by The Learning Company
Platform:
Windows 98 / Me / 95, Mac
(7)Buy new:
19 used & new from $1.24
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Our just-graduated fifth grade testers found this new ClueFinder program challenging but doable, and boy, did they enjoy it. The adventure begins with the ClueFinder kids shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Two of their teammates are trapped in an underground hideaway, and the ship's captain and crew are missing as well. It's up to the rest of the gang to find their friends and get off the island- all before a monstrous volcano blows its top. To solve the mystery and save the day, kids help the ClueFinders complete activities and collect the strange CrypTiles that will unlock the island's secrets. The ten activities cover math, social studies, reading, critical thinking and science. One especially challenging game has players combining fractions with unlike denominators to make whole units. This is done by manipulating tubes of various sizes, a very hands-on method of studying fractions and their relationships. Another strong activity asks kids to read mixed up passages from paragraphs and put them in the right order. There are spelling and vocabulary games, computational activities and map reading exercises. With each successful play, kids are awarded CrypTiles, which they use to get closer to the big rescue. Besides a compelling theme and solid activities, the program has other thoughtful features that kids and grown-ups will appreciate. For instance, before beginning the adventure players can take a brief skills test that sets the activity levels to match kids' strengths and weaknesses. The program also jumps in with help when children are struggling and keeps records of kids' progress. There's a second CD in the package that lets you print customized skill workbooks. Complaints were few- some kids thought the math games were a bit too challenging. But as one tester said, "You stick with it and once you figure it out, it's easy!" Self-confidence born of hard work is a valuable quality.
Teaches: reading, math, geography, science, history, problem solving
Age Range: 9, 10, 11 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue
Plunge into an island adventure with the ClueFinders! When a sudden tsunami shipwrecks the savvy sleuths on an uncharted volcanic island, they need your help to solve a mystery and escape before the volcano blows.
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