Shutterbugs: Wiggle and Stomp is a new free iPad app from Smithsonian Science Education Center and Filament Games. The game teaches children recognize and describe the movements of animals. The game is also available on Smithsonian website for free and the link is provided at the bottom of this post.
In the game, children follow a zoo keeper visit animals through a virtual zoo. As they go through the zoo the zoo keeper asks kids to take pictures of animals who are running, jumping, stomping, and other movements. Kids have to find the right animal who is doing the movement, among 3 animals. If they choose the right animal, they earn a star for that movement. If they pick the wrong animal, they are asked to choose again. If kids pick the wrong animal twice in a row, the zoo keeper gives a little hint to help kids identify the right movement.
For each correctly identified movement, kids earn a star for that movement. When they have 3 stars for a movement, they won that word and all three animals for their collection. If they go to collection page, they can see what word or animal they have won. Choosing a word, they will see all the animals that performed that movement; choosing an animal will show all the movements that animal has performed. From there, kids can request a coloring page to be saved in their photo album.
iGameMom Comments:
Shutterbugs: Wiggle and Stomp is a simple yet effect app teaching kids action words. For each word, kids have a visual clue to help them to memorize the corresponding word. It can be used for a wide range of kids. For younger kids who have not yet learnt to read or spell, parents can read the words to the kids, and kids can still learn to say those words. For kids who just start to learn reading, parents can spell the words with kids to help them recognize the words. For kids who are Bodily-Kinesthetic, ie. learn better with body movement, parents can ask kids act out the movement with the animals while saying the word together.
Do you see you can use this app helping your kids learn? What apps do you use to help kids improve their vocabulary? Please leave comment to tell us.
Shutterbugs: Wiggle and Stomp is available for iPAD. It is FREE on App Store.
If you would like to check it out or purchase it, please use the App Store link provided below. The cost is the same to you, but iGameMom gets a small percentage. Thanks for your support! Note: The link works for all countries.
If you don’t have an iPAD or prefer using computer, the game is also available free on Smithsonian website: Shutterbugs game on the website.
Oh! This is great! As I am about to embark on a journey to S.Korea to teach English, your website and tools will truly come in handy!
Keep up the awesome work!
ox NaNa
Enjoy your journey in S.Korea. It will be a different experience for sure. Here is the Pinterest board I have put together most of the language apps we have recommended overtime. There are a couple of them are not for English, but many are for English learners. http://www.pinterest.com/igamemom/language-apps/ Hope you find it helpful.