Osmo - Interactive Learning System (games and kits for 3YO-10YO)
We were gifted the Osmo Genius Starter Kit and have had SO much fun playing and learning. It has been such a hit that I actually ordered the Little Genius Starter Kit for Otto and Lylelynn too. I can’t wait for it to come in. But first, let us talk about the kit we have already been playing with and how much Axle (9 years old) has been liking it.
At the very end of this will be a testimonial from Axle himself over the games, but for now some information for the adults wondering about Osmo.
The kits are designed for either a iPad or a Fire Tablet and you are able to choose when you pick your kit. We currently have it on an iPad, (the kit coming will be for a fire tablet which I’m excited to share both versions with you in the future). The bases and reflectors are NOT interchangeable between iPads and Fire tablets. All Osmo Kits include a base & reflector, and they are also sold as a separate item.
So what does Osmo do? Osmo makes hands-on learning games in which players use objects in the real world to interact with the digital world shown on their iPad or Fire tablets. Which means that Osmo has come up with a way to not have the learning all on the screen AND giving the kids skills and manipulatives that move them from concrete experiences to abstract reasoning. A few of the skills a child can learn with hands on manipulatives are fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and visual discrimination. This allows for the kids to both learn from Osmo and have a multi-sensory experience with hands on learning.
“Osmo games promote embodied learning through physical-digital interactions” -Osmo
The Genius Starter Kit
Words
Words is great for playing alone or with others! The modes to add in more people makes Osmo great for siblings that want to play together.
In this game your kids will learn to spell over 1000 words! I’m also loving that it has master pronunciation with a read loud feature incase the kids don’t know the word or need to sound it out.
Reading and Spelling is usually the things that Axle reaches for last when it comes to school work. But he told me this week, “Hey do you want to play Words with me? it is actually fun!” That is a big win in my book.
Numbers
My personal favorite part of Numbers is how it teaches the kids that there are multiple ways to solve a problem. Numbers covers beginner to advance skills across five different modes: counting, addition, concatenation, multiplication and subtraction. A plus to numbers is the added Ocean life facts the kids learn right along with their math skills
Tangram
Tangram really gets your brain working with thinking with shapes! This one at the advance levels is fun to join in with myself. I love how Osmo really challenges you with the different shapes and also gives hints it you need them. Trangram is a great way to exercise spatial and visual problem-solving skills. The object of the game is to match the onscreen puzzles with the shapes in your kit. The shapes change from animals, people, and so much more.
Newton
This one is a lot of fun but did take us a while to figure out at first. My biggest suggestion for this one is good lighting. We noticed that if there are shadows on the page the sensors will pick up the shadows. That being said, once we changed lighting situations this was a REALLY fun game.
Newton is just what you most likely have guessed, but also more. It is creative problem solving with Physics. You are guiding falling balls that are on the screen into targeted zones by drawling on the board (or paper) below. I would suggest getting a board add on with this game so it is easier to erase lines as you go. However you can also use different objects too, which you will see Axle using in the video below.
There are 60 levels that challenge you with bouncing balls, accelerating, platforms and fans. I love how Osmo came up with this awesome way to get Physics hands on with so little tools needed.
Using shapes to do level 40 on Newton with Osmo
Masterpiece
Last, but not least is Masterpiece. This has become a BIG hit with all of our little artists. Masterpiece is a great way to start learning to draw and one of the most mind-blowing ways i’ve ever seen. It takes tracing to a whole other level.
You can choose from MANY options in the albums OR take of photo of what you want to draw and Masterpeice will transform it into simple outlines so you can draw it to perfection. You also get a fun time-lapsed video of your work that you can then share with others! Our kids have been emailing them to their grandparents and having a lot of fun with it.
Below is a video of Axle picking is Muse, taking the photo, going to draw, a time-laps of his Masterpiece and showing how you can email the image and time-lapse to someone. In this case he sent it to me so that I could show you how it comes through on your email.
A feature I really love with the sharing is that it will save email addresses so that you don’t have to put them in each time. I plan to add their grandparents emails too, so they can send them whenever they want.
There is our overview and below you will see Axle talking about Osmo in his own words. Let us know if you have any questions or comments and we will come back to address them in the future blog post and also on instagram reels.
Axle’s first time doing a review. He was so excited to tell you about Osmo.
instagram: @playosmo