Crayon+Physics

http://www.kloonigames.com/blog/games/crayon
 * Crayon Physics**

Crayon Physics is a wonderful little open source game that reinforces physics principles. The goal of the game is to collect stars with a ball by drawing objects that will make the ball roll to the stars. There are numerous levels that become progressively more difficult. The user can draw boxes that fall on the ball, ramps for the ball to roll down, or bridges for the ball to roll across, to provide a few examples. Marc Prensky talks a lot about how games are the best way to engage students, and this is a great example of a piece of software that is fun and educational, and its users may not even know they are learning!

The game is free to download and there is no registration required. The upgrade to Crayon Physics Deluxe costs $19.99 (but a demo can be downloaded for free). This game could be used in classrooms of any age. For younger students who have not been exposed to physics principles, the game will simply introduce them visually. They will learn to recognize what is and what is not physically possible, as well as become familiar with how gravity affects objects. As the students progress in school and begin to learn about physics, the concepts discussed in the classroom might seem familiar and intuitive after students have used Crayon Physics. Older students will enjoy the game, too, while they reinforce a deeper understanding of the patterns displayed.

Crayon Physics by itself does not support metacognition. On their own, students are unlikely to think about how playing this game is affecting their learning of physics principles. However, with some teacher facilitation, they might begin to consider such questions. Therefore, Crayon Physics has the potential to support metacognition, specifically for older students, if they were asked to reflect on whether or now the program helped them to learn, and how.

Below is a screenshot of a Crayon Physics level: