Features

• Package includes Planetarium Deluxe; Touch the Sky, Touch the Universe; Isaac Asimov titles
• Planetarium Deluxe includes: Telescope View; 20 Million Stars; Screen Saver; and more
• Touch the Sky, Touch the Universe: unravel celestial mysteries or view virtual Milky Way galaxy simulations
• Isaac Asimov titles: The Inner Planets; The Outer Planets; The Solar System; and more

Amazon.com Product Description

Instant Immersion Language Lab includes eight full language-learning CD-ROMs in one package. The Talk Now! series is designed for beginners who want to start learning a new language as soon as possible. By hearing and practicing authentic everydayspeech, your natural language ability will develop. The World Talk programs take you to the next stage, offering added dictation, new activities, and a recording section. Topics covered include "the calendar," building sentences, asking directions, and using numbers. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Amazingly easy to learn French course
I never thought that Fench would be as easy as it is. Really amazing French course for novel people into that language. First step in learning. Great multimedia development, in order to improve pronuntiation. If this is your choice for your first French classes, you are right, this is the best choice.

Good up until the 3rd CD
I've been working with the IM German now for some time (it's part of the 4 CD set). I had fun and learned at a faster pace with the first CD. The 2nd CD was quite a jump. I think you have to do a little studying on the outside before 'mastering' this CD. However! I tried out the Dictionary CD, and it is HORRIBLE!!! I've been studying German long enough now that the speaker isn't even pronouncing the words right. It sounds like someone reading the words for the first time. Be careful this CD can throw you off. If someone has a explanation for this let me know!

Couldn't even get past installation
Installation of the German TalkNow module would hang with no explanation on Windows 98SE. I "Opened" the CD next and tried to launch instal32.exe and instal16.exe manually instead of from autorun. Both hanged. When I attempted to autorun the CD again it produced an error message "Astra32 - System Error -5, 12, 0". The only printed documentation consists of a poorly xeroxed page inside the box with installation instructions for Windows 3.1, 95/98, and a Mac.

This product definitely did not impress me.

The best and the cheapst!
This program lets you learn 4 languages for $30! If I wanted to d tha at learnalanguage.com, I would have to pay up to $600. Ths is awesome!

'Talk Now' and 'World Talk' deliver as stated
If you want a program to teach you how to speak the basics in a fast, fun, simple way, this would be a good one. If you want a program that will teach you as if you were taught in school, including grammar, writing, and verb conjugation(I did, she saw, we went, etc.), you will probably be disappointed. This program gives you two CD-ROM's per language, one for basics, one for intermediate level learning. The first CD, "Talk Now" gives you excercises in foods, colors, phrases, body parts, numbers, time, shopping, and countries. Under each heading, you play two word games, record yourself speaking and compare it to native speakers(your computer needs a microphone to do this), print vocabulary flash cards, and play a "Memory"-style game with the words you learned. They work on the premise that people remember things better if they've learned in fun situations. Though a bit cheesy at times, it _is_ fun, and you _will_ build your basic vocabulary. The second CD jumps more to full sentences, listening skills, identification, and writing dictation, all still in game-like form. It's a bit of a leap in knowlege, and can be a bit frustrating, but it's a good start for 'learning by listening', much as you would if you were struggling in the actual country, only without making a fool of yourself. At this level, if you have never been exposed to the language, the help/? icon becomes your best friend. Still little in grammar and verb forms, though. To get the most out of it, I would also recommend purchasing a pocket dictionary of the language(s), and maybe even one of those "500 [the language] Verbs" books, so you can actually have a better understanding of your vocabulary and how to form sentences. Overall, these programs are fun & effective as a means of learning to speak, by yourself (or with a friend), on your own time. ... 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 Product Description

