Amazon.com Review

Ms. Frizzle missed her calling: she should work for NASA. Fromengaging games to fascinating facts to stunning photographic imagesfrom Mars, this interplanetary adventure doesn't miss a single detail.As the bus adeptly dodges satellites while it screams away from theSun, it's obvious that this will be anything but a normal field tripwith Ms. Frizzle and the gang.

Once the Magic School Bus settles, kids can play inside or venture ontothe surface of Mars. Both areas are cluttered with gizmos that yieldeither a game, an experiment, or a compelling fact. (Did you know thatMars's moons are named for the Greek words meaning fear and panic? Wedidn't.) There's a lot to learn here: kids can put objects likewatermelons and marshmallows into the Pressure-O-Meter to see whathappens to them in the atmosphere, or try to land a module on Marswhile coping with fuel loss and Martian gravity. There's even arover-building station that hones deductive skills as kids decide whether asolar panel or a battery will work best to power their vehicle duringthe Martian night.

Attention to detail is what launches Magic School Bus Lands onMars into the rarefied atmosphere of educational CD-ROMs thatentertain as well as they teach; new players can enter how old they areon Earth and learn their Martian age, then later play Mind over Mars, arobot-hosted game show that dishes up tough Mars-related triviaquestions and--better yet--elaborates on the answers.

As Ms. Frizzle zips about Mars's surface in her jetpack, we can't helpbut wish NASA would recruit the Friz to get all of us excited aboutspace exploration again. The woman has the right stuff. (For ages 6 to10.) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Poor Value for Money
As with MSB Whales and Dophins, this is not a full-fledged Magic School Bus CD, but is just an activity center. The Magic School Bus CDs fall into two categories: full-fledged exploration programs and activity centers. The full-fledged programs are excellent and represent good value for money. Three of my children (ages 7, 5 and 3) spends hours exploring with MSB Oceans, Animals, Solar System, and Dinosaurs. They are great. On the other hand, he is quickly bored with the Activity Centers, such as Whales and Dolphins, Flight, and Mars. They simply present one screen with things to click on.

Since a full-fledged MSB CD has half-a-dozen or more places to explore, the activity centers represent less than 1/6th the value of a full-fledged MSB CD. Don't buy them unless you get them for less than 1/6th the price of the full-fledged CDs.

Not a good MSB choice
My 5 year old daughter loves Magic School Bus. She has a few of the games (Human Body, Inside Earth, Dinosaurs, and this one). She plays the others repeatedly, but almost never plays Lands on Mars. Though I haven't studied the game myself, I suspect it just has fewer activities and less interesting activities than the others.

Picks up where MSB: Solar System left off!
All of the Magic School Bus series is wonderful but now they have gone in depth into one particular subject. My 7 & 9 year old love the programs and must have them the minute they come out! Lands on Mars is packed full of Trivia and Games, tells about Mars Missions and shows pictures! There is so much to do she won't be bored with it for months. Aside from the educational factors it is incredibly easy and fun to play, I usually try them out for an hour or two myself.

If you want to make learning fun for your child, you must look into these programs. As my daughters have in the past, I am sure if the time arises that they need research on Mars, Lands on Mars will be the first thing off the shelf! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Magic Wardrobe combines clothing enthusiasts' favorite activities with history, for a product that both parents and players will adore. The game lets players hear historical facts about clothing and accessories from 12 historical periods. Players can also color and decorate clothing, accessories, and environments, using 72 Crayola crayon colors and 84 stamp decorations. Players can even write letters on stationery from the different historical periods. (Ages 6-12) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great, creative, Fun
My 4 year old daughter loves this program. After spending time with educational programs she needs a fun break. She has created the most beautiful horses of every color, style and breed. It's easy to use and she hasn't gotten bored. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for first and second graders, ages 5 to 8, Excelerator introduces kids to a learning environment filled with eye-catching graphics, lively music, and captivating animation. The two CD-ROM set includes Letters & Numbers and Smiletown. With its interactive instructional activities, these titles transform learning about spelling, reading, and early math concepts into an adventure. Eleven educational karaoke songs, 15 amusing games, fun characters, and challenging puzzles help kids build essential skills, while keeping them excited about, and interested in, learning. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This four-program collection nurtures essential early reading skills through warm, whimsical experiences designed just for younger learners. Explore key topics in the pre-grade school reading and writing curriculum through a series of exciting adventures, engaging stories, and irresistible games. Tackle topics like letter names and sounds, short and long vowels, building simple words, predicting story events, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

GREAT GAME!
Everyone talks about how bad it was, WELL I will tell you it is better than most current games TODAY!!! As far as errors, it works PERFECTLY for me! The game is fun, and does not need much knowledge to play! Super graphics during the time the game was made ( 1980's -90's). It was released on cd-rom about 1994.

