In a seemingly infinite realm of math apps, I decided to narrow my search for the one I would review by using a few test subjects I had at my disposal. I downloaded several math apps that I have played with and handed my iPad to the kids I baby-sit for. They opted to experience the Math Ninja HD Free app because "Ninjas are epic." Math Ninja HD Free is a defense game with basic math skills entwined throughout as defense strategy. The app begins in story mode; a ninja (protaganist) has irritated an evil tomato (villian) who apparently dislikes math and people who are good at math, and wants to defeat the ninja by sending evil animal robots to destroy the ninja's tree house. Side-note: this game and its storyline seemed to make a lot more sense to the kids than to me.
Hyperlink: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/math-ninja-hd-free!/id373814902?mt=8
Cost: Free
Pros: The name and the theme of this app immediately caught the attention of the second and fifth grade boys I sit for. App users have the option of choosing which and how many math categories they will be tested in. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are all available with the option of choosing just one or all to study. Money is also used throughout the game; users earn dollars by successful math problem completion and game play and may spend the money to upgrade weapons and more efficiently fight the evil robots that hate math. The game has a story that accompanies it, encouraging reading and comprehension, and there are small portions of game play where there is no math used, providing a break, sustaining interest, and providing added incentive to app users.
Cons: The math skills are very basic and too simple for the reading level of the story; primary grades would be the math audience but may have a difficult time reading/understanding the story. There is some simulated violence, which not all parents or schools will condone, even if the violence is against robots and evil vegetables.
Classroom Use: I would designate this app as a free-time activity to be done in pairs. The different levels of reading comprehension and math skills would make the app a great activity for multi-grade "buddies" or pairs within the classroom. The students could trade off between trials; one student solves the math problems while the other plays the manual dexterity portion of the game and vice-versa.
