Tag Archives: educational apps for kids

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Curious George at the Zoo

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Curious George: Zoo Animals for iPad is currently FREE (again) for iPhone/iPad. Designed for preschoolers, this educational app has kids helping Curious George wake, clean, and feed animals in the zoo. Introduced by the Man with the Yellow Hat (of course), the app then asks your child where he/she would like to go. But, buyer beware  –  there is only one section of zoo (Sunny Safari) included with the initial purchase of the app – normally $.99.

There are 5 animals for kids to learn about in this app – the hippo. giraffe, lion, parrot, and elephant. First they wake the animal up, then they clean it and feed it – fairly simple activities. Also included are age-appropriate video clips about each animal. Kids can play a game (Safari Showers) and collect stickers.

I have always loved Curious George books – the stories are timeless and can be enjoyed by kids from preschool through first/second grade. The simplicity of this app makes it most appropriate for Curious George’s youngest fans (2 – 3 year olds). I am disappointed that kids are given “a choice” of where they would like go in the app when there is only one area available without additional purchases. Choices are presented in a cute pop-up book but 3 out of 4 pages are covered by a huge “tap here to purchase” button. It feels similar to having the candy in the checkout line of the grocery story. That being said, if you have 2 – 3 year old that loves Curious George, you may want to download this app. Then you can decide if you want to purchase the remaining zoo sections.

Curious George at the Zoo for iPad - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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Mr. Sandman

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mr sandmanFREE 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

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Dr. Seuss Sale

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cat in the hatToday, March 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.

Just in time for the celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday/Read Across America Day, many of his books (apps) are on sale for $1.00 less. Here are a few links to get you started. For more titles, search Seuss in the App Store.

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

Dr. Seuss ABC: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dr.-seusss-abc-read-learn/id1011479119?mt=8

Yertle the Turtle:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yertle-the-turtle-dr.-seuss/id382952207?mt=8

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Toca Hair Salon Me

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hair salon meFREE again – Toca Hair Salon Me, the newest addition to the popular Toca Hair Salon apps. Using this app, kids can create a whole new look for themselves and/or their family & friends. They simply import a picture from the camera roll and “the styling” can begin. The salon is equipped with all the right tools to style hair. They can cut it, comb it, make it grow, shave it, color it, etc. They can also wash it, blow it dry, curl it or straighten it. Great sound effects add to the fun! After they finish the styling, they can add fun accessories – glasses, bow, mustaches, etc. They can even use their own photos for the background. Kids or parents can take a photo of the finished creation and save it to their camera roll. What a great springboard for creative writing – give yourself a whole new look and write a story to go with it. What a fun activity for a Wacky Hair Day!!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-hair-salon-me/id730873197?mt=8&uo=4

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Toca Band

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toca band

Rock on… with Toca Band – Only $.99!  This app for the iPhone/iPad encourages kids to explore music as they mix beats & sounds together to produce a hit song. The 16 characters in this app each have their own sound and rhythm. Kids drag different combinations of performers on stage to create their own musical band. How a character plays depends on where he/she is placed on the stage. Characters can also be chosen to give a solo performance. Even the names of the characters are fun: Bang Bang Chef on the drums, Dancy Nancy on the piano, Shaky McBones on the maracas,etc. Another great app from a developer that makes learning what it should be – fun, creative, and joyful!

Highly recommended!

Toca Band - Toca Boca AB

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Toca Pet Doctor

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toca petOn sale for $.99 – Toca Pet Doctor, another creative app from Toca Boca. The app guides kids (ages 2 – 6) through activities that teach them to care and feel for animals. Fifteen animals need some tender loving care. Kids come to their rescue in a variety of ways. They help to clean & medicate Rascal’s ear, flip over Tarzan the upside down turtle, untie the knotted worm, and more. After the animals  are cured, kids feed them and they go back to sleep. If your child likes the other Toca Boca apps, you’ll want to add this one to your collection today. These apps do not go on sale or free that often. Another great app from a developer that makes learning fun. 🙂

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-pet-doctor/id808108897?mt=8&uo=4

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This Day in History

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This Day in History

One of my favorite FREE resources…

WORLD BOOK  – This Day in History for iPad is a great FREE resource for the classroom. Historical events for the day are displayed on a calendar page. You can click on links to related media such as articles, photos/illustrations, music, speeches and more! When I was teaching, I had students  do “morning work” (correct punctuation, capitalization, & spelling in two sentences) while I took attendance, did lunch count, etc. This educational app would have been perfect for that daily assignment because I always used information about something interesting that happened that day. After correcting the sentences, the kids and I would discuss the history of that day. I was always amazed at how well kids retained what we had discussed during the opening minutes of every day. Throughout the year they would often remark, “We learned about that in our morning work.” You may want to try making this educational app part of your classroom’s morning routine. 🙂

WORLD BOOK - This Day in History for iPad - Software MacKiev

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Earth 3D – Amazing Atlas

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earth 3dOnly $.99 – Earth 3D-Amazing Atlas, an educational app about our planet. The interactive globe includes: a relief model of Earth, political and geographic maps, 1,400 geographic objects, and 330 wonders of the world. As kids explore the globe they can tap on places or objects to learn more. Full descriptions are included as well as more than 900 photos. The app is very user-friendly – just a tap along the bottom accesses its different features. Kids can explore Earth by searching for a particular place. The app can be easily be changed from a geographic map to a political map. Latitude and longitude lines can be turned on. Kids can click a button to turn on the weather. The app is full of information! It would be a great addition to any classroom – perfect for projecting on to a Smartboard.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/earth-3d-amazing-atlas/id581911397?mt=8&uo=4

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The Three Little Pigs by Nosy Crow

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3 little pigs

Only $1.99 – The Three Little Pigs from Nosy Crow, a fabulous must-have version of the classic tale. Kids 3+ will be delighted with this animated story that is full of interactivity & fun surprises. The story can be enjoyed in 3 modes: read & play, read to me, and read by myself.  As they read, kids can interact with the story in a variety of ways. They can flick the characters to make them jump, spin and/or speak. They can tap to help the pigs build their houses. They can even help the wolf blow down the pigs’ houses! There are so many fun things to try. The artwork & animations are top-notch. The app even has an original soundtrack which features a musical identity for each character. This educational app is an example of digital storytelling at its best. Don’t miss this one – your little ones will love it!

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/three-little-pigs-by-nosy/id418543664?mt=8&uo=4

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Toca Life Apps on Sale

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toca town

On sale for $.99 – Toca Life: Town, a digital town where kids rule. Toca Town features twenty-one playful characters and seven locations to explore – park, pond, store, police station, restaurant, house, and apartment. As kids move around the town, they choose their own adventures. They can grocery shop, cook thirty different dishes at the restaurant, visit the police station, or just hang out with friends. With a tap of the sun, kids can change day into night – perfect for camping in the dark! The app is full of interactive surprises for kids to discover – presents to wrap, lights that turn on and off, etc. Toca Town is great for vocabulary development and oral story telling. Don’t miss this great app from Toca Boca.

Direct Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-life-town/id871694174?mt=8&uo=6

Other Toca Life Apps that are on sale:

Toca Life: City  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-life-city/id988318940?mt=8

Toca Life: School  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-life-school/id1043579926?mt=8