All I have to say is: WONDERFUL, maybe not the sims, but just as GOOD!!!

Greatest Game Ever
It works great! Here's a helpful hint: pick the right season. I never did and I feel I payed a price for it. Also, learn a foreign language! It could help you out at Soda Rock.

It just doesn't work
I had the same problem that [others have had]. I have not tried any of the newer versions but I am assuming with those, the restarting problem would be fixed.

My favorite Game in Elementary School!
This was my favorite game in elementary school! I have the Version 2 which is a whole lot better! I recommend the version, similar game, alot more functions. Oregon Trail will ALWAYS be my favorite!

CAUTION! NEED DOS 5.0 or higher!
Never got to play the game. After installing it on my Windows 95 machine, it kept giving me a message it needs to be run in DOS, and when it goes to DOS it says it needs a mouse and re-starts windows. MOST Windows 95 machines come with a DOS version 4 so be careful! If you have DOS 5.0 or higher, you may have better luck. It's a shame! I loved this game in Middle School! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Renegade spy Max Masters has unleashed an army of minions that are carrying out his devious schemes to get revenge on the Spy Masters team! Now it's up to you to put a halt to his villainous deeds. Create your own secret identity by choosing your "cover" from head to toe, then earn the state-of-the-art spy gear you'll need to accomplish your missions. But don't forget to claim your gear; you'll need the power to defeat the villains. The more missions you solve, the more spy gear you earn. Then take all the spy gear you've earned into each new Spy Masters title.

Navigate your way through 3-D worlds with underwater caves, an eerie pirate ship, a submerged secret lab, and beyond. Play more games in the Spy Masters series and unlock more of the 3-D worlds. Also play online! Start a team of your own or join one--use the spy gear you've collected to snag your rival team's flag. Get to work saving the day while using your knowledge of science, logic, math, and language arts. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Very Helpful Study Tool for the GRE
I really found this study tool to be quite helpful in preparing for the GRE. It helped me significantly improve my scores. I followed the personalized study plan the program devised for me based on my performance on the diagnostic and my specified time table. Furthermore, I learned to master the nuances of the computer adaptive format of the GRE. Although the program is a bit juvenile at times with the cartoons and movies, it helps enliven the sometimes dull GRE content and lessons. I would definitely recommend this product.

Crashes constatly
Impossible to use under Windows XP, since it constantly crashes.

Highly NOT recommended.

Can't tell you if it's any good--won't run on Windows XP
This program repeatedly fails to run on Windows XP Media Center Edition (on a Hyper-Threading chip)--it freezes up, even if I set it up to run in W95 & W98 Compatability modes.

Apparently, others have had the same problem, and TOPICS Entertainment (Well, ENCORE, however they're related) has recently acknowledged that it won't run on ANY XP platforms.

Sub-Par
I bought this and am quite frustrated with it. As has been mentioned there are silly/slow cartoons that you must watch everytime. In addition many parts of the program are broken and there is no patch to fix this. For example, the sound cuts in and out randomly. Also on some of the practice tests you cannot check your answers to learn what tricks were used to solve them, even though you should be able to, thr program gets confused and does not allow one access.

Could be better
I bought this set so I could prepare for the GRE, since there are not many options for CAT-specific software. While I find some of the low-budget cartoons amusing (there are segments where the program tries to make you chuckle), the software has some pretty big problems. The audio for many sections cuts in and out, which can be a bit frustrating in the middle of lessons. Also some of the word drills available in the games section don't work very well. I'd have to say that when the tutorials are working, it's a fun program that tries to put you at ease. However considering all of the glitches, I'd recommend searching more for other potential CAT-specific GRE prep programs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good value for the money
My daughter enjoyed this program. She learned a lot of different words. The animations are clever and she enjoyed completing the spaceship to get Quixel home.
This is a good program to build a foreign language vocabulary.

