Common Sense Media Review
By Christopher Healy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, all-ages math puzzles disguise learning as games.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Sums Stacker
What's It About?
In Sums Stacker, kids see three columns with designated sums. They have to move dice (or other objects) from one column to another one at a time so that they equal the sums. In solve mode, it simply keeps track of the number of moves for a series of five problems. In timed mode, a little ticker moves around the edge of the screen; it's less noticeable than a ticking clock, lessening the pressure.
Is It Any Good?
SUMS STACKER is one of those brilliant educational apps that feels more like a game than a lesson. The entirety of the gameplay is based around math -- kids will be adding, subtracting, and re-adding throughout -- but the game feels like an arcade style puzzle game. The different game modes offer variety as well -- adding coins feels entirely different than adding hands and fingers. The awesome color-pencil sketch art style -- reminiscent of those funky old Sesame Street animations of the '70s -- makes the whole app just that much cooler.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Review the different combinations of numbers that can add up to the same sum.
Help kids think ahead and plan their next move.
Practice basic operation problems.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Math : arithmetic
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : logic , solving puzzles , strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Release date : December 9, 2009
- Genre : Educational Games
- Publisher : Carstens Studios Inc.
- Version : 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 3.1.2 or later
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
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