CLUEFINDERS
A fabulous and challenging game, "Cluefinders: The Incredible Toy Store Adventure" -- The Learning Company; US$24.95; Windows 95 and higher, Macintosh; for ages 7 to 10 -- covers a range of subjects that includes math and problem solving, geography and directions, reading and spelling. At the beginning of the adventure, two ClueFinders (a group of young detectives) mysteriously shrink. With the help of their friends, their gadgets and the player they must try to solve the mystery of their miniaturization. The program is set in a giant toy store with the displays acting as a variety of thinking games. The characters are reasonably mature compared with many other software heroes. This works well with the difficulty level and may be better suited for upper elementary and early middle school students.
ZOOMBINIS
In "Zoombinis: Logical Journey" -- The Learning Company; US$24.99; Windows 95 and higher, Macintosh; for ages 8 and older -- one of my students' favorite games, the player must help a community of Zoombinis, an endearing tribe of energetic blue characters, escape the evil Fleens and move their village from Zoombini Isle to Zoombiniville. The new title, "Zoombinis: Mountain Rescue" -- The Learning Company; US$24.99; Windows 95 and higher; for ages 8 and older -- takes the Zoombinis on an adventure to rescue their comrades from a mountain trap. In both games the Zoombinis are tested by a series of problems and challenges, most of which require categorization and logical sorting. The games provide hours of brain-twisting for advanced elementary and middle school students.
HYPERSTUDIO 4
"Hyperstudio 4: Student Edition -- Knowledge Adventure;" US$69.99; Windows 95 and higher, Macintosh; for all ages -- is PowerPoint for the junior set. Choose from Hyperstudio's extensive collection of sounds, animation, images, backgrounds and movies or import your own. The interface is intuitive and the possibilities endless. You can use as much or as little of the program's own designs and effects as you wish. Ultimately it is your choices, not the program's, that gives each project its own brilliance. You can create a project that includes morphing, animation and Web links, or a graphic project with mouse drawn or imported artwork. Hyperstudio provides the tools: you put them to use.
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