Virtual Frog Dissection Science App for Kids
We have a pair of West African frogs swimming around (barely because they are in need of a water change) in an enclosed ecosystem the size of a small vase. My youngest was at a toy store and settled for this prize when I refused to buy him the really expensive toy he wanted. Now it’s just me and the frogs. I need to remember to feed them on Tuesdays and Fridays. They sit in the dining room as a reminder that they still exist.
There are a few kids that come over to play who are fascinated with the frogs. The neighbor boys, particularly the oldest who is a third grader, are a young biologist-in-training. He once had a lemonade-and-toad stand selling toads caught at the pond behind his house. We bought three cups of lemonade and a pair of toads for $5. This resulted in an abundance of young toads in our yard. Suddenly we because the most popular play date in town because my kids and their playdates would try to set a record for the number of toads caught in a single play date. The high was 27 toads. Who knew that toads were the secret to being the most popular house on the block? Now you have my secret.
So, when I came across this app on the Internet, I asked for a code. And received it. And did nothing for a really, really long time because it’s only for the iPad. Now, I do have an iPad but it’s so popular at my house that it keeps disappearing. Finally, I got my hands on the app and iPad and found, to my surprise that while it’s actually targeted for high school through medical students, it’s exactly right for little kids. It has great information about frogs and their habitat as well as a section that compares a frog’s anatomy to a human’s. The information is so well done that it is like getting a free non-fiction book along with the dissection app. The app also lets elementary school-age children who won’t be able to do an actual supervised dissection for years to come have a frog dissection experience that is not messy or smelly. And no frog dies in the process! Animal rights activists will like that.
The Wet Lab Process is the third section and it’s just a step-by-step process of what you would do if you were dissecting a real frog. Needless to say, reading over this section makes you appreciate the virtual quality of this app! I’d personally skip this section as the graphics are boring.
And here is the money shot. Skip this part if you are squeamish. My five-year-old happily did the virtual dissection step by step and thought this part was cool!
I recommend this app because it makes science an interactive and fun experience. I think even children as young as five-years-old would enjoy this if they show an interest in science. It also might be a draw for a reluctant reader and a sneaky but effective way to get him or her to read! And I think that is the key here. This app is great for anyone who is fascinated by frogs, amphibians, nature, animals, biology, and science. It’s a great hands-clean and hands-on experience! To check out the app at iTunes (it’s $4.99), just click on the frog icon here.
