App review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated February 2017
TyrAnt
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  • Download from App Store

TyrAnt

Impressive ecology game's touchy controls might make kids a bit antsy

Get it now
  • Download from App Store
Learning rating
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Grades
6–12
Subjects & Skills
Science, Critical Thinking
Price:  Free to try, Paid
Platforms:  iPad
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Take a look inside

5 images
Kids can play in single-player or multiplayer mode.
Worker ants collect food for the nest.
Tutorials help kids navigate each level.
The app can be purchased individually or as part of a subscription for educational institutions.
Kids earn achievement badges for completing levels.

Pros: Learn a lot about a focused topic -- ant ecology -- while using strategic-thinking skills.

Cons: It takes a lot of effort to master the game controls and understand the goals of each level.

Bottom Line: After acclimating to the game controls, TyrAnt can play a small but immersive role in learning about ecosystems.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use TyrAnt in conjunction with a unit about ecology or ecosystems. Use it as a tool for reinforcing concepts such as animal structure and function, adaptations, and natural selection. Have students use single-player mode and challenge them to complete as many levels as possible within a set time. Once all classmates complete a level, discuss the challenges and rewards. Integrate into the discussion the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that students found most useful. Since the game does not teach through direct lesson instruction or assessment, it's also a great option for a reward or enrichment activity.

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Standards:

In TyrAnt, players are in charge of a colony of ants and must help them survive and reproduce. There are several quests that kids must complete, with the ultimate goal of a nuptial flight so the ants can mate with ants from another colony. Players help gather food for the colony by sending foraging ants out of the nest to collect leaves, and they build a team of soldier ants to protect the colony from invaders.

There are 34 levels with three modes of difficulty (easy, medium, hard), and each level has a different goal. Kids are in control of how they use and gather resources, which challenges them to apply strategy and problem-solving skills as they play. In multiplayer mode, kids can invite others to play, so watch out for privacy issues.

Kids can learn about ecosystems and how to balance the use of resources while maintaining survival. TyrAnt teaches players about important life science concepts such as animal behavior, the needs of living things, defending territory, natural selection, and basic genetics. Mastering the game controls and figuring out how to complete each level does take some time and can initially distract from the learning experience. However, this distraction can be overcome with a bit of patience and practice.

Since the levels are such a challenge even at the easy setting, it's very rewarding to complete each task and earn an achievement badge. And kids will want to see their colonies succeed, making it an exciting and engaging way to learn science.

Overall Rating
Engagement

In this real-world setting, kids are empowered to take charge of an ant colony. This encourages players to put lots of thought into their decisions about resources.

Pedagogy

Kids use strategic thinking and problem-solving skills while learning about science. Content is heavily focused on a single type of animal, so they may not easily transfer what they learn to a new scenario.

Support

Video tutorials and animated instructions help kids navigate each level. A teacher guide for classroom implementation would be quite useful.

Common Sense reviewer
Debbie Gorrell Educator
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Key Standards Supported

Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

  • MS-LS4-4

    Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

  • HS-LS4-4

    Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

  • HS-LS4-5

    Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

  • MS-LS2-4

    Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.

  • HS-LS2-8

    Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.

From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

  • MS-LS1-4

    Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.

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