App review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated March 2014
Solar Walk - 3D Solar System Model
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Solar Walk - 3D Solar System model

Virtual 3D model uses interactive features to engage and instruct

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
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Community rating
Based on 1 review
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Grades
3–8
Subjects & Skills
Science, Critical Thinking
Price:  $2.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

5 images
Kids can learn about the planets and other celestial bodies.
Graphics show the internal structure of each planet.
The Figures section includes details about each celestial body, including its mass, volume, and density.
Animated videos clearly illustrate complex topics.
Stunning graphics enhance the learning experience.

Pros: Vast collection of information incorporates interactive graphics to support learning.

Cons: The app lacks games or other assessment tools, so kids can't practice what they learned.

Bottom Line: Impressive graphics and animations, along with a wealth of information about the solar system, make this an excellent science reference tool.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Since Solar Walk - 3D Solar System model is a reference tool, kids don't need to create user profiles. This makes it easy to share in the classroom. You could use the app as a way to reinforce concepts during a space science unit or as a study tool before an exam. Have kids use a graphic organizer to take notes as they explore a particular topic, and then challenge them to create a quiz to give to their classmates. You could even collect all of the student-created quiz questions and use them to set up a game show competition similar to Jeopardy.

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Standards:

Solar Walk - 3D Solar System model is a fun way for kids to explore outer space. The solar system is presented as a 3D model that can be rotated and zoomed. When kids select a planet, a comet, or an asteroid, a button appears that lets kids "fly" to that object and then get more detailed facts about it. The date and time displays on the screen, which can be set to the current date and time or adjusted to see where the planets will be at any particular time in the future or where they were in the past. Eight animated videos teach kids even more about the solar system. Instructions aren't included, and the brief tutorial video is outdated. However, navigation is intuitive, so kids should be able to figure things out pretty quickly.

The amount of information kids can learn about the planets, moons, stars, asteroids, and comets is impressive. Kids can also read about satellite missions and other space exploration events. An interactive atlas shows surface features on Earth and Mars, and 3D models with text describe the internal structure of each planet. Kids can watch animated video clips to learn about space-related topics including Earth's moon phases, Earth's cycles, tidal phenomena, and zodiacal constellations. The app is set in real time, so the planets are in proper orientation with the sun and Earth 's illuminated areas change according to day and night cycles.

The videos do an excellent job of explaining difficult concepts by using animations and text support. The informational sections about the planets are a bit text-heavy, but the accompanying fun facts and diagrams help keep things interesting. Learning is engaging and interactive -- too bad kids don't have an opportunity to check for understanding or assess what they learned.

Overall Rating
Engagement

Gorgeous 3D graphics pique kids' interest; cool animations and the ability to fly through space encourage kids to keep learning.

Pedagogy

Information is age appropriate and detailed. Graphics help support the text, and videos clearly explain and illustrate challenging topics. A practice game or assessment tool would be a nice addition.

Support

The video tutorial is somewhat helpful, but it appears to be outdated. Although an instruction manual isn't provided, navigation is intuitive.

Common Sense reviewer
Debbie Gorrell Educator
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Key Standards Supported

Reading Science/Technical

  • RST.6-8.4

    Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6–8 texts and topics.

  • RST.6-8.7

    Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

  • RST.6-8.10

    By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

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Community Rating

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Featured review by
Trevor K. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Fantastic App for Science Lovers!
This is a wonderful tool for the classroom. It offers 3D graphics that bring the material alive. It gives you a plethora of info so I would advise you to make sure you have time to spend to explore all of its nooks and crannies. The videos and celestial features really bring that added bonus to this app. For the price I would definitely get it even just for my own kids.
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