Space

Gr 2–5—On opening this introduction to the solar system, kids are prompted to select a rocket and enter their names, while menu icons allow them to choose from various options and settings, including language. Viewers then set their rocket on course to visit a particular celestial body, and interact with it through multiple drag-and-drop opportunities.For example, users can deduce what a planet's temperature is by tossing a snowperson toward it. Does the snowperson melt, remain solid, or sink below the surface when it lands? On gravitational pull and atmosphere: What happens to the boulders tossed toward a planet? Will they encounter an atmospheric layer and burn? Kids can also observe planets' orbits, trigger sunspot flares, watch the Curiosity rover search for water on Mars, create footprints on the moon's surface, and compare and contrast the weight of the planets and sun using a virtual balance scale.Through the app's dynamic color art—including 3-D images/animations—labels, and play, children learn basic information about the planets and the sun. However, without in-app instructions, it may take viewers time to discover all the available options, how to use them, and, possibly, the purpose of the activity. For example, children may not understand that the ruler measures each planet's astronomical unit, or what that unit is. For additional info and to extend the learning, adults can download the extensive Space Handbook from the developer's website. The free guide offers definitions, suggestions on what to look for and try in the app, discussion questions, images, and resources. It's available in multiple languages.