NOVA Elements for iPad is an excellent, free iPad app that science teachers should take note of. The app is “hosted” by NY Times technology reviewer David Pogue. There are three primary features of the app. Those features are called Explore, Watch, and Play.
The Explore feature of NOVA Elements for iPad contains and interactive periodic table of elements. Students can tap through the periodic table to learn some basic information about each element. Students can also try to create each element by combining virtual protons, neutrons, and electrons until they have the correct combination.
The Watch feature of NOVA Elements for iPad contains twelve short video clips in which David Pogue explains some of the elements and how they are used in consumer products. That leads us to the Play feature. The Play feature presents students with common consumer goods like watches and tee shirts. Students have to identify the elements found in those consumer goods and construct the product.
