If you are like my daughter (9) (and , to be honest, me), then you went through a stage of fascination with “roly poly” creatures, also known as “pill bugs”. Â Isopod, a new, educational iPad game banks on that curiosity and takes advantage of one of the unique aspects of iPads – the accelerometer. Â Players of Isopod are given instructions to try to roll the isopods into other creatures and avoid ones that will decrease their “health.” Â While playing, the user can learn about different creatures in that environment. Â I played it for 5 minutes, and I was hooked. Â I could see students 8 and up really getting value from this game.
There is a free “lite” version of the game, as well as a full version and a teacher version.  The game description on iTunes gives the details about each version.  I highly recommend, though, that you also visit the website at http://www.xylemandphloem.net.  There, you will learn about the extensive features of this game, which include a downloadable curriculum with loads of activities for students and a Pinterest link to related pictures and videos that support this game.
Although I dislike the idea of having to pay for the teacher version, I am very impressed with the supporting resources that Xylem and Phloem offers for free along with Isopod. Â Unlike many of the apps labeled “Education” on iTunes, Isopod is one app that truly delivers for that category.