Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education [1], which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. Click here [2]to read the full app review.
NAMOO-Wonders of Plant Life [2]
What’s It Like?
Students take on the role of naturalist in this life-of-plants app as they water roots, pollinate flowers, and “blow” carbon dioxide onto leaves. NAMOO includes nine chapters of plant interactions including roots, root tips, leaf anatomy, plant cells, photosynthesis, flowers and fruits, trunks, and stems. Each of these chapters is an interactive lesson in plant biology, allowing students to turn item labels off and on, zoom, and change atmospheric aspects to spur the plant’s processes.
Price: $3.99 on iOS, $1.99 on Android
Grades: 3-8
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Beautiful artwork, intuitive interactivity, and solid, factual content.
Cons: Though the content is rich, it’s too easy to go through it quickly; no extended activities or online content exist.
Bottom line: This educational plant app illustrates lessons and engages students much better than any textbook or video.