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Best educational apps for elementary school students
It's that time of the year again when parents, teachers and students start thinking about heading back to school. If you have an iOS device, you can supplement your child's education with a variety of quality educational iOS apps. Here are some of the best titles for children in the elementary school-aged group: Buster! [iPad; Free] Buster! makes it fun for children to master their vocabulary using either single player games or a two-player team mode. The app develops critical word skills such as understanding rhyming, prefixes and suffixes, synonyms, homophones, adjectives, and more. The app ships with a set of core vocabulary games that can be expanded through in-app purchases. Stack the States [iOS Universal; $0.99] Stack the States takes the rote memorization of geography and makes it enjoyable. The app quizzes students on the states, asking them about capitals, state shapes, abbreviations, bordering states, location on the map, nicknames, flags and more. As they answer correctly, children earn individual states that they can stack in order to unlock bonus content. The app uses a combination of unlockable games such as Capital Drop and Pile Up! to keep children engaged. Once students have mastered the US states, they can try their hand at the companion Stack the Countries app, which covers world geography in the same quiz-style game. Cursive Writing Wizard - Trace Letters & Words [iOS Universal; $3.99] L'Escapadou builds upon the success of its Writing Wizard handwriting app with its Cursive Writing Wizard. The app uses the same sound teaching principles introduced in the handwriting version to teach children how to write in cursive. The app uses repetition as well as animations to helps children practice the proper cursive writing techniques. Besides standard letters and words, the customizable app allows parents to add their own words with audio. Barefoot World Atlas [iOS Universal; $4.99] Barefoot World Atlas allows your children to take a virtual trip around the world, introducing them to the countries, cities and people as they travel. With its easy-to-use interface, the app invites children to explore other cultures through a variety of media, including illustrations, photographs, videos and more. Splash Math Worksheet Series [iOS Universal; Various Pricing] Splash Math from StudyPad offers a comprehensive series of self-paced worksheets that'll complement any elementary school math course. The app covers all major math topics and includes extra convenience features such as a scratch pad for problem solving and explanations for incorrect answers. Support for syncing allows progress to be shared across iOS devices, while a dashboard lets parents keep track of their children's progress. MeeGenius Interactive Kids' Storybooks Songbooks [iOS Universal; Free] MeeGenius is a book subscription service that'll help stimulate a love of reading in your children. The app offers songbooks and a read-along narration option to help struggling readers improve their reading ability. MeeGenius includes five free eBooks with the option to buy additional titles through in-app purchases. A $4.99 monthly subscription provides unlimited access to over 800 books, including a larger selection of classics and new titles. There's also a free Book of the Day offer for children who access the book library via the iOS app. BrainPOP Featured Movie [iOS Universal; Free] Enjoy the educational videos and quizzes on BrainPop's website? Now you can bring that experience to your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. The BrainPop app provides fresh, new content each day that covers topics in science, math, social studies, english, engineering & technology, arts & music, and health. Similar to the website, the app supports several subscription options -- a free plan with access to the free daily movie and quiz, a $1.99 monthly Explorer subscription with access up to five movies and quizzes or unlimited access to more than 750 movies and quizzes for $6.99 per month. The BrainPop app is geared for upper elementary, while the companion Brain Pop Jr app is designed for younger students.
eduPad takes 80 percent off its iTooch lineup of educational apps
eduPad is known for its iTooch line of educational apps for elementary and junior high school students. The apps have a clean, ad-free interface and extensive problem set that adheres to the Common Core Standards. They are also on sale through April 28 for 80 percent off. The iTooch series covers math, language arts, science and health for third through eighth grades. You can buy individual subjects or a multi-subject pack that is grouped by grade level. Each subject includes over 1,500 exercises to reinforce the skills students need to master that subject. With the multi-subject app, you'll get 4,500 problems that'll challenge your child throughout the school year. The iTooch apps usually cost US$9.99 each, but eduPad is offering the titles in its series for $3 or less. You can grab the individual subject apps for 99 cents and the multi-subject apps for $2.99. Links to all the discounted eduPad apps are provided below for your convenience. iTooch 3rd Grade [iOS Universal; now $2.99] iTooch 4rd Grade [iOS Universal; now $2.99] iTooch 5rd Grade [iOS Universal; now $2.99] iTooch 6th Grade Health [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 6th Grade ELA [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 6th Grade Math [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 7th Grade ELA [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 7th Grade Math [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 8th Grade ELA [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch 8th Grade Math [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch Music for Grade 7 and 8 [iOS Universal; now $0.99] iTooch TOEFL Prep [iOS Universal; now $0.99]
Daily iPad App: Murky Reef is a fun, underwater game that'll improve math and language skills
There are apps that teach your kids math and apps that teach your kids language arts and then there are some like Murky Reef by Frolyc that teach them both. Murky Reef targets the younger elementary group with a series of apps that teaches math, English, critical thinking and logic. All these skills are presented in an entertaining, underwater-themed game. For this review, I am focusing on the Murky Reef app for first and second graders which has both language arts and math. Murky Reef has an underwater theme that stars Puff, a puffer fish. The puffer fish is slowly being pursued by Ogee the shark and must be saved by your child's correct answers. Children are presented with five problems and each correct answer will help the puffer fish grow. When the fish gets big enough, he can spew hot lava on the shark and chase the predator away. There's also a variety of underwater sea creatures which your child can earn. The creatures are helpful as each one has a different weapon that can temporarily push the shark away. The Murky Reef version that I tested was broken down into 22 different sections that cover subtraction from 1-20, spelling, addition, sentence formation, number patterns and more. There's even a few quiz sections that cover a topic like sharks. After reading a passage, children must answer a series of questions that test their reading comprehension. Between the math, grammar and reading, the breadth of information covered in this app is impressive. The graphics are colorful, the sound effects whimsical and the overall feel of the app is fun. My kids enjoyed the storyline and loved it when the puffer fish spit out lava on the shark. Besides learning about ABCs and 123s, the app also has tidbits of information on the undersea animals. With your reading help, your child can learn about the octopus, sea stars, sharks, puffer fish and more. From a parent's point of view, the iPad app has one feature that most apps overlook -- support for multiple children. I have more than one child and each one can setup their own profile. They can choose their profile and all their achievements will be saved separately. Parents can even pull up an individual reports that keep track of each child's progress. The Murky Reef:1st - 2nd Grade Reading, Science & Math app that I reviewed costs US$4.99. With 22 different exercises, progress reports and multiple profile support, it's well worth the cost.
