Learn about the spiders and worms around you in Bugs 2: What are They Like? Become a pretend doctor with the updated and whimsical Pepi Doctor. Learn some JavaScript and make your own falling blocks game. Plus, updated classroom management tools from Apple, and some reflections on remote learning.
Garry Froehlich | Jellybean Tunes
Bugs 2: What are They Like?
By Learny Land S.L.
Learn about spiders, snails, scorpions, worms and centipedes in Bugs 2. Each creature gets facts, photos, videos and activities including puzzles, simple games, coloring pages, and more. The cartoon versions are cute, but they also include real life pictures so that kids can see how they really look. Everything about the app is high quality and it is worth a look for young kids wanting to know more about the little creatures around them.
Pepi Doctor
By Pepi Play
Pepi Doctor contains five activities for young kids loosely based around a doctor’s office. These include fixing a broken arm, fixing teeth, and stopping a fever. Each activity has a number of steps, such as taking an x-ray, putting bones back together and putting on a cast. It tries to make everything fun rather than realistic although sometimes it gets a bit strange, such as pulling mushrooms out of someone’s ears. Originally released in 2013, the app has been given an update with improved artwork and animations and to work with the latest devices.
CKN Toys: Car Hero
by Colto
CKN is an incredibly popular toy unboxing channel on YouTube, and they have branched out into their own branded toys and games. CKN Toys: Car Hero is a three-lane endless runner style game (similar to Subway Surfers) for younger kids. As a game it works well and is fun, but it subscribes to the full free-to-play formula with ads on the screen, ads to unlock certain cars and characters, and pricey in-app purchases to buy gems that can speed up the acquisition of other cars and characters.
Learn JavaScript by Creating a Tetris Game
For older kids that have an interest in real programming, this 1.5 hour video takes you from the very beginning (downloading a code editor) to creating a Tetris game.
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/learn-javascript-by-creating-a-tetris-game/
Apple Launches Schoolwork 2.0
Apple is updating its class management software to make it easier to give and track assignments. This feels a bit late for the current school year, but might be very relevant for the next year starting in the Fall.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/apple-wants-to-help-parents-teachers-get-over-distance-learning-hurdles/ar-BB14pI25
Survey Shows Remote Learning Gaps
We’ve all been thrust unexpectedly into the world of remote learning, and needless to say, the most negative effects are on those who can least afford the time and money goes into it.
Why are Some Kids Thriving During Remote Learning?
Remote learning has given us a sudden and very different look at education. It’s worth looking at how some kids thrive in this environment when they perhaps struggled or were anxious in regular school and activities.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-are-some-kids-thriving-during-remote-learning
