{"id":14641,"date":"2025-05-21T07:34:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T05:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/?p=14641"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T05:35:29","slug":"simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/","title":{"rendered":"PhET. Hundreds of interactive simulations for science and mathematics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Understanding science or math is not always easy.<\/strong> Especially when it is necessary to explain somewhat vague ideas, such as forces, atoms or chemical reactions, without anything concrete under the eyes. This is where <a href=\"https:\/\/phet.colorado.edu\/fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PhET<\/strong><\/a> Come on in.<\/p>\n<p>With these <a href=\"https:\/\/education.ec.europa.eu\/fr\/focus-topics\/stem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">simulations<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/education.ec.europa.eu\/fr\/focus-topics\/stem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"> i<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/education.ec.europa.eu\/fr\/focus-topics\/stem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">nteractives<\/a>, we move from the theoretical course to a real experience: students move sliders, change parameters, see what happens and understand what is behind the equations. This is much clearer and more motivating too.<\/p>\n<p>You are already using <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2023\/09\/50-outils-numeriques-pour-la-rentree-scolaire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">digital tools<\/a> in class? So PhET is kind of the natural extension. Students can test, observe, be wrong, correct \u2026 and really learn, without remaining passive. Thanks to these <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/sciences\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">virtual experiences<\/a>, sometimes vague notions become accessible, almost obvious.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-14644\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-1024x631.jpeg\" alt=\"Phet Interactive Simulations\" width=\"720\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-1024x631.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-300x185.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-768x474.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-1536x947.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Try to explain how molecules interact or what a magnetic field is, without <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2020\/03\/les-meilleurs-outils-creer-des-captures-decran-pour-vos-cours\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">visual<\/a> : It\u2019s complicated, isn\u2019t it? Precisely, that is why the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.colorado.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">University of Colorado <\/a> launched this PhET project. Today, the platform offers <strong>150 interactive simulations in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, Earth sciences or <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/mathematiques\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mathematics<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Everything is in French, accessible online, and above all \u2026 is free. So why not?<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_77 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c8fb4f3490\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0c8fb4f3490\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/#Une_bibliotheque_mutimedia_pleine_didees_brillantes\" >A multimedia library full of brilliant ideas<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/#Comment_donner_envie_aux_eleves_de_sinteresser_aux_sciences\" >How can students be encouraged to take an interest in science?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/#Et_concretement_comment_on_sen_sert_en_classe\" >And in concrete terms, how are they used in the classroom?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/#Exploration_libre_ou_activite_guidee_Pourquoi_pas_les_deux\" >Free exploration or guided activity? Why not both!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/2025\/05\/simulations-interactives-phet-sciences-mathematiques\/#Un_outil_vraiment_utile_pour_vos_cours\" >A really useful tool for your courses<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Une_bibliotheque_mutimedia_pleine_didees_brillantes\"><\/span>A multimedia library full of brilliant ideas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PhET has been designed to help teachers in their daily lives. The objective? Make visible and understandable ideas that would otherwise remain a little blurred. Take the simulation <em>Swings<\/em> : In a few tries, your students understand what a moment of strength is. With <em>Building an atom<\/em>, no need for fuzzy metaphors \u2013 they see directly how protons, neutrons and electrons organise themselves.<\/p>\n<p>These <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2020\/03\/ressources-pedagogiques-gratuites-en-sciences-fermeture-des-ecoles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Resources for Science Courses<\/a><\/strong> hook from the first seconds. The interface is colourful, intuitive, almost playful. You want to click, test, experiment. And that changes everything. Learning becomes a kind of game, where each student can progress at their own pace, make mistakes without pressure, and gradually refine their understanding.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-14646\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp-1024x598.jpg\" alt=\"Greenhouse Effect Visualization in Science\" width=\"720\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp-1024x598.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp-1536x897.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SCR-20250516-nspp.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comment_donner_envie_aux_eleves_de_sinteresser_aux_sciences\"><\/span>How can students be encouraged to take an interest in science?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PhET a <strong>an approach that speaks to students<\/strong> : We manipulate, we observe, we understand. It is a bit of a <a href=\"https:\/\/fondation-lamap.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">\"hand to dough\"<\/a> digital version. This type of learning leaves a stronger mark than a conventional course, and students remember it better.