A World of Dinosaurs combines a fun kids game, an educational CD-ROM about dinosaurs, and a hands-on arts and science software program into one three-CD-ROM package. I Can Be a Dinosaur Finder is an educational and interactive multimedia game with exciting features and activities to keep every child learning and having fun. Multimedia Dinosaurs contains a vast amount of information on dinosaurs, and is an excellent resource for school projects and papers. Jurassic Art is a drawing program that also contains hundreds of clip-art images, and various drawing and editing tools. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I Can Be A Dinosaur Finder
My little girl has had just the sample cd of I Can Be a Dinsaur Finder and she goes back to it over and over. Learns a lot in the process. Started when she was 6 and still likes it at 8. I'm finally going to buy the full edition. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Inside the Earth - Inside Your Child's Mind!
Scholastic's name's on this selection. Not for nothing....This is another one of Microsoft's gems. I know I said it before, but this is definitely a gem! Microsoft does NOT make bad educational software. There's something of value in every package they turn out. Ms. Frizzle shines again in this one. Parents this is the closest you want your kids exploring inside the earth. Come on and break out your wallet, or purse.

Eductational and fun
My 6 year old always prefers Magic School Bus programs over his other educational computer games. Just a warning: it won't compete with non-educational stuff if they have a choice.

great learning tool
My 7 year old son loves this game! Learning and fun all in one! What more could you ask for!

Great find!

My 5-year loved it!
My son learned so much from this game. I could not get him off the computer! He learned all about archaeology and uses words like gems and minerals in context. I love his enthusiasm. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Playhouse Disney's Stanley: Wild for Sharks! takes kids ages 3 to 6 on a fascinating, fun-filled sea journey with Stanley. Kids adventure underwater with Stanley to learn loads of amazing shark facts, while developing their own environmental awareness for these amazing sea creatures. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One Gem of a Program
Not only has "Stanley" become our 3 year-old son's favorite program on TV, it's also the one my wife and I admire the most. The creative team behind "Stanley" does a remarkable job of making the show educational AND fun. However, we had modest hopes for this software, because other educational software titles we've bought based on TV or movies have proven to span the quality spectrum from merely okay to downright lame.

Wow, were we ever pleasantly surprised. "Stanley: Wild for Sharks" borders on amazing. It's truly fun, yet truly loaded with educational opportunities. The creative team behind the software has done a commendable job of injecting a "scaffolding" approach to teaching young ones, and they've seemed to maximize the opportunities for challenging the three to six year-old set while minimizing the avenues that might lead to frustration as proficiency with the program increases.

I've lately tried to avoid giving a product five stars simply because I like it, but this one deserves six.

Very Enjoyable on many levels
My son's new interest in aquatic life, particularly sharks, is what led us to this software program. He's four years old and very used to working on the computer so we have quite a collection of software. Well, this has become one of his favorite programs for many reasons but mainly because it is FUN. The key character, Stanley, is very likable, smart, and determined to get his school project finished. His British/Australian (?) sounding fish friend sounds nice to listen to and is a good "thinking" companion to Stanley throughout the program. The graphics and music are also very colorful and upbeat. Apart from just playing, I see that my son is also learning bits of information on ocean animals by referencing the "Great Big Book of Everything" during the game. The only frustration is that he wants to start every game from the beginning and if you click on a previously entered name the game picks up where you left off. Other software programs let you choose to start a new game each time. Nonetheless, we both like this program so much that I'm going to explore other Stanley software. By the way, we don't watch the TV program so it's not necessary to know the characters in advance of playing. Just have fun! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Can't run software on a computer with 1GB memory
I have the same problem on a computer running Windows 2000 with 1GB memory. The software won't start and gives me the error message "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". I know there is more than 3MB of free virtual memory on my computer. I tried different virtual memory setting and found that setting virtual memory to 128MB would cause the software to run. It is obvious that the software has mis-calculated the available virtual memory. It interprets virtual memory > 1GB as less than 3MB virtual memory. I have sent email to the technical support at Encore and are waiting for their reply. I share the previous reader's opinion that setting the virtual memory to a lower setting is not an acceptable solution.

However, after I started the program, I like the interface and graphic. The software is better than "Mind Power Math Middle School" from the Learning Company. I also like that it has a game where you can test your skill.

I will write an update after I receive a reply from Encore.

