Using Activity Sheets to Guide Small Group and Independent Work

Students can collaborate or work on their own with a simulation when provided scaffolding through a carefully-crafted activity sheet. This is a particularly effective approach when students have a computer laboratory, or devices in small groups or independently.

Guides

Activity Sheet Design

Two students interact with the Molecule Polarity simulation on a smartphone as one completes a worksheet.

A well-designed activity sheet does more than guide students through a simulation — it opens space for genuine inquiry, collaboration, and discovery, using a simulation as the central learning tool. Explore practical guidelines for creating focused, student-centered activity sheets that spark curiosity without stifling it, with concrete examples to inspire your own designs.

Activity Sheet Design (PDF)

Videos

Tim Herzog Discusses Using PhET for Guided Inquiry

Timothy Herzog, chemistry professor at Weber State University, discusses how he uses PhET in his class for guided-inquiry activities. Although this video shows college level teaching, his strategies and observations are relevant across many grade levels and disciplines.

Designing PhET Activities

This video focuses on designing effective in-class worksheets to support hands-on, inquiry-based use of PhET simulations, with practical tips from teachers and the PhET research team.

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