Beware!
I thought this would be good for my students until I tried it out myself. First I tried the Italian. When I discovered that they translated "potato chips" as "microchips", I was surprised. In telling time, they expressed the correct feminine plural but displayed the incorrect masculine singular "il due" for 2:00. Now for the French...I learned that "potato chips" were "eclats" as in "paint chips". Wrong chips both times folks - and good luck in a restaurant! I stopped there. It's a shame they never got a native speaker to check it before releasing this as an educational item. They did get native speakers to read aloud the vocab lists however. That's the one-star part. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the I Spy book series by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick, I Spy Junior: Puppet Playhouse features puppets, games, and riddles to promote listening and problem-solving skills. An interactive story about a princess and a sneaky dragon strengthens rhyming and other word skills, a puppet-making workshop teaches kids to follow directions, and a magical animated tree helps promote early reading skills. Seven play areas in all offer a variety of fun learning activities. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Boring...
This was so heavily hyped, I had to have it for my five-year old twin girls. What a bore. They're either too old for it, or there is the outside chance that Scholastic really didn't put a lot of effort into this. It would bore a three-year old. Compare to Spooky Mansion or Treasure Island - can't compare with these gems. I'm 50 and play the latter two.

The best children's software I've seen yet
I have never taken the time to review a product, but I love this CD so much I felt I had to. It is the best software that I have bought for my kids so far. The colors, the characters and the graphics are terrific and even manage to hold mom's attention!! Never mind, that my daughter really loves it too. Another thing that was good about it is that it's teaching my daughter basic mouse skills and there are quite a few different activities to play so kids won't get bored easily. I'll be looking for more software from this company as I find that most of the stuff out there for kids is a big waste of money.

Not perfect, but very good
My 2 1/2 year old son has really taken to this. It's a really great idea and it's well executed. You have four puppet shows and three games. The graphics are very well done and very realistic, with no cartoon-like figures. Everything is a scan of a real object. The games are building your own puppet, building your own still image from a puppet show, and sorting. Sorting really is what early math is all about. I'm glad they have it.

The puppet shows are where you will spend most of your time. Each show is composed of four or five scenes which have a dozen or so clickable objects. A riddle appears at the bottom and you have to find the three or four objects that are in the riddle. When you click on a riddle object, it does something and advances the story. Each scene has two riddles and when you have gone through all the scenes, your done with that show. A kid might eventually learn the locations of all the objects in a particular show, but with four shows, it will take a while.

There is only one real problem I have with it, based on several sessions of lap play with my son. Because there are about a dozen objects in each scene, but you only need 3 or 4 for the riddle, the rest of the objects don't do anything when you click on them. I think every object should do something (wiggle, glow or zoom, at the very least) when it gets clicked, not just the riddle objects. This has led to my sons newest vocabulary word: "doesntwork". If not this, then at least the riddle objects from the first of the pair of riddles for a particular scene should still be active for the second of the pair. So, when you click on a riddle object from the first riddle, it should still do something, if not it's original action, when you are finding the objects from the second riddle. As it is now, my son tries to click on the objects which were just active in the previous riddle, but they "doesntwork".

But, overall, I'm pleased with it. There is no violent action and it is pretty exploratory and creative, as advertised.

A Decent Game for Kids Under 5
This is a good choice for children under 5. I was impressed that the graphics and game play were appealing, and utilized the latest features from Macromedia.

I get SO tired of childrens games that look and play as though they were made for a Windows 3x machine, circa 1994. This game will not disapoint. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The ClueFinders series of educational games takes children throughseveral years of development, so they can learn as they get older following theadventures of familiar characters. ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures isaimed at the youngest age group, and is suitable for children aged 7 to 9years.

The game scenario is easy to follow. Dr. Pythagoras, the uncle of one of theClueFinders, has disappeared from the rain forest. Animals are going missing,too. The young adventurers need to find the keys to an ancient city to work outwhat is going on, and to free Dr. Pythagoras. The keys are hidden in puzzles intwo corners of the rain forest.

As our adventurers progress through the rain forest, they encounter thesepuzzles and more, which they must solve if they are to be successful.ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures teaches skills in math, logic, languagearts, science, and geography, though it firmly wraps its educational content inthese puzzles so you hardly notice that you are learning while you play.

