# Earth Primer > Interactive simulation app for exploring Earth's geological processes and natural forces. (iPhone/iPad app by Chaim Gingold.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-primer/id956678532 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Chaim Gingold](https://appshunter.io/developer/328361943) - Category: Education, Entertainment - Price: $9.99 - Rating: 4.66/5 from 35 App Store ratings · 65 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 7.0 · 185 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2015-02-03 - Data updated: 2026-06-09 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-primer/id956678532/reviews.md ## What is Earth Primer? Discover how our planet works through play! Create volcanoes, sculpt mountains, and control the forces of nature with your fingertips. Earth Primer defies existing genres, combining aspects of science books, toys, simulations, and games. It is a new kind of interactive experience which joins the guided quality of a book with open ended simulation play. • App Store Best of 2015 • Best New App • Featured Education App • "BEAUTIFUL ... ENGAGING ... WELL DESIGNED." –Kristie Lu Stout | CNN “EFFORTLESSLY BEAUTIFUL... perfectly...realizes the promise of a truly interactive textbook.” –John Brownlee | Fast Company "THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION... sets a high benchmark for what educational apps should be aspiring to." –Luke Dormehl | Cult of Mac “INSPIRING ... a reminder that interactive media is a young and undeveloped world itself.” –Kyle VanHemert | WIRED “PLAYFUL, child-like, beautifully designed reenvisioning of the book” –IndieCade “The MOST AWESOME APP EVER for teaching Geomorphology to a young audience” –Alan Parkinson | Award Winning Teacher “one of the most deluxe, and memorable educational apps available... AN ABSOLUTE MUST” 5/5 –Trevor Sheridan | Apple n Apps “A TOUR DE FORCE” –Bret Victor "This is much more than a toy. It is a catalyst for thinking about our world. ... TRULY A JOY." –Samuel Arbesman | WIRED "I want every book to be this awesome. ...ABSOLUTELY WORTH EVERY CENT." –Owen Williams | The Next Web Features • Discover how Earth works through play. • The forces of nature are at your fingertips—make volcanoes, shape sand dunes, form glaciers, sculpt mountains, push around tectonic plates, paint with wind, heat up magma—and more! • 20 different tools to unlock. • Richly interactive geological simulations. • Five chapters: Earth's Interior, Surface, Water Cycle, Biomes, and Sandbox. • Sandbox mode. ## Key features - Discover how Earth works through play - Control natural forces like volcanoes and tectonic plates - 20 different tools to unlock - Richly interactive geological simulations - Five chapters: Earth's Interior, Surface, Water Cycle, Biomes, and Sandbox - Sandbox mode for open-ended play ## Recent user reviews (10 of 65) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/earth-primer/id956678532/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Timeless *2025-09-24, version 1.0.3* Best interaktive Simulation ever. Wander WhatsApp The dev is doing These days ### 4/5 — Nice *2025-02-01, version 1.0.3* It’s good but can you add a sandbox version for the 2d earth. ### 4/5 — Good but missing somthing *2024-11-12, version 1.0.3* I like this game but I wish that you add a 3d model of the volcanoes ensted of 2d ### 5/5 — Wonderful educational tool, but so much potential for more! *2023-02-11, version 1.0.3* This app is brilliant, a wonderful resource for educator to implement in the classroom as an introduction to geological changes of the earth - I only with the creative tools involved exploring simulated volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis as well (part of the primary curriculum). I did find another app which complements this one, but I’m surprised to find there’s no sandbox simulation programs exploring these phenomena in depth (I’ve been searching and the closest I found was through TinyBop - you can at least see/experiment and interact (minimally) with a volcano/earthquake, but there’s no explanations of what’s happening and I haven’t found anything for tsunamis). I hope the developers of this app consider expanding their already awesome simulation software into these areas as it would be transformative in the classroom! No more vinegar and bicarbonate volcano models forever, please!! ### 5/5 — Still love this *2021-04-17, version 1.0.3* Glad it still works on newer iPads. I love playing with the biome maker. Just wish they had made a follow up. ### 5/5 — Divulgativa y espectacular *2020-07-07, version 1.0.3* Entra por los ojos, literalmente, favoreciendo la exploración con sus gráficos amables y cuidados y sus sonidos de naturaleza. Toda una lección de Ciencias Naturales interactiva. ### 5/5 — One of the highest quality science apps *2020-02-29, version 1.0.3* Our