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Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated November 2013

Clam-I-Am!

Kids explore marine ecology on a fun, fact-filled jaunt to the sea

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
  • Science
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
Pre-K–3
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Take a look inside

5 images
Animations and illustrations teach kids facts about oceans.
Dive in to learn about life under the sea.
Two reading options support early literacy.
Kids can tap words to learn their definitions.
Navigation is easy.

Pros: Engaging, interactive story filled with oceans of fun science facts and terms.

Cons: No opportunity to practice comprehension of material.

Bottom Line: With clever rhymes and interactive story elements, the Cat in the Hat and friends make learning about marine ecology a splash of a good time.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Clam-I-Am! would work well as an introduction to a science unit about oceans or marine ecology. You can read the story to the class and write key words on a master glossary list, or kids can take turns reading in small groups. Since a lot of the vocabulary is advanced, you can adjust your glossary list according to kids' learning levels. Ask more advanced students to give examples of different arthropods, mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. Extend the explanation of salty ocean water given in the story by teaching kids about the entire water cycle.

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Standards:

Editor's Note: Clam-I-Am! is no longer listed on the developer's website. It appears to have been removed from all of the app stores where it was once available.

Clam-I-Am! is a fact-filled ebook that teaches kids about marine ecology. The ebook has two reading options: Read to Me and Read it Myself. In the Read to Me option, words are highlighted as they're spoken, which helps kids learn and practice reading skills. In both reading options, kids can tap bolded words to learn their definitions and tap pictures to hear and see the pictures with labels. Kids can record their own voices while reading the story, which gives them an opportunity to practice speech and language development.

Clam-I-Am! provides kids with lots of information about marine ecology and related science topics. Kids learn about groups of animals like mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms by tapping bolded words within the story. Pictures and basic animations teach kids about tides, the color of the ocean, why the ocean is salty, and what causes waves. Kids can tap pictures throughout the story to hear and see the pictures with labels. Many of the words and definitions are a bit advanced for early readers, however, and some might become overwhelmed by the amount of information.

Unfortunately, the ebook doesn't include opportunities for kids to practice or review what they've learned. Adding some interactive activities and a glossary of terms would enhance the overall learning experience.

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

Kids will enjoy tapping pictures and words throughout the story as they learn fascinating facts about the sea. Ocean sound effects and fun music bring the story to life. 

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

The story is packed with vocabulary kids can learn by tapping bolded words. Features like highlighted text and two reading options support early literacy. 

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

Navigation is fairly easy, and kids can move through the story by turning pages or choosing a particular page to view. An interactive glossary and a method to assess learning would be welcome additions. 

Common Sense Reviewer
Debbie Gorrell Educator
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Reading Foundational Skills

  • RF.1.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.2.4

    Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

  • RF.K.4

    Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.

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Teacher Reviews

Featured review by
Stacie T. , Other
Other
Hanover County Public Schools
Ashland, United States
Fabulous Interactive ebook...Rich in content and interest!
This ebook would be a great addition to any teacher's classroom library. There are several options for differentiation depending on the reading level of your students. Even though a student can choose "read it myself," the ebook still allows the user to tap any word if he or she struggles with any part of it. This ebook also allows the user to tap anywhere on the screen to identifies any object, which is a good feature for ELL students or early readers. One of my favorite features of this ebook is the option to record a new voice (other than the already existing narrator) for the book, giving students the ability to practice their fluency over and over again. Students can record on each page, then tap the arrow to advance to the next page. They can play back the recording at any stage, self-assess, and re-record if necessary. Easy and engaging! When the student is finished, that recording can then be emailed to parents or serve as documentation of growth.
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