10 FREE Science Apps for Kids

September 26, 2014 | appydazeblog

FREE science app – DIY Sun Science teaches kids about the science of the sun. Funded by the NASA and developed by Berkeley’s Lawrence Science Hall, this educational app is the second in a series of FREE science apps. It includes 12+ hands-on activities, live images of the sun from NASA’s satellite, videos of the sun, and more. Each activity starts with a summary which gives an overview of the activity, the time it will take to complete (prep – clean-up), and the suggested age group. Next, there is a materials list. All items are inexpensive and widely available. Then there is a series of step-by-step directions – with pictures. Finally, there is an explanation of “what’s going on” in the activity. Related videos are at the bottom of the page so that your child can learn more. This app is very well-organized, easy to use, and provides a wonderful introduction to sun science. The best part about the app is that it gives kids and adults the opportunity to learn something new together which is fabulous!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/diy-sun-science/id836712493?mt=8&uo=4

Recently updated to include 3 new hands-on activities and 8 new nanotechnology videos is another FREE science app – DIY Nano. This educational app teaches kids (and their adults) about the nanoscale. Funded by the National Science Foundation and developed by Berkeley’s Lawrence Science Hall, this educational app provides a series of activities and videos about nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. There are 12 hands-on activities in this app. Each one starts with a summary which gives an overview of the activity, the time it will take to complete (prep – clean-up), and the suggested age group. Next, there is a materials list. All items are inexpensive and widely available. Then there is a series of step-by-step directions – with pictures. Finally, there is an explanation of “what’s going on” in the activity. Related videos are at the bottom of the page so that your child can learn more. This app is very well-organized, easy to use, and provides a wonderful introduction to the world of nanoscale science. The best part about the app is that it gives kids and adults the opportunity to learn something new together. How exciting is that?!?

FREE from the National Science Foundation comes Science 360 for iPad – scientific images and videos from around the world. This educational app covers a range of topics and breaking news from NSF-funded institutions. New content is added weekly. Users can browse the app’s unique 360 display board to learn about something new or they can find specific content by searching keywords. It’s easy to save images and videos for later use right within the app – perfect for teachers who are gathering resources for a unit. The quality of the images is spectacular and they are available in HD for download to your iPad. Keep abreast of the latest scientific discoveries with this app – a great resource!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/science360-for-ipad/id439928181?mt=8&uo=4

Great FREE educational app – Bill Nye The Science Guy. 2013 was Bill Nye’s 20th Anniversary and Disney celebrated with the release of this educational app. Kids scan their thumbs to gain entrance to Nye Labs – a scientifically fascinating place. There they can play games, watch clips from their favorite shows, try some experiments, and more. When I was still teaching, I frequently used Bill Nye’s materials. My students loved his energetic, fun videos and often begged to watch them again! It’s no wonder he is the winner of 38 Emmys. This app takes kids to a place where science rules!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bill-nye-the-science-guy/id652548755?mt=8&uo=4

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: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/color-uncovered/id470299591?mt=8&uo=4

Sound Uncovered: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sound-uncovered/id598835017?mt=8&uo=4

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!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-featured-movie/id364894352?mt=8&uo=4

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!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brainpop-jr.-movie-of-the-week/id536371867?mt=8&uo=4

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!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zachy-robot-leaning-tower/id441107189?mt=8&uo=4

Who doesn’t love robots? Robots for iPad is FREE for a limited time. This educational app was listed as “New & Noteworthy” by Apple. It was also reviewed or mentioned in the NY Times, Mashable, Wired, CNET and more! Kids (and adults) can explore real-world robots with this fun app which is chock full of interactivity, animations, photos, videos, & articles. The app introduces over 150 robots from 19 countries. Kids can swipe each robot for a 360° view then tap the robot to interact with it. There are also hundreds of videos and 500+ pictures. The app has information about all kinds of robots (drones, androids, etc.) as well as information about some famous robots – Honda’s humanoid Asimo, a NASA Mars rover, and Google’s self-driving car. VERY cool and very informative!

