 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Presidents vs. Aliens
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $0.99
- Category: Educational Games
Common Sense Media says
Goofy and fun way to learn about the U.S. presidents.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Presidents vs. Aliens is an educational app that quizzes players about each U.S. president, including his political party, nickname, a noteworthy event during his presidency, a quote, and various other facts. It also tests players' ability to recognize the portraits of the presidents. If you answer correctly, you have the chance to fling your president's head at a collection of aliens in order to knock them off the screen. There is no limit to the number of questions you can answer as you attempt to knock out aliens heads, but you must answer at least 50% of the questions correctly to win the level. Pull it off and you earn a president for your collection. The end goal is to earn all of the presidents. If you earn 15 presidents, you unlock the Heads of State bonus game which asks you to choose the correct portrait for the president's name. Earn 30 presidents to unlock Executive Order, which asks you to place presidential portraits in order of their term of presidency. None of the games are timed.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about U.S. history, specifically data about the presidents, with Presidents vs. Aliens. Each presidential snapshot includes an image, term dates, nickname, quotes, key historical events/facts, and political party affiliation. Kids can go at their own pace since there's no time clock pressure. Bonus: There's also an arcade-style game that may help reinforce basic geometry and physics concepts. Presidents vs. Aliens isn't especially deep, but it brings silly fun to drill-based learning.
Subjects
- Arts
- Hobbies
- Language & Reading
- Mathgeometry
- Sciencephysics
- Social Studieshistorical figures
Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Self-Direction
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoninghypothesis-testing
What's it about?
Kids study historical information and then answer multiple choice questions. If they answer correctly they play a round of an arcade-style game. If they answer incorrectly, the app shows the correct answer and players move on to the next question. Once they complete the game level, they are given a presidential portrait to add to their gallery. Kids can control the depth of information included in the quiz and there are two bonus games to unlock. The app includes digital "flash cards" with information on each of the presidents to help study.
Is it any good?
PRESIDENTS VS. ALIENS is just plain educational fun. The game provides a database of facts, so you can study up before you play. You can also just learn as you go. The alien head layouts keep changing and you can earn power-ups by answering three questions in a row correctly. You can't help but learn something in the process. There's something strangely satisfying about flinging these staid presidential portraits across the screen at colorful alien heads. This is a wacky but fun way to learn about U.S. history.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about U.S. history, specifically data about the presidents, with Presidents vs. Aliens. Each presidential snapshot includes an image, term dates, nickname, quotes, key historical events/facts, and political party affiliation. Kids can go at their own pace since there's no time clock pressure. Bonus: There's also an arcade-style game that may help reinforce basic geometry and physics concepts. Presidents vs. Aliens isn't especially deep, but it brings silly fun to drill-based learning.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
- Language & Reading:
- Math: geometry
- Science: physics
- Social Studies: historical figures
Skills
- Collaboration:
- Communication:
- Creativity:
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Self-Direction:
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: hypothesis-testing
How kids will learn
Presidents vs. Aliens keeps kids coming back by rewarding them with presidential portraits for their collection and by including two bonus games that can be unlocked. Correct answers for quiz questions are provided if kids answer incorrectly. Although there are no hints in the arcade section, gameplay is casual enough that kids can keep trying until they complete the level.
How parents can help
- Quiz kids on presidential facts. Ask them what it might have been like to be president in different eras given the events that were taking place at the time.
- Keep in mind that, while anyone can learn from this app, kids studying the presidents in school may find the app most rewarding.
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| Category: | Educational Games |
| Platforms: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $0.99 |
| Size: | 13.30 MB |
| Publisher: | Dan Russell-Pinson |
| Version: | 1.2 |
| Release date: | August 19, 2011 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 3.0 or later |
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