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

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2017 All rights reserved. Common Sense, Common Sense Media, Common Sense Education and Common Sense Kids Action, associated names, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. (FEIN 41-2024986) Teaching strategies and digital citizenship tools for educators.