These are some of the best apps for middle school handpicked by our editorial staff that'll both support and challenge kids in grades 6-8. You can explore targeted apps for your middle school classroom across every subject to help students acquire new skills and demonstrate learning.
Middle school can be a difficult time for most students. The classroom structure changes and more is expected from students academically. In addition to growing pains, students are faced with new opportunities in education, new challenges socially and are given more responsibilities as they become young adults.
Here is the list of the best apps that will help any middle school student to learn any subjects, from math to science, language arts, social studies, art, and music.
Best Apps for Middle School Students
1. Algebra Touch
(iPhone, iPad)
Algebra touch is an interactive app for middle school students to be a part of the problem solving process as they manipulate terms, solve equations, and even factor quadratics. The app provides instruction and support for algebraic thinking required by the Common Core State Standards. Whether a student is tapping the plus button to combine like terms, or factoring a number so they can physically slash and simplify, they are actively engaged in solving basic algebra problems.
Cost: Free
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Subject: Maths
If we missed any of the Best Middle School Apps, tell us about them!
2. IXL Math
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
The IXL platform is a personalized digital learning space that covers middle school curriculum and is used by more than 14 million students. With over 9,000 skills in math, English language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish, it is a very comprehensive service.
By using a curriculum base, actionable analytics, real-time diagnostics, and individualized guidance, educators are given the tools to help students target specific learning goals.
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: Android, iPhone, iPad and Web Browsers
Subject: Math, English
3. World's Worst Pet - Vocabulary
(iPhone, iPad)
World’s Worst Pet – Vocabulary is an engaging English Language Arts game designed for fourth through eighth graders. This app helps children increase their vocabulary by taking players through an adventure. We love how the narrative grabs the attention of students without sacrificing the academic component. Children are introduced to domain-specific vocabulary words in word lists that are grouped by topic. The high-quality graphics and abundance of levels makes this a go-to app for vocabulary practice.
Cost: Free
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Subject: English Language Arts
4. Knights and Castles
(iPhone, iPad)
Encyclopedia Britannica has many apps for mobile devices geared at teaching children about important topics in social studies and science. Upper elementary schoolers looking to explore history will love Knights and Castle. This comprehensive resource includes articles, games, quizzes and multimedia that will support children as they dig into this history topic.
Cost: Paid
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Android
Subject: History
5. Stack the Countries™
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
Stack the countries is an educational geography game teaching and testing students on the countries of the world and their shapes, neighbours, landmarks, capital cities, languages, flags, and other geographical facts. The game supplies world maps and flash cards with country facts that can be studied before playing the game portion of the app. Gameplay involves reading questions and choosing from four different countries or country shapes as the answer.
Cost: Paid
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Android
Subject: Geography
6. Brian Cox's Wonders of Life
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
Wonders of Life is a vast multimedia collection of photos, streaming videos and fairly dense text. Professor Brian Cox, a physicist, would seem to be an odd choice to narrate the app, but much of the content looks at the origins of the senses, how animals expend energy, speed and other topics in his bailiwick. Subjects include the chemistry of water and why it's essential to life, how insects use surface tension to walk on water and why giant insects once found in fossils no longer exist due to changes in the earth's oxygen concentration.
Cost: Paid
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Subject: Science
7. Arduino Science Journal
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
The Arduino Science Journal app is intended to be a pocket science laboratory because it allows students to measure data in real time using a phone. The Arduino Science Journal site features Getting Started activities. These activities are printable and will help acclimate students to the different tools available in the Science Journal app.
Cost: Free
Devices: iPhone, iPad
Subject: Science
8. Geometry Pad
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
With Geometry Pad, students can create geometric shapes, then explore their properties and calculate their metrics. Each shape created has a set of properties (color, width, background, etc.) that can easily be customized to suit your student’s needs. Your middle school student can expand upon their geometry studies through the use of this app’s wide selection of tools.
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Devices: iPhone, iPad and Android
Subject: Maths
9. Minima Animator
(iPhone, iPad)
A great media creation tool that could be used all year long for everything from posters to videos, but teachers will need to make learning goals clear. This one-stop shop for creating sleek graphics, web stories, and animated videos is incredibly easy to use and challenges students to think critically about visual presentation.
Cost: Paid
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Subject: Arts
10. NOVA Elements
(iPhone, iPad)
NOVA Elements brings the Periodic Table to life with stunning graphics and mind-blowing videos that showcase the unique properties of the elements. It's a must-have supplement for any chemistry or earth sciences curriculum.
Cost: Free
Devices: iPad
Subject: Science
Middle school apps can sometimes fail to meet our expectations (or keep kids engaged). We offer middle school help designed for multiple types of learners. Visual learners may benefit from worksheets, while hands-on learners may find our activities more engaging. Learning about middle school science, for example, may be best explored with activities. Check out our high school apps to find out what's ahead.
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