There are four difficulty levels, and a document for parents explains how eachof the puzzles works at each difficulty level. As an added bonus, a second CD,the Adventure Kit, provides a range of additional software, including a kit forsetting up your own friends' adventuring club. --Sandra Vogel ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Didn't Pay Attention To The Details
My daughter - 2nd grade - enjoys playing this game, but when watching and helping her through some of it I am really surprised by the errors in the game.

One example - the child must solve a math riddle involving the calendar in order to get supplies to solve the next riddle... the calendars are all 31 one days regardless of what the Month is. Um, hello? February does not have 31 days and yet there it is. It's little things like that make me not recommend this game. If this is supposed to be a teaching tool for kids then they should be paying attention to all the details in the game and not just the specific ones for the math puzzles.

Great Product
Last week my son announced that he "hated" math. This week, his school sent this software home for summer use. My son's last words as I put him to bed tonight were "Can I play Cluefinders as soon as I get up in the morning?" AND he thinks the math section is the greatest! We've tried a variety of educational software over the past 4-5 years and I can't remember any that my sons have enjoyed more!! This is a keeper. I would highly recommend it!!!

Mathra Mystery
My children all enjoyed this game.
The puzzles are well designed and have a wide skill range and a wide variety. There are 22 different puzzles which cover a wide subject range.
The only fault I could find was the fact that when you completed a puzzle you had to move to the next screen and then back again to be able to play it again, especially as you need to complete each puzzle two or three times.
The other fault was that when you completed a game unless you started a new game immediately you would find the levels were set back at easy.
It is an excellent game which the children enjoy, the highest levels are hard enough for an adult to enjoy, while younger children can cope well with the easy levels.
Children do need to be able to read reasonably well to play.

Cluefinders 3rd Grade Adventures
Our daughter's school recommended this program for children entering 3rd grade. My child and I spent all summer working on this together. It was great quality time for her and me. More importantly, it was something she looked forward to doing (which is a tall order for an 8-year old on summer vacation). It focused on sharpening thinking and problem solving skills. I was pleased with the simplicity of the graphics as it kept the computer speeding along and time was not wasted loading glitz and glitter. I can't recommend this enough to parents concerned with their child's education. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

a terrific product for little Little Bear fans
We have already tried a number of software products for young children, and I would rank this as one of the very best. The material is true to the children's series, so you see most of the characters from the show (Owl, Cat, Hen, Duck, Father Bear -- though not Emily or Little Bear's grandparents) and Little Bear and Mother Bear's voices seem to be voiced by the same voice actors as those of the television show.

The CD starts with Mother Bear calling Little Bear into the house when it starts to rain, and quickly switches to the activity selection screen. There is: 1) cooking -- adding ingredients to a bowl, cutting out shapes, and decorating cookies; 2) costumes -- drag-and-dropping various costume pieces and props onto Little Bear, Duck, Cat, Owl or Hen; 3) painting -- using a variety of colors and fill patterns to color any of six different scenes; 4) stickers -- drag-and-dropping characters and props onto various scenes (campsite, garden, bedroom, picnic, boat or house); 5) puzzles -- drag-and-drop 4, 6 or 9 pieces onto a template; 6) matching -- finding pairs of characters' pictures amid a layout of 8 or 12 "cards". An activity section has 27 projects which can be printed out; these include recipes (fizzy lemonade, gingerfriends cookies), games (sound bingo, finger puppets) and arts & crafts projects (vegetable stamps, making a water xylophone). There are enough activities to keep a child interested for a long time and options, such as the number of puzzle pieces to fit, mean the activities can be interesting for children of different ages. At any point you can print scenes in one of three formats (a color picture, a coloring book line drawing, or as a card), and printing has been without bugs.

Running this on a PowerMac G4, installation was quick and easy. The only weak point is the booklet, which contains nothing but installation instructions.

Recommended for ages 3 and up, but we are assisting a younger child and he loves it. He can do some things himself but needs help with others.

This is a terrific product, and I endorse it without reservation.

You'll Have to beg them to get off the computer!
My son played with this software on the computer at our town library's children's room and I had to beg him to leave the library! We went back a few more times and I finally realized that this software would capture and keep his attention over and over again. He even asked for the software for his 4th Birthday present! Since he loved it, I thought it was great, and the librarians thought it was educational, I purchased it for him. Happy Birthday Tyler!

