Free Fetch! Lunch Rush App for Kids

Fetch! Lunch Rush

PBS KIDS has announced its first augmented reality app for iPhone and iPod touch, Fetch! Lunch Rush, which is now available on the App Store.

Available for free, the app uses the camera on iPhone or iPod touch to overlay computer-generated graphics on top of the physical, real-world environment. It opens a new world of learning by teaching kids ages six to eight math skills, like addition and subtraction, while blending the virtual and real world into a truly engaging experience.

“The Fetch! Lunch Rush App is designed as a 3-D game, which helps kids visualize the math problems they are trying to solve,” said Lesli Rotenberg, senior VP, Children’s Media, PBS.

“At PBS KIDS our goal is to use media to nurture kids’ natural curiosity and inspire them to explore the world around them; we can’t wait to see what this new app will mean for furthering that exploration.”

The Fetch! Lunch Rush App was produced by PBS member station WGBH and is based on the PBS KIDS GO! series Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, also produced by WGBH.

In this multiplayer app, Ruff Ruffman has to collect the lunch order for his studio crew. The challenge is keeping track of how many pieces of sushi everyone wants using augmented reality “markers” (printable hand-outs) that prompt activity within the app.

The app uses 3-D imagery to reinforce the early algebraic concepts, helping kids to make the connection between real objects and corresponding numeric symbols.

The Fetch! Lunch Rush App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore. It was announced today, Nov. 14.