Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated March 2012

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Britannica Kids: Solar System

Name: Britannica Kids: Solar System
Item: Britannica Kids: Solar System
Rating: 4
Author: Debbie Gorrell

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Blast off to learning with articles, puzzles, games, and more

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.

1–8

Common Sense says (See details)

Teachers say (1 Review)

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Kids can read interactive articles to learn about the solar system.

Information about the planets is well organized.

A brush-off game helps kids improve visual and memory skills.

Kids will love the colorful graphics and interesting video clips.

Pros: Lots of information, engaging games, and gorgeous graphics are likely to get kids interested.

Cons: Missed opportunity to challenge kids with activities that promote critical thinking.

Bottom Line: Britannica Kids: Solar System is a good reference tool for supplementing a solar system unit.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

If you want to supplement a unit about the solar system, then you will likely find Britannica Kids: Solar System very helpful. Show some of the videos to introduce the unit. As you work your way through the unit, have students read the articles and create an illustrated glossary of important terms. You can assign small groups of students to one of the planets and have them use the "Planets A-Z" feature to do research and create an illustrated poster. You can even assign the puzzles and games to kids who finish assignments early. Ask them to come up with game ideas of their own that might work well as an added feature of the app. If you need to cover Next Generation Science Standards, you can use the information about gravity and space to help kids develop a model that describes the role of gravity in the solar system (Standard M-ESS1-2.) Teachers should know that the Shop feature on the home screen gives users access to make online purchases.

What Is It?

Britannica Kids: Solar System is a handy science resource filled with information about the solar system. Kids choose what to do by spinning and tapping a wheel at the bottom of the home screen; the options are Articles, Planets A-Z, About, Brush-Off, Jigsaw Puzzles, Magic Square, Pics & Videos, Memory Match, Shopping, and Quiz. Each option has clear instructions when applicable and well-organized information. Key words are highlighted in the articles, and kids can tap them to learn their definitions. Quizzes are timed, and the memory match tracks how many attempts kids make to finish the game. Students can easily get hooked on improving their performance.

Is It Good for Learning?

This app provides a lot of information and colorful graphics that will spark the interest of kids who want to learn about the solar system. Kids can read articles and watch videos to learn about the planets, the moon, the sun, asteroids, comets, gravity, and space history and exploration. There are tappable glossary terms within the articles, which can help kids build vocabulary skills. Jigsaw puzzles, a brush-off game, memory match, and magic square puzzles are fun and engaging for kids. However, other than the brush-off game, these activities do not directly support learning the content about the solar system. But, they do help kids improve observation and memory skills. Kids can assess what they learned by taking timed and scored quizzes. Kids get instant feedback, so they know right away what they got right and what they still need to work on. Most of the learning happens by reading the articles, so the app is best suited for kids who are visual learners and enjoy reading about the solar system. No text-to-audio features are offered.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Kids will have fun with games and doing the puzzles, especially when they try to beat their previous scores. The articles require a lot of reading, but tappable pictures and key terms help make them interactive.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

A built-in glossary helps build vocabulary skills, and kids can assess their knowledge by taking quizzes. Learning is based on memorization.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

The information is well organized and users will quickly figure out how to navigate. Hints on quizzes would help struggling learners, and a text-to-audio feature would help kids with different learning styles.

Common Sense Reviewer

Debbie Gorrell

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Featured review by
Jim V. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Marshall Elementary School
Wexford, PA

Enhanced encyclopedia for kids with videos and games

Altogether, I think that this app is a glorified encyclopedia that is easier to navigate than the traditional book or online resource. Since there are only a limited number of items to explore on the app, students can easily navigate through it to find information. Also, even though there is a lot of useful information about the solar system, students who struggle with reading will need assistance to read the text in the app. There are many vocabulary terms and lengthy articles about each item. Perhaps the app developers could incorporate an audio recording of the text for students to listen to. In addition, the games in the app are simple games and do not stimulate higher level thinking.

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Britannica Kids: Solar System

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