EMMA MCGOVERN

APP REVIEW
Apps Reviewed for 5th Grade
 All apps reviewed align with:
NC Professional Teaching
Standards
NETS-T
NETS-S
NCCCES: Visual Arts Education
 Standard One

5.V.1 Use the language of visual arts to communicate effectively

5.V.1.2 Create art that reflects personal voice and choice.
5.V.1.4 Understand the relationship between the Elements of Art and the Principles of
Design.
5.V.1.5 Apply the Principles of Design in creating compositions.
Assembly
Assembly is a vector app for basic
graphic design. Instead of drawing each
individual shape, this app gives students
over 180 different shapes to build upon
one another with to create their own
graphics, logos, and works of art in the
classroom.

Pros: The predetermined shapes are great for teaching students the
basic elements of art and principles of design. Students will be able to
experience graphic design without the complications of vector drawing.
Cons: Students may be slightly limited by not being able to draw their
own shapes. Predetermined shapes could enable students to copy others
work more easily and potentially discourage their own creativity.
 Brushes
Brushes is a unique painting app
designed for both elementary and
advanced artists. Teachers can use the
record and playback options to model
techniques for students. Students can
play around with the different brushes
and color features to create their own
paintings.

Pros: Students will be able to watch exactly how the teacher obtains desired
outcomes using the record and playback options. Students are free to create
whatever they can paint or draw using the brush tools.
Cons: Features could be somewhat confusing for some students. This app
does include advanced features that could be beyond the skill level of the
student.
 Standard Two

5.V.2 Apply creative and critical thinking skills to artistic expression.

5.V.2.1 Evaluate solutions to artistic problems, including their effectiveness

5.V.2.2 Use ideas and imagery from the global environment as sources for
creating art.
5.V.2.3 Create realistic, imaginative, abstract, and non-objective art.
 Faces iMake
Faces iMake is a creative app that allows
students to use everyday objects to create
faces. Students will have fun trying to
replicate different faces in buttons or just
making silly faces with fruits, marbles and
other fun objects. After finishing their
piece, students may share their work via
email or social media.

Pros: This app teaches students that everyday objects can be used in
unconventional ways. Students will have to use problem solving skills to create
faces out of various objects.
Cons: This app would be used more for recreational purposes rather than
instructional purposes in the classroom. While it is educational, its basis in
portraiture is not entirely applicable to the topics of instruction at the
elementary school level.
Art App - ClearPainting
Art App ClearPainting allows
students to experiment with colors
and images to create unique
paintings. Photographs can be
imported as backgrounds and then
added to or transformed to create
new, high-quality images. Students
can draw and paint on top of them
and experiment with the opacity of
the colors as they do so.

Pros: This app allows students to take a digital mixed-media approach as

they can import images and draw on top of them.
Cons: Though this app is simple and easy to navigate, students are fairly
limited in what they can accomplish with this app. Other drawing and
painting apps may be more ideal depending on the desired outcome.
 Standard Three

5.V.3 Create art using a variety of tools, media, and processes, safely and appropriately.
5.V.3.1 Evaluate how to manipulate tools safely and appropriately to reach
desired outcomes.
5.V.3.2 Use appropriate media for the creation of original art.
5.V.3.3 Create art using the processes of drawing, painting, weaving, printing,
stitchery, collage, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, and current technology.
 How to Draw
How to Draw helps students who are
interested in becoming better artists and
students who have no idea where to start
when it comes to drawing build their skills.
The app features a step-by-step approach
to help students learn to draw common
objects and cartoon characters. Students
draw directly in an app and the drawing
screen features a grid to make the drawing
process easier.

Pros: This app teaches useful, foundational skills for drawing. Students who create
recognizable images using this app may build their confidence and improve their
artistic skills.
Cons: Students are not creating their own work using this app. While it is great for
practice and instruction, it is not quite as great for creativity.
Lets Create! Pottery
Lets Create! Pottery allows students to
explore a different medium of art. Students
can throw clay on the pottery wheel and
use their fingers to mold and shape it into
virtual masterpieces. The app also allows
them to experience the process of firing
and glazing the clay to create a finished
piece of pottery.

Pros: Students get to experience the process of throwing pottery without

the mess. By moving their fingers, students get to see how hand movements
affect the shape of clay on a moving wheel.
Cons: This app fails to teach students the exact steps that go into throwing
pottery such as centering they piece, wedging, or starting the mound. This
app is also fairly limited in its functions.
 Standard Four

5.CX.1 Understand the global, historical, societal, and cultural contexts of the visual arts.
5.CX.1.1 Understand how the visual arts have affected, and are reflected in, the culture,
traditions, and history of the United States
5.CX.1.2 Recognize key contributions of North American artists in history.
5.CX.1.3 Classify North American artists in terms of styles, genre, and/or movements
5.CX.1.4 Explain how traditions and values influence ideas, issues, and themes found in
art.
5.CX.1.5 Analyze the effect of the geographic location and physical environment on the
media and subject matter of North American art and artists.
 Art around Us
Art Around Us exposes students
to all different kinds of artists
and mediums. The app features
reading passages, definition
cards and images related to all
different types of art. The
discussion questions can be used
to test students understanding
of the different types of art or
help them explore a type of art
further.

Pros: This app includes passages written at various reading levels so it can
be of use to students of all ages and abilities. This app provides a fun
pathway for students to learn about the more academic side of art.
Cons: This app is not free and does not include any actual art making.
Eden - World Builder
Eden World Builder gives students a
chance to explore art and express their
creativity by building a world. With this
app, they use different types of blocks to
build different land features and create a
digital world. They can paint their worlds,
make them fall prey to fire and
destruction, and add fun creatures as well.

Pros: This app provides a more alternative art making experience that
could appeal to a broader range of students. Its content is applicable to
real life which may encourage students to think critically while creating.
Cons: This app is not free. Its block building format may be somewhat
limited.
 Standard Five

5.CX.2 Understand the interdisciplinary connections and life applications of the visual arts.
5.CX.2.1 Analyze the relationship between arts and daily life in product design, print,
and digital media.
5.CX.2.2 Exemplify how information and skills learned in art can be applied in other
disciplines.
5.CX.2.3 Understand the balance of individual roles and collaborative skills to create art.
5.CX.2.4 Interpret visual images from media sources and the immediate environment.
 PicCollage
Pic Collage takes a popular art activity,
making collages, and turns it into a form
of digital art. With the app, students can
combine digital pictures, text and
stickers into fun digital collages. The
app even includes its own scissors to
give the art the look and feel of a
traditional collage made of cut-outs.

Pros: This allows students to make collages without the mess and in
less time. This app could be useful in teaching students the concepts of
composition. It also allows students to create something digitally that
theyve probably made by hand before.
Cons: This app gives specific layouts for multiple images that could be
limiting to students. Students are unable to draw on their image using
this app so another app would be required for that capability.
 Laser Lights
Laser Lights show students
another way to explore and create
art. The app allows students to
create digital laser light shows.
They can create the shows to
correspond to a certain song or
simply move their fingers in
different ways around the screen
to create unique effects.

Pros: This gives students the opportunity to work with moving forms of art.
It could appeal to a broader range since it includes the use of music. This is
also a good pathway to introduce non-objective and more abstract forms of
art making to students. This app could help students to see videographer and
animation as modes of art making.
Cons: This app is not free. This app could be potentially limited in its
effects. The app itself also includes little direct art making.
 References
10 Best Apps for Elementary Art Teachers. (2015, January 07). Retrieved March 23,
2017, from http://www.avatargeneration.com/2012/10/10-best-apps-for-elementary-
art-teachers/