Category Archives: educational apps for kids

0

Math Magician

|

This app for the iPhone/iPad was just launched on August 7, 2012 and it has already been offered for FREE twice. There are 3 levels with several math concepts covered within each level. The easy level covers counting 1-120, skip counting by 2 & 5, addition 1-20, subtraction 1-20, and greater/less than 0-20. The medium level covers: skip counting (10 and 100), addition 0-100, subtraction 0-100, add/subtract by 10, greater/less than 0-100, multiplication 1-10, and division 1-10. The hard level covers: addition 100-500, subtraction 50-200, multiplication facts 0-12 and division facts, 0-12.

Kids earn treasure from the magician as they solve problems in the magic crystal ball. As kids answer correctly, the magic meter bar fills so they can keep track of their progress. Correct solutions are shown in the meter bar after the question is answered. Kids have to answer about 30 questions correctly in order to earn a treasure – which seems a little high to me. The other concern I have is that the answers do not reflect common mechanical mistakes. Kids can arrive at the correct answer by just adding or subtracting one’s place. Example:  386 + 199 = ?? and the 4 answers are 586, 585, 587, 589. If a student knows that 6 = 9 is 15, he/she will pick the answer with the 5 in one’s place. The more common error that kids make is forgetting to move the 10 over. So… 4 better answer choices might be 485, 585, 575, 475. That being said… there is a lot of good practice in this app.

Common Core Standards met:

  • 1.OA.6 – Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.
  • 2.OA.2 – Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies. By end of Grade 2, know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers.
  • 3.OA.7 – Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE.

Math Magician - abcteach

0

I Hear Ewe

|

This simple to use app for the iPhone/iPad is designed for toddlers and is FREE. When your child taps on an animal’s picture, a voice says “This is the sound a ____ makes” and the sound follows. This app is so easy to use and the buttons are big enough for little fingers. 24 animal sounds and 12 vehicle sounds are included. Also, there are 5 language options: English, Spanish, Chinese, German, and Japanese. This app is perfect for little ones who love naming animals and making their sounds 🙂

Recommended!

I Hear Ewe - Animal Sounds for Toddlers - Claireware Software

0

Counting Numbers 123

|

This cute little app for the iPhone/iPad sells for $.99 is sometimes offered for FREE. Geared towards preschoolers/kindergartners, it has 5 activities which teach counting to 10, symbols and words for the numbers 1 – 10, the concept of one more, and the concepts of  adding & subtracting. Kids help Molly, a friendly little bird, by dragging and popping her balloons to arrive at a number between 1 and 10. Also included is in the app is a catchy sing-along called The Numba Rumba which features dancing polar bears and penguins – very cute and fun!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.OA.2 – Add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE.
Counting 123 - Learn to count challenge for kids - TabTale LTD
0

gFlash+ Flashcards & Tests

|

This iPod/iPad app was just updated today (8/26) and is currently FREE. It allows you to create, download, and manipulate flashcards for everything that you can imagine. You can create your cards in a Google docs spreadsheet and download it into the app or you can create your cards within the app. There is no limit on how many card sets you can have. Card sets created by leading educational publishers (Kaplan, Barron’s, McGraw-Hill, Wiley Publishing, etc.) are available as in-app purchases. You can also download and share sets from the gWhiz catalog. You must have an active wireless connection to download card sets or to use card sets with videos.

Once you have your cards ready, studying becomes simple. First choose box configuration or classic configuration. Both configurations keep track of the cards that are known & unknown. The box configuration has an unknown box, a known box, and a mastered box. As you go through the cards, the app keeps track of how many cards are in each box. In the classic mode, there is line of small cards on the right side of the screen. If you know a card, the little card turns green and if you do not know it, it turns read. It’s a nice visual for younger kids. A study score (percentage) is also given. Teachers of younger students could create the cards in Google docs for kids to download and study. This app is such a valuable tool for students of all ages to use in so many ways. I wish it would have been available when my kids were studying for the SAT and GRE. 🙂

Highly recommended!

gFlash+ Flashcards & Tests - gWhiz, LLC

0

iRiddles for Kids!

|

This FREE app for the iPhone/iPad is simple to use. Scroll through the 100 + riddles within the app and double tap to reveal the answer. You may already know many of these riddles – they are not necessarily new. But… they are kid appropriate. The only one that was a bit “off” is: If a fire hydrant has H2O on the inside, what does it have on the outside? K9P. The app has an index to the riddles included. There is also an option to email a riddle to a friend. I have always been a fan of riddles because they make kids think – brain exercise for elementary-aged kids with a smile or two along the way. 🙂

iRiddles for Kids! - D. Noel Keshwar

0

Freefall Time

|

This iPhone/iPad app sells for $.99 but  I downloaded it on a FREE day. Kids practice matching the analog clocks with correct times, choose the correct time for a clock, or practice setting a clock – all while earning items to add to their interactive fish tank. The settings can be adjusted in different increments: 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, and 1 minute. 24-hour format is also available. Simply done – it provides kids with practice they need reading and setting clocks.

