Calculosaures is a dinosaur math game for Android that turns mental math into an expedition in the age of the dinosaurs. A child picks one of 16 dinosaur companions, follows the mascot Rexou and explores five territories, one for each year from Grade 1 (CP) to Grade 5 (CM2).
Each territory holds nests to visit, and each nest is a skill from the elementary school program. The game is published by the Maths PDF site and works in English and French.
Get Calculosaures
At a glance
- Platform: Android
- Levels: Grade 1 (CP) to Grade 5 (CM2)
- Content: 5 territories, about 70 skills, 16 dinosaurs
- Modes: missions, coconut rain, two-player duel
- Languages: English and French
- Advertising: none
The problem: young children and number facts
In the early grades, children need hundreds of repetitions of the same facts: pairs that make 10, doubles, halves, times tables, making change. Repetition on paper tires them quickly, but a story with a companion and eggs to hatch gives each repetition a purpose.
The primary school program supplies about 70 skills: multiplying by 10 or 100, first fractions, tenths and hundredths, decimals and small word problems. Because the game draws questions at random, they get harder as the child improves.
Territories and missions in the dinosaur math game
- CP: the Flowering Plain
- CE1: the Giant Forest
- CE2: the Vine Marsh
- CM1: the Pterosaur Cliffs
- CM2: the Rumbling Volcano
A mission is 10 calculations. An adjustable timer adds excitement, and parents can turn it off so a child can take their time. Each mission earns up to 3 footprints. Other modes include the mission of the day with 12 mixed calculations and double experience points, a coconut rain where the child cracks calculations before they crush the eggs in the nest, and a two-player duel on one screen.
Eggs, ranks and feedback
More than 40 badges are shaped like eggs: amber, jade, gold and legendary. Until a child earns them they are fossils, and once won they hatch on screen. Children climb 12 ranks, from the Brand-new Egg to the King of the Dinosaurs.
If a child makes a mistake, a calculation tip shows how to do it. Visual aids, such as dots, fingers, tens and ones, coins and bills, support the youngest. A progress screen shows play time, success by type of calculation, strengths and skills to review, which is handy for parents.
Who it is for
Calculosaures is for families with a child between Grade 1 (CP) and Grade 5 (CM2). Teachers can use the duel mode for a calm pair activity. The game has no advertising, sounds and animations work on phones and tablets, and the Google account saves progress so a child can continue on another device.
Parents often ask how long a child should play. The answer is simple. Since a mission is 10 calculations, one or two missions a day is a good rhythm. Afterwards, the progress screen shows which kinds of calculation went well and which deserve another visit, so a short chat about it takes only a minute. Besides, children in Grade 1 can start with dots and fingers, and move on to tens and ones when they are ready.
Starting the expedition
- Install Calculosaures on an Android phone or tablet.
- Choose a dinosaur companion.
- Open the territory that matches your child’s grade.
- Complete a 10-calculation mission and collect footprints.
- Open the progress screen to see what to practice next.
The Mathovore site has written support for the same topics, for instance Grade 1 math, Grade 2 math and Grade 3 math.
Frequently asked questions
What is Calculosaures?
Calculosaures is an Android math game with a dinosaur theme. Children from Grade 1 (CP) to Grade 5 (CM2) complete missions of 10 calculations across five territories, with a companion dinosaur and egg badges.
Can the timer be turned off?
Yes. An adjustable timer adds excitement, and parents can switch it off so a child can take time to think. Each mission earns up to 3 footprints.
What skills does it teach?
About 70 skills from the primary program, including pairs that make 10, doubles and halves, all the times tables, making change, multiplying by 10 or 100, first fractions, tenths, hundredths and decimals.
Is there a two-player mode?
Yes. A duel mode lets two players share one screen, each at their own level. That makes it practical for a parent and child or for siblings.
