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Shape Lab
By Debbie Gorrell,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Geometry comes to life with easy-to-use sandbox tool.
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Shape Lab
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What’s It About?
There are two main sections of SHAPE LAB: Drawing, and Shape Lab in the Classroom. In the Drawing section, kids start by tapping on a blank sheet of paper to access all the drawing options and tools. To create a shape, kids tap on areas of the screen to create points, which the tool automatically connects using straight lines. Kids also can tap on a menu of shapes to easily create a specific shape in a single step. All drawings can be manipulated at the touch of a finger. They can be stretched and moved horizontally or vertically on the screen, with background options that include centimeter and inch grids, as well as dot paper. Using the cutting tool, kids can slice shapes in separate pieces and, using the flip tool, flip shapes across an axis. Kids also can change the colors of their shapes, save them, and send them to various devices. A camera option allows kids to take photographs and use the app to help find shapes within the photographs. In the Shape Lab in the Classroom section, users can access lesson plans, read a user manual, and sign up for tips to use Shape Lab in the classroom.
Is It Any Good?
Shape Lab is a comprehensive tool that encourages kids to learn through exploration. Some features are not as intuitive as others, such as accessing the save feature and toolbar extensions, but the touch interface is very easy to use. The lesson plans are an excellent way for kids to use Shape Lab in a more formal setting or to extend their learning, so adding more lesson plans could improve the learning value. It also would be nice to see some instructional features kids could access, such as pop-up labels that explain geometry concepts such as edges and vertices or a built-in lesson that teaches the basics of two-dimensional figures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about shapes found in everyday life. Use the camera to take pictures and work together to explore the shapes found within the pictures.
Have kids identify specific features of the shapes they create. How many edges does each have? How many vertices? Also, use the Internet to explore these terms and define them as needed.
App Details
- Device: iPad
- Subjects: Math : geometry, measurement, shapes
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning : investigation, part-whole relationships, Self-Direction : academic development, Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: November 18, 2014
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Shiny Things
- Version: 1.0.2
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 7.0 or later
- Last updated: July 28, 2016
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