Gracie and Friends Treasure Bubbles
Gracie and Friends Treasure Bubbles gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Gracie and Friends Treasure Bubbles part of a suite of apps that aim to teach one very specific math skill: subitizing, or recognizing quantity without having to count. Activities cover numbers two through five. This game is designed for two people to play together, though kids could play on their own easily enough. Either way, kids may need a bit of practice in tapping, holding, and dragging. Unlike the other games in the suite, numerals are never introduced; kids work with recognizing quantity only. On the developer's website, parents can find printable materials and off screen games that extend learning.What kids can learn
Blow bubbles and pop them -- anyone with experience with young kids knows that should be enough said. Yet, play is repetitive and it can easily get old if kids ever tire of blowing and popping.
Clear instructions and explanations help kids first recognize quantity and then quickly pick out the right amount among different options. Because kids play with a friend, they also get practice with teamwork.
Scaffolded hints help kids who are having trouble. The developer's website has great learning extensions.
What's it about?
GRACIE AND FRIENDS TREASURE BUBBLES is designed for two players, though with good coordination kids could play on their own. Each player must tap and hold a bubble wand to blow two bubbles with the target number of treasures inside. Then, each player taps and drags a character to pop bubbles that hold the target number of treasures (e.g., three treasures can be lined up in a row, or stacked like a pyramid). Levels progress in order from two treasures up to five, and then repeat for a second round.
Is it any good?
Like all apps in this suite, Gracie and Friends Treasure Bubbles is sharply focused on one math skill -- subitizing -- and it covers it well. Kids will get good practice quickly judging quantity as they filter which bubbles have the right number of treasures and which ones don't. The co-play feature is a nice way to get kids working together with another kid or a grown-up. However, popping the bubbles requires some quick thinking and moving; it may be hard to coordinate choosing bubbles and moving in the right direction quickly enough. Blowing bubbles is such a classically exciting activity for young kids that they're bound to love blowing and popping to their heart's content -- all without getting the floor wet with bubble solution. Yet, with only five levels and no variation in mode of play, even bubbles may start to bore kids. And, it would be nice to see the second round of levels up the challenge rather than simply repeat the first cycle. Overall, this is a free, super fun -- if short-lived -- and worthwhile part of the Gracie and Friends subitizing suite.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about all the places where numbers and quantity appear. How many forks are on the table? How many shoes are on the floor?
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Count every day items -- such as eggs -- and point out written numerals -- such as the six written on a half dozen-egg carton.
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Practice judging quantity quickly and without regard to how items are arranged. Group items together and ask kids to quickly say how many are there. Rearrange and ask again.
App details
| Device: | iPad |
| Price: | Free |
| Pricing structure: | Free |
| Release date: | November 19, 2014 |
| Category: | Education |
| Topics: | Numbers and letters |
| Size: | 15.60 MB |
| Publisher: | First 8 Studios at WGBH |
| Version: | 1.0 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 6.0 or later |
