Taking the role of a rookie photographer for The Daily Smarm, players of Vector Tracker must use an alien device to find and photograph UFOs.  Along the way they’re assisted by an alien who explains how to use the device.  The faster the player can calculate the correct vector the better the photograph and resulting score.  Your boss, Sam Serif, is looking for an award-winning photo so don’t delay in getting to the locations on the grid.

Vector Tracker comes from Twist Education, the makers of Zombeez Slasher (check out my review of Zombeez Slasher).  This time Twist Education has taken on the task of teaching vectors and comes through with an entertaining  and educational game.

Players are presented with a location on a grid.  The goal is to get to the location on the grid using x,y coordinates.  At first it’s simple enough because you’re only using one set of coordinates.  The difficulty level increases when you need to start adding and subtracting vectors to get to your final location.  The faster you get to the location the better the picture you’ll take when you get there and the happier your boss will be with your efforts.

As a new concept is added to the game (for example, adding vectors) the alien and Sam Serif explain the concept and provide players with instructions for implementing those concepts in the game.  I found this approach to be helpful.  Each level builds upon concepts used in the previous ones.

In addition to the game-play, there is also a portion of the app where kids can learn vector basics and about careers that utilize vectors.  This little addition rounds out the app nicely.  If your kids don’t know about vectors this is a great place to start with them.  you could even incorporate the information here into a lesson plan.

With 30 levels of difficulty, Vector Tracker will keep your kids busy for hours.  I’d recommend this game for kids 12 and older.  They really need to have a strong grasp on vectors and how to add and subtract them if they want  to advance past the 13th level.  It can get very challenging once they’re subtracting vectors and having to change magnitudes.  In fact, the difficulty level ramps up quickly and will present adults with a challenge.

Twist Education produced another great game that gets my stamp of approval.  Use it as an incentive when they’ve finished their math homework.  Now where’s my camera?  I think I saw a UFO!

Vector Tracker by Twist Education is available in the iTunes store for $2.99 and is  compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.  Rated 4+

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

If you would like to have your app reviewed on this website, please email feedback@thewiredhomeschool.com for details.

How many ohms are in a gigaohm?  Ever wonder how small a zeptometer is?  If you or your child has played Zombeez Slasherthen you’re probably in the know when it comes to standard units of measure.  BTW, a gigaohm is one billion ohms and a zeptometer is 0.000000000000000000001 meters.

Zombeez Slasher by Twist Education takes what could be a very tedious task (memorization) and makes it fun.  You goal is to slash the Zombeez by correctly identifying the appropriate prefix before your town is overrun by the giant undead insects.

The full moon is buried by clouds the color of doom.  Lightning flashes sharp shadows across the graveyard, where tombstones push from the earth like rows of broken teeth. Thunder grumbles down at you and the air reeks of ozone and spoiled earth.

From behind the graves comes a sound like fear itself.  The unearthly buzz becomes a roar,  its source a glowing hive suspended from a branch like a hangman’s noose.  Strange forms swarm from the cracked opening and head straight for you.

Your blood runs cold as you realize they are no longer alive.  Grab your chainsaw. You must save the world from ZomBeeZ!

If you’re worried about any gore associated with this game, don’t be (get it?).  The cartoon Zombeez explode in a ball of slime similar to the slime you’d see on Nickelodeon in the 80′s.  Every parent needs to decide what is best for their children but I’d venture that there is more objectionable material in Saturday morning cartoons than in this game.

 

Game play is very straight-forward and can be played by young children.  You’re given a target value, prefix, or abbreviation and must choose the correct value, prefix, or abbreviation associated with the target.  Choosing the right answer gives you points while choosing the wrong answer deducts points.  A life meter monitors your health and runs down if you answer a question incorrectly or choose not to answer.  When the life meter runs down the game is over.  Very simple but very fun.  If you choose to create a profile, your score could appear on a leader board at Twist Education’s website.
The game also features an order of magnitudes table and slideshow to help you and your student understand the scale of sizes being addressed in the game.

One complaint I have is that it takes too long for the game to actually start. There’s a small intro video that you only want to watch once but comes up every time the app is started and it take a while to load the game. Once the game is started things move along at a reasonable pace.

Overall, Zombeez Slasher gets my approval. This little game will have your children memorizing standard units of measure in no time while keeping the world safe from those scary Zombeez.

Zombeez Slasher is available in the iTunes app store for $2.99 and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.  Rated 9+ for: Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence and Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes

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Disclaimer: I received a review copy of the software that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review. DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1

If you would like to have your app reviewed on this website, please emailfeedback@thewiredhomeschool.com for details.

The Oregon Trail is a classic game that hails back to 1971.  It’s hard to believe that 40 years later it’s still being played and enjoyed by adults and children all over the world.

This educational game is a great way to learn about life on the Oregon Trail in the 1800′s:

Assume the role of a wagon leader in a side-view journey where your strategic decisions must ensure the safety of your party along the treacherous Oregon Trail. Overcome the perilous journey to Oregon in America’s Wild West. Just like the real pioneers, experience the decision-making, problem-solving, and role-playing fun of this historical event. A unique strategy/educational game relating the first pioneers’ journey to Western American.

I have no complaints about this game.  The refresh of this classic game is done well and maintains the spirit of the original while updating the game-play and interactivity.  It has a lot of replay value and will keep you, I mean, children occupied for hours.  You may need to make sure you monitor your child’s time because they will get sucked in.  The good thing is that they will be learning while playing this fun game.

The Oregon Trail is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, requires iOS 2.2.1 or later  and currently costs 99 cents.  A free version is also available with fewer features but for 99 cents you’ll want to get the full version.

App Review: The Oregon Trail j.mp/qEX1W3 Dangerous river crossings and the risk of starvation await you!

— The Wired Homeschool (@wiredhs) April 11, 2012

Kindle for iPhone is probably one of the must-haves for homeschooling parents and homeschooled children.  It’s free and very useful if you don’t want to fill up your bookshelves.

In addition to the app being free there are classic books likeTreasure Island, Dracula, and Great Expectations that you can get for free too.

Combining the iPhone/Pod/Pad app with the desktop app makes it easy to share and compare notes with parents and siblings.

If you already have a Kindle, you can sync your purchases with the iPhone and continue reading from one device to another.

Even if you don’t have a Kindle or iPhone, I still recommend you download the desktop app so you can take advantage of the free books offered.

The Kindle app is optimized for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, giving users the ability to read Kindle books on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface. You’ll have access to over 810,000* books in the Kindle Store, including best sellers and new releases. Amazon Whispersync automatically syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices (including Kindle), so you can pick up where you left off on another device.

Kindle for iPhone is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.  Cost: Free

A companion to Visionlearning’s website, Science Glossaryprovides the user with a glossary of scientific terms.  The definitions link to related terms and free science learning modules geared towards high school and undergraduate students.

Note that this is not a complete list of scientific terms.  Since it’s a companion app to science modules for high school and undergraduate students some terms may not appear in the glossary that you may expect to be included.

This app has been panned in the app store by reviewers but I think when you use it along with the material on the website you’ll see the value in it.

Science Glossary is great to use alongside the material found on the Visionlearning website.  Again, it’s not extensive but is great to have with you when using any of the modules found online.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later, Science Glossaryis free.