17 More Board Games for a Family Game Night
We’ve updated our Family Friendly Board Games post for the 2014 holiday season! These games are guaranteed to bring everyone together for a fun family game night. Each game has a learning element and...
View ArticleNew Minecraft Game Will Add Story to the Sandbox
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Minecraft here at Learning Liftoff. We love the game for the creativity kids exercise when they play, and for the many ways that teachers and parents can use the...
View ArticleWhat Parents Need to Know About Trivia Crack
More than nine out of ten American teenagers use social media, and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are part of every day life for millions. So whether you’re on the cutting edge...
View ArticlexGerms Addition Math Mobile App Wins Mom’s Choice Award
K12’s xGerms Addition math mobile app has been named a Mom’s Choice Silver Award recipient for being “among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.” The popular app was released last...
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10 Engineering Games and Apps for Kids
According to a recent report, seven of the top 25 jobs in America in 2015 are engineering positions, while several more are tech-related. And according to Bureau of Labor statistics, millions more STEM...
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10 Best Apps for Teens
Today we’re excited to debut a new monthly feature on Learning Liftoff highlighting the most educational and useful apps for families. This month’s collection of apps coincides with our theme for the...
View ArticleWhat Parents Should Know About Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Kik, and Yik Yak
WhatsApp, Kik, Yik Yak, Viber, Snapchat, Omegle, Oovoo, Whisper. If these names aren’t familiar to you, ask your teenager. Though they’re not as popular with older users, many of these apps are rapidly...
View ArticleApps, Tablets Help Individualize Technology in the Classroom
In a 2014 Learning Liftoff article, Ralf Provant explored ways in which adaptive learning computer programs tailor technology in the classroom to students. Essentially, the computer-driven adaptive...
View Article5 YouTube Educational Channels for Learning Science
As the second-largest search engine on the Internet (after Google), YouTube offers a multitude of learning resources. The video site contains numerous channels about science, which are both...
View ArticleHow to Turn Poor Grades into Academic Victory
We’ve been conditioned to think that poor grades are negative. Students are discouraged when they don’t receive the grade they hoped for. It’s time to change our attitude toward poor grades and instead...
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5 Swimming Pool Games with an Educational Twist
Summer has officially started this week, but I think the heat was ahead of schedule. It is hot, Hot, HOT! What better time to jump in the pool? Swimming in a pool this summer affords kids plenty of...
View Article5 iPhone and Android Apps for Family Game Night
Here at Learning Liftoff, we love games; board games, video games, computer games … We love anything that brings people together, or allows students to learn or think in a different way. So, here are a...
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Minecraft Kids Can Compete in a League of Their Own
If it hasn’t already, the creative building game Minecraft is likely on its way to a theater near you. Minecraft Super League kicked off its first six-week season this week, taking over screens at 88...
View ArticleHow to Choose the Best Toys and Games for Your Child
We live in an age of ever-increasing complexity that spills over into many aspects of daily life. Countless choices confront us every day, from what clothes to wear and what foods to eat to which...
View ArticleMinecraft: Story Mode Video Review from a Kid’s Perspective
Telltale Games recently released Minecraft: Story Mode, a new adventure game made in collaboration with Minecraft creators, Mojang. It’s an episodic series that takes place inside the Minecraft world....
View ArticleA Look at The New York Times’ Use of Virtual Reality
This past Sunday, I received a free Google Cardboard virtual reality headset with my Sunday delivery of The New York Times. The Times touted it as their first venture into creating a virtual reality...
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How to Participate in the Hour of Code
Everyone from President Barack Obama to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg agrees: Learning the basics of computer programming through coding has become increasingly vital for today’s students. “All of...
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4 iPad Apps to Inspire Budding (or Struggling) Writers
For some children, a love of writing comes naturally. For others, getting them to write is like pulling teeth (in fact, they’d prefer a visit to the dentist than having to write). But one thing all...
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Amazing Minecraft Creations
Minecraft is the wildly popular video game in which players can collect supplies and tools to build just about anything they can imagine. Some players may choose to simply mine for the basic supplies...
View ArticleMicrosoft Announces ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’
Educators have been taking advantage of using Minecraft in the classroom for years now, teaching students everything from STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to arts and poetry. This...
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Best Apps for Developing STEM Skills
With so many games and apps out there, it’s hard to tell which ones are worth the download. Here’s a helpful list of games and apps perfect for building STEM skills. Science GazziliScience Kids tackle...
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How to Use ‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ Resources Today
Minecraft is such a popular game that it has already broken 12 world records. The game became successful because it is so much fun to play. With Minecraft’s flexibility, players can use blocks to build...
View ArticleTurn Driving Time into Quality Time with the Kids
Today’s parents are busy and so are their kids. Tight schedules mean a lot of would-be family time is taken up with car rides from one activity to another. However, there’s an upside to this...
View ArticleCelebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival with These 6 Activities for Kids
Spring is in the air as more than 3,000 flowering cherry trees begin to bloom in Washington, D.C. It’s been more than 100 years since Japan gave these trees to the United States as a gift in 1912. Now...
View Article7 Photo Apps You’ll Love
The basic process of taking pictures has come a long way. It’s safe to say, the majority of society doesn’t carry around a camera to take photos anymore. Instead, people use their phones for so much...
