Laura+Hopper-Stack+the+States+Lite

**Web address: ** [] **Grade levels: ** 2-6 (they have other versions available that would be acceptable for middle school-Stack the Continents and Stack the Countries)**Content areas: ** Social Studies, Geography  **Abstract: ** Stack the States is an app that is available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad. It helps students practice state capitals, borders, abbreviations, flags, and nicknames.  Players answer questions about the 50 states. With each correct response, a player gets to drop a state into a pile. The goal is to stack the states until they reach a checkered line. Once they checkered line is reached, a new state is earned. As you earn more states, you move up levels, and questions get harder.  **Personal Experience: ** I teach 5th grade Social Studies and the 50 states/capitals is one of our standards. I have been using Sheppard Software (an educational gaming site) to have students practice their states/capitals. Since our school ordered a few iPads for our school, I decided to look for some apps that might be helpful to practice as well. As I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I haven’t been able to rely on having access to the school’s iPad, so my quest for an app was short lived. With this assignment, I was able to take advantage of the opportunity to search my husband’s iPad, and I stumbled across **Stack the States.** __PROS: __
 * What: ** Stack the States Lite (Can purchase Stack the States for $0.99)
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Get the app at: **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> itunes.apple.com
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">Student’s name: **<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;"> Laura Hopper
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">It tests a range of topics related to the 50 states
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">It’s engaging
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">It’s graphics are kid friendly
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">The backdrop shows and labels important U.S. landmarks
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">It’s easy to use
 * <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">It’s competitive (you can have up to 6 player profiles)

__<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16px;">CONS: __
 * <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16px;">The free version repeats questions
 * <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16px;">There isn’t a map provided for players to look at while answering questions. The state’s shape is the only hint given.
 * <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16px;">Performance can’t be tracked by specific skills, only number of questions answered right/wrong.