We’ve looked at a iPad apps for Maths and for kids Christmas books so we’re turning our attention to ipad apps that will help get your kids into history. Your kids might try to convince you that some of the cool games involving Vikings or World War II are historical reference works but here’s ActiveDad’s selection of apps that will help your kids learn:
Dinosaurs: The American Museum of Natural History Collections. (free)
This iPad app lets paleontologists of all ages explore the Museum’s famous fossil halls in depth. The world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils can now be accessed through hundreds of photos and renderings. You get a huge pile of bones but you also have the chance to see what scientists believe dinosaurs looked like when they roamed the Earth more than 65 million years ago.
GCSE Modern World History Bitesize Last-minute Learner (£1.19)
Using the BBC’s brilliant bitesize revision site, this last-minute History revision app tests the stressed-out student in the house on all the modern history GCSE topics from 1890 onwards. You can store your results, share them with friends and make notes as you go. It’s brilliant to have a dedicated student in the house but sometimes they need to be dragged away from their desk and this app might just help you pack your teenager into the car with the promise that they can do some revision en route to Granny’s.
Herod’s Lost Tomb for iPad (£2.99)
This is a bit of a Dan Brown style adventure (but don’t let that put you off). You have to play small games to uncover hidden objects that lead you to Herod’s tomb while discovering some wonders of the ancient world on the way. This is based on a major documentary series and National Geographic’s photography is a stunning as you would expect, it’s game making on an extreme budget, no Lara Croft imaginary worlds, this is all real.
Civilization Revolution for iPad (£7.49)
Confession time: there are certain computer games that ActiveDad could play for days if pesky things like sleep, eating and just having a life didn’t interfere. One of these is Sid Meier’s Civilization. If you’ve played it, you’ll understand what it means to start a game, play for a little bit before realising it’s morning and those aren’t sound effects, it’s the dawn chorus. This ultra-addictive game is now on the ipad and although it’s stretching it slightly to call it an educational tool, your kids will be building civilisations and making decisions about how to develop them. This (not very brilliant) video clip shows a civilisation growing as the player moves his people around the map and meets other world leaders. Should he make peace or should he try to conquer them? We love this game.