Category Archives: common core math apps

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Oh No Fractions!

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on no fractrions

Oh No Fractions! is a great FREE iPhone/iPad app for comparing and exploring fractions. The app is simple to use – kids just swipe to the right or the left to indicate whether one fraction is “greater than” or “less than” the other. After the child answers, there is an opportunity to “prove it” – see above picture. The “prove it” section of the app is fabulous because it allows the child to visualize his/her answer. I would love to see the developer add an “equal to” option to this app to make it even better!

Common Core Standards met:

3.NF.3 – Explain equivalence of fractions and compare fractions by reasoning about their size. Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size. Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3).

Recommended!

Oh No Fractions! - Curious Hat Lab - Curious Hat

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Tiny Fractions

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tiny fractions

Just released today and FREE for a limited time – Tiny Fractions. This app teaches identifying, comparing, ordering, finding equivalents, simplifying, adding, and subtracting fractions using vials of liquid. It starts out simple and gets more difficult as kids progress through the app. It also keeps track of the student’s progress – showing teachers/parents specifically which fractions were missed. Simply done and easy to use, this app does a great job helping kids visualize and learn fractions!

Common Core Standards met:

  • 3.NF.1. Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.
  • 3.NF.3 – Explain equivalence of fractions and compare fractions by reasoning about their size. Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size. Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3).
  • 4.NF.3 – a. Understand addition and subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the same whole.

Highly Recommended!!

Tiny Fractions - TapToLearn Software

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Equivalent Fractions

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equivalent fractions

From the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics comes a FREE app called Equivalent Fractions. Kids create equivalent fractions by dividing and shading squares or circles. Circles can be divided into 24ths. Squares can be divided into 144ths. In the play mode, a fraction is shown and kids must create 2 additional fractions that are equivalent. All 3 fractions must have different denominators. The app also places the fractions on a number line – a great visual for comparing! There is also a “build your own” mode which would be fabulous to use for guided exploration & practice. Kids could also use this section as a virtual manipulative when working independently. This app is an excellent resource for the classroom !!

Common Core Standards met:

  • 3.NF.3 – Explain equivalence of fractions and compare fractions by reasoning about their size. Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size, or the same point on a number line. Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3). Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.

Equivalent Fractions - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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Sail Through Math

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sail through math

Ahoy there!! FREE today (normally $1.99), Sail through Math from McGraw Hill – a fun way for students to practice their math facts/skills. There are 3 levels of play for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts. Other areas covered are addition equations. subtraction equations, multiplication equations, two-step equations, names for numbers, patterns/factors/multiples, and compare numbers. This app provides of great practice built around a pirate theme – complete with music and firing cannonballs! At the end of each game, the child can see what problems he/she missed as well as a percentage score. What a fun way to learn basic facts – in the classroom, at home, in the car on a way to an evening activity. I used to tell my students to practice during commercials – 10 to 15 minutes a day works wonders. This app provides a fun way to accomplish that goal 🙂

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.

Sail Through Math - McGraw-Hill School Education Group

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Snowflake Station

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snowflake station

Purple glittery snowflakes !! FREE for a limited time, Snowflake Station for the iPad helps kids discover the beauty of symmetry – a key concept in math, science, art, & architecture. The app has 3 sections: Trace a Flake, Creation Station, and Make it Snow. Trace a Flake includes step-by-step instructions for cutting 36 different snowflakes/other symmetrical shapes. In the Creation Station, kids create their own flakes/shapes. There are six different folds, 10 different colored paper, and 10 different colors of glitter to choose from. Kids make “cuts” with their fingers. The tape button works as an undo button. Kids can monitor their progress in the upper left hand corner of the cutting board. Creations can be saved to use in the Make it Snow section of the app which does exactly that! Kids use their creations to make it snow in a photo of their choosing. They can use the iPad’s camera to take a picture or use an already saved photo from the camera roll. There are also 10 winter scenes included in the app. Another option in this app is the ability to set up a Juddly (a safe, secure email) account for your child to share his/her creations with you. Very creative & very fun – all while learning about symmetry 🙂

Common Core Standards:

  • 1.G.3 – Partition a shape into four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or four of the shares. Understand for these examples that decomposing into more equal shares creates smaller shares.
  • 4.G.3. Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry.

Not only does this app meet CCSS in math, it can also be used in creative writing – The Day It Snowed Orange, Alien Invasion, etc. Awesome – highly recommended!

