One of the programs I found is called, My First Amazing World Explorer. This is a great classroom tool for 1st through 3rd graders. I would even use it with my fourth grade class to review continents, oceans, cardinal directions, and capitals. It is a very elaborate world encyclopedia showing animals, plants, physical features, and regions within the map. It is an easily learned, easily used early elementary encyclopedia. I was impressed with the games that included map manipulation skills and map making concepts. They can write postcards from different places in the world, find out how long it takes to travel across a particular country by foot, car or plane, use the index to look up animals, plants, and places, or travel on nineteen different trips. You begin your journeys by filling out a passport. As you visit your destinations you get a stamp in your passport. After completing all nineteen you can print a "World Traveler" certificate.
This software had many social studies concepts- some science. For both Mac and PC.
Compared to other software I've seen I would rate this as follows:
Easy to Learn 5/5
Easy to Use (Kid appeal) 5/5
Educational 4/5 It could have included some math.
The other discovery I made was Hollywood. I borrowed a couple other cd's, but this one really caught my attention. It was so entertaining. I spent far too long playing on it. That has to be its biggest asset-it is just plain fun. Students will love this software. As soon as students are ready to put sentences together, they are ready for this program. Basically this program lets you put together a story using premade characters. You can choose voices, backgrounds, actions, noises etc. to help put together your story or report. Students will practice spelling, play writing techniques and writing skills. It has story starters and conflict ideas for those who are having difficulty completing a story. I would use this tool to evaluate a specific topic. Students would prepare a script or newscast of information they learned and then use the software to present it.
Hollywood is great for story writing, hearing words, spelling and presentations.
Easy to Learn 5/5
Easy to Use (Kid appeal) 5/5
Educational 3/5
Lastly, Pagemill 3.0 is web page software. While I haven't learned all of its features, I was able to use the framing technique and learned through trial and error how to save and upload it. This web software was more intimidating for me because of the many options it has. I am still not sure how to use the text field, pop-up, submit and reset buttons. The basics, however, were relatively easy to learn. It is very similar to other web page software programs. I wouldn't use this program with my fourth grade students. Netscape communicator and even Powerpoint are easier to use and learn. I would recommend this program to high school students who have already been exposed to basic page making and are ready for more elaborate pages. I thought I could figure out how to use the anchors to take you right to each software, but didn't have the time to get it right. Hints anyone?
Easy to Learn 3/5
Easy to Use (Kid appeal) 3/5
Educational 3/5