Teachers, there are lots of possibilities for using this app in your classroom. After exploring, use it for writing activities – descriptive paragraphs, write about a robot you would invent, pick a robot and write a story, etc. The app’s ratings section could be used for graphing activities. There is also a great timeline included as well as a section on how to get started in robotics. I can see how kids will love this app. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/robots-for-ipad/id566581906?mt=8&uo=4

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition

September 26, 2014 | appydazeblog

On sale for only $.99 – Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read Classroom Edition. This app is normally $49.99. The classroom edition comes with 12 units and 36 e-books. The 36 e-books have controlled vocabulary – 100% decodable for students who have completed the lessons. Each lesson has music videos that teach the phonemes for that lesson. They feature catchy tunes that teach each letter’s sound & examples of words starting with the letter – great for beginning readers. Kids then practice blending & building words. Finally they read 3 stories featuring the words they just practiced. Students earn trophies and points as they move through the lessons. Check out this app for beginning and/or struggling readers while it’s on sale!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hooked-on-phonics-learn-to/id806401149?mt=8&uo=4

15 Educational Halloween Apps

September 23, 2014 | appydazeblog

Happy first full day of fall! Halloween is just around the corner – time to start planning. Here is a list of educational Halloween apps that you may want to download to use in October. They were all FREE when I downloaded them and seven of them are still FREE. 🙂

Millie’s Book of Tricks and Treats is currently $.99. The Millie books feature a very cute, lovable dog and kids absolutely LOVE them! If you own some of Millie’s other books: Meet Millie and Millie and the Lost Key, you will want to download this one too. This book presents a series of silly tricks & treats featuring Millie – nothing scary for little ones. Every time you read it, the randomly generated video clips change so the book is always different.There is also a scratch-off picture & hidden sticker on every page. Love this series!

Also $.99 – Millie’s Book of Tricks and Treats, Volume 2, featuring more doggy tricks and/or doggy treats. LOVE these books!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/millies-book-tricks-treats/id569720229?mt=8&uo=4

FREE – Toca Kitchen Monsters, another fun educational app from Toca Boca. Kids take to the kitchen to cook for two lovable monsters. In the frig they will find eight different foods that they can slice, blend, boil, fry, or microwave. They can also add seasoning to the food but they need to be careful not to add too much. Once the food is prepared they plate it up, serve it to the monster and wait for a reaction. Kids will learn which foods each monster prefers – fun creative play!!

Teachers – use this app to inspire creative writing. Write stories or poems about each monster. It would also be fun to compare and contrast the food preferences of the monsters on a graphic organizer. Fun learning activities for Halloween!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-kitchen-monsters/id510301841?mt=8&uo=4

Carve-a-Pumpkin from Parents Magazine is FREE for the iPhone/iPad. Kids first choose one of five pumpkins (orange, white, orange with green, black or orange & bumpy). They can “cut” it by hand or use premade eyes, noses, mouths, and faces. Instead of cutting the pumpkins, kids can choose to decorate them with stickers. In either mode, kids can manipulate the size and orientation of the objects that they add. There is an undo and redo button to change things easily. Once the pumpkins is complete, kids choose a background. The final project can be shared on Facebook. Twitter, & emailed, or saved as a photo. This app would be fun for kids to use as a planning tool for real pumpkin carving.

