Category Archives: educational apps for kids

0

Literacy Leveler

|

To celebrate NEA’s Read across America Day, Literacy Leveler is FREE for a limited time. Using this tool, teachers can easily level the books in their classroom collection. Just scan the book’s ISBN and the app tells you its reading level according to Lexile, DRA, & Guided Reading systems. The app can also be used to search for books by title, author, or reading level. This app sounds like a fabulous tool for any teacher grade K – 8. I am working “on the road ” this week so I did not have the opportunity to try myself but I do not want you to miss it while it’s free. Download and try it – sounds like a fabulous time saver!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/literacy-leveler/id739836039?mt=8&uo=4

0

Reading Rainbow

|

Reading Rainbow is a library of over 200 books and videos for kids ages 3 – 9. This educational app is FREE to download but requires a subscription ($9.99 per month or $29.99 for 6 months) for full access. Once you subscribe, your children (up to 5 per family) will have unlimited access to the interactive books and video trips. This app is similar to the award-winning Reading Rainbow television series that was on PBS from 1983 – 2006. It even features the same host – Grammy winner, LeVar Burton. In less than a year, over 2.5 million books/video field trips have been viewed with this app!

After installing the app, kids fill out their profile (name, age, kinds of stories they like to read) and may choose one free book from one of the 6 themed island in the sky. The books are professionally read and feature “Read to Me” or “Read on My Own” options. They are lightly animated and include interactive activities that add to the story. A sticker rewards program motivates kids to read. There is also an individualized tracking system so parents can see books selected and minutes read for each child.

I must admit, I downloaded this app because of nostalgia. My kids grew up watching Reading Rainbow and we all loved it. I am happy to say that the appeal of Reading Rainbow today is the same as it was almost 30 years ago – Reading Rainbow provides kids with quality authentic literature. If I had a child/ grandchild (ages 3-9) or if I were still in the classroom, I would subscribe without hesitation. What a fabulous resource!

Highly Recommended!

Reading Rainbow - Reading Rainbow

0

Color Uncovered & Sound Uncovered

|

Color Uncovered

Sound Uncovered

Two FABULOUS & FREE educational apps from the Exploratorium!! Both interactive books contain illusions, articles, and videos. These apps make science fun by answering questions like – What color is a whisper? Are there secret messages in music played backward? Kids will love the illusions and you won’t believe these apps are FREE! Very interesting –  for kids AND their parents/teachers.

Color Uncovered   Color Uncovered - Exploratorium          Sound Uncovered   Sound Uncovered - Exploratorium

0

Tiny Firefighters

|

firefighters

Just named as Apple’s App of the Week and FREE for a limited time – Tiny Firefighters, an interactive seek & find book. Toddlers tap their way through interactive scenes (full of fun sounds) to help firemen and policemen do their work. They can help firefighters to put out a house fire, rescue a cow from a pond, rescue a cat from a tree, and more. In the police scene, kids help policemen direct traffic, catch a wanted burglar, escort a celebrity, etc. Kids will also love the fun “extras” in each scene  – the jewelry-stealing bird, the flying helicopter, the flying superboy, and more. The app has another fun feature – snow can be turned on/off to change the look of the 2 scenes. The app features lots of detail – great for talking with your child about what is going on in each scene and/or storytelling.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tiny-firefighters/id632012899?mt=8&uo=4

0

Wee Kids Math

|

wee kids math

FREE for a limited time – Wee Kids Math, an educational app that features a variety of activities for beginning math students. There are 20 activities in all – each activity presented in a new brightly colored scene. Kids can order numbers on a caterpillar, match number words/numerals/pictures on ocean liners, practice addition on a farm, practice subtraction in the ocean, etc. A definite strength of this app is its variety. Number skills (0 – 20) included are matching, counting, ordering, identifying equalities & inequalities, identifying > & <, adding, and subtracting. The app jumps right into each activity without any sort of instructions. Most of the activities are fairly intuitive. But if kids can’t figure what they are supposed to do, they can go back & press the help button. Then they will find visual instructions for each activity. This app would be a good one to use WITH your child. There is no progress tracking so you will want to see what your child understands. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wee-kids-math/id638457112?mt=8&uo=4

0

Dr. Seuss Sale

|

cat in the hatMarch 2 is the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss. Geisel published over 40 children’s books full of rhyme and imaginative characters. 200 million+ copies of his books have been sold. In his honor, March 2 has been named National Read Across America Day, an initiative created by the National Education Association. This year, Read Across America Day will be celebrated in schools on March 3.

