Being able to combine top educational merit with entertaining game-play is a rare find in the app stores but there are a handful of first-rate kids’ learning games which are well worth checking out. When kids are relaxed and having fun they are more receptive to learning, and so combining game-play with learning content can be a win-win. However, not all educational games hit the mark. We have curated some of our very favourite educational games here, categorised by subject. These ones have just the right balance of fun and learning. We hope you and your kids will enjoy playing them as much as well do! on apps cover a wide range of subjects for a variety of levels and learning styles. These apps will meet your learning goals, keep your classroom motivated, and reach every type of learner.
Check out some of the best educational games for kids by subject that are currently available for iOS and Android devices.
Mathematics
Prodigy Math Game
Prodigy is a no-cost comprehensive math learning tool through which kids will be motivated to use at home or school, as it is really is fun! The developer’s mission is noble: all educational content is free for all children, forever. The premium subscription offers full access to all the games, gear and accessories. Each math question (which is voiced for less-able readers) is supported by on-screen learning resources, including a fraction wall, counters and base blocks as well as coloured pens for jottings and workings out. Answer the questions to cast spells and progress through the game. Stats are recorded, and questions are pitched accordingly.
Prodigy Math Game is available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Cool Math is one of the best of a large suite of excellent educational games by app developer Skidos. Kids can master their mathematics and coding skills as they race their motorbike and overcome obstacles while collecting treasures. Race through multiple levels of difficulty, both in gameplay and learning content but beware of sharp-cut spikes, breaking glass, exploding bombs and stormy wind zones. This app offers a lot of free content, or you can upgrade for individualised learning for up to 3 users so that three kids of different ages can learn and progress in their own individual learning style, whilst having a lot of fun! It’s highly recommended.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Language Arts
Starfall has provided reading and phonics resources for younger readers for a number of years. Now that the website is transitioning to an app, the print outs, games and onscreen animations are available as fun interactive app-based resources for young users, and the app provides a useful tool for parents and teachers. Starfall offers an excellent phonics-based programme which is suitable for early readers as they begin to recognise letters and sounds, building up to blending and whole word recognition. There are simple number and math-based games too. The graphics are colourful, and the games are fun! Become a member for full access.
7-Day Free Trial Available on iPhone, iPad, and Android
Word Runners
This is a super-fun app which offers great game-play action while promoting comprehension skills and extending vocabulary. The user can choose to play as cool kids Annie or Felipe as they enter a magical world, where word choices provide the weapons to battle or defend against a variety of obstacles. In order to know which word to pick - and which weapon or prop that word will provide - you must first read and understand the text. By taking a line of text at a time, the user can solve the puzzles and escape the traps. It’s a really motivational way to get kids reading for meaning.
Available on iPhone, iPad
Science
Habitactics
The creators behind this amazing ecosystem game should be highly commended. What an amazing concept: a game which teaches kids about ecosystems, food-chains and habitats from around the world. This really is a unique and extremely novel educational game which promotes understanding of scientific vocabulary and gives the user a ‘hands on’ understanding of how foods chains work. It also includes photos and information about the flora and fauna that make up each ecosystem. The Appalachian Forest is included for free but it’s worth upgrading to an ‘All Access Pass’ to play the oceans, deserts and savannahs, along with the other highly educational TouchPress games.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
This is a first-rate app which is from the creators of the ZooMoo Television Network and has been designed to complement the series. Available in a number of languages, it provides children with a broad understanding and appreciation of a huge range animals in multiple habitats from around the world. Through micro games, videos and collectables, even very young children can start exploring and experimenting with which foods animals like to eat and where they live. They can find the animal babies hiding in the different habitats and help to take care of them. This is a lovely app for parents to play with alongside their kids, and it can help to foster a lifelong love of animals and conservation.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Geography
Reading the information section gives you an insight into just how seriously the developers of this super app take play and learning. They are right: children are ‘inventive, questioning and creative’ and they have created a learning app that hits the sweet spot of fun and education. Through interactive map games - combining beautiful graphics, slick animations and photos - children can explore a wide number of world heritages sites and places of geographical significance. Younger children would benefit from playing alongside an adult who can help them access some tricky text, but kids of all ages will love to explore the world with this beautiful app.
