AppsFromResearch
Collection

Educational Science & Discovery Apps for Kids

Science, coding, nature, space, and discovery — taught through apps from the Smithsonian, NASA, MIT, and university research labs. Every app built by researchers, for curious kids and families.

Hellbender Havoc icon

Hellbender Havoc

1 publication
Evidence Tier:VALIDATED
Hellbender Havoc is an educational game teaching the public about North American Hellbender Salamander lifecycle and conservation to support protection efforts.
Purdue UniversityLife Sciences
Hideout: Early Reading icon

Hideout: Early Reading

PaidiOS
3 publications
Evidence Tier:VALIDATED
Hideout: Early Reading uses engaging mini-games to teach foundational literacy skills like phonics and word patterns to young children and at-risk.
Brigham Young UniversityLanguages & Linguistics
Quarked! Cross icon

Quarked! Cross

FreeiOS
2 publications
Evidence Tier:VALIDATED
Quarked! Cross introduces elementary and middle school students to subatomic vocabulary through crossword puzzles and engaging educational content.
University of KansasPhysical Sciences
CDC HEADS UP Rocket Blades icon

CDC HEADS UP Rocket Blades

1 publication
Evidence Tier:EVALUATED
Educational mobile game teaching children ages six to eight about concussion safety, including injury prevention and appropriate emergency responses.
US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWellness & Public Health
CryptoClub Daily Ciphers icon

CryptoClub Daily Ciphers

FreeiOS
2 publications
Evidence Tier:EVALUATED
Educational puzzle app providing daily encrypted messages to teach students and enthusiasts how to solve historical ciphers.
University of ChicagoMathematics & Statistics
Quarked! Baryon Blaster icon

Quarked! Baryon Blaster

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:EVALUATED
Quarked! Baryon Blaster teaches elementary and middle school children fundamental particle physics concepts through interactive educational gameplay.
University of KansasPhysical Sciences
Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game icon

Aquation: The Freshwater Access Game

2 publications
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Aquation challenges players to solve global water shortages by managing wealth, building infrastructure, and exploring how choices impact freshwater equity.
Smithsonian InstitutionEarth & Environmental Sciences
Folded BY-U icon

Folded BY-U

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Folded BY-U teaches K-12 students, parents, and educators origami through video tutorials, connecting art to mathematics and engineering concepts.
Brigham Young UniversityEarly Childhood & K-12 Education
GLOBE Observer icon

GLOBE Observer

2 publications
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
GLOBE Observer enables the public to contribute Earth science data on clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees to NASA researchers.
NASAEarth & Environmental Sciences
MIT AI2 Companion icon

MIT AI2 Companion

1 publication
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Utility enabling real-time testing and visualization of MIT App Inventor applications on Android devices during development via wireless connection.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyComputer Science & IT
Monarch Watch icon

Monarch Watch

1 publication
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Community science tool enabling volunteers to submit monarch butterfly tagging, recovery, and calendar data to support conservation research and efforts.
University of KansasLife Sciences
NASA Science: Plant Growth icon

NASA Science: Plant Growth

2 publications
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
NASA Science: Plant Growth immerses users as ISS astronauts conducting microgravity plant experiments critical for bioregenerative life support and sustainable agriculture.
NASAMechanical & Aerospace Engineering
OctoStudio: Create-Code-Learn icon

OctoStudio: Create-Code-Learn

1 publication
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Free mobile app enabling children to create interactive games and animations, expanding access to computational learning through hands-on coding blocks.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyComputer Science & IT
Showbiz Safari icon

Showbiz Safari

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED
Educational game teaching students about animal diversity and habitats by casting animals in movie roles based on their unique traits.
Smithsonian InstitutionLife Sciences
3,2,1 Launch! icon

3,2,1 Launch!

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Three Two One Launch simulates spacecraft launch through eight mini-games covering rocket assembly, spacecraft integration, and orbital targeting tasks.
NASAMechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Agua Salud icon

Agua Salud

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Agua Salud is a simulation game where players manage land to see how choices like reforestation affect tropical ecosystem health.
Smithsonian InstitutionForestry & Conservation
AR Expeditions icon

AR Expeditions

1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
AR Expeditions immerses third through fifth graders in augmented reality experiences with quizzes, vocabulary games, and Florida reading book activities.
University of FloridaLiterature & Cultural Studies
Aww Snap icon

Aww Snap

1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Life science mystery game immersing third to fifth graders in bee pollination research, data collection, and biological competition concepts.
Smithsonian InstitutionLife Sciences
Barro Colorado Adventure icon

Barro Colorado Adventure

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Educational introduction to animals and plants at a Smithsonian tropical research site for anyone interested in learning about forest ecology.
Smithsonian InstitutionLife Sciences
BumperDucks icon

BumperDucks

1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
BumperDucks teaches foundational physics concepts through interactive challenges guiding ducks across a pond, visualizing mass and force principles from Newton's Laws.
Smithsonian InstitutionPhysical Sciences
CitizIN icon

CitizIN

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
CitizIN gives Indiana teachers and students an interactive tool exploring state history, government, and geography through games, videos, and documents.
Indiana UniversityHistory & Archaeology
Disaster Detector icon

Disaster Detector

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Disaster Detector teaches middle school students to analyze natural hazard data, forecast catastrophic events, and prepare a virtual city for impact.
Smithsonian InstitutionEarth & Environmental Sciences
Dream Racer icon

Dream Racer

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Go-kart racing game teaching high school students financial literacy concepts like savings, credit, and budgeting through sponsorships and resource management.
Michigan State UniversityEconomics & Political Science
Freedom Summer icon

Freedom Summer

FreeiOS
1 publication
Evidence Tier:TRUSTED
Freedom Summer guides students through Civil Rights Movement primary sources to analyze how historical events influenced voting legislation and suppression.
Indiana UniversityHistory & Archaeology