Click on the TABS below to view the recommended app to use by educators in our district.
Scroll down to access information on how to request apps, SD71 vetted app list, the App Vetting Protocol including the “why” and the process that occurs and consent forms that may be needed for students to use these apps at school.
Top recommended apps:
Welcome to Comox Valley Schools Top Recommended Apps Page.
Click on the tabs to see our recommended apps for each subject. Use the back button to help you find your way back.
If you are using a phone we recommend you turn it to landscape position for it to display better.
Writing
Book Creator – Browser Based
Age: All
Subscriptions for all SD71 users. Login with SD71 username and password. Can be accessed on iPads using the white Book Creator icon.
Create interactives books with picture, audio recordings and text to show learning. Has a read to me feature.
Book Creator – iPad App
Age: All
On all SD71 iPads
Create interactives books with picture, audio recordings and text to show learning. Has a read to me feature.
Canva for Education
Age: All
With Canva for Education, you can create engaging lessons and run activities for students in-class or online. Access thousands of templates for any subject, grade, or topic, and enjoy all of Canva’s premium features for free.
Draw & Tell
Age: Grades K-4
Students can draw using a wide range of drawing tools and stickers. Can also record movies and use stencils.
Chatterpix Kids
Age: All
Grab your camera and make your pictures talk. Great to show your writing skills and share facts.
iMovie
Ages: All
Kids can show what they know by easily creating movies and movie trailers.
Stop Motion Studio
Age: 9+
With it’s easy to use interface Stop Motion Studio lets you create beautiful movies like Wallace and Gromit or those groovy Lego shorts on YouTube. (Basic app is free and upgrades cost money.)
Popplet
Age: K+
Popplet is the simplest tool to capture and organize your ideas. With Popplet you can quick jot down your ideas and sort them visually into a mind-map. (This app costs money.)
PicCollage EDU
Age: K+
PicCollage EDU is the SAFEST and most user-friendly collage app available. With no account required to use the app and no social sharing features, it’s perfect for young children and for classroom use. (This app costs money.)
Apple Clips
Age: All
A video editing app which allows users to create and edit short videos on their iPhone or iPad. The app features a user-friendly interface, a variety of filters and effects, and the ability to add text, music, and other elements to videos.
Office 365
Age: K+
PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Sway, Forms and more.
Executive Functioning Resources on Learn 71
Free
Classroom Screen
Online widgets and tools to support classroom interactions and activities
iPad | Web Based
Reminders
You can use this for all of life’s to-dos, including shopping lists, projects at work or anything else you want to track.
Using_the_Reminders_App_on_an_iPad
iPad
Microsoft Outlook
Email and calendar that are part of the Office 365 Microsoft tools. All SD71 staff and students have free access to these tools through their Microsoft District account.
Using_the_Office_365_Outlook_Calendar
iPad | Web based | Windows PC
To Do Microsoft
Create Task Lists and To Do Lists and share them with others. Integrate across Office 365 tools.
iPad | Web based | Windows
Pic Collage
Photo and text collage app. Use with Sarah Ward EF strategies like Get Ready Do Done mats, working clock, block and box, mime map or class zones labeling photos or tasks.
Resource Using Pic Collage with Templates | Resources Module 4 > Resources
iPad | Android
Guided Access
Guided Access is a built in Accessibility feature for iOS for an iPad and iPhone. When guided access is turned on it locks a person in an app. You can set time chunks to work on the app.
iPad Guided Access_iOS_Tutorial | Use Guided Access with iPad no codes
In SD71 on Inclusive Ed devices we have set up Guided Access codes.
iPad | iPhone
Paid
Choiceworks
Choice Works Learning tool for helping children complete daily routines (morning, day, & night), understand & control their feelings and improve their waiting skills (taking turns and not interrupting). This app is designed to provide clear and consistent support to foster a child’s independence, positive behavior, and emotional regulation at home, in school and in the community.
iPad
Choiceworks Calendar
Picture-based learning tool that helps children learn what is happening day-to-day throughout each month. By presenting the abstract concept of time in a structured, visual format, Choiceworks Calendar helps children organize their lives as well as understand sequence and time.
iPad
360 Thinking Time Tracker
The 360 Timer is an instructional timer app specifically designed for supporting students’ executive function skill development. It is based on the innovative clinical model of executive functioning skills known as 360 Thinking™. By using the app, students will have the opportunity to nurture their situational awareness, develop forethought of an end result, and organize resource materials, time and actions to complete a future task.
Info | Task_Card_360_Thinking_App
iPad
Ages: All
This program is available online and there is also an app for it. It brings you meditation, sleep stories, calming music, classes and more. The premium edition of Calm costs money but they are currently allowing teachers free access to use with their classes.
Age: All
This app, created by Anxiety Canada, helps you learn to relax and be mindful. It contains activities to help you tackle problems like anxiety, worry, panic, perfectionism and more. This app is more geared for individuals rather than a whole class and is great to recommend to parents.
Age: All
The Kwak’wala app is a media‐rich bilingual dictionary and phrase collection comprised of words and phrases
archived at the online Aboriginal language database
Age: All
The Sliammon app is a media-rich bilingual dictionary and phrase collection comprised of words and phrases archived at the online Aboriginal language database FirstVoices.com. Word and phrase definitions are illustrated with audio recordings, images and videos.
Free
Age: Grades K-3
ScratchJr is an introductory programming language Scratch Junior that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games.
Age: Grades 2-7
This free, fun app has an easy drag & drop interface that kids of all ages can use to animate Daisy and make her dance on their screen. Kids will intuitively grasp the basics of objects, sequencing, loops and events by solving this app’s challenges.
Age: Grade 3+
With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations . Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
Age: All
One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over 400,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society