Available on iPhone and iPad
Geo Challenge provides a number of challenging games to test the user on their geography knowledge of the world. The 4 mini-games provide game-play to hone understanding of flags of the world, country borders, major cities and the location of famous landmarks. The graphics and animations are bright and fun and the drag & drop and tap functionality makes it easy for even young players to use. The setting area of the app provides options for switching music or sound off, and even gives a choice of left or right-handed use. This app provides a really fun way for kids to learn about the world.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
History
This is an exceptionally polished history app, both in terms of educational content, breadth and in game-play functionality. There is so much for young historians to explore and discover as they navigate their way around the ancient world. They can choose to test their existing knowledge of past civilisations - with the roll of a pair of virtual dice - or gain new knowledge from the wide range of information (including beautiful diagrams and high-quality photos) available at their fingertips. Limited content is available for free or unlock more to discover all that the ancient world has to offer.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
This history app opens onto a visual timeline from pre-history up to modern day which provides a number of quiz games for young users to test their knowledge and understanding of key periods of UK history. What is especially motivational about these quizzes is that, through a process of elimination (and using their problem-solving skills), children will usually be able to work out what is the correct answer, even if they are not 100% sure! It’s a fun way to test historical knowledge and it’s worth exploring the other history apps from this developer as they follow a similar format, and there are a large range to choose from.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Technology
Box Island
Box Island supports the Hour of Code school commuting initiative - as well providing hours of coding fun for home - across three age ranges: 6-8, 9-11 and 12+, although it’s more suitable for younger users. The game requires Hiro to recuse his ‘box’ friend from across the river. Children play by dragging and dropping a sequence of instructions for Hiro to follow. The paths to rescue Hero get progressively harder to follow and more complex instructions are needed with each star that is won. It’s a great way to introduce kids to the basics of coding and the appealing graphics, sound effects and animations make it a super-fun game for even young children to play.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
CodeSpark Academy is a fun and easy-to-use app that makes coding fun for kids. Using coding skills alongside logical thinking, young users help navigate the adorable Foo characters around the game-like worlds which they inhabit. Through solving puzzles and honing their problem-solving skills, even young children can succeed. The open play area allows young users to build and share their own games and interactive stories with custom voice recordings and photos. No reading is necessary, making this app easy for even young kids to use. As well as developing programming skills, kids learn to use simple algorithms to automate their pet care center.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Music
Let Mazaam the 'musical genius' guide you around a magical world of beautiful sights and sounds as multiple players can play his musical games. This is a highly creative app which introduces young children to musical concepts including pitch, tempo, intensity, timbre and harmony and gives them an early appreciation of classical music. The graphics are as beautiful as the tunes and it’s a real joy to use. The free app comes with 1 magical musical world but it’s worth upgrading to explore all 5 worlds with 15 musical learning games and 140 classical works for all the family to appreciate.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Epic Orchestra
Your kids can be conductors of their very own orchestra with this super-fun musical gaming app. Through fast-paced baton-swiping action, they have to follow along to the rhythm of a number of classical musical pieces that will keep them entertained whilst connecting (quite literally) to some epic tunes. Epic Orchestra is an entertaining rhythm game with an awesome classical music score, with pieces from classical composers such as Grieg, Beethoven, Mozart, and more. As the various rhythmic challenges get progressively harder across the 15 levels, you’ll need swipe your pixel baton left, right, up, and down to keep up and earn the points!
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Art
Start With Art is a great art app that is curriculum based and offers high quality animated videos and learning activities through four lessons. The app features three fun characters – Furnace, Ruby and Tickles - that help children learn about the world of art and creativity.
Available on iPhone, iPad and Android
Mobile learning allows for flexibility by eliminating the need for learning to happen at a particular time and place. Mobile learning takes learning flexibility to another level by making instructional content like videos, podcasts, and other multimedia formats available on smartphones and devices. If you're not taking advantage of the above mobile learning apps, you're missing out!
By Lucy Rome