Giggle Ghosts, a counting app for toddlers currently $.99. The giggle ghosts are very cute – kids will love to hear them laugh. Kids help twenty ghosts get the party by bouncing them across rooftops. In the first level the sky is clear and they have to bounce five ghosts. The app counts to five and shows the written numbers. The second level is the same but there are leaves blowing in the sky. In the third level there are clouds in the sky and in the fourth level it is raining – both provide additional practice counting from one to five. At the end, all twenty ghosts at the party are counted. This educational app is great for little ones at Halloween – nothing scary, just fun & friendly ghosts going to a party 🙂

Currently $.99 – Monsters: Videos, Games, Photos, Books & Interactive Activities for Kids by Playrific. This digital activity pack features monster-themed books, songs, and activities for kids – just in time for Halloween! Read Where the Wild Things Are, sing songs with the Happy Monster Band, make monster cupcakes, watch monster cartoons. All content has been prescreened by the developer.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/monsters-videos-games-photos/id667015095?mt=8&uo=4

Math vs Zombies is currently full price – $4.99. Kids become highly trained scientists with the mission of saving the world from zombies. Using their math skills, they transform the zombies back into humans. The app has four worlds – addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Each world has 7 levels which can be set to easy, medium, or hard – making this app suitable for multiple grade levels. Kids will love the “spooky” music, howling wind, and “scary” zombies. The combination turns math practice into a Halloween treat!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-vs-zombies-math-games/id470896560?mt=8&uo=4

My Beastly ABCs (featured in USA Today’s Top 10 iPad Apps for Kids) is currently $2.99. Kids join a young boy (who is reluctant to get out of bed) on a magical adventure through a not-so-ordinary day. Told in rhyme, the story recounts the boy’s day as he encounters 26 friendly monsters (one for each letter of the alphabet) from all over the world. Kids join in this interactive tale as they play hide & seek with a Boogey Monster, learn how to floss from a Vampire, uproot a Mandrake family, and much more. The app is narrated by Jim Dale with whimsical background music & great sound effects. It has 3 play modes: with narration, without narration, or auto-play. Everything about this educational app is top quality – beautifully illustrated with the perfect amount of animation & interactivity. There is also an index that gives kids monster facts & descriptions. Kids can read and learn about each of the beasts’ unique characteristics and place of origin. Lots of fun!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-beastly-abcs/id578158826?mt=8&uo=4

A StoryBots Halloween is currently FREE! Cast up to 5 members of your family in this cute & catchy animated Starring You® Video. It’s easy to cast your family members as a vampire, a ghost, a werewolf, a mummy, or Frankenstein’s monster. Just take or upload a photo, position the face, then name your character. In no time you and your kids will be dancing with the StoryBots like the “Boogie” Man! If you’d like, you may share your final creation via email, Facebook or Twitter. VERY cute and fun!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/storybots-halloween-starring/id701184040?mt=8&uo=4

FREE again – Scrap It: Halloween HD for the iPad. You (or your child) can add a Halloween touch to your photos with this app. First take a photo or use an existing one. Using the photo editor, you can crop it and/or add an effect (about 40 filters available). Then its time to get creative – add stickers, change the papers & tiles, add letters & numbers/ribbons/word art, and add & manipulate text using the text editor. Items can be resized, shadowed, sent to the back, sent to the front, etc. Creations are saved in My Scrap Pages. They can also be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, via email. They can be saved to your camera roll or printed. I think kids would love decorating pictures of themselves, their family & friends, and the family pet. 🙂 You could also create an electronic postcard or invitation with this app. Lots of possibilities!!

Dibu’s Monster Maker Lite is FREE for the iPhone/iPad. Dibu is a little boy who loves monsters so he created a machine to build them – I think this is how Dr. Frankenstein got started 🙂 The Monster Maker has hundreds of combinations of monsters waiting to be made. The lite version has 2 bodies to choose for the base.Then kids add hair, eyes, noses, mouths, hats & horns, tops, bottoms, and shoes. There is also a random monster generator which creates a monster with one tap. Finished monsters can be named then saved, printed, made into a puzzle, or emailed. This app also has a child lock that hides all promotional buttons and disables printing & emailing. And… there is a “parents only” button which gives written instructions for access to the app store. The developer does not want young children to end up there accidentally – how refreshing!

This app would be great to use with elementary aged kids. They could create a monster then write a descriptive paragraph about it. They could create two monsters and do a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the monsters. Lots of possibilities!

