STEM Apps for Higher-Order Thinking | Common Sense Education

Top Pick

These seriously fun apps help students develop and apply a conceptual understanding of science by solving puzzles, designing solutions to novel problems, and engineering new inventions.

Bugs and Bubbles Publisher: Little Bit Studio, LLC. Fascinating graphics engage as kids practice pre-reading, STEM skills	Grades Pre-K-K Type App Price $2.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Crazy Gears Publisher: Seven Academy Highly applicable STEM-themed free play; easy appeal for wide audience	Grades K-3 Type App Price $1.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Simple Machines by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Excellent elementary NGSS engineering practices embedded in fun games	Grades K-5 Type App Price 2.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
The Robot Factory by Tinybop Publisher: Tinybop Improve designs, collect favorites in robot creation sandbox	Grades K-8 Type App Price $3.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Playground Physics Publisher: New York Hall of Science Fun video app lets students track motion to explore physics concepts	Grades K-10 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
DIY Nano Publisher: The Lawrence Hall of Science Turn kids into budding nanoscientists who explore the tiniest things	Grades 2-5 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Doodle Fit Publisher: Gamelion Studios Geometric puzzler makes playing with blocks fun	Grades 2-6 Type App Price Free to Try, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, Nook HD Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Inventioneers Full Version Publisher: Filimundus AB Budding engineers create design solutions with fun physics puzzler	Grades 2-8 Type App Price $2.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire, Fire phone Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
littleBits Invent Publisher: littleBits Electronics Inc. Top-notch tool empowers kids to invent, build, and control wirelessly	Grades 2-8 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 4
SMART Adventures Mission Math 2: Peril at the Pyramids Publisher: Kata Enterprises, Inc. Story-based, STEM-focused game helps kids dig math	Grades 3-5 Type App Price $4.99 Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Trainyard Publisher: Matt Rix Stump students with innovative train-routing puzzler	Grades 3-7 Type App Price $.99-$2.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 4
Autodesk Digital STEAM Measurement Publisher: Autodesk Inc. Interactive, lab-like exploration of measurements is a good STEAM tool	Grades 3-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
World of Goo Publisher: 2D BOY Stellar physics builder with wiggly, animated goo balls	Grades 4-8 Type App Price $2.99-$4.99 Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Nook HD, Apps for Windows Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Go Car Go Publisher: Caravan Interactive, Inc. Challenging game makes physics fun	Grades 5-10 Type App Price $.99 Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating 3
Cargo-Bot Publisher: Two Lives Left Challenging game helps kids learn to think like programmers	Grades 5-12 Type App Price Free Platforms Android, iPad Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4
Lab4Physics Publisher: Lab4U Inc. Bring physics to life using lab sensors built right into your smartphone	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free, Free to Try, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
The PocketLab Publisher: Myriad Sensors Gather and analyze live data anywhere	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms Android, iPad, iPhone, Chrome, Windows Phone Common Sense Rating 5 Teacher Rating 5
VelocityLab Publisher: Myriad Sensors Turn anything with wheels into a handy motion sensor	Grades 6-12 Type App Price Free, Paid Platforms iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Chrome Common Sense Rating 4 Teacher Rating Not Yet Rated
Autodesk Digital STEAM Applied Mechanics Publisher: Autodesk Inc. Kids explore concepts in fun but sometimes frustrating mini-games	Grades 7-12 Type App Price Free Platforms iPad Common Sense Rating 3 Teacher Rating 4

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