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Math Apps and Games for Preschool and Kindergarten
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Elmo Loves 123s
Sesame Street sets the standard for teaching numbers
Bottom line: Elmo Loves 123s takes kids on a learning romp from writing numbers to addition and subtraction.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $4.99
Gracie & Friends Birthday Cafe
Numbers-and-quantity game has precise focus and superb scaffolding
Bottom line: Super approach to teaching a very specific topic: Help kids develop an easy familiarity with quantities under five.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: Free
Gracie & Friends Lemonade Stand
Interactive games thoroughly address small, focused learning goal
Bottom line: Games do a nice job of providing practice with a very specific early math principle; they work even better as part of a whole teaching unit.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: Free
Native Numbers
Learning makes sense with fun, engaging number games
Bottom line: The app is on the pricey side, but it's a good investment and delivers high-quality games that promote a deep understanding of early math concepts.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: Free
Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem
Fun games require spatial reasoning to help Cat jump out of a tree
Bottom line: Get kids problem-solving and thinking about basic spatial reasoning in a fun, welcoming setting.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $2.99
TallyTots
Engaging games encourage playful interaction with numbers, counting
Bottom line: Well-designed games provide a fun and effective way to get kids interacting with and understanding numbers.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $2.99
Team Umizoomi Math: Zoom into Numbers HD
Cute mini-games introduce math to young learners
Bottom line: Preschoolers learn math foundations in a tactile way while playing cute games and earning rewards.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: $3.99
Kahoot! Numbers by DragonBox
Explore the concept of numbers through puzzles and fun gameplay
Bottom line: Though there are a few kinks, kids experience fun gameplay while internalizing fundamental number concepts.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free to try
Gracie & Friends Map Adventures
Short, vocab-rich games offer practice with basic spatial thinking
Bottom line: Games offer a quick, accessible way for young kids to start to build fluency with spatial reasoning vocabulary and map reading.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free
Intro to Math, by Montessorium
Fascinating hands-on activities unlock key beginning number concepts
Bottom line: Virtual Montessori-style tools help kids understand foundational number concepts.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: $4.99
Math Shelf: Early Math Mastery
Adaptive math app reinforces foundational skills
Bottom line: While it's not as polished as other apps, Math Shelf has a steady and thorough approach to exploring foundational math skills.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free to try
Montessori 1st Operations
Montessori tools and fun rewards help kids learn math concepts
Bottom line: Montessori 1st Operations helps kids learn math concepts by blending Montessori principles with points, rewards, and fun monsters.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: $3.99
Moose Math - by Duck Duck Moose
Fun story-based, CCSS-aligned math is a great classroom addition
Bottom line: An empowering tool for practicing early math skills through mini-games.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free
Park Math
Brilliant math activities are as fun as a trip to the park
Bottom line: Park Math is a remarkable early math practice activity app that's fun and effective.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Price: Free
MathBRIX
Building blocks form solid math concepts one brick at a time
Bottom line: Strong tool for independent use without forfeiting conceptual understanding.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free to try, Paid
PBS KIDS Lab
Explore outstanding new math and language additions to PBS KIDS family
Bottom line: With PBS-pedigree content that's up to its usual standards of excellence, this is a great, fun resource that ensures high learning potential.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free
Todo Math
One arithmetic app fulfills the needs of many learners
Bottom line: A variety of strategies and accommodations make this app classroom-ready for a variety of levels and abilities.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Price: Free to try
RelationShapes
Great visual-spatial practice balanced with imaginative free play
Bottom line: Includes both play and skill-building that develop important spatial and fine-motor skills.
Grades: Pre-K–3
Price: Free
Jump Numbers
Save the Snortles! Build multiplication skills in silly, fun math game
Bottom line: Absorbing gameplay helps students hone their addition and skip-counting skills.
Grades: Pre-K–4
Price: 2.99
Pattern Shapes, by the Math Learning Center
Virtual pattern blocks with some extra useful teaching tools
Bottom line: If you don't already have a bucket of pattern blocks, or you want a more portable option, this free version may be a great fit for your classroom.
Grades: Pre-K–4
Price: Free
Number Pieces, by The Math Learning Center
Finicky controls limit cool but basic virtual base-ten blocks
Bottom line: Every teacher should have a set of base-ten blocks, and this is a workable but limited substitute when compared to the real deal.
Grades: Pre-K–5
Price: Free
DoodleMaths
Short, daily practice and positive language make success accessible
Bottom line: A good, adaptive program that can be used to support a growth mindset along with strong math skills.
Grades: Pre-K–8
Price: Free to try, Paid
Mathseeds
Entertaining activities help keep early math exciting
Bottom line: Fun collection of lessons and games drives home math concepts.
Grades: K–2
Price: Free to try, Paid
Bugs and Numbers
Critter app that covers wide array of fundamentals has terrific value
Bottom line: From matching and measurements to telling time and fractions, Bugs and Numbers covers more math skills than most apps.
Grades: K–3
Price: $2.99
Cyberchase Shape Quest!
AR adds unique twist to geometry, spatial reasoning games
Bottom line: Once kids get a hang of things, this app's puzzles will get them thinking creatively about shapes and spatial reasoning.
Grades: K–3
Price: Free
Dexteria Dots - Get in Touch with Math
Ingenious, intuitive way for kids to learn and practice the basics
Bottom line: Fun, innovative math tool engages and helps a variety of learners practice and build fluency.
Grades: K–3
Price: $2.99
Happy Numbers
Carefully scaffolded lessons build a strong math foundation
Bottom line: Depth of concepts covered and expertly paced lessons are sure to develop mathematical thinkers.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free to try, Paid
SplashLearn
A colorful, fun way for students to build math skills mastery
Bottom line: These engaging math games for younger kids are great for math skills practice, but you'll need a paid account to access a substantial amount of the content.
Grades: K–5
Price: Free
Boddle
Math practice sets mixed with games build skills, need deeper learning
Bottom line: This program incentivizes math practice -- and offers useful supports -- but could use more opportunities for deep, conceptual learning.
Grades: K–6
Price: Free to try
Teachley EDU
Fun math gameplay with solid skill-building and helpful teacher tools
Bottom line: Teachley lets teachers monitor progress and easily meet students' needs, though it's probably most appealing to kids in lower elementary.
Grades: K–6
Price: Free to try, Paid