This is a document that contains pointers to our favorite kids apps and opportunities (like summer camps)
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Our daughter really likes https://www.gethopscotch.com/ . I just downloaded it and handed it to her and she taught herself. It is particularly useful if you are online because then you can see what other apps people are making.
She also likes http://www.scratchjr.org/ because it allows her to draw and modify the characters.
Both Scratch and Hopscotch do programing by dragging and dropping code blocks (like Scratch itself https://scratch.mit.edu/ , or the Lego Robot coding language).
Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming also looks like it has a more advanced set of stuff — but also oriented at drawing, animation, visualization, simulations, and gams.
Minecraft could also stimulate some interesting work in programming. At least one group has an organized set of lessons regarding mods for Minecraft (on Desktop/Laptop not on iOS/Android). http://www.learntomod.com/ We have also worked a little with sysadmin and the command line in setting up our own Minecraft Pocket Edition (iOS/Android) server for Linux ( http://www.pocketmine.net/ ). Our daughter liked the idea that she could set the whole world to daytime with a single command. She added usernames for friends to the whitelist.
It looks like there is at least one Maker space in Santiago — it has a 3d printer — http://www.stgomakerspace.com/ .
Kano is an operating system designed to enable kids to discover programing through play. You don't have to buy the Kano hardware. We bought our own Raspberry Pi 2 and then installed Kano https://help.kano.me/hc/en-us/articles/201602232
For learning Guitar, we like https://guitarbots.com/ . We are using the free version so far (it limits the lessons to like 10 minutes, which is just about perfect for her because chords can be frustrating for little hands).
This is the Rocks and Robots camp that the daughter will go to during the first week of August this year: http://rocksandrobots.com/
Here are some of the programs at Illinois: http://gems.ncsa.illinois.edu/ and http://publish.illinois.edu/womeninengineering/camps/g-a-m-e-s-camp/ This one looks particular interesting: https://engage.illinois.edu/entry/24387
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Workbooks: My favorite math books are these ones https://www.beastacademy.com/ They are not easy — but pose fulfilling and interesting challenges.
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Apps: Our favorite math ipad apps are by this group: http://www.dragonboxapp.com/ Even our kindergartener is able to play them.
- The new electric company
- Sesame street.
- Wild Kratts
- Avatar the last Airbender
- Korra
- Wee Free Men and the Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett
- The Princess Cimorene series (technically the Enchanted Forest Chronicles) by Patricia Wrede