Snowflake Station - Mrs. Judd's Games, LLC

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Problem Solving – choosing the correct operation

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This iPad app (for kids in grade 3+) was FREE the day that I downloaded it but usually costs $1.99. Kids read/listen to word problems then have to choose the correct operation – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. The problem is written but there is also the option of having it read aloud – just push the sound button. Equations (all containing the same numbers) are written beneath the problem and the child chooses the one that uses the correct operation. If the correct equation is chosen, it turns green. The answers are not a part of the equation and the child is not required to do the computation. Kids have to get 6 problems correct in a level before advancing to the next level. There are a total of 6 levels. Problems involving money are written in British pounds. The app’s language can easily be changed from English to French or Spanish.

This app provides practice in a much-needed area. Too many word problems are missed simply because the wrong operation is chosen. I wish this app would highlight clue words such as total, more, less, fewer, etc. Teaching kids to read and understand the question is critical. I also think that students should have to solve the problem – to meet the Common Core State Standards. Regardless, this app provides much-needed practice of a critical step in problem-solving.

Keep reading my blog to find out when apps become FREE.

Common Core Standards:

  • 2.OA.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions
  • 3.OS.3 Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups.

Problem solving: choosing the correct operation - myBlee - MyBlee

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Kids Shop

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FREE for this weekend only! Kids Shop is another money app for the iPad from the developers of Coin Math – see my previous review. Kids Shop takes off where Coin Math left off by including bills (ones, fives, tens, & twenties) when asking kids to pay for items or make change. 5 levels of shopping and 5 levels of making change make this app suitable for multiple ages. There are hints and voiced instructions for younger learners. Coins can be tapped & turned so that kids can see both the fronts & backs. Kids can also tap and drag coins into groups for easier counting. The only thing that could make this app better is if it kept track a child’s/children’s progress. This app is well done and provides a lot of great practice. Download it today!

Common Core Standard:

  • 2.MD.8 – Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.

Highly recommended!

Kids Shop - Recession Apps LLC

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Coin Math

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FREE this weekend only – Coin Math for the iPhone/iPad is the best coin app that I have reviewed to date. It teaches kids to recognize, count, add, and make change with U.S. coins. Kids learn to recognize pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars & dollar coins – both front and back. They match the front of coins to their backs. They also match coins to their values. After learning the value of the coins, kids practice counting combinations of coins – two levels. Once kids have learned to count the coins, they learn how to pay for items – 3 levels. Finally, kids learn how to make change –  3 levels. This app is well thought out and teaches about coins in a logical & sequential way. It can be used by kids in grades K – 3 because it has so many levels. The only thing that could make this app better is if it kept track a child’s/children’s progress. Teachers and parents, take note – if you have kids that need to learn/practice using coins, download this app today!

Common Core Standard:

  • 2.MD.8 – Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.

Highly recommended!

Coin Math - Recession Apps LLC

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Marble Math Junior

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FREE for one day, November 2, 2012  – Marble Math Junior for the iPhone/iPad. Kids solve a variety of math problems as they roll marbles through a series of mazes. There are three levels. Level 1 covers addition to 10, equivalent numbers, sequencing of ordinal and cardinal numbers, and shape recognition. Level 2 covers adding coins to $1.00, addition/subtraction to 20, time to the hour, and comparing/sequencing numbers to 100. Level 3 covers money to $2.00, telling time by 15 min. intervals, fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4), multiples (2,3,5,10), addition to 100, and sequencing to 1000. Currency can be customized 5 ways: Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Euro, British pound, & U.S. dollar. Not only does the game supports multiple players but it also allows you to customize specific skills for each player to practice – what a great option! Another great thing about this app  – when a player answers incorrectly, he/she can choose of 3 options: try again, show me, or next problem. Kids earn marbles as they answer correctly and high scores are recorded. Worth downloading!

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.OA.2  – Add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
  • K.CC.2 – Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.
  • 1.OA.6 – Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10.
  • 1.MD.3 – Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks.
  • 2.MD.8 – Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.
  • 2.OA.1 -Use addition and subtraction within 100

Recommended!

Marble Math Junior - Artgig Studio

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Count Money FREE

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FREE iPhone/iPad app for counting money. This FREE version has two levels – easy and medium. The full version has two additional levels and a quiz mode. This app is simple to use. Kids count quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies to show an amount of money. They press + and – buttons to add coins to their work area until they are ready to check their answer. The app tallies the number correct out of 10, 25, or 50. A concern – the app only shows the heads of the coins. Kids need to see heads, tails, and different kinds of quarters, etc. It would also be more challenging to require kids to come up with the least number of coins for the amount of money. When I was teaching, I found that some kids avoided using quarters and nickels because it was more difficult. This app provides good basic practice for kids but eventually kids will need more of a challenge before they master counting money – perhaps that is available in the full version.

This app provides some of the background knowledge that kids will need to meet this second grade standard.

Common Core Standard:

  • 2.MD.8 – Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately.

Count Money ! - Horizon Business, Inc.