App of the Week: Globe Smart Education 1

 

What it’s like: Globe Smart Education 1 explores the lives of kids around the world through stories and games. Users pick one of eight kids from five countries: Haiti, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Burundi, and the United States. They then can choose to read that child’s story, select “tell me about yourself” to engage in a dialogue, learn phrases or count to 10 in the child’s native language, or read more facts about the child’s hometown. Teacher sections of the app offer a discussion guide for each country, lesson plan ideas, and classroom activities that draw directly from each unit and build on topics that arise in the stories.

Price: $19.99

Grades: 1-3

Pros: Stellar teacher guides offer lots of classroom connections that bridge disciplines.

Cons: Some kids talk very quickly in the story sections; high price tag may be prohibitive.

Bottom line: A smart, thoughtful way to learn about the lives of kids around the world.