Just in time for the celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday/Read Across America Day, his books (apps) are on sale. Most of them are $1.00 off but several of them are $.99. Here are links to 8 titles that are being offered for only $.99 each.

The Cat in the Hat: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-cat-in-the-hat-dr.-seuss/id353473931?mt=8&uo=4

Green Eggs and Ham: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/green-eggs-and-ham-dr.-seuss/id380751745?mt=8&uo=4

Oh, the Places You’ll Go: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oh-places-youll-go!-dr.-seuss/id371171766?mt=8&uo=4

0

GeoBee Challenge HD by National Geographic

|

geobee

FREE for a limited time – GeoBee Challenge HD by National Geographic, a challenging game of geography for kids. Each year the National Geographic Society prepares the questions for the National Geographic Bee, a contest open to schools with 4 – 8 graders. The national contest was started to increase public awareness, encourage teachers to include geography in their teaching, and stimulate kids’ interest in their world. GeoBee Challenge HD uses materials from the National Geographic for three types of play: multiple choice questions, a map challenge, and a photo bonus round. The multiple choice questions come from the library of 1300+ National Geographic Bee questions. The faster that kids answer, the more points they accumulate. In the map challenge, students must identify one of 1000+ locations on a map. Once they zoom, pinch and tap their way to the location, the app shows them its EXACT spot on the map and tells them how close they were. The photo bonus round is the most challenging. Students have to identify a photo AND know its location on the map. This educational app is fun for adults too! GeoBee Challenge HD gives kids lots of practice in a fun, fast-paced game – LOVE it!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geobee-challenge-hd-by-national/id373203236?mt=8&uo=4

0

Grammar Wonderland (Primary) & Grammar Wonderland (Elementary)

|

grammar primary

grammar

FREE today – the full versions of Grammar Wonderland (Primary) & Grammar Wonderland (Elementary). In both games kids lead their characters through different adventures as they practice  nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more. The primary version is for younger children – the words are read and some levels include pictures. The app does not teach the parts of speech but it provides lots of practice for kids in a fun game-like environment. After teaching a lesson about parts of speech, teachers can have kids show what they know with this app. Practice is provided for the following: common nouns, proper, nouns, concrete nouns, abstract nouns, singular nouns, plural nouns, possessive nouns, pronouns, action verbs, present-tense verbs, past-tense verbs, future-tense verbs, linking verbs, adjectives, articles, comparative/superlative adjectives, and more! Many parts of speech are taught in both apps – perfect for differentiating your instruction for a variety of reading levels. Both also apps permit multiple player – great for the classroom!

Recommended!!  – Download them today 🙂

Grammar Wonderland Primary       Grammar Wonderland (Primary) - McGraw-Hill School Education Group

Grammar Wonderland Elementary       Grammar Wonderland (Elementary) - McGraw-Hill School Education Group

0

The Lonely Beast 123

|

lonely beast

FREE for a limited time – The Lonely Beast 123, an educational app based on Chris Judge’s well-loved children’s book. Every day, the Beast counts the things in his house. Kids join him on his counting adventure which features 12 fun & interactive scenes. Every number has something to count – 4 eggs to fry, 6 flowers to water, 9 cakes to eat, 11 stars to tap, etc. The app is top-notch with lots of attention to detail. I love how the numbers are drawn – they show kids what to count on that page. The app is visually appealing with great sound effects – really fun for little ones! Highly recommended.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-lonely-beast-123/id646406000?mt=8&uo=4

0

McGraw Hill books: Little Red Hen, Jack & the Beanstalk, Why the Sea is Salty, Country Mouse & City Mouse, Little Red Riding Hood

|

FREE again – five interactive readers for your iPad from McGraw Hill. All of these titles usually sell for $1.99. These classic children’s tales can be read in two ways: read aloud or read to myself. All five books are nicely illustrated and have animations/interactivity on each page. Sound effects and music are also included – both of  these features can be turned on or off. The stories are all great but I especially enjoyed the Little Red Hen. Download them today  – there is no reason to pass these up.  🙂


Little Red Hen - Interactive Reader - McGraw-Hill School Education Group  Little Red Hen      Jack and the Beanstalk from McGraw-Hill Education - McGraw-Hill School Education Group  Jack and the Beanstalk     Why the Sea Is Salty - McGraw-Hill School Education Group Why the Sea is Salty

Little Red Riding Hood from McGraw-Hill Education - McGraw-Hill School Education GroupLittle Red Riding Hood    Country Mouse and City Mouse - McGraw-Hill School Education Group Country Mouse/City Mouse