Way around memory problem
Haven't tried this software but had same problem with some other software, the error message: "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". The only fix is to change your virtual memory settings to something below 500mb or to exactly 4000mb. Of course, I chose 4000mb since I have a large hard drive and almost 1 gig of memory on this pc.

So the full fix is:
From the Windows XP desktop, select the Start button, right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties from the resulting menu.

Click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Settings button within the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window, click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.

Click the Custom size button...
Change the Initial size (MB) setting to 4000
Change the Maximum size (MB) setting to 4000

Select SET to accept the change, which will close the Virtual Memory window. Select OK to close the Performance Options window. And select OK to exit the System Properties window.

$40 + junk = angry customer
This is a faulty and buggy piece of software. It will not run on my PC (XP Home)without me changing my Virtual Memory from 1000 mb to 200 mb...what an absurdity! The developer offers no solution other than to change my VM everytime I want to use their software.

Well, forget it. They're not the only game in town.

It's Great!!
I have the Elementary Advantage, and I'm about to go into Middle School Advantage. I find these programs are excellent. I am a homeschooling parent, and the Elementary Advantage suite have done a great job in assisting me with teaching my child. I've learned a lot myself. My son is about to enter middle school grades, and as I explore the the Middle School Advantage suite, I marvel at how well its put together. I have not run into answers that are wrong as was the claim of one reviewer. But, that does not bother me because you will find wrong answers in educational books written by the best educators. I focus on the how well I am taught the subject. If I can catch the wrong answers then I was taught well. I paid only $24.99 for each suite. I also have a Dell Dimension 4600, and the programs run fine. For all those having a problem running the program. You better get a Dell, Dude! For the money, IT'S GREAT!

Not Recommended
If this program can confuse X and Y intercepts I can only imagine what else may be wrong with it. I just purchased this for my son today, but will be returning it tomorrow. He has a placement test in 2 weeks and I don't want him to blow it because of this faulty software. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Buckle up and join Jay Jay the Jet Plane and friends for an exciting ride where the sky's the limit on learning. Best of all, kids get to help Jay Jay pass his flight tests with flying colors. Designed for children ages 3 to 7, Jay Jay's tests consist of delightful games, stimulating lessons, enchanting stories, and fun songs. Along the way kids learn about numbers, patterns, measuring, sequences, and much more. Filled with songs and even a surprise ending, Jay Jay Earns His Wings will launch a love of learning.

Based on the award-winning PBS Kids TV series, kids will find a magical world where imagination takes flight. They'll build skills in addition, matching, critical thinking, estimating, following instructions, as well as using a mouse. As they help Jay Jay prepare for his first solo flight, kids get to enjoy nature videos, explore six interactive learning games, and extend the fun with printable coloring pages. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jay Jay EARNS His Wings
What a wonderful word for a child to learn: EARN. With concerns about my nephew being given almost anything he reaches for I bought this for his birthday. At four he is starting to develop a concept about work equating reward. His favorite cartoon show Jay Jay has helped with this wonderful computer program where Jay Jay has several errands to run to EARN his new job. The math skills taught were presented in a way that my nephew was totally unaware that he was learning! I'm looking to buy more Jay Jay programs. this one has done the job and more.

BUY THIS!!
Jay Jay is one of my almost-3-year-old son's favorite TV characters. My son is fascinated with basic math right now. When I found that it taught simple math addition and measurement, etc., I decided to pick it up right away. After we ran it on my son's computer, we were pleasantly surprised by the vivid animation and the quality of the games it offerred. Usually the drawings of the characters in a computer do not look as good as what you would see on TV, but this one is just as good. It even plays the theme song in the beginning. BUY THIS ONE!! Your kids will learn a lot from it, even though he may think he is just playing an interesting computer game. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

PhysicsTutor
"PhysicsTutor® is excellent. The graphics are good, it is easy to follow, and it has good content....

Physics Tutor
I bought this title based on the other glowing reviews here on Amazon, hoping to get something to help my daughter with her high school physics. What a major disappointment. This pathetic piece of software looks like it was written in the 1970's. The documentation consists of a single cardboard insert. It is basically just a bunch of canned test questions. If you choose the incorrect answer you get a wonderfully supportive "Wrong answer, try again!" message. There is no help file or explanations of any of the concepts here. Save your money - I wish I had...

