Use Ice is Nice to introduce science concepts like weather, climate, geography, and science-related careers. The same interactive text can be used with all levels of readers, making it excellent for early elementary grades with both readers and pre-readers. Pre-readers can listen to the narrator (or teacher) read aloud while they read along. Emerging readers can read the text and tap to hear any words they get stuck on. Advanced readers can record themselves reading the text aloud and then listen to themselves reading. Kids could work in small reading groups, as well, taking turns reading and recording.
Continue readingIce Is Nice!: All About the North and South Poles is an informational book about science featuring Dr. Seuss characters; it's part of the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library Series. In it, the Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Dick on a journey around the world to the North and South Poles. There, they learn about the native animals and people and how changing weather affects them. The 48-page book includes interactive features such as a linked dictionary, text highlighting, and light animation.
Ice Is Nice!: All About the North and South Poles is a good educational book app for competent readers or early readers with a high interest in science. The text is factual with a little rhyming to make it more kid-friendly, but without the wit and silliness of the original Seuss books with the same characters.
Words like glacier and adaptation are in bold and linked to the dictionary, so if kids tap on the word, the definition pops up. Kids can listen to a narrator read aloud or can read themselves, tapping to get help with unfamiliar words. They can also record themselves reading the text, which is excellent for developing fluency.