Zoola Animals – FREE

ZOOLA Animals – FREE teaches young users to recognize different animals. From the app’s main page, animals are categorized by type, and users access the categories by tapping the black-and-white images on the bottom of the screen. Once a category is selected, users are shown images of 12 different animals from that category. Users are to then tap an image, and the app presents them the animal on a new screen. While viewing the animal, the app plays a recorded sound of the animal, users can swipe sideways or tap the characters at the bottom the screen to view different images of the animal, and they can tap the “Horn” button to hear the animal’s name. When ready to progress to a new animal, users need to tap the “Back” button in order to return to the main screen.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can first demonstrate to their students how to use this app. Next, they can allow students time in class to engage the app. While doing so, teachers can encourage students to pretend being the different animals they viewed.
2. After spending time using this app, teachers can review the animals’ names and action during carpet time. To do so, teachers can say a name of an animal while all their students are sitting on a carpet and ask for a volunteer to describe the animal, explain where the animal lives, and make the sound that the animal generates.
3. Before studying an animal or reading a story in which an animal appears, teachers can first preview it using this app. To do so, they can load the animal’s image using this app and pass their device around the room. When students get it, they can see the animal and hear the sounds it makes.