Geoboard

Cost- Free
The Geoboard app would make a wonderful addition to a set of
classroom iPads. With geoboards, students have the opportunity to construct
many different shapes or line segments. Teachers can use this app to replace
traditional geoboards. This will allow them not to have to worry about rubber
bands flying around the room. Students are able to construct shapes and
lines the same way they would on traditional geoboards. Unlike a
traditional geoboard, they are able to draw and add numbers. One great way
that a teacher could use this app in the classroom is through stations. At this
station the teacher could give students a list of riddles about geometric
figures that they would have to solve and create on the geoboard. They
could screenshot their solution and email it to the teacher.
Curriculum Connection- 4
Geoboards are a tool that teachers use for many different aspects of math
and in many different grade levels. They can be used while studying lines
and line segments, area and perimeter, angles, or polygons.
Authenticity- 4
Teachers can create many different activities that students can use the
geoboard to practice concepts that class has been working on.
Feedback- 1
This app does not provide any feedback. It will be up to the teacher to ask
students to screenshot what they have created so he or she can give the
individual student feedback.
Differentiation- 1
The teacher may provide differentiation through the activities he or she is
asking the students to complete, but the app does not provide it on its own.
User Friendliness- 2
The teacher will have to give students a set activity for which they are to
complete while using the app. Once the teacher has provided students with
the activity they should be able to work independently.

Student Motivation- 2
Students are unlikely to use app without teacher instruction.
Reporting- 1.5
This app does not contain a summary page. Students are able to
screenshot what they have done on the app and email it to their teacher.
From there their teacher can use it as a form of assessment.

Math Town
Cost- $3.99
In this game, students are challenged to make their way around a town
looking for all the captured fireflies. In order for students to catch them they
most go from house to house. To enter different rooms, they collect numbers
and use them to solve basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
problems, and mixed numbers. This would be a great app to have on a
classroom set of iPads for when students finish work early. If students finish
their math page or activity before the rest of the class does, they could pick
up an iPad and practice their math skills.
Curriculum Connection- 2.5
This app can reinforce basic math skills for students of all ages or it can be
great practice for students who are just starting to learn their addition,
subtraction, multiplication, or division facts.
Authenticity- 2
Students are practicing and sharpening their basic math facts through a
game like setting. The goal of the game is to catch all the missing fireflies. In
order to do this, they must make it to the house at the top of the hill by
answering math facts.
Feedback-2
In this game feedback is limited to whether or not a student came up with
the correct answer. If the student answers a question wrong the numbers are
spit back out. The student cannot move on until they give the correct answer.
Differentiation- 3

In this app, teachers can work with students to change the settings to what
is best for the student. They can adjust the game so students are given
addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and mixed numbers. They can
also adjust what numbers they are given. For example, a teacher may adjust
the settings so a child is only given addition problems where the sum is
between 21 and 50.
User Friendless- 4
Once the teacher helps the student come up with the correct settings, he or
she will be able to easily pick up their iPad and begin playing this game
without any instruction. The game provides all the instructions that the
student needs and is easy to maneuver.
Student Motivation- 4
This is a very fun game that students will be eager to play. There are many
different houses to explore and each house is filled with secret passage ways
and many different rooms. They can even travel to the roof of some houses.
They will be determined to figure at the solution to the next problem in order
to explore the next room. The storyline of the game gives the students
purpose and keeps the entertained.
Reporting- 1
This app does not provide a summary page with results or a way for a
teacher to see how they are doing. If the teacher has time, they can become
a detective and get a basic idea of how the students are doing based on how
many house they get through. Whenever a student moves on to another
house the problems become more difficult.

Mathmateer
Cost- $1.99
This app was featured in the New York Times as one of the best educational
math games for elementary students. In this game, students are able to pick
their own avatar and build their own rocket. Each part of the rocket costs a
certain amount of money. In order to build their rocket, students are given a
little bit of money in the beginning and can earn more throughout the game.
The students have to build the rocket correctly in order to take off. One
downfall of this game is that students may become so distracted with
building their rocket that they will not spend enough time playing the actual
game. This game covers a lot of different topics that students of all grade
levels study. Some topics include: odd and even numbers, money, time,

