What it is: How it Works:Machines is another spectacular app from Geek Kids. The app includes 9 vehicles and machines that students can assemble including: a car, washing machine, hair dryer, lawn mower, vacuum cleaner, rocket, steam engine, wind mill and pump. Not only do students get to see the inner workings of everyday machines and vehicles, they also get to learn how to put them together to make them work. The puzzles in How it Works: Machines are easy enough for young students to put together the major parts of the machine. When students complete the puzzle, their is a short animation that shows how those parts work together to make the machine operate.
How How it Works: Machines can enrich learning: How it Works: Machines is a great way for students to be introduced to engineering and the mechanics of how things work. I love the way that this app guides students in the discovery of how things work. Students play their part in putting a machine together and then see the result of how all of the parts work together to set a machine in motion. This would be a great app to use when learning about simple machines. Students can identify the simple machines and forces in each machine they build.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad iOS 4.0 or later
Price: $1.99