Common Core Standards met:

  • 1.MD.3 – Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.
  • 2.MD.7 – Tell and write time from analog and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, using a.m. and p.m.
  • 3.MD.1 – Tell and write time to the nearest minute (first portion of the standard).

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE!

Freefall Time - Merge Mobile

0

Math Dictionary for Kids

|

This iPad app normally sells for $2.99 but was available for FREE when I downloaded. It is an excellent resource for students in grades 3 – 9. There are more than 400 illustrated terms with definitions and examples. Subjects covered are measurement, algebra, geometry, fractions & decimals, statistics & probability, and problem solving. The Quick Reference Guide provides step-by-step instructions for solving problems with decimals, fractions, multiplication, division, and percents. This reference section also includes: formulas, measurement conversion tables, and charts & tables on factors, multiples, prime numbers, square roots. Kinds of math tools/equipment and learning with manipulatives are also explained  – giving parents a better understanding of how concepts are taught in the schools.

I looked at the operations guide for multiplication to get a feel for how that operation was being taught. There were 7 ways of multiplying presented with examples: algorithm multiplication (traditional), break apart (similar to partial products in Everyday Math), count by (multiples), crossed lines (similar to arrays), draw a picture, and window pane (like lattice in Everyday Math) – quite a thorough list!  Because this book is not connected to any specific program, there could be some different terms associated with a particular methodology. Regardless, this app would be a wonderful resource to have at home when kids need help with their homework.

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE!

Recommended!

Math Dictionary for Kids - Prufrock Press, Inc.

0

My Editing Buddy

|

This iPad app is a FREE simple to use word processor designed for use in elementary classrooms. But…there is so much more to this app. Kids can share their work with classmates and learn to edit using this app. To create an account, you need to provide an email address. The app can be used without an account but it will not save documents. After the account is created, just log in and create your document. Then it’s time to share your work with someone who will edit it. You can choose: “pass & edit” or “add to sharing network.” If you choose “pass & edit” you literally hand your work to someone for editing. Symbols and sticky notes are along the bottom of the screen when the app is in the editing mode. The “editor”  just drags the appropriate symbol in place to edit the document. A glossary of symbols is available by tapping the question mark. Sticky notes are available for more detailed feedback. When finished, your “editor” saves then returns your work. You can now swipe from your word processing version to the edited version and make revisions. If you choose “add to sharing network” your work will posted to your class for anyone to edit. Teachers need to set up a class for their students and provide students with the class password. Be aware that anyone who has an account can set up “a class” so teachers may have to monitor this option. What an awesome way to get kids involved in and excited about peer editing!!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.W.5 /1.W.5/2.W.5/ – With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
  • 3.W.5/4.W.5/5.W.5 – With guidance and support from peers and 5. adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.

Highly Recommended!

My Editing Buddy - Interactive Elementary

0

Earth School

|

This app for iPhone/iPad is currently FREE. Designed for kids 2 – 6, it has 18 mini games for toddlers centered around the theme of Earth and its evolution. Here are some quotes from the app that will give you a feel for the content: “The universe began in a Big Bang.” /”Black Holes eat planets.” /”Ocean water originates from comets.”/The sun is about 4.5 billion years old.”/”A black hole is similar to a vacuum cleaner.”/”Life was born on Earth.”/We are composed of cells.”

The app builds vocabulary (volcano, collision, fossils, cells). Kids follow directions to complete the games: Help make the fish walk; Touch cells to help them split; Move the cloud; Touch all the eggs; Feed the dinosaur; etc. The animations & artwork in the games are appealing. The bottom line is that YOU need to decide if this app is appropriate for YOUR children as it deals with evolution vs creation.

Earth School HD - Yateland

0

Lists for Writers – ideas for creative writing

|

Designed for the iPhone/iPad this app is $1.99 but was FREE last week. As the name suggests, this app has many lists that would be helpful to writers as they brainstorm/develop their stories. Categories of lists included: CHARACTER (common first & last names, clothing, occupations, people’s roles & relationships), PERSONALITY (phobias, philias, obsessions, character traits, hobbies, emotions), PLOT (7 basic plots, 36 dramatic situations, conflicts, issues), SETTING (locations, cities, landforms/geography, weather), WORDS (verbs, nouns, etc.) and 7 miscellaneous lists. Several of the lists (such as phobias, 7 basic plots, & color words) include definitions. The updated version includes a notepad for writers to collect, edit, email, and/or print their ideas. This app would be a valuable tool for anyone trying to write a story. The lists would also provide great examples when teaching the elements of a story (characters, setting, etc.), character traits, parts of speech, etc. Great resource!!

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE!

Recommended!

Lists for Writers - ideas for creative writing - Thinkamingo