Below are some apps that the 5th and 6th teams at Driscoll recommend. Many of them have different levels of challenge to engage students at multiple grade levels. Our favorite feature: most of these apps are free!
Free Games: Motion Math Zoom, Motion Math Wings, Fractions+, Sushi Monster, all MathTappers games (Number Line, Multiples, etc.), and basic levels of Mathtopia
Wings is a fantastic game for understanding multiplication. Easier levels build a basic understanding and connect different visual representations, while harder levels rely on sophisticated -- and quick paced -- estimation and reasoning. For ages 4 - 12. Practice mental multiplying and estimation with Motion Math: Wings! This fun math game helps children ages 4 and up develop a conceptual understanding using six different visual forms. It's simple to play – you just tilt your bird to the bigger number.
MOTION MATH: Fractions
Link to App Store: Motion Math / Motion Math HD (iPad only) Price: $1.99 for Motion Math / $2.99 for HD version
One of our favorite apps! Motion Math improves students' understanding of fractions in multiple representations (e.g. on a number line, a picture, etc.) -- and is really fun! Developed at the Stanford School of Education, Motion Math HD follows a star that has fallen from space, and must bound back up, up, up to its home in the stars. Moving fractions to their correct place on the number line is the only way to return. By playing Motion Math, learners improve their ability to perceive and estimate fractions in multiple forms.
This engaging game helps children build an internal number line -- a very helpful idea for the upper elementary grades! Higher levels work well for older kids (up through 6th grade). Motion Math Zoom's zoomable, stretchable number line is missing some numbers - it's up to your child to put the numbers back where they belong. The new game uses concrete objects to represent abstract numbers: from dinosaurs in the thousands down to amoebas in the thousandths. Fun animal animations and sound effects help elementary school children master the number line.
Mathtopia+
Link to App Store: Mathtopia by Omega Labs Price: Free for basic levels; $0.99 each for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, etc. $3.99 for the full version.
This game helps practice math facts in a (watch out!) highly addictive format, similar to the game Bejeweled. The puzzle game play is similar to popular jewel swapping games but with multi-touch swap, enabling more complicated and challenging matching for addicts of tile-matching puzzlers. True addicts can match their skills against others on Game Center and unlock secret levels. Reduce stress while training the brain.
From the creators of Mathtopia+, this fun game connects different fraction representations to build on understanding. Fractions+ users master everyday fractions and their equivalents, including halves, fourths, and eighths; thirds and sixths; and fifths and tenths. Fractions+ Lite contains all the Fractions+ mini-lessons and six practice levels. Fun and addicting, Fractions+ builds mastery through repetitive matching of related concepts. Rewards and achievements encourage speed and accuracy.
The MathTappers motto is play, explore, understand!MathTappers: Fraction Estimation is designed to help learners to build their intuitive understanding of fractions by helping them to relate fractions (both symbols and pictures) to the nearest half (e.g., 0, ½ 1, 1½, 2, etc.) and then to extend their understanding by challenging them to use fraction estimates in addition and subtraction problems.
The MathTappers motto is play, explore, understand! With that in mind, students will explore the relative positions of numbers on a number line, helping them build number sense. Higher levels of this game are appropriate for older students. This game allows players to develop their understanding of our number system and their proportional reasoning skills by giving them an opportunity to consider the relative positions of whole, integer and real numbers on a numberline.