Category Archives: science apps

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Wonderopolis

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Wonderopolis

FREE – Wonderopolis, the educational app. Now you can explore Wonderopolis (the website) from your mobile device.

Wonderopolis (Wonderopolis | Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease) is a fantastic website that provides a daily Wonder of the Day®. An intriguing question is posed each day. There is a written explanation of the answer (which you can read on your own or listen to), vocabulary words (with a word challenge), a gallery of images & videos – all to inspire curiosity and learning about the day’s wonder. Other daily features include a “Try It Out” section which suggests activities based on the day’s question, a “Still Wondering” section which gives additional/related information. and a quiz. There is also a section for teachers/parents called the “Educator Sandbox” which has additional resources and opportunities to connect with the Wonderopolis community.

Using this app/website would be a fabulous addition to a daily classroom routine. Kids could read the daily Wonder of the Day® as part of their independent work time. They could journal about what they learned and/or are still wondering about. A class discussion could be scheduled for later. What a great way to encourage THINKING! Wonderopolis is a fabulous resource to ignite the natural curiosity and imagination of kids!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wonderopolis/id505247028?mt=8&uo=4

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Animal Photobook 1

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FREE for a limited time for the iPhone/iPad – This educational app (for 3 – 12 year olds) contains beautiful pictures and fascinating facts about 12 animals. Each page poses a question about an animal such as: Is it true that snakes smell with their tongues? How do chameleons change color? etc. The answer can be read independently or read aloud by a narrator. The narrator’s voice can be set to US English or UK English. There are lots of interesting facts in this app – the kind of things kids love to learn. One minor caution – The question about the wolf asks: Are wolves really evil?  We actually addressed this issue in my third grade class when we our fairy tale/folk tale unit because the wolf was always the villain. Their answer gives a good explanation of how wolves ended up with bad reputation – no problem there. My concern is the line: You shouldn’t be afraid of wolves because they are neither evil or dangerous. I agree that wolves are not evil but I think kids need to know that any wild animal is somewhat dangerous. Other than that, this app is great.

Animal Photobook - CYBERLINE

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ABC Aquarium

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abc aquarium

FREE for a limited time – ABC Aquarium for the iPhone/iPad introduces your toddler (3 – 5) to the marine world through sight, sound, and touch. This educational app opens to a grid arranged in ABC order. Kids can tap on a letter to find marine creatures that begin with that letter or they can tap on a specific creature to learn about it. As a photo appears, a child’s voice says the initial letter then reads the name of the creature (which appears in writing at the bottom of the screen.) A little cartoon person drops down on the left hand side of the screen with a link to a video clip or an interactive scene. The child can scroll to the left for additional pictures and videos about each creature. Also included are fun facts (written and spoken) for each entry. The app can be used in English, Spanish, or dual language mode (permits switching back & forth between the two languages) – a VERY cool feature.

This app needs an internet connection to work because the 100+ videos are actually links from You Tube. They are chosen by Peapod Labs and checked to be interesting and safe for kids. Kids cannot link from this app into other You Tube content. This app is nicely done  – great for building vocabulary and beginning to read/spell words.

Also check out my review of ABC Wildlife and ABC House by the same developers :)

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KIDS DISCOVER – Sun

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Sun

Selected New & Noteworthy in Education by Apple in April 2013 – Sun by KIDS DISCOVER is FREE for a limited time! The Sun is very important life on Earth. Without it, Earth would be a frozen rock traveling in space. This educational app helps kids learn about the Sun and how it affects our food, energy, seasons, weather, and more. KIDS DISCOVER has been creating award-winning content for kids for over 20 years. Get the interactive, digital version of this book for FREE. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sun-by-kids-discover/id630607047?mt=8&uo=4

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BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr.

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BrainPOP has been around for more than a decade as an educational website. The site features short animated movies – 750+ lessons covering science, social studies, math, art & music, etc. The content is geared for grades 4 and above but I found that many movies were also suitable for third graders. When I was in the classroom, it was one of my favorite online resources.

Now you can download the BrainPOP Featured Movie, the educational app for FREE! Your child can learn something new every day. After watching the daily movie there is a short interactive quiz. And… if your child can’t get enough of this app, there are two subscription options: $1.99 per month/ 4 movies & quizzes a day OR $6.99 per month/full access.

