Who doesn't love marbles? Marble Math and Marble Math Jr. are two related apps by Artgig Apps. Combining marble rolling fun and math concepts was a brilliant idea and everyone here at ZiggityZoom loves the apps. The game designers at Artgig Apps come from a background of educational software development and they have succeeded in creating a fun and engaging learning experience.
We had tested the first version of Marble Math a while ago but now there are some new updates that make this a no-brainer buy for your children to help them learn and reinforce math concepts. The basic concept is to roll, or drag, your marble around a maze to find the correct answers to a given problem. Marble Math Jr. is geared to kids in the 5-8 age range, while Marble Math is for kids 9 -12 and up.
Our favorite aspects of Marble Math and Marble Math Jr. are:
- It is now Multi-Player enabling all the children in the family to play and to set custom profiles.
- Kids can create their own Avatar, with cute "swipe" and change features.
- Skill levels can be customized for each player.
- You get to choose your own Marble to play the games.
- There is the Option to play the game by "rolling" the marble by tilting your device or simply "drag" the marble around.
- For beginning readers, there is the ability to hear the Math problem.
- Combination of initial "word" problem and "number" problem as the problem is solved.
- Rewards and Surprises while playing the games.
The kids were especially enamoured with the rolling of the marbles to work the given problems. Well, actually, I was too. It is amazing how combining a fun play concept and a learning experience can encourage a child to want to learn. We highly recommend these two fun Math apps and for only $1.99 each they are quite a bargain.
MARBLE MATH JUNIOR CONCEPTS INCLUDE:
• shape recognition/matching
• sequencing number values and ordinals
• addition, subtraction and multiplication to 100
• identifying fractions
• adding US coins and notes
• telling time
• completing addition equations
MARBLE MATH CONCEPTS INCLUDE:
• addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
• adding and sequencing fractions with different denominators
• sequencing roman numerals
• factoring
• sequencing decimals
• adding and subtracting negative integers
• adding US coins and notes
• comparing number values
• simplifying equations
Review by Sharon Pierce McCullough.