Mask Jumbled Animals is a fun educational game for kids. It turns their faces into animal faces! Kids look into the app’s mirror and animal parts will appear on their faces. They tap to match the ears, nose, chin, and hair in order to complete 1 of 20 different animal masks. When the mask is complete, kids catch strawberries in their mouths to unlock a new mask. The mask puzzles are really cute for preschoolers who will be delighted to be an elephant, a lion, a panda, etc. But… the best part of this app is the ability to take pictures of kids in their masks which makes this app a fabulous resource for creative writing! Pull those pictures into a story writing app and off you go.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mask-jumble-animals/id548763608?mt=8&uo=4

Also FREE from the same developer – Mask Jumble Halloween. This app works just like Mask Jumbled Animals. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mask-jumble-halloween/id564777575?mt=8&uo=4

Tilly Witch by Don Freeman (author of Corduroy) is Currently $1.99. The story is a Halloween classic about a witch who forgets how to be mean! Check out this great story from a well-known author of children’s books.

Like other titles from Auryn Apps, this story can be personalized by having your child narrate it – a super option for kids who are learning to become more fluent readers.

The Scariest Halloween Story Ever is currently $1.99. Kids follow Candy Corn Man on an interactive Halloween adventure. I taught third grade for MANY years and I think this book would be enjoyed by most kids 8+. Younger students may be a bit scared by the bugs, bats and/or the monster eyeballs (which turn out to only be meatballs) so make sure you know your audience. It’s a cute story. 🙂

Hanx Writer

September 22, 2014 | appydazeblog

Looking for a fun way to get your students to write? Try Hanx Writer, a FREE app created by Tom Hanks. Hanx Writer recreates the experience of typing on a manual typewriter – without the hassle! Students can enjoy the look, feel, and sound of a good old-fashioned typewriter coupled with the ease and speed of an iPad. Created documents can be messaged, emailed or printed. This app would also be great for teaching students how to keyboard. With in-app purchases, you can add ribbon colors, background colors, and more. Check out the FREE version. If you grew up using a typewriter, you’ll feel quite nostalgic as you “type” your documents. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hanx-writer/id868326899?mt=8&uo=4

Mr. Sandman

September 21, 2014 | appydazeblog

FREE for a limited time – Mr. Sandman is a beautiful, interactive bedtime story for the iPad/iPhone. The story does a nice job of addressing a common fear of childhood. It is about a young boy who is afraid of the dark. The sandman appears and the boy drifts off to sleep. In his dream, he meets an owl who shows him wonderful & magical things about the dark. The app features incredibly beautiful artwork and dreamy music – perfect to set the mood for the story. But the most wonderful thing about this app is the way that it transitions from page to page. Kids move the story forward in a variety of unique ways. They help the sandman sprinkle the sand, say “Shhh” to calm the frogs, scratch the owl’s belly, touch the moon, and more. Each page transitions to the next page in a uniquely delightful way. And, the app can be switched different languages – nine in all. Mr. Sandman is wonderful – don’t miss it! 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mr.-sandman/id511273529?mt=8&uo=4

ABCmouse.com – Ham with Jam, Dan & Jan, Hen in the Pen, Big Pig & Little Pig, To Run is Fun, Big Bug & Little Bug

September 20, 2014 | appydazeblog

FREE for a limited time – 6 beginning reading apps!! These educational apps for the iPhone/iPad are from the ABC Mouse word family beginning reader series. I chose to downloaded The Hen in the Pen to review the series. Each story emphasizes words from a particular word family. There are also easy sight words in the stories. There are several ways that the books can be read: Read to Me, Read with Pause, I Can Read It, and Hear the Words. I really like the Hear the Words option. It allows the child to read alone but tap any word that he/she gets stuck on. There are parent tips on the title page that explain word families and sight words for beginning readers. There are also parent tips throughout the books. The illustrations are colorful and support the text so that kids can use picture clues as they read. The story lines are very simple. But, that is not a negative thing because these apps are more about the process of reading than the actual story. When my son was an early reader, he loved books like these because he could read them “all by himself” and that alone makes them worth downloading. 🙂

Common Core Standards met:

K.RF.3 – Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. c. Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does). d. Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.