Friday Favorite: A bushel of educational apps for learning fun
A friend on Twitter asked me the other day if I had a list of the educational apps I have on my iPad. With all the reviews I have done, I was ashamed to admit that I've never taken the time to list those apps that I use on a regular basis with my children. I reached out to the other writers at TUAW and asked them the same question. Together, we compiled a list of our favorite learning apps for children, and wow, what a list. The apps are presented below in no particular order. NXTapp ($0.99) Khan Academy (Free) Elmo Loves ABCs ($4.99) Where's my water? ($0.99) Simple Physics ($0.99) Simply Find It ($1.99) SparkleFish ($0.99, 99-cent in-app purchases) My First Wood Puzzles: Dinosaurs (Free, $1.99 in-app purchase) Zoo Sounds ($1.99) Paper by FiftyThree (Free, in-app purchases of $2.99 for tools and $7.99 for everything) Plants HD for the iPad ($1.99) Discovery Kids Sharks ($4.99) Minecraft-Pocket Edition ($6.99; more game-ish, but building with blocks is learning, no?) Articulation Station (Free; sound packs are $2.99 to $5.99, full app is $49) Letter of the Day Interactive Activities ($1.99) AniMatch ($0.99) iBuildABCs ($0.99) Junior Bingo ($0.99) Rocket Speller (Free) Wood Puzzle USA Map ($1.99) Word Bingo ($0.99) Math Bingo ($0.99) Beginning Sounds Interactive Game ($0.99) Motion Math Hungry Fish (Free, in-app purchases from $2.99 up to $8.99) Letter Quiz ($1.99) Phonics Tic Tac Toe Interactive Game (Free) Sentence Maker (Free) Flashcards+ (Free, in-app purchases to get new voices) Word Jigsaw (Free, in-app purchases to get extra hints and unlock all the levels) Monster Coloring Book ($2.99) Math Tables ($1.99) Word Search + (Free, in-purchase of $1.99 for premium version) Missing Link (Free, in-app purchases for hints and extra levels) Bookworm ($2.99) If you have any educational apps you enjoy, please share them with us in the comments.
NimbleBit donates 35 iPads and more to charity
It's not like we needed more reasons to love brothers David and Ian Marsh of NimbleBit. First off, they make terrific free (and lucrative) games like Pocket Frogs and Tiny Tower. Second, they're super nice and very supportive in the developer community. Third, they're humble and smart, keeping their company small and focusing on just developing good games rather than growing into a megacorporation. And now there's another reason to love NimbleBit: They're darn generous. Sign on San Diego reports that the pair have gifted over $30,000 of equipment, including 35 iPad 2s, to an elementary school in their hometown. The principal of the school is the Marshes' old technology teacher, and he inspired them so much that they wanted to give a little something back, by putting this tech in the hands of elementary school students early. What a great story. The school will use the iPads to manage their own small businesses that the kids are learning to run, and even to shoot video for the school's TV station. And Ian Marsh says just having the iPads around might be inspiration enough: "When I was in school, I would have died if someone handed me an iPad. ... I definitely think that technology can be useful in education." Agreed. Kudos to the Marshes for their fine work, and applause to them for their generosity. [via TouchArcade]
Miyamoto shows the kids Wii Music
Since we all know Wii Music is not a game, but a toy, the target audience has to be the really young. Why else would Miyamoto be at a Japanese preschool, showing off the title? But, hey, we have to give it up to Shiggy and Nintendo. If there's a great way to gather interest in a title, it's with a dozen or so cute, smiling children. %Gallery-27713%[Via Wiiblog]
Trivia takes a Brain Quest to the DS
EA is bringing the card deck game Brain Quest to the DS, which sounds like North America's answer to Japan's Quiz Magic Academy and Europe's Super Brain Tease. Only, those of you familiar with Brain Quest will know that it's not as cool as Quiz Magic Academy, not to mention that it's for kids.While such news probably seems like a bore to the majority of you out-of-the-demographic folks, we bet that a lot of young'ns will actually enjoy the game. This blogger remembers playing plenty of Brain Quest back in the day and loving it. Not only will it have multiplayer and single-player modes, but Brain Quest will also include a bunch of children's Sudoku puzzles on the side.If you know any elementary schoolers who might be interested in this title, keep in mind that it comes out this September for $29.99.
