The Best 10 Apps

By: Allison BolinMichael CornogThe Best 10 Apps

MEGA Multiplication 1-100 FREEhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mega-multiplication-1-100/id898787020?mt=12The specific use for this app is for students to practice their math skills using numbers 1-30, 1-50, or 1-100. They can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with this app. Students see the results from completing math problems and teachers can become aware of the number sets the students are struggling with.This app encourages students to use higher level thinking skills by remembering and understanding the math skills they use. Easy to use and is intuitive. Students use skills they have already learned and apply them with this app.The app does not collect any personal information from the user.This app follows along with the K-8 standards for operations and algebraic thinking. http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/OA/The app has clear instructions on how to play the math games and how to earn prizes in the game.

Stack the Countries

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-countries/id458126091?mt=12This app is used to help students learn the map of continents and using flashcards, they look at countries, flags, landmarks, and more. Teachers can create a student profile which can have up to 6 users on it at once.Higher level thinking skills are encouraged by asking students to remember, understand, and analyze countries around the world.The app is intuitive because students apply skills they have learned and use them in the app. The app does not contain any third party involvement or ads, including no in-app purchase options. The app follows the K-8 social studies curriculum framework for physical and spatial geography. http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Learning_Services/Curriculum%20and%20Instruction/Frameworks/Social%20Studies/soc_studies_k_8_051308.pdfThe app has clear instructions about the games and activities.

Kids Science: Gross Science

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kid-science-gross-science/id511051689?mt=12 This app allows students to learn about gross science facts, complete activities and experiments, and take quizzes about the information they have learned. Feedback is provided from teachers by looking at each students quiz grade that are provided in the app. Higher level thinking skills are required by remembering, understanding, and evaluating their learning. The app is intuitive and students use what they have learned in science courses and apply it to this app. This app seems to follow privacy expectations and does not require any personal information. This app follows the K-8 Science curriculum framework of Life Science-Living Systems: Characteristics, Structure, and Functions. http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Learning_Services/Curriculum%20and%20Instruction/Frameworks/Science/science_k_8_011006.pdf The app provides a clear explanation for all of the science topics and experiments.

Garageband https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id682658836?mt=12This app is a great way for students to create their own music and enhance their creativity. Students can create their own music and the teacher and peers can listen to the music and provide feedback.Higher level thinking skills are used as students analyze their musical creations and use their knowledge of music they have previously learned. This app is intuitive and allows students to use their individuality.The app seems to abide by privacy expectations.The app follows the General Music curriculum framework for K-8 through creating music. http://www/arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Learning_Services/Curriculum%20and%20Instruction/Frameworks/Fine_Arts/GeneralMusicK_8Revised2014.pdf This app clearly explains how to create music with several techniques and methods available for student creativity.

BRAINtastic Word Skills Twohttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/braintastic-word-skills-two/id499686164?mt=12This app helps students with their vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and punctuation skills.Feedback is provided by students and teachers after the provided assessments are completed. Higher level thinking skills are used as students remember and understand the skills they use in the app.This app is intuitive and helps students to refresh on their language arts skills.The app seems to be private and does not require any personal information. The app follows K-12 English Language Arts Standards for first grade reading and foundational skills http://www/corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RF/1/The app explains the objectives and directions for the assessments provided.

Motion Math

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motion-math-educator/id898447702?mt=8Students play a variety of games to help with their math skills in fractions, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, basic quantity, set size, operations, estimation, economics, and proportions.In the educator edition, teachers can track their students mastery of Common Core Standards.Students play a variety of arcade style games and as they level up the math problems increase in difficulty.No 3rd party ads or data collection tools.This app follows the math standards for K-6th grade http://www.arkansased.gov/divisions/learning-services/curriculum-framework-documents/mathematicsInstructions are easy to follow whether it is a kindergartener or a 6th grader.

Pocket Universehttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-universe-express/id417491567?mt=8This app allows you to teach your students while you stargaze.It offers no-stress way to teach astronomical concepts in a beautiful and simple way. You can take your class on virtual tours of all the bodies in our solar system.Students get instant access to dozens of features: track the International Space Station, play quizzes, virtually walk on Mars, see over 80,000 plus stars.This app follows privacy guidelines and an upgrade is the only in-app purchase.This app follows the Arkansas state standards for Science. http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Learning_Services/Curriculum%20and%20Instruction/Frameworks/Science/science_k_8_011006.pdfEasy to use instructions and the screen moves as you move the device across the sky.

Polar GoFit iPad App for PE Classeshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/polar-gofit/id616695404?mt=8The app works with the Polar H7 Bluetooth heart rate sensor.It allows the teacher to easily track and monitor each students effort through heart rate and provide one-on-one guidance.Teachers can see up to 40 students heart rates on the screen during a PE lesson and guide the whole class in real time or each student individually.Students can enjoy PE lessons, meet fitness-based targets and learn how to sustain their heart rate to help improve long-term health and fitness.This app follows privacy guidelines.This app allows teachers to follow the K-12th grade PE standards. www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/Learning_Services/curriculum%20and%20Instruction/Frameworks/PE%20Health/Physical_Education_and_Health_K_8.pdfEasy to setup your class to track your students progress and simple for the students to view their progress.

Typing Instruction for Kids Platinumhttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/typing-instructor-for-kids/id510384621?mt=12Students type their way around Typer Island to reach the castle, advance to the Lost City, and become touch typists.Customizable typing plans for all skill levels from ages 6-12.Provides instant results for lessons, tests, and games. It shows progress in words typed per minute and accuracy.This app follows privacy guidelines.The app allows teachers to follow the framework for keyboarding in Arkansas. http://ace.arkansas.gov/cte/informationforms/curriculumframeworks/business/keyboarding-5.pdfLessons include step-by-step instructions with visual 3D guide.

GeoGebra 5https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geogebra-5/id845142834?mt=12This app is a dynamic mathematics software for all levels of education.It brings together geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics, and calculus in one easy-to-use package.GeoGebra supports STEM education and innovations in teaching and is available in many languages.Interactive learning, teaching, and evaluation resources created with GeoGebra can be shared and used by everyone.This app follows normal privacy guidelines.This app follows the math standards for Arkansas. http://www.arkansased.gov/divisions/learning-services/curriculum-and-instruction/curriculum-framework-documents/mathematics

RationaleWe chose these apps as the best 10 apps because they each meet a different educational set of educational goals and are related to educational frameworks that are appropriate for various grade school ages. We feel that these apps encourage higher level thinking skills and that students will have fun using the apps. The apps are all educational in subjects including language arts, science, social studies, math, physical education and fine arts. Any of the apps we have included would be beneficial to a childs educational experience.