The beginning of the new school year has already started for some while the other lot waits patiently to start next week. Educational apps can help get kids in the right frame of mind for school in an exciting graphical way but most importantly learn something new. Here is a list of the top ten educational apps to help kick out the holiday mood.These apps are also fun for adults.
LetterSchool
Handwriting with a little of phonics come together in this fun app as children get to learn how to trace letters (numbers from one to ten) in both upper and lower case. After the child finishes tracing the letters, they come to life and retrace their shapes with gorgeous animations. Then once they feel confident children can write without any help. It’s beautiful and absorbs children whilst they learn the shapes and sounds of letters.
Available version for the iPad and iPhone for RMB 18 or USD 2.99
Reading Raven
This is a step-by-step phonics-teaching app that engages a child’s interest with the exciting illustrations in the form of an adventure for every lesson. The app is designed to give young readers from the age of three to seven a foundation in reading.
Available version for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad for RMB 18 or USD 2.99
Meteor Math
An ‘explosive’ maths challenge with an arcade game feel – find two numbers to make the answer shown on the planet and watch as they explode! The game gets faster as you go up through the levels and it becomes exciting and challenges children to solve the sums more quickly. A great way of improving speed of mental maths.
Available version for iPod, iPad and iPhone for free
Endless Alphabet
It has an ‘endless’ amount of words to choose from. Once you have picked your word – find the letters and pop them in the right place. As you pick them they make their sound and once placed they tell you their ‘name’. Once completed you hear a definition of the word. The only downside is this uses all upper case lettering.
Available for iPad and iPhone for RMB 18 or USD 2.99
Barefoot Atlas
This is a really stunning app that allows children to explore an interactive 3D globe. It features the usual gorgeous illustrations you expect from Barefoot Books. It is much better viewed in a tablet.
Available for iPhone and iPad for RMB 30 or USD 4.99
Duo Lingo
A lovely and well designed app that helps you learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. Learn new words and phrases easily whilst being tested along the way to reinforce your understanding and your learning. This a surprisingly fun and absorbing app.
Available for free on both iTunes and Android
Math Bingo
This is a simple concept and a great app for testing children on their mental maths of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Children have to get correct answers on a grid to complete their bingo square. Each right answer earns them a cute monster. The app is a good mix of fun and challenge.
Available in iTunes for RMB 0.99 and similar design available for free on Android.
Magic Piano
Great for all ages – this nifty little magic piano guides you through playing a variety of tunes on its three keyboards by following beams of light with your fingers. There’s everything from Bruno Mars to Mozart. Helps teach you about rhythm and tempo. Most of all it is enchanting and great fun.
Available for free on iTunes and Android
Little Writer
A great free app for tracing letters and learning all the sounds and letter formation of the alphabet. Bright colourful pictures make this a really eye catching and engaging app for little ones.
Available for free on iTunes
Star Walk
A fantastic app for older children. You can find your location and find out what stars you can see from your garden. It has stunning graphics with the use of augmented reality. It even tells you the names of all the planets while still pointed towards the sky. Then, if you point it towards the ground, it shows you what all the stars are in the other hemisphere. A must for any budding stargazers. This app works well with clear Beijing skies though.
Available on iTunes for RMB 18 or USD 2.99
Photo courtesy of Intel Free Press (Flickr)
