Simple Sort: Continents

by Kids and Beyond

How many people can say that they went to the library, learned a wide range of geographical facts, played and had fun while doing so? Probably not too many. However, all of those things can take place in the palm of your hands as you explore Simple Sort: Continents by Kids and Beyond on your iPad device running iOS 5.0 or later. With multiple learning and play modes, Simple Sort: Continents will have your child continent hopping and as Kids and Beyond states giving your child “a whole new global perspective.” With professional narration, detailed and colorful graphics, young learners will be building what we like to call their “knowledge filing system” with animal species, man-made wonders, various landforms, rivers and vegetation of the seven continents of the world. In building this knowledge filing system, users will have the know with all to guide Ms. Clever Cloud. The Clever Cloud family need to do some major fact clean up, but they need your child’s help.

As you enter this educational app, flip the page of this virtual encyclopedia in order to get started. Immediately, young learners are presented with a choice: Visit the Library or Play Game. Which direction will your explorer take? Regardless of which direction is taken, users will be supported along the way through voice over explanations and descriptions of each geography fact. However, like any research of new topics, it might be best to begin in the library.

The library is broken into seven colorful books, each representing a continent. To enter the library, simply tap a colored book, its continent name will be announced as it opens to the table of contents. On the left side of the page, users will see a map of what that continent looks like. In addition, on the right side of the page, users will have varying amounts of chapters to review, some books have more chapters than others. Chapters can be read in any particular order and can be revisited at anytime. Upon entering a chapter, users will read and listen to quick snippets of information based on that chapter. Whether your child is just learning to read or already knows how, facts can be read to them or by them. Unlike a typical encyclopedia, this virtual book does not present information in an overwhelming manner. With only a few sentences and an image to showcase the new fact, users will be on their way to increasing their knowledge filing system. A note to the developers – might it be possible when an explorer taps the recorded reading that the sentence also highlights the words as it is read. In addition, we wonder if it might be possible to tap on a sentences coordinating image which would then enlarge center screen to provide users a closer look. Whether you are a parent or an educator (in a school or at home), this virtual library provides children a great introduction to those standards being met in the classroom like knowing the five themes of geography as it relates to various regions and being able to describe the diverse nature of our world.

Close the book and put your knowledge to the test. Help Ms. Clever Cloud sort out the continent facts into its correct bucket. Upon choosing the “play game” mode, users will have two options, to play and sort with or without a timer. The green button indicates that this will be an untimed exploration. While the yellow clock button indicates that your game will be timed. Simply choose as few as 2 continent buckets or as many as 6. When your child has chosen as many continent buckets as they feel confident in, simply click the green button to begin. Whether you choose to play timed or untimed, developers have included support along the way. At the top of the screen, users will find labeled continent buckets. Underneath will be familiar graphics that users came in contact while visiting the library. Simply drag and drop each; landforms, animals, rivers or vegetation to its correct bucket. Concerned that your child may have forget what something is. Not to worry! Developers have included a recall feature. For this feature to be present, simply use either a single or double tap on a graphic. A single tap will announce what the graphic is, whereas a double tap will announce both its name and fact. For those sorting with a timer, high scores are stored within the application and calculated based on the number of buckets played.

Once your child successfully sorts items, players will be presented with a world map and which have red blinking dots on it. These red dots will indicate where in each continent geographic landforms, rivers, animals and vegetation can be found. A nice added touch which helps children to make further academic connections. A note to the developers – we noticed when selecting buckets that one area was missing. Was Antarctica missing due to its limited amount of information provided in the library? In a future update will more information be provided on this location or any other?

Overall, Applicable2U was really pleased with Simple Sort: Continents. For those just entering school, it’s a great way to learn and travel the world without leaving the comfort of their home. In addition, it also provides an added reinforcement of social studies skills learned for our older elementary students. To learn more about our friends at Kids and Beyond, please visit their website here. To begin exploring the continents of the world and to help Ms. Clever Cloud sort unknown facts, then begin downloading Simple Sort: Continents to your iPad device for a meer .99¢ today!