Little Bear - Rainy Day Activities
I read the reviews before I bought this product and found them so helpful I thought I'd write my own. My daughter loves this game. She's 3 and a half and can get around all by herself. The card memory game is so good for them yet simple enough so that it's not frustrating for them. Adding sprinkles and decorating cookies is also one of her favorites. There's so many variations to this game I'm sure your child will have a favorite, too. Enjoy!!

Wonderful software for any day
My 3 1/2 year old daughters love this computer game. It is very child-friendly. You don't have to be able to read to figure out what to do. They can easily get around from activity to activity without a problem. There are a number of different activities which my daughters really enjoy. They get to "make" gingerfriend cookies with Mother bear, adding the correct amount of ingredients for her. They then get to decorate the finished cookies. There is a coloring book that allows them to floodfill the areas for ease and fun. They can add pictures to a scene (kind of like a sticker book, but one that you can re-use :o)). They can dress-up Little Bear and his friends in costumes in another activity. This is a very good computer game that is well-worth the money. It is one of their favorites. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Kids jump on board The Magic School Bus for another one of Ms. Frizzle's interactive field trips--this time to explore the Costa Rican rain forest. You'll explore seven ecological zones in the rain forest as you collect samples for the class science project. Watch videos, play games, check out multimedia reports, and hear fun facts about the rainforest. (Ages 6-10) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest
I really like all of the Magic School Bus series. Kids can learn a lot about a subject and the dialog is very amusing.

Games have proved particularly entertaining
The magic school bus series is a great series. Once again Ms. Fizzle takes the children on a fun packed adventure.

We have never been to a rain forest, but my five year old found the games on this Microsoft School Bus product particularly entertaining.

A great CD from a great series. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Miss Frizzle gleefully leads a pack of kids to the red-hot edge of anactive volcano, to burn information into their curious brains about magma, a'a,and Krakatoa. Most parents would gladly let this wonderfully wacky lady taketheir kids wading in lava, and we heartily endorse the "learning is good" spiritof Magic School Bus, which is abundantly present in this fine fieldtrip.

However, we feel that the folks who design the Magic School Bus programswould do well to add some new shtick to their repertoire. Structurally, thisprogram is a mirror of other MSB offerings: kids can explore 10 activitiesinside of the school bus, or leave the bus and go volcano-side to learn factoidsfrom the Magic School Bus Kids and play a few more games. Though these programsalways emphasize freeform learning, the folks who design the programs cling tothis now tiresome "in the bus," "out of the bus" formula.

That complaintaside, the activities use real-life volcanoes, 3-D graphics, and multiplephotographic and video images of spewing lava and underwater steam vents.Visually, Magic School Bus Volcano Adventure is fantastic.

Some of theactivities inspire experimentation and learning. A "make your own volcano" labinvites kids to combine three amounts of gas with three thicknesses of magma,then renders the recipe's results: a volcano that either explodes or seepsdepending on the combination of materials used. "Dare to Compare" features fourreal-life volcanoes (Mount St. Helens, Krakatoa, Mauna Loa, and Eldfell) andcompelling graphics and information about what sets these volcanoes apart. Aworld map highlights volcanic activity around the globe. A site called "GreenMachine" allows kids to plant trees and watch them colonize on the stark grayflanks of a volcano. Then they can cause an eruption, wipe out the burgeoninglife, and start all over.

Kids can play volcano games with three levels: in"Operation Rescue," they use spatial skills to guide hot lava down a slope andaway from homes and cars. Speedy mousing and evasive maneuvers come into play in"Rub-a-Dub" as kids maneuver a submarine around steaming vents and lava tubes tocollect volcanic rocks. And a game called "Leaping Lava" could cause survivorsof Mount St. Helens to have flashbacks. Players must guide the Magic School Busacross multiple mudflows by hopping from log to log and avoiding burning lavapatches. During this one, the Magic School Bus theme music plays in a minor key.It's rather creepy.

Volcano Adventure will please most juniorvolcanologists. But if your child can already pronounce "pahoehoe" and knows thedifference between lava and magma, they'll quickly tire of having only theinside of the bus, or the rim of the volcano, to visit. (Ages 6 to 10) --AnneErickson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wow, Volcanoes Rock Here!!
Microsoft keeps putting out educational software that rocks for kids. As a teacher, regular and special education, I welcome every issue Microsoft tackles. For several reasons. I know it's gonna be good. Educational. Compelling. Enjoying....

