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App review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated February 2015
Impoppable

Impoppable

Kids tap, tap, pop to build fluency in multiplication and division

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Grades
2–4
Subjects & Skills
Math, Character & SEL, Critical Thinking
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

4 images
Some levels include special challenges like not letting the screen fill up with bubbles!
Completion of one level unlocks the next one.
Kids earn points for popping bubbles in the correct order to create math facts.
Special challenges and bonus point bubbles help keep the game interesting.

Pros: Fun, easy game builds fluency in important early math skills.

Cons: With 100 levels that require the same general task of popping bubbles, gameplay can get redundant.

Bottom Line: Impoppable gets kids motivated to practice math skills and build fluency, and it's easy to implement into the classroom as a practice tool.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Use Impoppable as a practice tool in the classroom. As kids learn multiplication facts and the relationship between multiplication and division, have them spend time at the beginning or end of class completing a level with as many points as possible. Kids can share devices and take turns. Keep a class leaderboard of high scores earned for each level that kids complete. Have kids write equations to show the math facts they practiced.

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Standards:

Impoppable is a free math game that helps kids practice multiplication and division skills. And it's nice for sharing in the classroom since it accommodates multiple players. Kids have to race the clock to pop numbered bubbles that form math facts. For example, kids might have to pop bubbles with the number 5 and the number 2 on them, and then pop a bubble with the number 10 on it. This forms the math fact 5 x 2 = 10. Kids could also tap 10, then 2, then 5 to make the math fact 10 ÷ 2 = 5. Kids start with a basic level that walks them through gameplay using multiplication and division with the numbers 2, 5, and 10. Once they learn how to play, kids start popping to make math facts, earning points as they go. The numbers 4 and 8 are also included in the early levels to add a little challenge. Levels become increasingly difficult and reach facts with products up to 100. Some levels include special challenges like "Don't let the screen fill up with bubbles!" and other levels include special bubbles worth extra points. With 100 levels of gameplay, kids have plenty of opportunities for practice.

The game addresses important skills that are part of the Common Core math standards: Kids can practice multiplication and division facts up to 100. Some levels begin by showing kids the math facts and prompting them to pop the bubbles to create the math facts themselves. Earning points helps motivate kids to work quickly, which is an important skill when it comes to math and taking assessments. The game focuses on practice and building fluency rather than instruction, so kids should have some general knowledge of the skills before playing. There's no feedback for incorrect answers other than the bubbles not popping. Seeing and solving the math facts as actual equations would be a great way for kids to assess their learning.

Overall, more instructional content and richer feedback could make the game even better. As it is, this is a fun tool for speedy, thorough review of basic math facts.

Overall Rating
Engagement

Racing the clock to pop the bubbles is wildly fun, but it could get tiresome after several levels.

Pedagogy

The game is motivating, and levels progress from easy to more difficult. Some instructional components within the app could help struggling kids.

Support

Bright, colorful icons and bubbles make navigation seamless. Extensive teaching and learning supports are available at Zearn.org.

Common Sense reviewer
Debbie Gorrell Educator
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Key Standards Supported

Number And Operations In Base Ten

  • 3.NBT.3

    Multiply one-digit whole numbers by multiples of 10 in the range 10–90 (e.g., 9 × 80, 5 × 60) using strategies based on place value and properties of operations.

  • 4.NBT.5

    Multiply a whole number of up to four digits by a one-digit whole number, and multiply two two-digit numbers, using strategies based on place value and the properties of operations. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

  • 4.NBT.6

    Find whole-number quotients and remainders with up to four-digit dividends and one-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models.

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