Crazy Gears
Crazy Gears gallery
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Crazy Gears is a problem-solving game that gets kids thinking critically, problem solving, and exploring physics and other STEM topics. There are no instructions -- kids experiment as they figure everything out on their own. A parents' guide provides background information, definitions, fun facts, and project ideas. Since there's essentially no instruction, game play is accessible to all kids no matter what language they speak. Parents who don't speak English, however, will not be able to read the handbook.What kids can learn
Each level is a brand new puzzle irresistibly calling for a solution. With 61 levels, multiple ways to solve many of the puzzles, and extension information that helps expand learning themes, kids should easily stay hooked.
Kids learn through experimentation, exploration, and trial and error. As they move around turning wheels, rods, gears, and other tools, they construct ideas about physics, friction, and how moving parts work together to make machines.
Play is entirely experiential and only requires tap and drag, so should be easily accessible. An extensive learning guide helps parents provide support, background, and extensions where needed.
What's it about?
Play in CRAZY GEARS is introduced with just one simple instruction: "Find a way to pull yourself to the next level." Kids figure the rest out on their own as they drag and drop various items into place, experimenting to discover different ways to connect a ball and chain so that the next level gets "pulled" across the screen. Through 61 levels, the number of tools and gadgets increases, including wheels, gears, rods, pulleys, weights, racks, hooks, and more. If parents sign up for an account they can create multiple user accounts, so individual kids can play and not lose their progress. A parents' guide offers lots of definitions and background information.
Is it any good?
Crazy Gears is a great opportunity for kids to explore open-ended play and experimentation. Even on the 2-D screen, kids get a really good sense of what gears, weights, pulleys, and other simple machines do. Lots of levels, many with multiple solutions, should keep kids engaged for a while, even if some levels feel repetitive. Though the parents' guide can be dense, it's worth reading, and it's definitely worth sharing the definitions, gadget names, and fun facts with kids. Parents can also track kids' progress through the levels, which can help provide inspiration points for what areas to explore more together. Though the digital experience doesn't capture everything about the machines (like how much torque is necessary to lift a really heavy item with a chain) this is a really creative, highly accessible -- and fun! -- option for exploring physics and engineering.
Families can talk about...
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Families can talk about problem-solving strategies. What obstacles are there in each level? What different things can kids try to solve the puzzle?
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Read through the parents guide to help name of the different tools and big ideas that each level introduces. Learn about gears, friction, tension, rack and pinion, and more. Talk about where kids can find these things in real life.
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Help kids build similar contraptions in real life and experiment.
App details
| Devices: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $1.99 |
| Pricing structure: | Paid |
| Release date: | March 26, 2015 |
| Category: | Education |
| Topics: | Science and nature |
| Size: | 52.00 MB |
| Publisher: | Seven Academy |
| Version: | 1.01 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 8.0 or later |
