Geometry, smartphones and children

Today, I will talk about some applications for phones or tablets related to geometry and children. I choosed 5 geometry and maths applications, I have played them and finally, I have classify them according to my criteria.

The first application is called "Montessori Geometry". Its name refers to the scientist Maria Montessori, an educator, pedagogue, scientist, doctor, psychiatrist, philosopher, anthropologist, biologist, psychologist, feminist and Italian humanist, and also the first Italian woman to graduate as a doctor of medicine.

This is an educational mobile application focused on the development or improvement of skills in the geometry. This has a manipulative approach. It allows working the forms (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) through simple games and personal discovery.

With this tool, children can play and learn geometric shapes among other things. The objective is for children to learn to develop logic through the categorization and hierarchization of geometric shapes. We can find everything from the simplest and most basic, to the most complex. Finally, we can find games to apply what they have learned.

It is recommended for children between 4 and 8 years old.

 

The second application is called "Dragon Box Elements". Under his slogan: "If Euclid played video games, this is the APP he'd build to teach geometry", we found an application as a videogame with which children will learn geometry in secret. This helps children understand geometric logic through fun characters and more than 100 puzzles.

The goal of the game is simple - build an army to defeat the evil dragon, Osgard. Behind each level are the properties of shapes and with each move, you are interacting with geometric levels. Your army is full of cleverly hidden shapes that only appear once you have successfully completed the level.

This APP takes its inspiration from “Elements”, one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics. Written by the Greek mathematician Euclid, "Elements" describes the foundations of geometry using a singular and coherent framework. DragonBox Elements makes it possible for players to master its essential axioms and theorems after just a couple of hours playing!

The third application is "Tangram - Educational puzzle", an adaptation for children of the famous game Tangram. Originally from China, as I have mentioned in previous publications, the Tangram is a puzzle of Chinese origin and long tradition.

Tangram consists of 7 pieces composed of squares, triangles and rectangles with different right and oblique angles. Thanks to these puzzles, children develop their psychomotor and intellectual abilities, and become familiar with concepts such as geometry in a very funny way. This application, as well as the Tangram physically worked, adapts to all ages and each puzzle is a challenge for all. It is a good way for children to improve observation, concentration and spatial ability.

In addition, its use is very simple. Once we have chosen the figure, it will simply be necessary to turn the colored pieces, slide them towards the brown area and find the correct position. It also has a help section in case some child has a problem performing some form. With this help, the edges of the pieces will be marked in white to indicate the correct position.

The fourth application is "Ciberchase 3D Builder". This is a fun application of augmented reality for children that allows the children to become familiar with geometric shapes and simple mathematical concepts. Through this application, children should help rebuild the city by turning 2D shapes into 3D structures. Stack, re-stack and rotate shapes until they match your goal structure.

This APP is designed for children ages 6-9, but it is truly a game for all ages! Players will understand how 3-dimensional geometric shapes are made from simple 2-dimensional shapes (such as squares, triangles and rectangles). The game also helps develop spatial reasoning skills and the ability to visualize and manipulate objects in 3-dimensional space.

Ciberchase 3D Builder

The fifth and the last application is called "Geoboard". It has the last place because I consider the other applications are more dinamics, coloured and I think children could like the most. In one of my first posts I already explained in a more extensive way what is a geoboard and its usefulness.

This is a very well developed app to learn geometry from the perspective of Primary education (you could also work in secondary). This application simulates a geoboard as we could find it. We found a worktable in which, with a series of cords, we will have to draw certain polygons. This process will help us to calculate areas and lengths and reinforce different concepts of geometry and mathematics.

I think it is an interesting resource very useful that it has been transferred to ICT resources.