THE HUMAN BODY from Tinybop is an engaging and entertaining educational app that introduces the body systems to children including both senses and organs.
Through a highly-visual, interactive interface, students are encouraged to explore information about the nervous, skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, muscular, urogenital, and immune systems. Although no verbal or written instructions are provided, users will quickly figure out that tapping, dragging, and swiping icons will provide information and start animations. For instance, tapping the mosquito sends it flying across the screen causing a bite that sends a signal to the brain. Dragging flowers to the nose shows how the olfactory bulb in the brain is stimulated.
Students will enjoy exploring the many animated layered and closeups.
Many students have difficulty correctly labelling diagrams of the human body. This app provides a fun way to practice anatomy vocabulary. Students drag the labels related to a particular body system onto the model and are provided with audio reinforcement.
This app is chuck-full of extras that are easily missed, so students should be encouraged to tap and swipe all over the screen. For instance, swiping the heart side to side reveals a cross-section showing inside the heart. Clicking the parts of the brain reveals visuals associated with their functions. Dragging a leg demonstrates how the achilles tendon works.
The app allows an adult to establish a separate account for each user. A detailed settings area allows users to choose from dozens of languages, select an avatar, and control sound and visual elements.
Excellent for both library and classroom tablets, this app is likely to be popular with elementary science teachers, parents, and science savvy kids.
It’s easy to miss the outstanding, detailed handbook. An introduction is provided to each body system along with explanations of the icons and interactive elements available in that section of the app. Discussion questions are provided to jumpstart a conversation about the body system. To download the handbook, go to http://tinybop.com/handbooks.
To extend the experience, join Tinybop’s social media content.
To learn more, go to http://tinybop.com/apps/the-human-body.