Ham with Jam Dan and Jan

Hen in the Pen Big Pig & Little Pig

To Run is Fun Big Bug and Little Bug

12 Vocabulary Apps for Kids

September 19, 2014 | appydazeblog

FREE & fabulous – World’s Worst Pet-Vocabulary, an educational app for kids in grades 4 – 8. Snargg, a cute blue pet needs kids to use their vocabulary skills to get him out of trouble. The app’s four games teach context, word sorts, synonyms, & antonyms as they expose kids to over 1000 words across 5 levels: grades 4 – 8. Words are taught in sets – 10 conceptually related words per set. Kids are encouraged to replay each word set to improve their scores. Other features of the app include: clearly explained definitions with examples of how the word is used, multiple exposures to words, writing prompts, and… a really fun narrative with rewards. The app allows multiple players which makes it perfect for the classroom. Teachers can use it to differentiate instruction, as part of a center, for individual or group assignments, as homework, etc. There are so many great things about this app – meaningful content, a fun interface, and it meets CCSS. It’s fantastic, wonderful, remarkable, tremendous, amazing … 🙂

Common Core Standards met:

4.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. c.Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).
5.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. c. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g., synonyms, antonyms, homographs) to better understand each of the words.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/worlds-worst-pet-vocabulary/id730540095?mt=8&uo=4

Recently updated for iOS 7, Bluster is a FREE app for the iPad developed by McGraw-Hill. This educational app was designed to teach vocabulary and word development to students in grades 2 – 4. Topics covered are rhyming, prefixes & suffixes, word roots, synonyms, homophones, and adjectives. There are 3 modes of play – single, team, and versus. Team mode permits collaboration with a friend. Versus mode allows head-to-head play with the ability to disrupt your opponent by causing weather related attacks. Kids start by choosing their mode of play, grade level, and word match type. They then swipe through the list to match 3 words with the same meaning, rhyme, prefix, suffix, or word root. There are 10 groups of 3 to match in each round of play. Bluster presents 800+ vocabulary words in a fun way!

Common Core Standards met:

2.L.4 – Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known prefix is added to a known word (e.g., happy/unhappy, tell/retell). Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., addition, additional).
3.L.4 – Determine the meaning of the new word formed when a known affix is added to a known word (e.g., agreeable/disagreeable, comfortable/uncomfortable, care/careless, heat/preheat). Use a known root word as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word with the same root (e.g., company, companion).
4.L.4 – Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
4.L.5. Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bluster!/id416160693?mt=8&uo=4

Words to Learn By by McGraw Hill has 300 words to study. It was offered for FREE when I downloaded it but it is currently $.99. The words are grouped into 3 levels – building, expanding and advancing. Each word includes a definition, an audio pronunciation, and a synonym. There are 4 options in the quiz mode – flashcards, definitions, fill-in-the-blanks (GREAT for teaching context clues), and a synonym shuffle game. This app is not too difficult and could be used with upper elementary and junior high students.

Word a Day was offered for FREE when I downloaded it but it is currently $1.99. This app takes a fun approach to expanding your vocabulary – one day/one word at a time! This app features a new word every day – each word has a humorous illustration and a narrated audio which pronounces the word, defines it, and uses it in context. If you feature a vocabulary word of the day in your classroom, you may want to look at this app – it’s a cute one!

Vocabology – Word of the Day was offered FREE the day I downloaded it but is currently $.99. It offers words of the day from several sources on the internet: foreign language words (Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, Latin), Dictionary.com, Wiktionary, Merriam-Webster, TheFreeDictionary.com, Yahoo Education, Common SAT words, Urban Dictionary, and WordSmith.org. The app also includes a quizzes. In-app purchases are available for SAT words, Latin words, and more. BEWARE – some of the words from the urban dictionary are explicit and NOT suitable for the classroom. You have the option of disabling this word source within the app. You need to do so before you put this app in the hands of kids! I appreciate that the developer has included this option.