<\/p>\n<p>The great thing about PhET is that it is suitable for all levels. That you are in primary to explain the fractions with <strong>Mathematical Simulations<\/strong>, or at the senior level with <strong>physical simulations<\/strong> on electrical circuits, you will necessarily find something to do.<\/p>\n<p>A quick reminder: PhET is \u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>100 % free<\/li>\n<li>Can be used directly online, without installing anything<\/li>\n<li>Works on computer, tablet or smartphone<\/li>\n<li>Available in HTML5 for maximum compatibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On the application interface, a column on the right allows you to sort and filter the simulations proposed in terms of subject matter or school level. Easy to spot.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s not all. Each simulation is accompanied by ultra-practical resources: ready-to-use factsheets, <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2019\/01\/outils-pour-resoudre-des-problemes-mathematiques\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exercises<\/a>, ideas for activities designed by teachers, validated by pedagogical experts. Enough to save a lot of time in your preparations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-14645\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations-1024x590.jpg\" alt=\"examples of interactive simulations in science and mathematics\" width=\"720\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations-1024x590.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations-768x442.jpg 768w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations-1536x885.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/exemples-de-simulations.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Et_concretement_comment_on_sen_sert_en_classe\"><\/span>And in concrete terms, how are they used in the classroom?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For everything to go well, it is better to do it step by step. Take a look at the PhET library, find out what fits your goals. Test the simulation before class, so you know where you want to go with your students.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a simple method that works well:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Choose the simulations that match your program<\/li>\n<li>Test them yourself to take them in hand<\/li>\n<li>Integrate them into the progress of your courses<\/li>\n<li>Let students explore freely at the beginning<\/li>\n<li>Then offer them clear goals or small challenges<\/li>\n<li>End with an exchange time in class<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>For example: <em>Forces and Movement<\/em> can very well be used to introduce the concept of acceleration, or to review it after a more conventional course. In fact, you can adapt it to the way you do it, and what your students need to rework.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14643\" src=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/experiences_phet.jpg\" alt=\"Phet experiences and simulations\" width=\"707\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/experiences_phet.jpg 800w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/experiences_phet-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outilstice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/experiences_phet-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exploration_libre_ou_activite_guidee_Pourquoi_pas_les_deux\"><\/span>Free exploration or guided activity? Why not both!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What works very well with PhET is to start with a time when students test, tweak, ask their own questions. It arouses their curiosity. Then you can refocus with more structured guidelines, or specific goals.<\/p>\n<p>Simulations are also a great starting point for <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2013\/02\/todaysmeet-proposez-un-espace-de-discussion-en-ligne\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">class discussions<\/a>. Once they have explored, ask them what they saw, understood, what surprised them. These exchanges make it possible to better anchor the notions and to link the simulation to the rest of the course.<\/p>\n<p>And in order not to spoil anything, do not forget the <a href=\"https:\/\/phet.colorado.edu\/fr\/activities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free educational resources on the PhET website<\/a> : out-of-the-box activities, student cards, \u2026 teacher guides everything is already there.<\/p>\n<p>On the technical side, it is simple. HTML5 versions run on all devices: no need to install anything. And if your connection is a bit capricious, think about <a href=\"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/2019\/02\/5-extensions-telecharger-videos-web\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">download simulations in advance<\/a>. Always good to know.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Un_outil_vraiment_utile_pour_vos_cours\"><\/span>A really useful tool for your courses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The PhET platform is a gold mine to make courses more lively. We visualise what we could not explain, we test the impossible, we understand better. Your students hang, hold, participate. And you save time and impact.<\/p>\n<p>So why not <a href=\"https:\/\/phet.colorado.edu\/fr\/simulations\/filter?type=html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Explore the PhET Library<\/strong><\/a> as of today? Try a simulation or two, see how your students react \u2026 You will see, it changes the atmosphere in the classroom \u2013 and the way they learn too.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding science or math is not always easy. Especially when you have to explain vague ideas, such as forces, atoms or chemical reactions, without anything concrete...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[23,19],"tags":[9185],"class_list":["post-14641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciences","category-mathematiques","tag-multimedia"],"modified_by":"Fidel Navamuel","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14641"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14647,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14641\/revisions\/14647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/outilstice.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}