Play and Learn Science - PBS Kids

This review of Play and Learn Science was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 7 March 2019.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Play and Learn Science contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

Our reviewer played all sections of this game.

App description

Play & Learn Science is a brightly coloured, easy to use app that young children will enjoy while learning some basic scientific fundamentals. It is divided into five sections: Ramp and Roll; Shadow Play; Gear Up; Weather Control and Water Games. Within each section there are three activities. The player spins the wheel to choose which activity they wish to explore.

Ramp and Roll has activities that explore how different objects roll by tapping on a selection of objects; explore how far objects will roll according to the height of the ramp; and discovering how different surfaces affect how far objects will travel.

Shadow Play shows how the sun makes shadows by tapping on different objects, which block the path of the sun. The player can also move the sun to vary the length of the shadow.

Gear Up explores the appropriate clothing for particular weather and how umbrellas protect from the rain.

Water games explores how to funnel water to get it to where it is needed and how objects sink or float.

Weather Control explores the use of thermometers by moving the dials up and down and how to read the different types of thermometers.

Reviewers comments

Play & Learn Science is a fun app for young children and although it is quite easy to use, it does teach some fundamental scientific principles. Children mostly tap on various objects, move dials up and down by sliding with their finger, or adjust the height of ramps etc by pressing up or down. During play children will learn about cause and effect, friction, shadows being a result of a light source being blocked, understand how the weather impacts decisions we make and affects living things and the environment, and how liquid moves.

As a free app it is very well designed and is also available in Spanish. There is a parental zone, which gives tips and further explains the various activities. On opening the app there is an advert for the developer’s other apps, which can be obtained from the app store by tapping on the advert. The user then must perform a simple operation e.g. dragging a shape to the bottom right corner of the screen. This is probably enough to prevent young children from gaining access to the app store, nonetheless parental guidance and/or co-playing is recommended for children under 8.

In App purchasing

• There is no In-App purchasing in this game.

Online information

• Access to the app store is available by tapping on an advert for more apps.

Gambling

• At time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content.  If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

 

Advertising and product placement

• An advert for more apps by the developer appears on the opening screen.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

• None noted

Coarse language

• None noted

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

• None noted

Other

N/A.

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