As a parent of a seven year old, I know what good software can mean to a child. Microsoft knows, too. You will...if you buy this issue.

a disappointment, but entertaining
My son is nuts for volcanoes, so this appeared a natural for him. It is somewhat informative and has some great images, but he ran through it in about an hour and shows no interest in going back to it. When you get down to it, most cd-roms are just multiple choice exams but without penalties for guessing wrong. We should not expect much more from them, and at the price that this cost, I could have taken him myself to a movie for a longer entertainment! Nonetheless, this one does introduce kids to the tools of scientists better than other magic school bus cd-roms I have seen, but it doesn't do much to teach anything about the way that scientists think and work.

My seven year old son now loves volcanoes
My seven year old son now loves volcanoes after playing with the Magic School Bus Volcano Adventure. He has enjoyed all the games which he has played repeatedly. Some of the games don't seem to be as educational as other Magic School Bus adventures, but overall, my boy loves it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My 8 yr old loves I spy!
For those who say this is boring, maybe your kids should just stick to video games. My son is loving the books and the computer games. He conquers them pretty quickly and we have to buy more but hey, it's getting his mind working looking for hidden items. We went for an open house at his school a few months ago and the teacher picked up an I Spy book and said that it was the main thing all the kids fought over in class. We love all the books, computer games and the gameboy game that is out. Good investment for little thinkers out there!

Can't find 12th ladybug!
I really like this game but I am annoyed that I can't find the last ladybug in the find me game. I can find no game hint support sites either. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it a bug (ha ha) in the program? I have spent weeks looking but always find the ones I've already found. Can anyone out there help me? I am not a child, but my daughter can't find it either. Apparantly the game will not finish until all bugs are found because I have found all the treasures. Does this game not have more than one complete game to play? I thought it had 3 like treasure hunt.
Thanks,

Will Keep You Thinking....
My 6 year old daughter loves this game. It is not easy and keeps her thinking. I some times find some of the items hard to find but with persistance you will find them. It is never boring. The whole family enjoys this software.

Elementary Kids Love It!
I am a computer lab teacher in an elementary school. Last year, I used this software for quite a few weeks when my Kindergarten through Grade 3 students came in for activity period. Students in grades 4-6 would beg to get a chance to use the software when their assignment for the day was completed.

It was a stretch for Kindergarten to find some of the items, because they did not recognize some of the items in the riddles, but I made sure to point these out in lessons and then circulated to help them more.

It was exciting to watch as students became absorbed in this activity, and most of them grew in their visual and verbal awareness. Children in grades 1-3 could either click to hear the descriptions or read for themselves.

Yes, it is on the shelf this year, but will taken out to be used in two years. This year I bought I Spy Spooky Mansion for use, and next year hope to get the Î Spy Treasure software if I can find the funding.

I Spy School Days-big bore
My six year old great nephew completed all of the activities within two hours. He was moderately interested in the beginning and bored by the time he finished. I watched as he played, and thought they were boring, too. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Achieve! Writing & Language Arts brings four award-winning educational titles in one to your child's desktop. Designed for younger learners, a combination of memorable music, appealing characters, intriguing environments, and clever word games build language and grammar skills. Tackle sentence structure, learn about synonyms and antonyms, explore language concepts, and more. Featured titles include: Word Munchers Deluxe, Schoolhouse Rock! Grammar Rock, The Writing Trek, and Strategy Challenges 2: In the Wild. When grammar and vocabulary are made this much fun, young learners achieve at learning. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Play a round of interplanetary hide-and-seek with Ms. Frizzle and her class aboard the Magic School Bus! In this exploration of our solar system, the Friz is hiding somewhere in Earth's neighborhood--as far away as Saturn, perhaps, or maybe as close as the moon. It is up to players to put together the clues that will lead to the elusive teacher's location. Luckily, the Magic School Bus is equipped with everything the quest will require--information on the planets, navigation tools for visiting these worlds, and plenty of clues to Ms. Frizzle's hiding place.The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System combines familiar characters like Liz, Phoebe, and Carlos with lovely interactive animations and hard scientific fact. The icing on the cake is a set of arcade-style game challenges. Jumping their way through a maze of platforms and prizes in low gravity, players must work their way through the obstacle course to earn a token they can trade for a clue.With so many diverse elements, the result is a fun-packed experience that is both entertaining and educational. Any child who is interested in planetary sciences will love this game.Aimed at children aged 6 to 10, The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System may have limited appeal for the less patient player. The cursor does not light up or otherwise indicate interactive hot spots, leaving players to click randomly around the screen in hopes of triggering an animation sequence or the next stage of the game. Additionally, game help is provided in the form of verbal instructions issued by Liz, and while some of these instructions are crystal clear, others are muddy and confusing. The game also lacks multiplayer and Internet options.Despite these minor weaknesses, though, The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System offers plenty of information about the planets orbiting the sun along with enough unadulterated fun to ensure that children will want to go hunting for the Friz time and again. --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Explore the Solar System
My 5 yr old has an interest in the Solar Sytem and found this game to be fun! He enjoys going to each plantet, although he hasn't been able to locate Ms. Frizzle, which is part of the click and find game. She gives good clues to which planet she's on but we still can't locate her. The graphics are great and the desciptions of the planets are perfect for 5-7 yrs old children. This is a must have if your child is interested in the solar system. Well we gotta go find Ms. Frizz!