Teachers could add the BrainPOP movie of the day to their daily routine. Watch it at a transition time – right before lunch, after lunch, while waiting for buses to called, etc. Interesting and educational!!

Highly Recommended!

BrainPOP Featured Movie - BrainPOP®

Also available for FREE is BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week, another educational app. Every week Annie and Moby (two lovable characters) help 5 to 9 year olds learn about a different subject. There is also a quiz and activities to accompany each animated movie. BrainPOP Jr. has been on the web since 2006 delivering content for younger students in science, social studies, reading, writing, math, and more.

Again, teachers could add the BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week to their routine. Start your Monday off with the “Movie of the Week” or use it on Friday. BrainPOP gives teachers another way spark kids interest in learning!

Highly recommended!

BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week - BrainPOP®

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Rainy Days and Rainbows

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Raiiny Days

FREE for a limited time – a Stella & Sam educational app: Rainy Days and Rainbows. Stella and Sam apps are based on the television show and the bestselling picture book series by Marie-Louise Gay. The books have been translated into fifteen languages & have sold over one million copies. In Rainy Days and Rainbows, the kids and their dog Fred paint, dig through leaves looking for treasures, and have a pine cone race across Puddle Lake. Beautifully done apps for preschoolers!

Other Stella and Sam Adventures have been reduces on iTunes to $1.99 each. Titles include: Backyard at Twilight, Into the Snow We Go, Cocoons and Caterpillars, Go There Square, and Draw Along with Stella and Sam. Or, you can purchase the Stella and Sam Story Pack which includes 5 titles for only $3.99. All Stella and Sam apps are supported in English and French. You can easily change from English to French/French to English in the app’s settings. Download Rainy Days and Rainbows to see what the apps are like. If you like what you see, take advantage of the reduced prices. 🙂

Rainy Days: A Stella and Sam Adventure - zinc Roe

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Tiny Dentist

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Tiny Dentist

FREE again – Tiny Dentist. Kids get to be a dentist for a day with this educational app that teaches about dental treatments and instruments. Dozens of patients with dental problems need fixed. The “dentist” has the tools to: remove cavities & fill in the hole, remove plaque, use water & air sprays, remove decayed teeth, put on braces, and more! The app was developed to alleviate children’s fear of the dentist. Visual instructions for using the different tools are found in the grown-ups section. Another fun feature of the app is the ability to take before and after pictures of the patient. 🙂 Check it out!!

Tiny Dentist - fantastoonic

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Zachy the Robot: The Leaning Tower of Robocity

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Zachy the Robot

FREE again for  limited time – Zachy the Robot: The Leaning Tower of Robocity, episode 1 of an interactive cartoon series for kids ages 3-7. The series was developed and tested in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University Children’s School. It introduces basic STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) concepts to kids. In this first episode, kids are introduces to basic engineering concepts when Zachy and his friends, the Repairbots, are called in to fix a skyscraper that is leaning. Kids will love watching this animated adventure and helping the Repairbots solve the problem. This educational app was a winner of a Parents’ Choice Recommended Award in 2011 – a well-deserved honor! It exposes kids to STEM concepts in a fun & engaging way!

Zachy the Robot: The Leaning Tower of Robocity - GenevaMars, LLC

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WWF Together

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wwf

Apple Design Award 2013 Winner and named by Apple as 1 of 10 Apps That WOW – WWF Together. This beautifully designed, FREE educational app for the iPad was originally released in January by the World Wildlife Federation. The app features 8 endangered species – giant pandas, marine turtles, polar bears, elephants, tigers, bison, whales, and snow leopards. The unique and engaging features of this app includes: stories about these endangered animals with playful interactive elements, fabulous high-definition videos and image galleries – featuring photos by renowned environmental photographer Morten Koldby, cool facts about each animal, and a 3D interactive globe that tells how far you are from 60 different animals around the world. Everything about this app is wonderful – including the music. You will fall in love with the magnificent creatures presented in this app.  Additional stories about other species will be added regularly – AWESOME app !!

Highly recommended!

WWF Together - World Wildlife Fund

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Color Uncovered & Sound Uncovered

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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