My Voyage
By Christy Matte,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Videos and activities teach sustainability and some culture.
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My Voyage
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What’s It About?
MY VOYAGE joins Keola, Emma, and Uncle Billy as they learn about a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe and how the Hawaiian people used natural resources to build their canoes. Videos show how the kids learn to make rope from a local plant, weave sails from leaves, and carve out a canoe from a large tree. They learn about the mission of the Hōkūleʻa canoe, as well as the meaning of "Mālama Honua," which is all about caring for the earth and all the people, plants, and animals that inhabit it. Through the interactive elements, kids learn to identify the voyaging canoe, help weave a sail, chop down plants for rope, and identify healthy trees for a canoe. They'll also need to think about provisions for their journey. Once they complete all the activities, they earn a virtual "Junior Navigator" badge.
Is It Any Good?
This unique educational experience relies heavily on video, with less hands-on learning, but it offers a positive message about taking care of the planet. My Voyage struggles somewhat to be relatable for kids who have no Hawaiian cultural reference, teaching a lot of Hawaiian words and concepts in a short amount of time. It feels like it's geared toward kids who are already familiar with the general culture, but who don't know much about traditional arts and natural resources. The activities are appropriate and engaging, but sometimes feel contrived, such as cutting down a certain number plants by tapping on them in just the right spots. A couple of them -- the boat assembly and weaving activities -- are sometimes tricky in terms of dragging items to the exact right spot on the screen, so kids may get frustrated. Despite its flaws, it offers interesting history and culture alongside a very positive message.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about using apps such as My Voyage for learning. Do you think this is a good app for learning? Why, or why not? What did you learn?
How do you like this app as compared to other apps you could play? If you had/have limited screen time, would you pick this app over other apps on your device? Why, or why not?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Science: plants, Social Studies: citizenship, cultural understanding, global awareness
- Skills: Responsibility & Ethics: honoring the community
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: July 14, 2016
- Category: Education
- Topics: Adventures, History, Science and Nature
- Publisher: VM Creative
- Version: 1.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 8.1
- Last updated: October 18, 2019
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