Do you want a pond in your pocket? First reaction would be, well nooo, however you might change your mind. The graphics for “Pocket Pond HD” are picture perfect and watching the fish swim around will relax just about anyone. The “real nature” sound effects are great and best heard in stereo with headphones. What I like most about this app is touching the water, the sound effects are very realistic and my finger is not even wet! If you tap twice on the screen, a little piece of fish food will appear and the fish will swim by and eat it. The fish can be played with, you can scare them or watch their schooling behavior. The fish pond can be customized simply by adding Lilly Pads and Dragon Flies. My middle child (10) was all worked up by her brother and I sat her down and handed her my iPhone with “Pocket Pond”; I asked her to look at this app and play with the fish while I deal with her brother. She huffed and puffed and complained. Magically, a little fish pond and the sounds of nature put her in a calm state. She was a different person in such a short time! She really enjoyed playing with the fish, feeding them and swirling the water around. The “Pocket Pond HD” app is very refreshing and is a great escape for everyone from a toddler to a parent. There is an upgrade option in the app for iFish Pond where you can catch fish, play with frogs, and hear a thunderstorm for $1.99. See ya… gone fishin’!

By Age Range, For Parents, High School +, Just For Fun, Middle School, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Science, Toddlers, nature

“Toddler Teasers Transportation” is the perfect application for young ones who are fixated on things-that-GO. My son is enamored with this app since he’s in a phase where he enthusiastically squeals and points to every truck, car, plane, scooter, and motorcycle he sees. If it has wheels and makes a lot of noise, he’s a happy boy. This app is designed to help children to identify the names of these different vehicles; each page shows several modes of transportation, then the narrator prompts the player to touch the correct option. The correct answer is rewarded with cheering, while an incorrect choice is properly identified and the player is encouraged to try again. The narrator speaks clearly and slowly, the pictures are colorful and easy to identify, and there’s a wide variety of objects to identify. The player doesn’t need to pick the correct object to learn – incorrect selections are identified and the player is given endless turns to get the answer right. The only missing feature to this app is sound effects (i.e. an ambulance siren or a car revving its engine) which are oh-so satisfying sounds for kids. “Toddler Teasers Transportation” is very simple in concept, and is limited in its playing options, however, it fulfills a distinct niche. This app is ideal for kids just learning to speak and read, interested in things-that-go, and just learning to navigate the iPhone/Touch interface.

By App Feature, Matching, Preschool, Reading, Reviews, Science, Toddlers

Over the past week, I’ve been pondering my school days trying to recall what would’ve made my life easier as a student. I recall hours spent pouring over stacks of books to retrieve math and science formulas to make flash cards and study sheets that I would carry with me everywhere. With this in mind, I started searching around for apps that would serve as a pocket dictionary for math and science… and I discovered “Math Ref”. This application offers reference information on an impressive breadth of math and science-based topics, and includes formulas, definitions, examples, figures, tips, and concepts. Instead of leafing through text books to retrieve a formula, you just type what you’re looking for into the search function and – if it’s available – it will appear. If you’re trying to create a customized study sheet, you can save topics and formulas under the favorites tab so they are easily organized and referenced during your cramming session. “Math Rep” has a lot going for it, but it could be improved by giving more specific examples supporting the formulas and definitions provided. As I look back at my scholastic career, I believe – if it was available – I would have used this app from middle school to grad school. You must admit… that’s a lot of value for a 99 cent app.

By Age Range, By App Feature, High School +, Math, Middle School, Reviews, Science

“Star Walk” is a pocket planetarium lesson and astronomy guide for the iPhone/iTouch. This sophisticated application is chocked full of features including moon phases, bookmarks, and a time machine (which allows you to view planetary and star movement in the days to come). It is easy-to-use, nicely formatted, and offers a wealth of learning opportunities. My favorite feature is the “star spotter” option that uses the digital compass to orient your location/position and charts the constellations over head (available for the 3GS only). I also like the option to learn more about what you see through links to planetary information on Wikipedia. This application is a superb tool for parents/caregivers who want to teach their young ones about the sky above. It’s the best of its kind, and an excellent way to discover and explore the universe from wherever you stand.

By Age Range, By App Feature, For Parents, High School +, Middle School, Primary School, Reviews, Science, nature

8 Planets Pro has discovered a unique niche with an educational science game uniting astronomy and game play. The application includes four games with topics including: planet names, spelling, “black hole” (planet identification), and matching. The design of this application makes it an especially powerful learning tool since each “game” or level of play builds on the preceding activity, thereby reinforcing what has been taught/learned and challenging the knowledge in a new way. For example, the first game introduces each planet by name, position from the sun, and illustration. The following game shows a picture of each planet and a partial spelling, reviewing what has just been taught. The last two games playfully quiz the player with games focusing on identification and matching. Each game independently can be hours of entertainment, but collectively these games form a cohesive, instructive and illuminating science lesson. I’m amazed at how a creative approach to learning can invigorate a seemingly dry topic. Stargazers will unite and delight over 8 Planets Pro.

By Age Range, By App Feature, Matching, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Science, Spelling