I really wish I'd been introduced to this app two weeks earlier. Just the other day, my daughter was asking questions about the constellations, and while I knew the basics, I found I had to trust my good friend Google to tell us where each constellation got its name, why each shape evoked each picture, and even which stars were where. I wish we'd had Kiwaka to help us out!
To download Kiwaka ($2.99, iPad/iPhone), please use this handy link to support Smart Apps For Kids:
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This app contains no ads or in-app purchases, but does include external links to various internet sites as well as social media sites.
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This app, by developer Landka, takes users on a beautifully animated adventure to Kiwaka, a real place in the African jungle. There users will find animals eager to help them catch fireflies and light the stars. For every constellation unveiled, kids (and adults) get the story behind the constellation's namesake, a view of the stars that make it up, and even videos and real space images to help users locate particular stars in the night sky. Astronomy has never been so much fun.
I don't know a lot about astronomy, so Kiwaka turned out to be an app my daughter and I could enjoy together.
From iTunes:
“Fireflies carry the light from the stars” – ancient legend.
Learning can be different. Kiwaka is a game where you will learn about stars and constellations in an entertaining way. Play it in the dark for a more delightful visual experience.
The adventure begins in Kiwaka, a small place in the African jungle (it actually exists!) where the strangest creatures live. They want to discover the night sky and your goal is to catch fireflies to help them - each firefly will light one of the stars in the sky.
As the fireflies bring light to the constellations they reveal their hidden mysteries and ancient myths.
Do you know the story of Cassiopeia, the vain Queen of Ethiopia? Or the myth of Perseus and how he killed Medusa who turned all who gazed upon her to stone? Have you heard of Orion, the great hunter, and his enemy, the giant Scorpion?… The night sky is full of magical stories and Kiwaka will unveil them for you.
Kiwaka was developed with the collaboration of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and other leading scientific organizations to display over 120 stunning space images, as well as external links so you can explore the cosmos further. Kiwaka also includes several videos to help you locate important stars and constellations in the sky.
Designed for children and enjoyed by all ages, Kiwaka is a magical learning adventure. Astronomy has never been so engaging!
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Emilie keeps trying to find the narwhal constellation.
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