Today I am reviewing two apps that will make learning Montessori at home fun and easy. The apps use Montessori tools to guide 6-10 year olds through the process of adding and subtracting numbers of all sizes. They are both from 3 Elles Interactive.
The first app is Montessori 1st Operations. As its name suggests, it focuses on the fundamental concepts of addition and subtraction. Concepts like odd and even numbers and calculating halves and doubles will lay the ground work for multiplication and division.
It features three ways to learn. Begin with learning the Key Concepts and then move on to the Play Box and Tables. Throughout the game, the Montessori monsters will be there to entertain and remind kids that they are working towards earning points to use in the monster lab.
In Key Concepts, a narrator will guide kids through the basics of addition and subtraction. Initially, this will involve adding or subtracting two numbers totaling 10 or less. The app also introduces a novel approach to differentiating between odd and even numbers. Two columns are presented to kids. Bead arrangements will show them that even numbers have an equal number in both columns. Odd numbers will have a left over bead that remains in the middle of the two columns. With halves and doubles the program has kids use their finger to cut the group in half.
Play Box Games include:
The Monster game: In this activity kids can choose addition or subtraction equations to solve. Kids are able to use beads to help them solve the equations totaling up to 20.
The Bubble game: This is a timed activity in which kids solve as many equations as possible. A screen full of bubbles appear and kids have to choose the one with the correct answer. The app allows for progression by increasing in difficulty each time kids play it.
Bubble popping game: Here kids have to pop as many odd or even bubble numbers as the narrator asks them to.
Smart fingers: Kids can play alone or with a friend. The narrator will announce an even number of fingers to place on the screen. The aim is to evenly split the number, by dragging equal numbers of fingers to each end of the tablet.
The app also offers interactive addition and subtraction tables. They may be used as a reference or kids can practice rebuilding a blank tables one equation at a time.
I was very impressed with this app. It does a great job at explaining concepts to a child and the parents section explains to the grownups how Montessori tools work! Our 3.5 year old had been working with their math app Numberland for younger kids. First operations will be an excellent step up for her in time. The settings can extend the numbers up to 99, so it is a great review app for our 8-year-old.
The second app Montessori Math: Add & Subtract Large Numbers is the app I am excited about for our older child.
It does a great job at explaining place value and gradually moving into the concepts of regrouping/exchanging. The app arrangement is very similar to First Operations.
There are three activities to learn with, begin with concrete examples in the stamp game and on the bead frame/abacus. When a child is ready they can move to solving equations on the magic slate. In all the activities, place values are easily distinguished with color coding.
Just like the app above, the settings may be changed to make the app more challenging. For extra practice and review the Play Box features three games: Missing Digits, Wiz Quiz and Bubble Game.
Our favorite tool of the apps was the Magic Slate. Thanks to writing recognition, kids are able to write the answer directly on the slate with a finger. I thought that the tools in Montessori Math: Add & Subtract Large Numbers did a very good job of demystifying place value and regrouping. I would definitely recommend both apps for children 6 -10 years old. The second app may be more challenging for children at the younger end of this range but in my opinion it would be an app they will quickly grow into. Both apps will help kids learn Montessori at home fun and easy.
Both Montessori 1st Operation and Montessori Math: Add & Subtract Large Numbers are available on iPhone, iPod and iPAD. Both are $3.99 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.
1st Operation:
Montessori Math: Add & Subtract Large Numbers: