One of the more interesting accessories that I saw on my desk for a long time was the Merge Cube. The soft foam is durable and the range of applications available makes it a great gift for kids and adults, and makes me think schools have applications for it. There’s no shortage of games for this augmented reality platform, including some of my favorite Merge Cube puzzles, but now there’s a great educational use too.
Here’s a look at some of my favorites!
Many of these apps also work on the Merge VR headset, allowing the student to use both hands while interacting with the cube, making the learning experience even better. The headset might be a little pricey for schools at around $49, but Merge is introducing a new, thinner version aimed at kids this summer at a low $30 and possibly educational wholesale prices.
- See Merge Cube on Amazon
- Watch the VR fusion on Amazon
mr body
Mr Body is a very simple beginner level app for kids to understand what organs are in the human body. Currently, 10 different organs need to be tested, including the brain, liver and even the pancreas, each with its own small fragment to explain what it does. All you have to do is look at the organ you want to examine, touch the screen and you will see a larger version and an explanation. Simple and easy for any child to use.
Mister Body, although not the most technical app, gives young kids great information about their body and does it in a bright fun way that can hold them. I’m pretty sure the first time I used the app it only showed 4 organs and now with updates it’s up to 10 so I’m sure this app will grow into something much more comprehensive.
Find Mr. Body on Google Play
Galactic Explorer
The Galactic Explorer is extremely similar to Mr. Body, but with a biological bent instead of an astronomical one. You control it in the same way, by clicking on one of the celestial bodies spinning in your hand for a closer view, then clicking on the information screen to give you a small piece of information about each planet. Graphically, I prefer «Explorer» over «Mr. Body», it’s just an app that looks better, with a spinning star surrounded by spinning planets.
Again, for an app designed for younger kids around 10-14 years old, this app provides a wonderful glimpse into a world that kids rarely see. It also provides a small piece of information that they can take with them into their future education. The information is always short, concise and gives them a few facts in an easy to digest format perfect for young children.
Find Galatic Explorer on Google Play
Dino Digger
This may be my favorite educational app so far. Dino Digger is designed to make interacting with fossils and paleontology fun for grades 2-8, giving kids the chance to dig up their own fossils using a variety of trading tools while learning a little about each dinosaur and the area of the world they live in . inhabited. The cube itself is a small piece of rock or soil that needs to be dug out to make the whole application look very interactive.
I love dinosaurs since I was a little toddler and Dino Digger makes me wish we had this, when I was a kid I would have gone crazy. The app has a lot of dinosaurs as well as more information than the last two apps give, after all it has a slightly wider range for its audience so the app can be used in multiple lessons or lessons in combination with other more traditional teaching methods.
Find Dino Digger on Google Play
