Wednesday, review of Stack the States app (Social Studies)

          The Stack the States app is an app designed to help students practice their geography skills and understanding. To play the game, students are asked a question. For example, "Which of these states is Nevada?" The answer choices are given by state shapes, and the student must select which state they believe is Nevada. If the question is answered incorrectly, then the correct answer is given and explained. If the question is answered correctly, then the student gets to "stack" the state. This is where the "fun" of the game comes in, as students try to stack their states without falling over. Stacks of states have to reach a certain height in order to pass a level. Each sequential level grows to a higher height to reach. Question types vary from state recognition to state capitols, which states share borders, and so on.
          Part of the reason I love this app is because it help students gain a spatial understanding of the sizes of each of the states in relation to one another. One you choose a state to "stack," that state grows or shrinks into its relative size. This helps students visualize which states are bigger and which states are tiny. Additionally, state shape is emphasized repeatedly, allowing students to practice recognizing specific states based upon shape. I also love the fact that after each level is completed, as a prize the user gains a new state to add to their U.S.A. map! This may not seem like a big deal, but to students it is enormous. After all, there are 50 possible prizes to win, and students generally will feel compelled to earn all 50! It is also a sneaky way of teaching students the locations of each state. By looking at their prize map daily, and slowly adding new ones, students gain an understanding of general state locations.
           I was in a third grade classroom for my General Field Experience, and I remember these students using Stack the States as a sponge activity when their work was completed. The students got really into the game, and I was impressed at the amount of state knowledge they possessed just because of playing the game! As a teacher I would definitely use this app as a sponge activity for my class. I believe this would be a good app for multiple grades because of the variation of question types. It would be a great way to introduce young students to state shapes, sizes, and location in a fun and interactive way.