Fun Things
Virtual Things
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Virtual Collaborative WhiteBoard: a private virtual playground from GroupBoard – draw together, chat, add to a message board.
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Soda Constructor: a virtual animated tinker toy. Be sure to visit the Sodazoo to get a taste of the remarkable variety of fascinating, interactive constructions.
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Sandlot science: illusions for fun and learning
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Falling Sand Game: drop virtual sand into colorful piles.
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Clickmazes: interactive mazes and puzzles
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Taprats: java applet and application for playing with Islamic star patterns
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Tesselating Animations from Japan Tesselation Animation Design Association
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A veritable compendium of Shockwave games
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Mini-Mizer – create a virtual lego person
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Map Machine from National Geographic – Global fun
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Astronomy pix – Cosmic fun. See also National Geographics Virtual Solar System.
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My Physics Lab: play and learn with interactive simulations
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Scott Kim: Scott calls himself a “Puzzle Master.” In my estimate, he’s underselling himself. Check out his puzzles on NewMedia Brain Candy and Discover Brain Boggler.
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Standing Ovation: virtual approval from PlayFair
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HumanClock: making fun with time
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The Powers of Ten – from macro- to microcosmos
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Phone Spell: answer the question of the ages – what does your phone number spell?
- KidPad: a graphic, collaborative storytelling tool for kids
- More online drawing in Loving Fun on the Virtual Playground
Toys
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Science Toy Maker – toys you can make yourself
- Toys from Trash – a huge compendium of toys made from found objects
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Sensory toys – one of several collections of healing fun stuff from Pocket full of Therapy
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Silly Putty U: the official virtual home of Silly Putty. See also Silicon Bouncing Putty: the unofficial, but equally creative, informative and silly; and for more tricks and more putty “Crazy Aaron’s Putty World“
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Office Playground: toys for the office
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The Toy Manufacturers’ of America Guide to Toys and Play: “ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS A CHILD CAN DO IS PLAY” See also, TMA’s “Fun Play, Safe Play“
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Dr. Toy’s Rx for Play is a resource for wise reviews of kidworthy toys
Tools
- Sport Aid - wheel chairs for athletes
- Hotshot Products – beach wheel chairs
Games, puzzles and curious pastimes
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Instant Fun: little fun things for your emergency family fun kit from Playing Smart
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Situation Puzzles from Jed Hartman: classic logic puzzles for very long evenings.
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Cheapass games: fun, wacky, and, uh, cheap.
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Lego Games: Games with, mmm, Legos
- Navaho String Games: Cats’ Cradle at least
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Pentix: Pen spinning
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The Dice Stacking Book – from Todd Strong, formerly of New Games. Dice stacking. Who knew? Click on his website and watch the magic.