Currently $.99 – Cultiwords, an educational app for systematically building your vocabulary. The app comes with a 40-words set which includes definitions, anecdotes, and review questions. There are 3 additional sets of words available as in-app purchases. The app introduces each new word by posing a multiple-choice question with 3 possible answers. After you answer, it tells you if you were correct, gives the word’s definition, and provides additional clarifying information about that word. Words are then added to your personal dictionary. The review mode quizzes you on words in your dictionary. Review questions test a deeper understanding of the word – synonyms/antonyms, contextual settings, etc. Once you answer 3/3 questions about a word correctly, that word moves to the Acquired List. Well-organized and simple to use – this app would be great for kids in upper elementary and beyond. My only wish is that it had more words!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cultiwords/id585437267?mt=8&uo=4

Was FREE but now $3.99 – 3rd Grade Vocabulary Prep, an educational app designed to improve children’s vocabulary. Teachers enter an administrative password before entering their students’ names. This administrative feature permits teachers to review their students’ scores and track individual student improvement. The app also generates a “most difficult words for this student” list so teachers can see where individuals are having difficulty. Once the students’ names have been entered, kids can begin to study. There are 10 words to study at each level. Kids click on each word to hear its pronunciation, meaning, and a sample sentence. I love that the words are used in context! They can go through the lesson as often as needed to learn the words. There are 2 quizzes to take to make sure that students are making progress. If a student misses a word on one of the practice quizzes, the word goes back in the deck for further review. A test must be passed (90%) in order to move to the next level. Teachers can send emails to parents that provide specific test results or that recap the child’s progress to date. Nicely done!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/3rd-grade-vocabulary-prep/id416481779?mt=8&uo=4

FREE – Find the Synonym, an app designed for the iPhone/iPad. This app is listed as a game rather than an educational app but it would be great for kids in upper elementary school/junior high. A word is shown with its part of speech and definition. Kids are challenged to create a 4 – 7 letter synonym of that word using the letters provided. Points are awarded based on the length of the word, the time involved, whether clues are used, and/or if any mistakes are made. Badges are earned as the game is played. It’s simply designed – not a lot of bell & whistles but it is heavy on content. There are a total of 1600 synonyms in the app. After you find 250 of them, the antonyms are unlocked. There are 700 antonyms in the app.

I realize that this app was not necessarily designed for students but it could easily be used for educational purposes. More flexibility in the settings would make it more suitable for classroom use. I could not find a way to restart the game. The game picks up where it left off & points are cumulative, so only one person can play. Also, having access to both synonyms and antonyms would be a plus. Regardless, I am sure that teachers will come up with creative ways to use this resource. 🙂

FREE again – The Opposites for the iPhone/iPad. Designed for kids 7+, this educational app requires the matching of increasingly difficult pairs of opposite words. There are two sections of the app: dictionary and play. In the dictionary section, words are listed next to their opposites. To learn the meaning, students just tap on the word and a definition appears. There are 10 levels with 100+ words per level. In the play section, words are pronounced by a boy or a girl as they appear in bubbles and float towards the top of the screen Kids are to tap pairs of opposites as they appear – which makes the words turn a color then pop. The goal is to match 12 sets of opposites – which completes the level. A bonus round then appears in which the student has 20 seconds to match up an entire board full of opposites. This app starts off simply but becomes quite challenging in the later levels. It could be used for differentiating a lesson and/or for helping students grow their understanding of antonyms.

Common Core Standards met:

4.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. c.Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) ~~and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms)~~.
5.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. c. Use the relationship between particular words (e.g.,~~synonyms,~~ antonyms, ~~homographs~~) to better understand each of the words.