PhysicsTutor
"PhysicsTutor® helps students to learn physics and to test their knowledge of and ability to apply physical concepts. The tutorials cover both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of physics. PhysicsTutor® goes way beyond the plug and chug approach that too many courses employ, and allows the student to get a feel for the subject matter. Almost all of the tutorial questions that require calculations can be done without a calculator so PhysicsTutor® is an excellent studying tool for the SAT II subject test in physics."

Martin Lodish, Science Department Chair, The Hill School

PhysicsTutor
"PhysicsTutor® is immeasurably helpful in preparing for any kind of physics test or exam."

Jonathan Evans, 12th Grade Physics Student, Texarkana, TX

PhysicsTutor
"BioTutor®, ChemTutor®, and PhysicsTutor® are the best educational software packages I have seen for science students. They help students of all ability levels to get better grades with less total studying time. They help students to learn more efficiently and more effectively."

Ted Lutkus, Science Department Chair, Westtown School ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Jump on board the Magic School Bus for another one of Ms. Frizzle'sinteractive field trips--this time to explore the Costa Rican rain forest.You'll explore seven ecological zones in the rain forest as you collectsamples for the class science project. Watch videos, play games, check outmultimedia reports, and hear fun facts about the rain forest. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great fun with the Frizz
My daughter (age 6) loves the Magic School Bus television series and she loves the computer games also. These games mirror the educational series while adding a great deal of interactivity and fun/educational games for children. My daughter saves her allowance in order to purchase these titles on her own. They are great fun.

Spotty
This is not the jewel in the crown of the Magic School Bus CD series (Animals, for example is much better), but it does have some good features. In particular, the activity on ozone & the greenhouse effect is excellent- our 2nd grader really grasped the concept after playing with it for a while.

The plot, however, is to find Ms. Frizzle, which our kids found frustrating. You get clues by earning tokens from an arcade-type game- the only MSB title we've seen that requires you to play an arcade game in order to complete it. It may be that the Microsoft progammers figure that space=boys=arcade game, but our kids were annoyed about it. They were even more annoyed when they worked out from the 1st clue where she was and found out that you have to get all 3 clues anyway.

On the other hand, kids who like arcade games might be induced to learn a bit about the solar system.

MSB does the ocean... not as well as I'd hoped!
I am a MSB fan and am trying to get my young children interested too. The Ocean was the first MSB software we got, and I'm afraid it will be the last. It's ok, but I'm disappointed that the software doesn't load correctly (on 3 different computers and 2 operating systems (win98, XP)! None worked right!). It will start, but it is very difficult to navigate the first few times until you "learn" where things are. Finding out where to go and what to click on is trial and error for the most part. Maybe I just haven't "found" the good stuff yet, but I was hoping for better!

Dinosaurs Never Looked So Interesting...to a small child!
For the price. For the value. For the impact. For the utlility. For your child. Buy it....

Rainforest!!?
The rainforest comes alive with this MSB issue. Microsoft shows us why most of the cures for our maladies, etc. comes from rainforests. And, why we shouldn't keep destroying them. Kids learn all about the value of a rainforst. My seven year old played the heck out of this selection, and when we visited a real rain forest in Nov. 2003, he knew what to expect. And, of course, MSB helped... ... Read more

Features

• Discover how and why your body works
• Learn how the body creates energy from food; watch the digestive system at work
• Learn how the brain receives information and responds; observe the nervous system's role
• View bone movements in interactive 3-D modes
• Recommended ages: 7-12

Reviews (1)

dinoterrific
I love I mean ove anything about dinosaur.This game is tops.You get so much out of the game but I play the games because there so much fun.My friends love to come over on the weekends to play them too.The game is not to hard but challenging.I hope everyone runs out and buys it.My older sister also enjoys the game. ... Read more

Features

• Explore the world of dinosaurs with the popular show's characters
• Choose from 7 different locations in 3 prehistoric time periods
• Puzzles and games teach facts about prehistoric life
• Lots of cool pictures, graphics and sounds
• More than 20 fun multimedia reports

Reviews (20)

Great fun with the Frizz
My daughter (age 6) loves the Magic School Bus television series and she loves the computer games also. These games mirror the educational series while adding a great deal of interactivity and fun/educational games for children. My daughter saves her allowance in order to purchase these titles on her own. They are great fun.