school had this on our Macs, so I decided I wanted to purchase the iPad version just so I could use it on my own. I hope this app always remains available; it’s too invaluable a tool for illustrating geomorphology to lose. ### 3/5 — Grayed our options? *2019-09-02* I can not use all of the options in sandbox mode now :/ I am on iOS 12.1.3 IPAD 2018 32gb wifi UK Please fix **Developer response:** Sandbox tools are unlocked as you play through the book. That is the only reason they would be grayed out. (Unless you’ve discovered a new bug.) Apologies if this wasn’t clear! ### 5/5 — Awesome game! *2019-05-18, version 1.0.3* This is one of the best games I’ve played! I will like if the game had more feature but is still a good game ### 5/5 — I work in a museum *2018-12-28, version 1.0.3* I work in a museum and I got an old iPad just so I could share this app with children. It's fantastic. I really appreciate that it only requires iOS7, that really opens up the door for educators to make it accessible to low income communities. Thank you for the work and creativity that went into this app. ## Frequently asked questions about Earth Primer ### What does Earth Primer do? Earth Primer allows users to explore how our planet works through interactive play. You can create volcanoes, sculpt mountains, and control various natural forces to understand geological processes. ### What are the key features of Earth Primer? Key features include discovering Earth's workings through play, controlling natural forces with over 20 tools, engaging geological simulations, and five distinct chapters covering Earth's Interior, Surface, Water Cycle, Biomes, and a Sandbox mode. ### How much does Earth Primer cost? Based on the provided information, this app is a paid application. Users purchase it once to access all its features and content. ### What kind of educational content does Earth Primer offer? The app offers educational content focused on geology and Earth science. It covers topics like volcanic activity, mountain formation, tectonic plates, wind erosion, magma, and the water cycle in an interactive and playful manner. ### Who is Earth Primer designed for? Earth Primer is designed for anyone interested in learning about Earth science, from children to adults. It's particularly suited for those who enjoy interactive simulations and playful learning experiences. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.0.3 — 2016-01-20 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Improvements: - iPad Pro support - Fixed iPad Air graphics glitch (rift shader) - Minor usability improvement (Back button easier to hit) - Potential crash bug fix - 64-bit support - Thank you for purchasing and supporting Earth Primer! If you're a fan, please consider leaving a rating or review — it helps a lot! ### 1.0.2 — 2015-02-24 If you are enjoying Earth Primer I would be very grateful if you left a review. Thanks! If you are experiencing bugs, please email us at support@earthprimer.com with your device model and OS version. Thank you! - Fixed an audio problem affecting some users (sound would play via headphone jack but not built in speakers). If you are experiencing this problem, please ensure mute is off. - Usability improvements (locked chapters explained better; title screen has textual prompt to turn the page). - Shaved a few megabytes off app size. - Under the hood improvements. ### 1.0.1 — 2015-02-05 If you are enjoying Earth Primer I would be very grateful if you left a review. Thanks! If you are experiencing bugs, please email us at support@earthprimer.com with your device model and OS version. Thank you! - Fixed an issue with 1st launch; should be faster and avoid a potential crash. - Bug fixes - Page turn attract animation is clearer, more consistent. - Copy edit fixes ### 1.0 — 2015-02-03 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Earth Primer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Bo Bear: Discovery](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bo-bear-discovery/id6450762658) | — | Free | Education | | [Reweave: Spark Curiosity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reweave-spark-curiosity/id6736766717) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education | | [aha earth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aha-earth/id6608968197) | — | Free | Education | | [Cretapedia: Science Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cretapedia-science-learning/id6446936735) | 4.7 (1,558) | Free | Education | | [Thinkrolls 2: Puzzles For Kids](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thinkrolls-2-puzzles-for-kids/id968707176) | 4.6 (7,113) | $5.99 | Education | | [MarcoPolo For Families](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marcopolo-for-families/id1558879256) | 4.0 (29) | Free | Education | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-09.*