Tami's Tower

Functionality & Mechanism

This educational engineering design game from the Smithsonian Science Education Center challenges young learners to solve physics-based problems. The interface tasks students with building a stable tower from various blocks to help a character reach a goal while avoiding obstacles. It integrates metacognitive prompts that ask students to assess their confidence and reflect on previous attempts, introducing foundational engineering design principles through iterative, trial-and-error gameplay and a dedicated sandbox mode for open-ended creation.

Development & Context

• The app was developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center to introduce engineering and metacognition to students in kindergarten through second grade.
• According to the developer, its educational features are aligned with national science standards and are grounded in educational psychology research.
• The news coverage highlights the game's use of animated Smithsonian animals and building challenges to engage its young target audience.
• Primary funding for the project was provided by a Youth Access Grant from the Smithsonian Institution.

Intended Use & Scope

This game is designed for K-2 students and their teachers. It functions as a supplemental educational tool for use in the classroom or at home to introduce engineering design principles and support metacognitive development. The information presented is based on developer descriptions and news coverage, not on findings from peer-reviewed research.