Spotty
This is not the jewel in the crown of the Magic School Bus CD series (Animals, for example is much better), but it does have some good features. In particular, the activity on ozone & the greenhouse effect is excellent- our 2nd grader really grasped the concept after playing with it for a while.

The plot, however, is to find Ms. Frizzle, which our kids found frustrating. You get clues by earning tokens from an arcade-type game- the only MSB title we've seen that requires you to play an arcade game in order to complete it. It may be that the Microsoft progammers figure that space=boys=arcade game, but our kids were annoyed about it. They were even more annoyed when they worked out from the 1st clue where she was and found out that you have to get all 3 clues anyway.

On the other hand, kids who like arcade games might be induced to learn a bit about the solar system.

MSB does the ocean... not as well as I'd hoped!
I am a MSB fan and am trying to get my young children interested too. The Ocean was the first MSB software we got, and I'm afraid it will be the last. It's ok, but I'm disappointed that the software doesn't load correctly (on 3 different computers and 2 operating systems (win98, XP)! None worked right!). It will start, but it is very difficult to navigate the first few times until you "learn" where things are. Finding out where to go and what to click on is trial and error for the most part. Maybe I just haven't "found" the good stuff yet, but I was hoping for better!

Dinosaurs Never Looked So Interesting...to a small child!
For the price. For the value. For the impact. For the utlility. For your child. Buy it....

Rainforest!!?
The rainforest comes alive with this MSB issue. Microsoft shows us why most of the cures for our maladies, etc. comes from rainforests. And, why we shouldn't keep destroying them. Kids learn all about the value of a rainforst. My seven year old played the heck out of this selection, and when we visited a real rain forest in Nov. 2003, he knew what to expect. And, of course, MSB helped... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Achieve! Math & Science brings four award-winning educational titles in one to your child's desktop. Designed for young learners, a series of challenging puzzles, brain-boosting problems, and irresistible games cover essential math and science skills. Sharpen math skills, explore geometry, learn about electricity, experiment with gravity, and more. Featured titles include: Mighty Math: Calculating Crew, MindTwister Math, Space Academy GX-1, and Thinkin' Science: Zap!. When math and science 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

If high-flying superheroes, glitzy game shows, and dangerousinterplanetary missions are what it takes to hold the attention of third throughsixth graders studying math and science, then this four-CD compilation ofeducational software does no wrong. And, fortunately, all fourprograms--originally released separately by the quality-conscious folks at Edmark--manageto do a respectable job of actually teaching kids, too.

While there is some crossover in content, especially between the Mighty MathCalculating Crew and MindTwister Math, Space Academy GX-1'sastronomy and space-based physics focus and Thinkin' Science ZAP!'selectricity, sound, and optics activities more than make up for the overlap.

The interfaces vary from program to program, but all prove navigable and easy tolearn. And while the presentation might be tame at times for experiencedcomputer-gamer tastes, for the most part these titles pack enough sounds,voices, and animation to keep things moving. Parents and teachers should behappy with the mix of problem-solving and drill-oriented activities. Inparticular, Thinkin' Science ZAP! offers some excellent open-endedinteractivity with real, hands-on science, thanks to its virtual laser tables,circuit boards, and an audio studio.

