Our school district has a wonderful Math Problem Solving resource which teachers are encouraged to sign out for their schools. It consists of a couple of rolling 8-drawer storage bins filled with various problem-solving activities for students to complete. It is wonderfully organized and self-contained. It also has many different levels for each activity. All students can be successful and challenged at the same time with this engaging resource. It’s wonderful. Our district calls this resource Math Playground.
Last week, we had our Administrator Study Group meeting at a colleagues school. It’s always great to have our meetings in the schools, instead of in a restaurant, because then we get to see what is actually happening in other schools. Before our meeting began, a few of use talked with a teacher about some of the apps their school has on their iPads.
So, before our meeting, in our discussions about apps, one of the teachers told us about a couple of the folders on their school iPads that relate to Problem Solving. There were some that were new to me which I was excited to be introduced to (and vice-versa, I think). These Problem Solving apps are in folders on their iPads, titled, Playground.
I love the name Playground and the connection it made to the Math Playground that our district offers, so I changed the name of our Problem Solving folders to Playground folders.
Here are the apps we have in our Playground folders:
StickerSudoku JellyPopFree
Narrow Ways TinkerBox
:hmm: box UNO Free
iBloxx Cut the Rope
Where’s My Water? RushHrFree
Kunundrum Brain Games 2
ChocFixFree Blue Block 2
Doodle Fit Holes&Balls
TheLineHD Aces Traffic
Finger Block Mancala FS5
Blue Block Paper Toss HD
Yapa Lite Foozle
Unblock Me Cross Fingers
Bananas VS Worm
I am looking forward to hearing what the kids think of these Playground apps: which are their favourites and why.
Do you know of other wonderful Problem Solving apps?
If so, I’d love to hear about them!
Photo by Daniel Y. Go from Flickr (Creative Commons)
It's All About Learning 
What a great list of apps. And I love the idea of calling it a “playground” – would be enticing to the kids. I look forward to hearing what the kids think of them as I will be putting some of them on our iPads at West Langley. Will let you know what our guys think.
Hey Shawn,
I’m glad you liked the list. The other school I mentioned in my blog post had a great set as well. It would be great just to sit down with others to see what apps they are using and which they like the best. There is just so much to choose from and it’s constantly changing, making it difficult. Yes, I’d love to hear how the kids like them at West Langley!
This is a fantastic list — I appreciate you sharing! Here are a few suggestions…
1. Sudoku School
2. Nada Clue
3. Number Bubbles
4. Mathlands
5. Gravity HD
6. Math Gems
7. Math Balloons Lite
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for sharing these apps! It’s always great to hear what others are using and liking.
Thanks for this great list of educational apps. I am a teacher that is using apps and iPads with my students, and I have found that the best “Fun” math games on the App store are Math Evolve, Motion Math, and Rocket Math.
Thank you for sharing those three math apps. I think we have Math Evolve and Rocket math, but I’m not sure about Motion Math. I will check it out. Thanks!