by One of the challenges facing educational game developers is how to strike a balance between lessons and fun. Too much teaching, and the game ceases to keep a child’s attention; too little, and it becomes just another game. That’s one of the reasons Slice Fractions is so great: it has mastered teaching kids about fractional math without having overt lessons to do so.
Slice Fractions tasks players with clearing a path for a woolly mammoth to get from one side of the screen to another. The mammoth’s path is blocked by chunks of ice or lava that must be eliminated by hitting them with equally sized blocks. This is achieved by slicing up a large block hanging in the sky, and then popping the bubbles holding it up in the correct way to make sure the blocks drop where you need them to. Anyone who’s played Cut the Rope will recognize the similarities right off the bat.
The educational aspect of Slice Fractions is presented in a number of different ways, giving kids a variety of opportunities to see how fractions translate in real-world terms. Early levels focus on shapes and sizes, while later levels bring in the numeric representations of fractions. Mastering the levels earns players goofy hats for the mammoth.
Slice Fractions does a really great job of teaching without making it feel like a lesson, though it also dynamically gives hints if it senses you’re stuck. The controls are straightforward and easy to use, with the exception of the levels that allow you to slice up a brick any way you choose; even if you know the shape and size you want, it can be difficult to be exact with touch controls. The only other drawback is that the game is very short. More free content is coming, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have a kid who’s likely to fly through it.
The bottom line. Slice Fractions is a charming, albeit brief game that teaches fractions in a fun and effective manner.
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