How Can Teachers Use It?
This is a single-player game with no log-in or individual accounting, so multiple kids will not be able to play on the same device. Overall, The Opposites is great vocabulary practice, especially for preparing kids for testing that includes identifying antonyms.
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What's It Like?
The Opposites is an app that helps kids learn vocabulary words and develop a deeper understanding of their meanings by studying them with their antonyms. Its word list offers 100 words at each of the 10 levels and starts with elementary-level vocabulary -- words like fast and slow, always and never, and lost and found. Mid-level words include novice and veteran, prudent and imprudent, and wax and wane. Highest-level words -- definitely SAT-caliber -- include compulsory and voluntary, fission and fusion, and odious and delectable. The dictionary definitions are concise and written for kids.
Kids can jump right in and play or preview the words in the dictionary. Each level includes 100 words, 50 pairs of opposites, for kids to learn. Some antonyms require context -- like the opposite of bear is bull. The competitive boy and girl each say a word, and players tap both words when the pair of opposites appears. The trick is to tap 12 pairs before the room fills with word bubbles. When kids have matched the twelve pairs, they move to a bonus round to match six more word pairs quickly. Completing a level unlocks the next.
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Is It Good For Learning?
With ten levels of vocabulary words, from Level 1 words like left and right to Level 10 words like efficacious and inefficacious, it can work for a variety of ages and levels. Since there are no instructions for gameplay, kids may need to fiddle around a bit to realize they need to tap a word and then its opposite, and that once the room fills up, the bubbles pop, and the game ends. The first level is easy enough that kids can figure out the mechanics of play with the easier word set so they'll be prepared for the more advanced words in higher levels. One note: The definitions don't take into account other definitions for words with multiple meanings.
There is no penalty for guessing (the pair just turns red and then fades back to white), so kids can learn the meaning of the words by experimenting. The reference dictionary is helpful for kids who want to warm up a bit before diving in togameplay. Overall, the competitive attitude and body language of the two kids playing really makes this app fun.
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As the word bubbles fill the room, the siblings duck out of the way. Gold words make fruit appear, which the kids eat to give extra time.
Unrelated to the educational focus of the game, kids can tap fruit to feed to the siblings and earn extra time.
Dictionary definitions are concise and written specifically for kids playing The Opposites.
The dictionary tracks mastered words in green and not-yet-mastered words in red.
