Friday, December 30, 2011

Bluster!



Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 2nd - 4th
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: Vocabulary
Levels: 3
Players: Single or team
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

This is yet another wonderful app developed by McGraw-Hill. It's definitely a must-have!

Here's what the user(s) must choose before playing:

A) Number of Players - Single, Team, or Versus. The last two choices are so cool! All players play at the exact same time; the iPad splits into two.

B) Grade Level - Choose between Grade 2, Grade 3, or Grade 4. Although certainly students from other grade levels may find this app developmentally appropriate too.

C) Match Type
Grade 2 = prefixes, synonyms, rhyming words
Grade 3 = prefixes and suffixes, root words, homophones
Grade 4 = prefixes and suffixes, adjectives, rhyming words

Once the 'game' begins, the student(s) have to swipe through the word list to find three words that match according to the selected type. Unfortunately, the app does not display which type they selected; they have to remember. They need to drag each matching word to the scoring area. Ten correct matches clears each round.

In the 'Team' and 'Versus' modes, weather-related "disruptors" can be used to slow down the opponent.

The app claims to feature over 800 vocabulary words. This free app is definitely worth having on iPads in elementary classrooms.

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