Smart Education Apps for Middle Schoolers That Go Beyond the Classroom

This post was first written back when my girls were in middle school and I was spending a lot of time trying to keep them learning while we travelled, waited in airports, sat in cars, and lived life on the go. They’re older now, but parents still ask me about education apps for middle schoolers and I know how helpful they can be when you want screen time to actually count for something. The middle school years are this funny mix of independence, curiosity, boredom, confidence, insecurity, and big emotions. Kids this age want to feel capable and challenged, but they also don’t have a ton of patience. Whether you’re travelling, juggling busy schedules, homeschooling, or just trying to keep their brains engaged, the right education apps for middle schoolers can make life easier for everyone.

Best Education Apps for Middle Schoolers

Project Aqua

Let’s start with something that feels like a win for both kids and parents. Project Aqua is a free creativity app from Adobe designed by parents who wanted screen time to actually encourage imagination instead of zoning out on endless games. Kids can explore hundreds of colouring pages, follow simple tutorials, experiment, create, and even turn their art into 3D creations. It works offline too, which makes it perfect for planes, ferries, road trips, long drives, waiting rooms, and anywhere else you need something engaging and meaningful. If you want screen time that sparks creativity instead of draining it, this one’s an easy pick.

TED

I love TED as an adult, so I thought it would be interesting to see what my middle schooler thought of it. I let her watch personal favourites of mine, Sir Ken Robinson speak to the problems in education and Brené Brown on the power of vulnerability and she found a few she loved herself. For the most part, these talks have nothing particularly racy in them and even though some of the content was over her head, they are great discussion starters. If you’re wondering where to start here are the most popular TED talks.

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Sixth Grade Learning Games

If you’re looking for something that covers multiple subjects in one place, Sixth Grade Learning Games is a great option. It includes math, reading, language skills, problem solving, and more through short, engaging games that actually feel like games, not worksheets pretending to be fun. It’s perfect for keeping skills sharp during travel, breaks, weekends, and all those “I’m bored” moments.

Memorize by Heart

Middle school is a huge time for language development, confidence, and communication skills. Memorize by Heart helps kids learn poetry, speeches, text passages, scripts, and school material in really interactive ways. They can practise in chunks, listen to playback, test themselves, and actually see their progress. And yes, parents have fun playing with it too.

Fraction Challenge

Fractions can make even the most confident kid feel wobbly, but Fraction Challenge helps change that. It keeps kids practising important fraction skills in a way that feels more like a challenge than punishment. It builds speed, confidence, and understanding without the frustration that usually shows up the second fractions enter the conversation.

Quick Maths

If your kid loves competition, Quick Maths will absolutely appeal to them. It keeps essential math skills sharp with timed drills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It builds confidence, it’s fast-paced, and it’s perfect for short bursts of learning that still make a difference.

Word of the Day: Vocabulary

Building a strong vocabulary in middle school matters more than we sometimes realize, and Word of the Day: Vocabulary makes it easy to build that habit without it feeling like work. Each day introduces a new word with a clear explanation, an illustration, and real-world context so kids actually remember it. There are short quizzes, word games, and the option to save favourite words in a personal vocab notebook for review later. Daily notifications help keep things consistent, and over time it really does add up. It’s a simple, low-pressure way to strengthen language skills and confidence with words.

GeoWalk – World Factbook 3D

GeoWalk is one of those apps that quietly sucks kids in without them realizing they’re learning. It works like an interactive globe, letting kids explore the world through animals, plants, historical events, famous people, landmarks, and inventions, all tied to where they exist on Earth. You can tap around the globe, dive into short fact cards with images, and then test what you’ve learned with quizzes. I love that it works offline, which makes it ideal for travel, and that it encourages curiosity in a very low-pressure way. Think of it as a world fact book at your fingertips, perfect for kids who love discovering how the world fits together.

Canadian Citizenship Test

This one feels especially important right now. The Canadian Citizenship Test app is designed for newcomers preparing for the official citizenship exam, but honestly, it’s worth spending time on even if you were born here. It covers Canadian history, values, government, rights and responsibilities, and how our political system actually works, using practice questions based on the official Discover Canada handbook. The reality is that many Canadians would struggle to pass this test, which is more than a little alarming when you think about how often we talk about politics, policy, and civic responsibility without really understanding the basics. Taking some time with this app is a great reminder of how our country functions, where we’ve come from, and why that knowledge matters. Consider it essential learning, not just test prep.

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Disclosure: A big thank you to Adobe for sponsoring this article and helping support creative screen time for middle school kids at a stage when curiosity, confidence, and creativity matter so much.

This article was originally published in 2014 and fully updated for 2026.