View ArticleEducational Places Kids Can Play Pokemon GO
Pokémon GO has taken the world by storm. You’ve almost certainly heard about the wildly popular game by now, but do you fully understand what it is? Pokémon GO is a free, downloadable app for your...
View ArticleCell Phone Safety Tips for Teens
In light of the recent Kanye, Kim, and Taylor Swift taping escapades, this is a good time to discuss cell phone safety with your teen. Cell phones have the ability to do just about anything, so it’s...
View ArticleThe 6 Best Apps for Back to School
Summer is waning and soon students will head back to the classroom. Shopping for school supplies these days is about more than just pencils and paper. From assistance with studying and staying...
View ArticleLearn How Gaming Can Help Your Child Excel
Technology is changing every day, and the advances affect the way our children engage with it to have fun. With any types of technology, especially those applications that we as adults are not familiar...
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How Much Do You Know About Our U.S. Presidents?
Our country is fortunate to have a rich history full of inspirational leaders. Presidents’ Day offers a unique opportunity to focus attention toward our long line of U.S. presidents and their...
View ArticleQuiz: Do You Know More Science Than Most Americans?
Why is the sky blue? How do airplanes fly? What causes the ocean waves? Many of the first questions children ask their parents are science-related. So it helps to have a little science knowledge to...
View Article10 Great Education Apps for High School Students
Whether your child needs extra math practice, help improving his or her organizational skills, or SAT/ACT test prep, there’s an app for it. The following ten FREE education apps for Apple and Android...
View Article6 Family Organization Apps and Tools to Simplify Your Life
Whether you are a family of two or you have enough people under your roof to field a softball team, you probably struggle with your family organization when things get busy. It can be tough to stay...
View Article10 Best Apps for Homeschooling Parents
There are thousands of educational apps available for students, but what about apps for homeschooling moms and dads? Homeschooling parents have a lot to keep track of and the right app can make the...
View Article5 of the Best Monitoring Apps for Concerned Parents
A device-enabled culture comes with lots of perks. Kids today are more connected to the entire world than ever before, and that means they know more about the cultures and people all around them. At...
View ArticleDo Video Games Cause Violent Behavior in Kids?
Violent video games have been a hot-button topic for parents, educators, and members of the pediatric community for years as many express concern over the impact these games may have on kids. And the...
View ArticleWhat Parents Should Know About the HQ Trivia Game Show
Who doesn’t love a good trivia game? They can be fun and educational. For parents of teens, the HQ Trivia app might just be a smart way to exercise your kids’ brain cells and have fun as a family. Here...
View Article10 Websites for Students That Will Make School Easier
Doing well in school takes more than intelligence and the motivation to learn. Being well-organized, taking notes in class, conducting proper research, and studying for exams are all required for...
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Quiz: Guess the Meanings of These 10 Emojis
There are 2,666 emojis, so don’t be surprised if you don’t know them all. What you may be surprised to find out is that you might be using common emojis in the wrong way! Of course, a basic...
View ArticleWhat Parents Should Know About the Tik Tok (Musical.ly) App
If you have a teen or tween in your home, then it’s likely you’ve heard of musical.ly, the lip-syncing video app. Recently, Tik Tok, another video app similar to the now-retired Vine, acquired...
View Article5 Best Back-to-School Math Apps for Students
Math isn’t the same as it used to be! Parents may struggle to help their children learn even basic concepts, as the way to work the problems today is different than even 10 years ago. One way to help...
View Article10 Apps Kids Use That Parents Should Know About
It’s a parent’s job to protect their kids, but sometimes that can feel impossible in a digital age. And although apps themselves do not pose an actual threat to their safety, they can provide an...
View Article5 Useful Apps to Help Kids Meet Their Goals
We get how difficult it can be to get your kids to respect the value of goal-setting and taking the long view. Some of us are only just learning this lesson ourselves. Luckily, there’s a great tool...
View ArticleA Parents’ Guide to Fortnite: What You Need to Know
Many parents know that their kids and teens enjoy playing the video game Fortnite, but that may be all they know about this global cultural phenomenon. The basic overview of Fortnite—it’s three...
View ArticleWhat Parents Should Know About Instagram for Kids
With one billion active monthly users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media networks available to teens today. In fact, 72 percent of teens have an active Instagram account. But what...
View ArticleHow Teachers and Students Are Using TikTok in the Classroom
Teachers and school officials around the country have begun to take notice of the fact that TikTok, a short-form video-creation tool and social media platform, is now one of the most popular apps with...
View ArticleIs Tumblr Safe for Kids? Here’s What Parents Should Know
You’re familiar with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and even TikTok. Maybe you’ve set up rules about these social media channels for your children and ensured their privacy settings are...
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6 Video Games Based on Books
Did you know that some of the best video games today are based on books? If your teen (or pre-teen) has been playing these games, he or she may be unaware of the great, original story lines and...
View ArticleThe Benefits of Video Games in Education
The use of video games as authentic learning tools is a controversial subject. In the past, video games have been labeled violent, pointless, and mind-numbing, but now educators are exploring the...
View ArticleEducational Toys: 10 Gift Ideas for Kids of All Ages
Finding just the right gift for someone special in your life can be a difficult task, and finding the right gift for kids can be even tougher. With interests and hobbies that can change by the day,...
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