Nova Games PBS Feels Like Fun-but It's Built On STEM
- 01. What Are Nova Games PBS?
- 02. NOVA Labs Overview: Free STEM Games for Students
- 03. Complete List of NOVA Labs Games
- 04. How NOVA Labs Supports STEM Electronics & Robotics Education
- 05. Key Learning Outcomes from NOVA Labs
- 06. Using NOVA Labs in the Classroom: educator Guide
- 07. NOVA Education Resources Beyond Games
- 08. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Nova Games PBS
- 09. Next Steps: From NOVA Labs to Hands-On Electronics
What Are Nova Games PBS?
Nova Games PBS refers to NOVA Labs, a free digital platform from PBS's award-winning science series NOVA that offers interactive STEM games and virtual labs for grades 6-12. The platform includes six science labs-Evolution, Cybersecurity, RNA, Clouds, Energy, and Sun-each featuring games, videos, and educator guides aligned with NGSS standards.
NOVA Labs Overview: Free STEM Games for Students
NOVA Labs is a free digital platform developed by NOVA Education (WGBH/PBS) that engages teens and lifelong learners in authentic scientific exploration through games and interactives. Launched with the Evolution Lab on April 24, 2015, the platform now includes six labs covering biology, cybersecurity, biochemistry, atmospheric science, and renewable energy.
Unlike entertainment games, NOVA Labs are built on real scientific data and collaborate with institutions like NASA, Harvard University, and the National Center for Science Education. Each lab includes a main game, interactive tools, videos highlighting core concepts, lesson plans, and discussion questions for classroom use.
Complete List of NOVA Labs Games
| Lab Name | Subject Area | Release Date | Key Interactive Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution Lab | Biology/Evolution | 04/24/2015 | Build A Tree + Deep Tree (70,000+ species) |
| Cybersecurity Lab | Computer Science | 2016 | Protect network from hacking attacks |
| RNA Lab | Biochemistry | 2016 | Design RNA sequences for protein synthesis |
| Cloud Lab | Atmospheric Science | 2017 | Analyze satellite cloud data |
| Energy Lab | Physics/Energy | 2017 | Design renewable energy grid systems |
| Sun Lab | Space Science | 2018 | Track solar activity and space weather |
Data sourced from NOVA Education and Games for Change.
How NOVA Labs Supports STEM Electronics & Robotics Education
While NOVA Labs doesn't focus specifically on electronics or robotics hardware, it builds foundational engineering thinking essential for students progressing to Arduino, ESP32, and robotics projects. The Cybersecurity Lab teaches computational thinking and network logic directly applicable to embedded systems programming. The Energy Lab covers circuit concepts like power generation, load balancing, and energy transfer-core principles for understanding Ohm's Law and circuit design.
For hands-on electronics and robotics learning, Thestempedia.com complements NOVA Labs by providing step-by-step builds for Arduino sensors, ESP32 IoT projects, and beginner robotics systems that apply the conceptual knowledge students gain from NOVA's virtual labs.
Key Learning Outcomes from NOVA Labs
- Authentic scientific inquiry using real research data
- NGSS-aligned curriculum for grades 6-12
- Computational thinking and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of systems thinking (energy grids, networks, ecosystems)
- Free access for students, teachers, and homeschoolers
These outcomes prepare learners for intermediate electronics and robotics work.
Using NOVA Labs in the Classroom: educator Guide
Teachers can access comprehensive educator guides for each NOVA Lab through PBS LearningMedia, including downloadable videos, discussion questions, and NGSS-correlated lesson plans. The Evolution Lab alone contains six missions with three games each, requiring multiple class periods to complete fully.
- Visit pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/ to access all six NOVA Labs
- Download educator guides from PBS LearningMedia for lesson planning
- Start with "Evolution 101" video to introduce core concepts
- Have students complete Build A Tree missions before accessing Deep Tree
- Use discussion questions after each game to reinforce learning
- Connect NOVA Labs concepts to hands-on electronics/robotics projects at Thestempedia.com
This structured approach ensures conceptual clarity before moving to physical builds.
NOVA Education Resources Beyond Games
NOVA Education supports STEM education nationwide through resources from broadcast and digital productions, including videos, interactives, and lesson planning materials for teachers. The "Building Stuff" initiative launched in July 2024 highlights engineering in the real world with a three-part documentary series premiering November 13-27, 2024 on PBS.
"NOVA Labs is our platform where we create science games and interactives for middle and high school age students... each one focuses on a core topic and includes some sort of main game and interactive but also includes videos that highlight the major concepts."
- NOVA Education team, Back to School STEM Resources webinar, September 16, 2015
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Nova Games PBS
Next Steps: From NOVA Labs to Hands-On Electronics
After mastering concepts in NOVA Labs, students should progress to physical electronics projects at Thestempedia.com, where they can build Arduino sensor circuits, program ESP32 IoT devices, and assemble beginner robotics systems that apply their virtual lab knowledge to real-world engineering. This combination of virtual simulation and hands-on builds creates the most effective STEM learning pathway for ages 10-18.
Helpful tips and tricks for Nova Games Pbs Feels Like Fun But Its Built On Stem
What is the difference between NOVA Labs and PBS KIDS games?
NOVA Labs targets grades 6-12 with advanced STEM content (evolution, cybersecurity, RNA) for teens and lifelong learners, while PBS KIDS games serve early childhood with simpler science concepts based on TV shows like Wild Kratts and Sid the Science Kid. NOVA Labs uses authentic scientific data; PBS KIDS focuses on playful exploration.
Are NOVA Labs games free?
Yes, all six NOVA Labs are completely free to access on the web with no subscription required. The Evolution Lab was released at $0 price point, and all subsequent labs remain free for students, teachers, and homeschoolers.
What devices support NOVA Labs?
NOVA Labs works on web browsers for desktop and tablet devices. NOVA Elements (related interactive periodic table) is available for iPads and Microsoft Surface devices. No app download is required for the main labs.
How do NOVA Labs align with NGSS standards?
Each NOVA Lab includes NGSS-correlated educator guides covering Matter and Its Interactions, Motion & Stability, Energy, Ecosystems, Heredity, Biological Evolution, Earth's Systems, Engineering Design, and Computer Science. The Evolution Lab specifically addresses biological evolution and phylogenetics standards.
Can NOVA Labs help students learn electronics and robotics?
NOVA Labs builds foundational engineering thinking (systems thinking, computational logic, energy concepts) essential for electronics/robotics, but for hands-on Arduino/ESP32 builds, sensor circuits, and robotics projects, students should use Thestempedia.com's step-by-step tutorials that apply NOVA's conceptual knowledge to physical hardware.
When was the first NOVA Lab released?
The Evolution Lab, the first NOVA Lab, was released on April 24, 2015, developed in collaboration with Harvard University's Life on Earth project, Khan Academy, UC Berkeley's Museum of Paleontology, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
