Bottom Line: Great reinforcing math games for kids from kindergarten through sixth grade level! It corresponds well to Common Core State Standards, and helps teach problem solving skills in a fun way. Plus, it’s totally, completely FREE, and available on both iOS and Android. This new update includes the option for multi-players and has added many more games.
Get Zap Zap Math for iPad, iPhone and Android just by using these handy download links. It's completely FREE!
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve written an app review, due to the mounting responsibilities of the job that pays the bills. So I am thankful that the app that brings me back into working after not writing for awhile is an update to my previous 5-star review for Zap Zap Math.
I have to love a 5-star app developer who still wants to improve on their app to make it better. That is exactly what Visual Math Interactive did with Zap Zap Math. I want to start with the two small things that could still be improved. First, unless it’s just me, I could find no way to disable the sound. The background music was always present, even when the game was paused. Please, for the love of the sanity of all adults, give us an option to turn off the music and keep the game sounds. I end up just muting the entire device, but the game sounds are quite nice.
And second, there is one major typo between each grade level. All of the games are listed across the bottom of the screen, organized by two different topics per level. Between each grade is another box that reads, “Your are about to go to Grade ____.” Even though spell/grammar check doesn’t flag that, it’s still wrong.
Both of those errors are (I hope) pretty easy fixes. And they are far outnumbered by all of the amazing things about this app. First, did I mention it’s completely free? Yes, all content in this app is free, without an in-app purchase! Accessing more than kindergarten does require the user to sign up for a free account, so be sure to sign in first before handing it off to the budding mathematician. But after signing up, all content is available!
I also like that multiple user accounts are supported, perfect for use in a classroom. Signing up for an account allows the adult user to add and manage the accounts via an online platform. And the online dashboard provides excellent data about which games were played and the overall accuracy on each game. This is a great new update for this fantastic app.
The games themselves are also excellent. Each grade level addresses two topics, including number recognition and shapes in kindergarten, “Plus and Minus and Tens and Ones,” in first grade… all the way through to Basic Rations and Rates in sixth grade. Aside from kindergarten, each topic has four different games, and each game is played with five attempts to earn one star. That’s a lot of math practice!
The games each have five different levels, as well. That makes for a lot of different math practice. Games include finding a pattern to make an equation (connecting the blocks to make 3+3=6, for example), measuring angles by moving a satellite dish, identifying shapes by sorting in kindergarten, and so many more.
It’s not necessarily a game that all kids will seek out playing, but each game is still fun, and they move quickly. It’s the perfect app for some daily math practice at home before earning more game time, as well as at school for independent math centers time. Teachers who sign up kids at school can still track data, and kids can receive a code to use at home, too!
Overall, Zap Zap Math is a very solid app with a lot of great math practice. Get kids practicing critical thinking and problem solving in a fun game-centered app. It’s a must-download for elementary school teachers who utilize apps in their classroom, as well as for every parent. How can you lose when it’s completely free?
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Heather is really happy to be on summer break. She hopes to have all Zap Zap levels completed in just three days.
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