I loved gears. We used to play with LEGO and created a lot gear models with it. There are many engineering concepts involved, but when doing it right, it is fun for young children to see and understand those concepts. I am very excited to see now there is an app about gears designed for kids. Crazy Gears is from Seven Academy, who also designed Busy Shapes. The app incorporated many science and engineer concepts in the simple puzzle play, so kids as young as a 5-year-old can learn the basic engineering concepts. It is a fun STEM app for kids and tinkers of all ages.
The goal of the game is simple, connect the pieces to pull the wall or sliding door to open up the next puzzle. It starts with simple games, like connecting two gears with the chain. But gradually, more pieces are shown and more gears are involved.
I love the open-end play. There is no right or wrong solution. There is no instruction neither. Kids have to figure things out all on their own.
STEM concepts involved in the app: Gears, Mechanical Systems (simple and complex), Action and Reaction, Motion (circular, rotary, and reciprocating), Ratios, Tension, Torque and Speed, Mechanical Advantage. However, kids don’t need know all these terminology to play the games. This is exactly the beauty of the app. The games make kids be aware of these phenomenon and hopefully they will start paying attention to examples in real life.
After playing the games, you can point out how the bikes work, show them how the chain connect both wheels, and if you have a bike that allows changing gears, take some time to watch what happens when changing gears on bike, ask kids pay attention to the size of the gears the chain shifts. You don’t have to explain these to them, just ask them to watch and pay attention, they will try to figure out on their own. This is all about planting the seeds in their mind. Can you find gears on your body? When you lift something with your arm, is it a lever? Again, you don’t have to explain to them.
If you would like to know more about the science and engineering of the gears, you can access the handbook under Parents’ Section. In the handbook, you will find definitions of tools like gears, wheel and pulley, you will also find science explanation of gravity, friction, tension. You can learn gear basics such as names for different parts and movements. You can even find the process of making gears.
Crazy Gears is a fun STEM app that young children can play and enjoy. Give it a try! It is available on iPhone, iPod and iPad. It is $1.99, but is now 50% off.
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.
Looking for more STEM apps for kids? Check out 15 Physics Games That Are Safe for Kids to Play.