If you are looking for "solar system", this is a good buy
The magic school bus series is brilliant. My son started with them when he turned four and each year he finds new ways of enjoying them.

The "Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System" takes the children through a tour of the nine planets. There are interesting facts and information about each planet and there is a game at each planet. The program is very professional, and follows school bus formula.

We found this to be not one of the better in the excellent school bus series. The games are very similar, all arcade type games, and consequently can get monotonous. However the solar system as a topic, does capture the imagination of many children, and the program is professional, and filled with facts and fun.

If you are looking for the solar system, this is a good buy. If you are looking for the magic school bus, you might consider one of the others in this excellent series.

MSB Solar System
This was by far the best program we have bought so far. Our 3 year old is obsessed with the solar system: planet locations, facts, etc. This program enabled him to "climb aboard" and travel to each one of the planets. While at each planet it also reinforced facts about each planet. Program is also very easy to navigate. A must for anyone interested in the solar system! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Achieve! Math & Science brings four award-winning educational titles in one to your child's desktop. Designed for younger learners, a series of challenging puzzles, brain-boosting problems, and irresistible games explore essential math and science skills. Tackle topics like addition, subtraction, money math, science basics, and more. Featured titles include: Mighty Math: Carnival Countdown, Mighty Math: Zoo Zillions, Sammy's Science House, and Thinkin' Things: FrippleTown. When math and science are made this much fun, little learners achieve at learning. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

JumpStart 2nd Grade from Knowledge Adventure is an expertlydesigned collage of games certain to engage any young child. The characters arethoughtfully drawn and animated, and the games are intriguing--they'reeducational, too, but don't tell your kids!

In the Logs game, children help a gopher cross the river and make his way towardthe correct answer to a math problem--much like the old game Frogger butwith an educational twist. Players also encounter a Save the Universe game(science), a vault that must be unlocked (spelling and vowels), and even a basicmusic-notation game--well over 20 interactive games in all, plus printableactivities. Why should the fun--and learning--stop when the computer shutsdown?

The first of two CD-ROMs is part audio CD, containing 10 sing-and-learn songsthat can be used in any CD player. As parents, we love this feature; it's greatto be able to take the music on the road to reinforce the ideas and factschildren are learning when they play the game.

JumpStart 2nd Grade also features built-in Internet hooks for exchangingmail with other JumpStart users and downloading more adventures. And asan added bonus, the program comes with a 30-minute animated VHS story, "Why Didthe Bus Stop?" While its animation is not the most elaborate, the tape featurescharacters from the game and helps children learn about counting, telling time,and the five senses.

The JumpStart series is popular, and for good reason: the folks atKnowledge Adventure invest a great deal of time and money into their products,and it shows in this worthy member of the series. (Ages 6 to 8) --MikeCaputo ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excited about Learning
I love ALL Jump Start Learning Activities. I bought the Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade. My son loves these programs also, he can't wait to get started on 3rd Grade. I'm so happy to see my son playing with this educational game and I'm sure any parent would want to see their children excited about learning.

We love it!
We find this 2nd grade Jumpstart to be very fun and entertaining. My daughter (twin #1) loves the log ride (math and vocabulary) and football field math. Daughter #2 likes the bone vault (vocabulary and math) and the classroom where she can do art and vocabulary. We all giggle about some of the silly rhymes. Both also like the record player. They do not like the save the universe game, as it is hard to hear the clues. They give it two thumbs up.

