{Fun Education Apps}

Every teacher needs to use technology at SOME point in their classroom.  Technology is a huge part of our students' lives; why not use it to enhance your lessons!? I researched some apps that are compatible to Android devices and are great for elementary Art or ESL classes. 

Click on the name of the app to go directly to the download page for each one:) 

{iStoryBooks} iStorybooks is an excellent app for younger children in an English class. I LOVE the  cultural variety offered and most subject groups are also offered aside from History.  The narrator talks to the young reader before each story and gives a short preface of what the story will be about.  PLUS she speaks very clearly. This app is very much directed to ESL students.

{How to Draw Superheroes} this app is so much fun without being distracting. Art students of older ages could utilize this in an Art unit to take a break from class lecture!  Easy step by step instructions are given started with basic line, then going to shape, then showing shadowing techniques.  Advertisements are kept at an extreme minimum. YAAAY!

{How to Draw Wild Animals} Very similar to Draw Superheroes but instead, the kiddos get the chance to draw their favorite animal. I chose these two art apps because they are so simple to use, but limit distraction, which offers an easy, yet effective way to plug technology into the art classroom.

{ABS Kids Phonics: Animal Train} This app does a really great job drawing interest and phonics together. It is designed for younger children so it has a lot of different games and matching words to sounds.  A little monkey drives a train through the thriving "Phonics Island" and at each side of the pentagon shaped island is a learning "station" the children can select.  Because phonics can be especially frustrating for the little ones, I think the reward system was a really great perk of the app.  When students match sounds to letters or correctly achieve the task at the station, they get to put a sticker on their sticker board.  This app is really fun to interact with, yet very detailed.

{Kids n Books} I think it is important that kids get the chance to read folk tales and fairy tales in Reading classes. This app has an interactive storyteller much like iStoryBooks, but students are encouraged more with this app to play with the characters as the story is being told.

~~ Phonics Island and Kids n Books have full versions you could buy if you wanted your students to play around more, but are still very useful in their free version! All of the other apps are free and easy to use. ~~