The World Fact Book for iPad

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Social Studies
Specific Skill: Geography - World
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

Wow! This app provides students with an abundance of research about many, many countries around our world.

For each country, information concerning the following topics is provided:
- Introduction (background)
- Geography
- People
- Government
- Economy
- Communications
- Transportation
- Military
- Transnational issues
- Flag (with description)
- Color map
- Location map

This app is a must-have if your students will be researching various countries.

U. S. Quarters

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 1st and up
Subject: Social Studies & Mathematics
Specific Skill: USA, Money
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

This is a fun (and free!) app. Please note that it's quite simple and there's no opportunity for interaction. Students simply flip through large pictures of each quarter from the the States collection. Each picture is accompanied by the state's abbreviation and a brief description of the image depicted on the tails side.

Here's the information for my state's quarter:
Georgia (GA) - Wisdom, Justice, Moderation
T. James Ferrell
1999
Features the peach, a silhouetted outline of the state, live oak sprigs, and the Georgia state motto "Wisdom, Justice, Moderation".

Despite being a free app, advertisements are not included.

Stack the States

Price: $.99 (free Lite version)
Grade Recommendation: 2nd and up
Subject: Social Studies
Specific Skill: Geography - United States
Levels: 1
Players: 1 - 6
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

This is one of those apps that perfectly combines learning and fun!

After correctly answering questions about states in our country, an outline of a shape is dropped. Students have to manipulate the shape as it drops, causing them to stack and eventually crossing a checkered line.

The educational value of this app is impressive. It's a 'Must Have' for those of you who must cover basic information about the states such as names, nicknames, shapes, abbreviations, and capitals. But as a bonus, students also learn a little about physics as they carefully choose how to stack the states.

The animation and background pictures are stunning too!

Constitution

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Social Studies
Specific Skill: U. S. Government
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Wow! It's hard to believe this app is free! An animated ad runs across the bottom of the screen, though.

The entire United States Constitution is included. A separate section is included for the Preamble, each Article, and each Amendment. Each section is comprised of the full text plus an additional page of explanatory notes. The app also features a full biography of each signer of the document and a painting of all the signers.

This app should definitely be on every iPad in our schools today!

World Atlas HD

Price: $1.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Social Studies
Specific Skill: Geography
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

National Geographic has produced this stunning world atlas. Students can choose to view four different versions of maps for countries around the world: Executive, Classic, Satellite, or Road.

A research component is also included. Students can read information about countries and see each flag.

With an active Internet connection, maps can also be downloaded.

This app serves as an adequate replacement (or enhancement) to traditional print world atlases located in schools.

Britannica Kids: Solar System

Price: $4.99
Grade Recommendation: 3rd and up
Subject: Science
Specific Skill: Solar System
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

Encyclopedia Britannica has published several amazing research apps for students. The only one I have right now is the one for the Solar System because it's in the science standards for students I teach. The app provides an abundance of interesting information on the subject.

The sections are:
- Makeup of the Solar System
- The Sun
- The Planets
- The Moon
- Asteroids and Comets
- Formation of the Solar System
- Studying the Solar System
- Gravity and Space
- Exploring the Solar System

The app is more than just an electronic version of an encyclopedia, though! Several games - like Magic Square, Jigsaw Puzzles, and Memory Match - are included. The app also includes many pictures and even a few short video segments. Students can also take a solar system quiz.

If your science standards include the Solar System, I strongly suggest purchasing this app!

Other series included in the Britannica Kids collection:
- Snakes
- Dinosaurs
- Rainforests
- Volcanoes
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Rome

Time, Money, and Fractions On-Track

Price: $9.99
Grade Recommendation: 1st - 2nd
Subject: Mathematics
Specific Skill: Time, Money, and Fractions
Levels: 1
Players: 1
For iPad, iPod, or Both: iPad

This app is made by School Zone, a well-known educational publishing company. While pricey, it provides first and second grade students with an enjoyable way to practice skills related to time, money, and fractions. There are 10 activities to complete for each of these skills. Written and verbal instructions are provided. The app has a self-checking feature.

Here are some examples of included activities:

Money - "Count the coins and type the amount in the boxes. Is there enough money to pay for each item? Touch yes or no."

Time - "Read the hour hand first. Then read the minute hand. Drag the correct time to the box below each clock."

Fractions - "Drag the fraction to the box for each shaded object."

Several non-educational games are also included to give students a break from learning. My students know how to skip these games, however, when they appear.

The app is highly engaging and provides a tactile experience. However, it lacks the ability to change levels. You can't blame the app though; it's clearly marketed for students in grades one and two.