Boring....
I bought this for my six year old son who has thoroughly enjoyed the Reader Rabbit series since they have flexibility built in. This software is so rigid that he lost interest in about 10 minutes and announced that we could give it away.It is not fun.

JumpStart 2nd Grade
This is good game that will prepare your child for the 2nd grade but may not work with Windows XP Home Edition.

Excellent educational tool
My daugter just finished her 1st grade. I needed to give her some challange for the summer, so I bought this softwear. My wife loved it, because now my daughter spend a lot of time on it instead of driving my wife crazy. Plus, my other daughter (she'll be in 1st grade) is learning a lot form her sister by just watching her. My daughter comes to me with some questions (why? / how?) which helps me explain things to her visaully. I also bought Jumpstart woorkbook for both of my daugters and they work great. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With brain-teasing graphics and puzzling riddles to solve, this spooky addition to the I Spy series will keep elementary-agestudents occupied for hours at a time. A skeleton host rewards players with a secret message puzzle piece upon successful completion of each riddle. Those clever enough to collect all the pieces can solve the bigger fun house mystery.

With ten different rooms ranging from an inventor's laboratory to a library--and text that is written entirely in rhyme--the world created here is utterly absorbing. No matter how many times you explore a room, there's always new details and creepy clickables you hadn't seen before. Particularly well done is the attic, where you can explore in the dark with only a flashlight to light your way.In the study, you can even create your own riddles to send to your printer!

This software concentrates on critical-thinking skills,problem-solving abilities, and acute observational techniques that are centered around a mansion. This software takes a well-loved series to a whole new level--it's perfect for the die-hard fan or as the first member of what we're sure will become a large I Spy collection. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Family Favorite
My son is only three and a half, so my husband bought the game with the intention of saving it until our son was older. I got it out for him, and even though it is rated for ages 6-10, it is one of our son's favorites. Given that he can't read, I had to help him at first, but once I showed him where to click to get the riddles read to him, he could play independently (for hours on end). I keep two different user files -- one of a completed game so that he can make all seven ghosts (which requires completing the game); and one uncompleted, so when he completes puzzles the skeleton gives him new puzzle pieces. Other reviewers said that the game was not interesting once played through, but we have not found that to be the case. Our son was _more_ interested in the repetition once he'd got the hang of it. Also, of all the games we have, this is the most pleasant and interesting for the adult helping the child.

Great education and entertainment value
My son had loved the "I Spy Junior" game so I thought he might enjoy trying this challenge, recommended for ages 6-10. He's 5 but a very strong visual learner with great memory skills. The beauty of this game is it not only plays to his strengths but encourages building lesser skills with words on many levels. My favorite aspects: beautifully detailed graphics, a fun laboratory animation with 7 ghost experiments, and the concentration games which are a challenge at many levels. You get the sense that the creators enjoyed making this product. I find the best children's computer games (eg. Learning Company's Cat in the Hat series) reach parents as well making shared learning opportunities a joy!

My students enjoy it!
I am a pediatric occupational therapist who used this game as a fun way to develop eye-hand coordination, visual perception, thinking, and reading skills. They were so motivated! Unfortunately after you "win" the game that is all there is; not another more challenging level to explore.

Spooky Mansion...unrevisited!
Santa brought this game for my 6 yr. old for Christmas. She and I and her 3 1/2yr. old brother opened it the day after Christmas. It is very interesting with 10 rooms to explore and 26 riddles to decipher. After completing each riddle, you're given a piece to the final puzzle which in turn instructs you how to finally get out of the mansion. My daughter stuck with it for the first 13 riddles, and suprisingly my 3yr. old wanted to keep playing until the end. We received the "certificate of completion" that very day. When we signed back on to play a "new game", we were soooo disappointed - there isn't any new game. Same 26 riddles to solve. We'll have to wait a year or so, in the hopes that we'll forget where everything is. (Or just give it to all our neighbors, family, shool chums etc.). Obviously, the I Spy books have limitations, but the software could and should give many additional games/levels.

Very clever
Purchased for my grandson's 5th birthday. Incredibly clever, well designed, plays without a hitch on iMac. He played for over 2 hours the first time out of the box and is still loving it. The adults are fighting over a turn. ... Read more