Same Meaning Magic – The day I downloaded this iPhone/ iPad app it was FREE. It is now $.99. In this word game, kids help two young magicians named Leo & Luna by choosing a synonym for the bolded word in the sentence. Kids earn coins for choosing the correct answers. At the end of each level, you are shown the number of questions answered, the amount of money collected, and a percentage score for that level. There are 5 levels of play from very easy to very hard. Although I found some overlap in the earlier levels, the difficulty of the sentences definitely increased. Lots of good practice… This game could be used in a one iPad classroom to teach using context clues. The app could also be used as an independent or buddy activity. Also available is Same Meaning Magic Part II for an additional $.99.

Common Core Standards met:

4.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings. c.Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them~~to their opposites (antonyms) and~~ to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).

FREE (with in-app purchase to complete) – Quizzitive, a vocabulary game that helps you master “1000 Words Worth Knowing” – chosen by Merriam-Webster editors. The app has ten levels of difficulty. The first two levels (100 words each) are free. An in-app purchase of $1.99 unlocks the full game. The game features four kinds of vocabulary quizzes: Speed Drill, Name That Thing, Tunnel Vision, and Hidden Letters. After playing each game, there is the option to review your answers. You can replay each level as many times as you want – without resetting the game. The app tracks your achievements as you master the words and try to beat your personal best. It also compares your scores to other players’ scores. Try the FREE levels to see if this app is for you. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quizzitive-merriam-webster/id645814720?mt=8&uo=4

Vocabulicious Kinder for the iPhone/iPad is a flashcard app designed to help preschoolers and kindergartners increase their vocabulary. The FREE version includes 4 categories: animals, more animals, fruit, and plants. 14 additional categories are available as in-app purchases. Children earn stars by correctly tapping on the named/written object. The images on the flashcards are high quality photographs. There is an option to show either 2 or 4 cards at a time which permits adults to adjust the level to meet their child’s needs. There is also an option to set the type to be all caps or lowercase letters. The settings permit you to have up to 4 players. This app could be used with toddlers, students with language delays, or ESL students. Check out the FREE version if your child needs to work on vocabulary development.

Pattern Shapes

September 16, 2014 | appydazeblog

FREE educational app – Pattern Shapes is another great math manipulative from the Math Learning Center. The app features three backgrounds: blank, square grid, or triangular grid. Younger students can use Pattern Shapes to fill in outlines and/or create their own designs. Older students can use the app to explore a variety of math concepts: geometric relationships, fractions, perimeter & area, angles, symmetry, etc. The app has plenty of flexibility. Shapes can be rotated in 15 degree increments. Their color and size can be changed and/or duplicated. There are drawing tools & text tools available so students can explain their work. After using the app to show their understanding, students can screen shot their work to email to their teacher. Or, how about creating a digital math portfolio in a writing/diary app? Then students could add their work to their portfolios. Another fantastic tool for your digital math toolkit!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pattern-shapes-by-math-learning/id908511013?mt=8&uo=4

MathLands – Kids Logic Game & Brain Builder for Math and Critical Thinking

September 15, 2014 | appydazeblog

All I can say is WOW! MathLands is a completely FREE educational math app that makes kids THINK! Kids have to use logic, problem solving skills, and critical thinking to solve multiple levels of 6 different puzzles. Each puzzle is timed, has hints available, and has a section that tells the history of the puzzle. Kids can choose to start over. They can try again to get a better score or they can try again to get the BEST score. The app reveals the best possible score for each puzzle and challenges kids to achieve at that level. There is also a Math Comics section – problems are written in comic strip form. Kids solve the word problems by using the interactive manipulatives on the page. In a word full of math apps that stress practice and drill, this app is like a breath of fresh air. LOVE it!!!!

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educational apps for kids and the adults in their lives

Tag Archives: apps for kids

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Pattern Shapes

MathLands – Kids Logic Game & Brain Builder for Math and Critical Thinking

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