
Blast off with Professor Astro Cat in this delightful new learning app from Mini Lab Studios in partnership with their sister company, Flying Eye Books, an award-winning children’s book publisher. Professor Astro Cat's Solar System features fun facts about all the planets in our solar system. Presented in a book-game hybrid app, this content is not only educational but also deeply engaging. Kids earn medals as the learn, including answering True/False questions in a rocket game that is so fun they barely realize they are being tested. My 9 year old was enthralled and especially enjoyed the chance to build his rocket as he progressed through the levels.
Navigation throughout the app is intuitive and includes easy ways to get home or start another chapter in this storytelling app about the planets. The app begins with the Sun, but young learners can skip around to a favorite planet in this non-linear exploration of our universe. Medals are earned playing educational games that include tests of reading comprehension. This would be an excellent classroom app, chock full of useful non-fiction content but packaged in such a novel and engaging way that children will not mind that they are learning a lot along the way.
Overall this is a stellar example of gamification at its very best. It was even featured recently by the Huffington Post which said, "If only we had this when we were in elementary school." The app does include a lot of reading and does not have any voice-over, so it's ideal for ages 8 and up. It includes information about the following topics: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Moon, Earth, Space Travel, Mars, Asteroid Belt, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Kuiper Belt.
Highly recommended!
This app has been thoroughly evaluated by our staff. Please click on the 'star ratings' tab above, to see how it fared in all nine of our rating categories. See synopsis tab for more details about the storyline.
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
MiniLab Studios
Developer:
MINILAB LTD
Length (time):
60 - 90 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: No
Age: 8 - 12 +
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
26 Pages
Blast off into space and learn about the wonders of the Universe with Professor Astro Cat and his trusty friend, Astro Mouse! Download now to join the Astro Cat Space Programme and embark on this fact-filled intergalactic learning adventure.
5 - EXPLORE the frontiers of our solar system.
Travel the vastness of space with the tip of your finger!
4 - DISCOVER planets, moons, suns, spacecraft and everything in between.
Get to the core of the matter with the ‘unzip’ feature!
3 - PLAY awesome jetpack challenges.
Fuel Astro’s jetpack with your new-found knowledge!
2 - EARN cool medals for your collection.
Get three stars in your Jetpack challenges to win all 11!
1 - BUILD a rocket as you go.
Winning medals creates rocket parts – you’ll need them all!
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!
Orientation: Landscape
Format: Universal
Options:
Home, Pageguide, Medals, Rocket, Profile, Effects On/Off, Sound On/Off
App Release Date:
2015-09-25
Size: 76.07 MB
Version: 0
Lite Version Available: No