Media, the national nonprofit devoted to helping parents and teachers manage media and technology in kids’ lives. 24/7 Science was one of the first recipients of the ON for Learning Award in 2013. The award celebrates the very best in kids’ digital media products designed to educate and engage.

Developed by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley, 24/7 Science features kid-friendly online games and instructions for offline experiments pertaining to basic principles of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and other sciences. The site received a ranking of 5/5 for learning potential from Common Sense Media, making it a first class site for science games and investigations. Common Sense Media’s learning ratings are based on comprehensive research and a rigorous evaluation framework. Both the lab investigations and online simulations on 24/7 Science are high-quality and easy to navigate with regular hints and clear instructions, making it an ideal site to challenge and engage young users.

24/7 Science offers dozens of interactive games and activities that have real-world applications like the repercussions of cigarette smoking on the lungs or how to read thermometers and spot potential household hazards. Activities like “Oil Spill” provide instructions for students to conduct experiments at home to explore what kinds of materials are best to clean up oil spills, while games like “Jupiter’s Moons” provide digital simulations to allow kids to explore astronomy online. Students are prompted to change variables in investigations and are given the option to learn more about each topic with links to other similar activities, inspiring deeper investigation of their favorite topics. The interactive nature of the games on 24/7 Science motivates students to use their hands, feet, eyes, ears, brain, imagination, and cool tools to experiment, design, test and discover amazing things about the world around them.

24/7 Science is part of an ongoing effort by the Lawrence Hall of Science to promote effective science education in both the school and the home through a range of exciting new media projects. DIY Nano, created by the Lawrence Hall of Science and the NISE network in 2012, allows students to investigate how nanotechnology can affect our future, with topics ranging from inventions of medicine to how gravity affects tiny objects. The DIY Nano mobile app explores do-it-yourself nanotechnology activities within the context of a cooking show-inspired interactive platform. HowtoSmile.org, established in 2010, is an advanced search engine, created by the Lawrence Hall of Science and partner science museums, that allows users to browse a catalog of over 3,600 free, hands-on science and math activities collected from educational organizations across the country.

The Lawrence Hall of Science is continuing their efforts to create high quality digital learning products with the release of the DIY Sun Science app, a new mobile app that will allow families to experience and learn about sun science. The app provides free, easy-to-use hands-on activities at your fingertips with step-by-step instructions and detailed explanations. Similar to 24/7 Science, the DIY Sun Science app aims to foster appreciation and knowledge of science through effective digital education. The DIY Sun Science app is now available on the Apple App store. For more information visit the DIY Sun Science page.

Follow news about the 2014 ON for Learning Award winners on Twitter with the hashtag #ONforLearning.
Find more information about the Lawrence Hall of Science’s 24/7 Science.
Learn more about Common Sense Media’s learning ratings.

About Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. We exist because our kids are growing up in a culture that profoundly impacts their physical, social, and emotional well-being. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. More information.

Press Contacts:
Janet Noe
The Lawrence Hall of Science

Marisa Connolly or Julia Plonowski
Common Sense Media