Share this page
By Stefan Dubowski
Annoy a grumpy castle by catapulting globs at it. Help an excitable rider get their bike going. Bounce spheres around a spacey pinball game. What's the connection? These activities are all about simple machines: levers, pulleys, screws, wedges, inclined planes, wheels and axles. Each activity demonstrates a machine and gets the player experimenting with it. For example, notice how you need just one or two pulleys to lift a bird, but four or five for a jet. No storyline, no adventure — nonetheless a good introduction to these mechanical devices, which the Ontario curriculum levers into action in Grade 2.
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store ($3.99), Google Play (free trial)
Rating: 4+, Everyone
Students can plot polar, Cartesian or parametric graphs with this powerful app. They can arrange data in tables, and create input-output tables. Analyze: view best-fit lines, parabolas and other statistics. Find maximums, minimums and points of intersection in curves. Move the sliders to affect values and see how adjustments change the presentation. A built-in scientific calculator handles equations including square roots and absolute values. Data visualization, including graphs, is integral to Ontario's math curriculum. Check out developer Desmos's website (desmos. com) for teaching resources.
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store (free), Google Play (free)
Rating: 4+, Everyone
No doubt pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars ranks high on the list of activities many are hoping to do, once the weather warms up. Students may relish the opportunity to not only go camping, but also help their friends and families figure out the details. For these proactive types, Parks Canada's National App is packed with information students can use to plan ahead. It provides helpful tips on what to bring in terms of foodstuff, shelter and bedding, as well as safety information. More than just fun: it helps students practise organization, an important pillar of Ontario's high school curriculum.
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store (free), Google Play (free)
Rating: 4+, Everyone
This one's for students with an eye for style and/or who've enrolled in Housing and Home Design, Grade 11, in which they study the principles of interior design and decoration. The Houzz app offers more than 20 million images across various interior spaces including kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and more. It's a true treasure trove for students who need ideas or inspiration. Images are searchable by room, style (contemporary, eclectic, industrial and others) and location (Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary … how about Belfast?) Articles, newsletters and videos go further to highlight all sorts of ideas for your designers in training.
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store (free), Google Play (free)
Rating: 4+, Everyone
In the latest instalment of the Draw a Stickman series, players see their creations come to life in a slime-fighting adventure, starting with a simple task: draw a stickman. From there the scene opens onto Stickville, where your character meets new friends. But those pals are whisked away in a supernatural earthquake. Can you bring them home? Draw tools to outsmart bad guys, cut through obstacles and find your lost buddies. It's a clever way to get students to practise drawing, which is fundamental to Ontario's elementary arts curriculum. The free version is ad-supported; the non-ad version is available via in-app purchase ($5.49).
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store (free), Google Play (free)
Rating: 4+, Everyone
Here's a credible source older students can use to help them grasp global events. The United Nations News Reader provides articles, videos and podcasts on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and climate change. Reports cover efforts to contain Ebola in Côte d'Ivoire, the latest on what's happening in Afghanistan, and how climate change is affecting the weather in Caribbean and Latin American countries. Users can view news by region, topic and media type. UN Security Council and General Assembly meetings are broadcast live. Recommended for high school students in courses tackling human rights, the environment and other worldwide topics.
DEVICE: Apple, Android
SOURCE: Apple App Store (free), Google Play (free)
Rating: 12+, Everyone