shapes, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. When the class is

working on a certain concept that the app includes, teachers could have
students play this app during a math station. Teachers could also allow
students to use this app to practice their basic math skills when they finish
work and the whole class is not ready to move on.
Curriculum Connection- 2.5
This app covers a lot of different mathematical topics. The different skills that
students can practice are numbers, counting, money, time, shapes, patterns,
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Depending on the grade
level and what the class currently studying, this app can reinforce skills and
concepts that the class is working on or reinforce foundational skills.
Authenticity- 2
This app is very much a game and does not provide an authentic learning
environment. Students are challenged to launch their space ship and answer
questions in order to earn the coins needed to add more accessories to their
space ship.
Feedback- 1
This app does not give any feedback besides telling you the number of
answers you got correct. It does not penalize students if they got the
question wrong. Students can keep clicking on random numbers until they
get the question correct.
Differentiation-3
This app provides many different skills that students can practice and allows
them to be adjustment for difficultly. The skills that students can practice
are: numbers, counting, money, time, shapes, patterns, addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division. For each of these topics there are
easy, medium, and hard levels. There is also one challenge section that
students can complete.
User Friendliness- 3
Students will be able to navigate this app on their own. They may need to
have reminders throughout the year on how to pick a good skill to practice.
Student Motivation-4
Students will be highly motivated to play this game. They are likely to
become determined to build a really cool space ship and work towards more
coins in order to add more to it.

Reporting- 1
This app has a basic summary page that tells the student how many
questions they got right. There is no way to report it to the teacher.

Operation Math
Cost- $2.99
In this game students are given the challenge to help Agent Prime bring
down the bad guy. They travel all around the world helping him break into
vaults and through doors by answering math facts. To prepare for the mission
there is a training room where they can go and practice their math facts.
This game focuses on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Teachers can use this app to give students opportunities to practice these
important skills.
Curriculum Connection- 2
This app will reinforce the basic skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. It could be directly connected to certain standards depending
on the grade. For example, SOL 2.5: Students will recall addition facts with
sums to 20 or less and the corresponding subtraction facts.
Authenticity- 2
In this app, basic math facts are practiced in a game format. There is no
direct learning or instruction involved. Students are attempting to complete
all their missions through recalling math facts.
Feedback- 2.5
Feedback is limited to correctness. Student will not be able to move on if
they answer incorrectly. When students are struggling they are given the
ability to have fact practice in the training room.
Differentiation- 2
The app offers a few options for differentiation. Students can choose
between practicing their addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a
mix of all of them. They may also choose their level of difficulty. Their options
are easy, medium, or hard.
User Friendliness- 4

This game is very simple to play. If students wear headphones the game will
tell them exactly what they need to do. Students will be able to play this
game without any help or supervision from the teacher. They may just need
reminders throughout the year about picking an appropriate level to play.
Student Motivation- 4
This game is very engaging. Before each mission they are given background
on where they are going. Students will be eager to play this game in order to
help Agent Prime and explore world around them.
Reporting- 1
This app does not include a summary page. Students will know how if they
are getting problems wrong because they will not be able to move on. There
is no way for teachers to monitor how students are doing.

Math Run: Panda

Cost: Free
In this game the mama panda is chasing after her baby panda. The baby
panda is attempting to gain as many coins as possible. In his attempt to run
away and collect coins he must slide under branches, jump over objects, and
make sharp turns. If he falls or run into something the student may answer
four math facts in order to keep going. If the student is not able to answer
one of the math problems correctly the panda is caught and must go back to
his cage. This game is very similar to the Temple Run game that was popular
a few years ago. The only difference is you can save yourself by answer a
few math facts. One flaw of this game is that students only have to answer
math facts if they are not able to successfully jump, slide, or turn. If students
become good at jumping, sliding, or turning they will go long periods without
doing any math. Teachers will be careful for how they include this in their
day. They could offer it as a possible app to play when students finish work
early. It could be a good game to use to engage a student who is not
interested in math but needs to practice their basic addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division facts.
Curriculum Connection- 1
In this app students are given a few opportunities to practice basic math
facts. There is not any direct instruction.
Authenticity- 2

This app is very much a game. Students are challenged to help the baby
panda escape from his mother. If at some point the panda gets stuck or
injured they can answer an addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division
fact in order to continue on.
Feedback- 2.5
If students answer a problem incorrectly the game is over. Once it is over
they have the opportunity to look at their score report. They are also able to
look and see what facts they got wrong.
Differentiation- 1
The student or teacher cannot manually adjust the level of difficulty. As the
student gets further along the course the problems do become more
challenging.
User Friendliness- 4
Students will be able to easily launch the app and play without the teachers
assistance. One concern of this is that students may become really good at
helping their panda jump, slide, and make turns causing them not to have to
answer any math questions.
Student Motivation- 4
Students will be highly motivated to play. They will become determined to
make it to the next level and will not want to stop playing.
Reporting-3
Once student is not able to answer a question correctly the game is over. The
student is taken to a score report. The score report will inform the student
how many they got right and how many they got wrong. They are even able
to see exactly what problems they got wrong. Student could easily screen
shot this page and email it to their teacher. The teacher can use this
information as a form of formative assessment.