Simple Machines by Tinybop - Best Apps for Kids

Simple Machines by Tinybop is a tool that lets kids explore six simple machines through exploration, and its one of four apps in the developers Explorers Library. To get the most out of it, parents may need to help kids look for patterns and ask questions about how making adjustments changes how well the machine works. A parent dashboard accommodates multiple kids, and an extensions guide is available on the website. Though theres no spoken language, labels for the machines are available in multiple languages including French, Spanish, and German.\r
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Fun exploration is full of surprises as kids play with highly interactive tools, though how much they learn depends on adult involvement. As kids change the type of wheel, width of wedge, or number of pulleys, they can observe how those adjustments alter force and how much work gets done. Aside from the science, there are fun, kid-friendly whimsical moments that will make kids want to keep exploring: Fish jump from tank to tank as the screws move up and down, the wedge-split icebergs reveal surprises, and the inclined-plane pinball games many moving parts offer endless entertainment. The only drawback is that theres no guidance to help kids analyze what happens. Though this keeps the inquiry student-driven, some kids will need additional coaching to get them to ask questions and examine their observations. Playing with a grown-up will go a long way to focus each activity and enhance potential learning. A short and sweet kids tutorial with some of the terms used in the labels also would provide an anchor for the concepts each game presents.