The mathematics game show MindTwister Math might be the weak link of thebunch since it's only geared to third and fourth graders, but at this price, thecollection is still a steal even if you don't end up using all of theCDs. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Features

• Includes 4 fun and educational titles
• More than 15 individual lessons and 200 activities
• Each program uniquely designed to teach basic skill sets
• Each title highly rated by accredited reviewers and experts in the field
• Provides hands-on experience

Reviews (4)

Avoid This Product
I have purchased 30-40 software CD's for my 6 year old over the years and this CD has got to rate near the bottom of the bunch. In summary, there is very little explanation or instruction into the math or science concepts being "taught", the "game" aspect to the CDs is clunky at best, and it is just plain confusing. I have been sorely disappointed in these CDs and my daughter has very little, if any, interest in using these CDs although she loves to be on the computer. At the same time I bought these CDs, I also bought her a Magic School Bus title which was very good and which she asks to play. I have never written a review before this review but felt compelled to do it to alert other parents to avoid this title. Waste of your money, and of your child's patience and interest.

Exceeds Expectations
My son is 6 yrs old so I was leery of purchasing this title. However, it is better to challenge than to bore, so I made the purchase. I will never regret it. The software is fabulous. It installed easily, initializes and performs well, is incredibly engaging and remarkably educational for such a fun suite of software.

I highly recommend this software for nearly all ages. My 6 year old is able to benefit from most of the challenges, yet others offer a level fit for a much more sophisticated child audience.

Buy this software ... you will not be disappointed.

Great selection of titles, educational and well worth the $$
This is a great set of CD's. Informative, fun, challenging and well worth the money. A deal like this is hard to find, and belive me I've been looking! My 10 yr old son very much enjoys this product as well as the Middle School Accelerator.

Best Buy For Knowledge and Dollars
My Kids...ages 9 & 10 fight for position on the computer to play this educational game. They both enjoy it, with its many rewards and increase's in Rank. They are learning about science and math,but really don't realize it! It has 4 cd's and we are still on the first. They would rather play this than their Gameboy Advances. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Magic School Bus Explores the Solar System features the irrepressible science teacher, Ms. Frizzle, and her inquisitive class in an out-of-this-world adventure. Kids can take control of the bus and explore the nine planets in our solar system, conducting science experiments and playing games at each stop. Based on Scholastic's book series, this CD-ROM is designed to encourage a sense of adventure and exploration, and an interest in science and technology. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Great fun with the Frizz
My daughter (age 6) loves the Magic School Bus television series and she loves the computer games also. These games mirror the educational series while adding a great deal of interactivity and fun/educational games for children. My daughter saves her allowance in order to purchase these titles on her own. They are great fun.

Spotty
This is not the jewel in the crown of the Magic School Bus CD series (Animals, for example is much better), but it does have some good features. In particular, the activity on ozone & the greenhouse effect is excellent- our 2nd grader really grasped the concept after playing with it for a while.

The plot, however, is to find Ms. Frizzle, which our kids found frustrating. You get clues by earning tokens from an arcade-type game- the only MSB title we've seen that requires you to play an arcade game in order to complete it. It may be that the Microsoft progammers figure that space=boys=arcade game, but our kids were annoyed about it. They were even more annoyed when they worked out from the 1st clue where she was and found out that you have to get all 3 clues anyway.

On the other hand, kids who like arcade games might be induced to learn a bit about the solar system.

MSB does the ocean... not as well as I'd hoped!
I am a MSB fan and am trying to get my young children interested too. The Ocean was the first MSB software we got, and I'm afraid it will be the last. It's ok, but I'm disappointed that the software doesn't load correctly (on 3 different computers and 2 operating systems (win98, XP)! None worked right!). It will start, but it is very difficult to navigate the first few times until you "learn" where things are. Finding out where to go and what to click on is trial and error for the most part. Maybe I just haven't "found" the good stuff yet, but I was hoping for better!

Dinosaurs Never Looked So Interesting...to a small child!
For the price. For the value. For the impact. For the utlility. For your child. Buy it....

Rainforest!!?
The rainforest comes alive with this MSB issue. Microsoft shows us why most of the cures for our maladies, etc. comes from rainforests. And, why we shouldn't keep destroying them. Kids learn all about the value of a rainforst. My seven year old played the heck out of this selection, and when we visited a real rain forest in Nov. 2003, he knew what to expect. And, of course, MSB helped... ... Read more