App of the Week for January 14:
Alien Buddies

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Alien Buddies is a great foundation app for the Common Core Standards. It is geared toward children Preschool aged through second grade. The app includes four different games:




  • Matching - students can match colors, shapes, letters and numbers. This can be done purely visually or you can turn up the sound. Children use shape, color and letter recognition to match. This skill can help develop problem solving as well as creating a basis for early math skills. 
  • Puzzles - There are several puzzles that students can build choosing four, six or eight puzzle pieces. This can create a foundation in problem solving and shape recognition as well as visual acuity. Puzzles also help to develop memory.
  • Dot to dot - Students pick from pictures they can "draw". Dot to dots are a wonderful way of teaching not only counting, number and letter recognition and fine motor skills, but gives students an introduction to chronological order and main idea as well!
  • Picture making - Students choose from a variety of stickers to create a scene. This can be used to facilitate story telling which leads to learning about story elements like setting, plot, characters, chronological order, as well as conflict/solution.