JFK Challenge is a new iPad app designed to help elementary and middle school students learn about the Apollo missions and the Peace Corps. The free app features a series of games for learning about each program. I played the first couple of games about the Peace Corps and the first couple of games about the Apollo missions. The games are nice, but I think that the real value of the app is found in the introductory materials that appear before the games.
To get the full value out of the JFK Challenge students should not skip the introduction to the app or the introductory materials that appear before the games. The introductory text, images, and audio provide the historical context and significance of each program.
To The Brink is a related app that teaches students about President Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
