Tag Archives: apps for kids

0

Motion Math: Hungry Fish

|

The trial version of this app is FREE for the iPhone/iPad. Designed for kids ages 4+, this app has 18 different levels. Later levels require knowledge of regrouping so it is suitable for preschool through grades 3 or 4. It fits the Common Core Standards for addition through grade 2. The concept is simple but engaging – kids need to feed the fish in order to keep it alive. The faster it is fed, the bigger it grows.  If it is not fed fast enough it gets smaller and smaller until it disappears. Each fish has a number on its body. It only eats that number. Kids pinch numbers together to create the sum their fish needs. Bonus fish colors and fins become available when a level is successfully completed. Additional levels of addition, subtraction, and negative numbers are available as in-app purchases.

Common Core Standards met in this trial version:

  • 1.OA.6 – Add and subtract within 20
  • 2.OA.1 -Use addition and subtraction within 100

This is a fun app – I found myself playing it a little longer than necessary to review it 😉

Highly recommended!

Motion Math: Hungry Fish - Motion Math

0

Subtracting Sardines

|

This iPhone/iPad app is currently FREE in the iTunes store. It is geared for preschoolers/grades (K-1). It meets Common Core Standards for kindergarten but please note that the standards are more rigorous for first graders who are expected to add & subtract within 20. With the help of a cute little penguin, kids subtract (up to 9) using sardines. There are a lot of good things about this app. The sardines are displayed on a keyboard with domino like keys (number on the left/picture on the right). The child chooses a subtraction problem and the sardines appear at the top of the screen. Here’s how it works: If a child chooses 7 – 2: 7 sardines appear then 2 sardines are taken away. As the child counts the remaining fish, they are encased in ice. Only the bones left behind of the subtracted fish and they disintegrate if touched. The app even allows for subtraction problems with negative answers (red fish joins the left over bones). Children earn gold coins as they work. Nicely done app that helps kids with the beginning concept of subtraction.

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.OA.2  – Add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.

Highly Recommended!

Subtracting Sardines HD - Operatio

0

The Scariest Halloween Story Ever!

|

This app was released for the iPad for Halloween 2011. At that time it was $2.99.  It is currently FREE. 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 at that level (9 years old). Younger students may be a bit scared by the bugs, bats and/or the monster eyeballs (which turn out to only be meatballs). A few bugs in the program cause some pages to repeat themselves. All in all it’s a cute story and worth downloading, especially for FREE.

The Scariest Halloween Story Ever! - 3CD

1

Smart Stacks

|

This flashcard app for the iPad is FREE. Language selections include: English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Greek, and Italian.These realistically illustrated flashcards have four categories – numbers, letters, animals, &  foods.  All 4 have subcategories. The app is very simple – flashcards only, no sound. If used with a nonreader, a teacher/parent would have to be involved to make sure that the child was identifying items correctly. Words are written but not pronounced. The intended audience for this app becomes greater when it is switched to a different language. That’s when a pronunciation option would be particularly helpful.  If you are looking for electronic flashcards, the price is right 🙂

 

0

KG Math HD

|

KG Math HD has 30 different math games designed for early school aged children (grades K – 2). It sells for $1.99 but I downloaded on a FREE day. It is cute, colorful, and easy to use. Concepts taught include counting, adding, subtracting, time, simple fractions, weight, colors, seasons, symmetry, etc. Many of the games seem overly simple for the intended age group – such as top/bottom, in/out, same, different, drag the shape to its shadow. Others games could be better with simple modifications – the time game has no numbers on the clock, the colors games and the shapes game show the word but do not pronounce it. In general I feel that this app is more appropriate for preschoolers than early school age kids. Check it out for yourself on a FREE day.

KG math HD - Mintmomeg

1

Coop Phonics

|

This iPhone/iPad app sells for $1.99. According to the developers, the focus of the game is to get parent and child talking, learning, and sharing together. You and your child are trying to rescue animals from the bad Red Witch. To save the animals you must teach your child the animal name as well as the name and the sound of its beginning letter. Paddy, a small iPad-like character leads you through the program. In between the lessons are silly little riddles for the your child to enjoy. The graphics are simple in a pixelated style (like old video games). While I applaud the developer’s effort to get parent and child working together, the app is just not something that I would recommend. Paddy is a bit too enthusiastic and way too loud for me. Also, the app is somewhat limited  – it only teaches letter names and sounds.

0

iWriteWords Lite

|

This app is the FREE preview version of iWriteWords, a handwriting app for toddlers for the iPhone/iPad. Kids drag their fingers to help Mr. Crab collect numbered balls and learn to write the letters of the alphabet as they do so. Once all of the letters in a word are drawn properly, a child-created drawing appears. Numbers, upper and lower case letters are taught. In the settings, additional letter styles and voices (Spanish, French, Italian, German) are available. There is even an option to slightly adjust the app for left-handed kids. This app is nicely done and from what I see in this lite version, I am assuming that the full version is worth $2.99.

Common Core Standards met:

  • K.RF.1 – Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Recommended!

iWriteWords Lite - gdiplus

0

Bogga Alphabet

|

This iPad app normally sells for $1.99 but I was able to download it on a FREE day. It was designed (for toddlers) by a dad as a digital toy to encourage creative play while learning the alphabet. Your child starts by choosing an upper case alphabet letter.  After the letter is named, your child can paint it one of 6 colors. Once painted, the letter becomes a refrigerator magnet. In “the kitchen” your child can use his/her letters to spell words or short messages. There is a wastebasket to get rid of letters that are not needed. There is also a camera to take a picture of your child’s creation (which is saved in your photos). This option allows you to create a scene that you can then pull into story telling apps such as Art Maker, Story Time, etc. (see earlier reviews). This app is straightforward – it is simple to use and there are no third-party ads or in-app purchases. A nice addition to this app would be settings that permitted you to change the letters to lower case.

Keep reading my blog for app alerts which will let readers know when the apps that I have reviewed are available for FREE  🙂

Bogga Alphabet - Boggatap

0

PlaySquare

|

This app was just released for the iPad on June 29, 2012 and is FREE for a limited time. PlaySquare is billed as “touchable television” which lets your child (ages 3 – 6) play and learn in Word World. “Happy Birthday Dog” is the first episode. There are so many wonderful things about this app. It is colorful and engaging. Early literacy skills (letter recognition, letter sound, word building, word recognition) are developed throughout the story. The characters are funny and lovable. And, I especially like how the letters of the word form the object being spelled. I LOVE this app!

Watch the video from the developers @ http://playsquare.tv/

Highly recommended – one of the cutest and best apps that I have seen so far!

PlaySquare presents WordWorld's Happy Birthday Dog - PlaySquare, LLC

0

Art Maker by ABC’s Play School

|

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) created Art Maker (for iPad) to go with the television program, Play School, which is the longest running children’s show in Australia.  If you search for this app in iTunes, it sells for $2.99. But… if you use this link not only can you can preview the app but the iTunes download comes up for FREE  🙂  – Play School – Apps – ABC For Kids.

Kids (2 – 6 years old) first choose a background from the 6 preexisting backgrounds or 16 colors of paper in the program. Or… they can use a their own photo – which gives this app lots of flexibility. Then kids choose characters and objects to add to their scene. They can create a picture, a slide show, or an animated movie as the narrator encourages kids to “get ready to move your toys and make some noise.” Creations can be saved in the My Art Section of the app to be shared later with family and friends.

Adorable, creative, and highly recommended!

Art Maker by ABC's Play School - Australian Broadcasting Corporation