Every so often an app comes around that’s unique and captures the attention of kids in a way that not only entertains but educates just the same. There are apps that teach math, science, reading, problem solving and more, but how many are there that explore the system of water? Not many. With the advent of water shortage, it’s so important that the youth of today fully understand what water is, where it exists and how it transforms into various shapes and forms, better known as phases in chemistry, to become useful to life on earth.
Upon download you’ll see three different regions where water resides: mountains and sky, seas and oceans and rivers. The mountains and sky region are available first. You must then work your way through that region to open the other regions. Each region will advise on what steps to take first. Arrows that look like “play” icons will appear throughout the screen with descriptions of what is about to happen and how it relates to the water cycle.
Scattered around the scene are several informational areas that describe how water is moved manually or naturally to be used by the land around it and by humans, animals and vegetation. Once you have read all the information tags and have played all the clips, you will get a congratulatory message saying you’ve completed the scene and can move on.
A submarine will take you to the ocean so your child can explore the deep sea. This scene is more fun as it has more interaction. In the ocean, the child must steer the submarine into the depths to find different sea creatures and learn about them. Prompts from Didi help you know what you need to do next. Flashing green arrows also help you navigate to the next place where you’ll find new animals and sea life. There are orcas, swordfish, sharks, seals, starfish and more. As the child moves the submarine around with guidance from Didi, they will encounter different sea creatures, and will even find one of the oldest creatures still living.
I highly recommend downloading Didi Learns on an iPad as the layout of each scene is better experienced that way. I found it a bit difficult to find the actions that needed to be played.
What I found lacking is the requirement to read. It would be nice to have the actions be read aloud to the children and then have that option turned off once the child is ready to learn how to read.
Overall, the app is a simple and fun app that allows children to explore the many places on earth where we find water, how it gets there and how we use it. Water is essential to life, and learning about its cycle helps us all use it wisely, respecting what it provides to us and to all living things around us.