This unique app is based on the complex inventions of Rube Goldberg and engages children's visual problem solving skills by creating inventions based on the original cartoons. Students will move progressively through the 11 levels of increasingly complex tasks. Each level is a different scene with a unique set of common objects that students must move into the correct positioning. For example, in level 2 they will need to figure out how to carve a turkey starting with a bowl of chicken salad on a window sill and making use of a beach pail, rooster, sand dispenser, sponge, penguin, perch and ice cream freezer. Students can read brief descriptions of the objects and clues about how to use them to create a multi-step solution to meet the objective. Success will require good abstract reasoning, flexible thinking, and basic knowledge of pulleys, levers, and concepts such as melting and freezing. See the Considerations for younger students and those with weaker abstract reasoning where playing in a group or with some support will be beneficial. This very enjoyable app can be an engaging and effective teaching tool, but it requires patience, perseverance, and creative thinking, and, in many cases, help from more than one creative mind. *Note: This app was originally reviewed for iPhone/iPad. Some differences might apply. Amazon rating: Guidance Suggested

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
• Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Has a free or trial version
• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
• Multiple users can save a profile
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can play without sound and not distract others
• Students can save work between sessions
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Abstract Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Students might need support with navigation
• Anxiety
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Fine Motor Skills
• Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
• Flexible Thinking
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Students might need support with navigation
• Organization
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Students might need support with navigation
• Spatial Perception
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Visual Discrimination
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
• Students might need support with navigation
• Visual Memory
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Students might need support with navigation
• Working Memory
• Requires scanning in multiple places for words, objects or numbers
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Requires recall of text information without audio or visual reinforcement
• Students might need support with navigation