Features

• Captivating story sheds new light on middle-school math concepts
• Discover prime numbers; explore Fibonacci numbers
• Learn about powers and square roots
• Glossary with mathematicians, terms, and concepts
• 11 challenging games for extra fun

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Go on an epic adventure of math and logic with the Zoombinis Logical Journey and Zoombinis Mountain Rescue educational software titles. Embark on a dangerous quest to a new Zoombini homeland and learn critical logic and mathematical thinking skills. Trek across treacherous terrain strewn with perilous mind-bending puzzles. Learn important life skills such as deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, hypothesis testing, and more, while leading the Zoombinis to freedom. These entertaining adventures are a journey into the math of the information age. Develop the cognitive mathematical thinking skills used in writing computer programs, organizing spreadsheet data, and searching for information on computer networks. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Love, love, love this game...
I was introduced to this game while helping out in an elementary school computer class (yeah, I'm technically a grown-up). It's an engaging way to teach logic skills, and the puzzles are a lot of fun. I agree that there are a LOT of Zoombinis to save (the purpose of the game)and that once you've mastered the higher levels it's a bit tedious to keep playing the harder versions of the puzzles, especially if there are any you don't like to begin with.

On the other hand, this game is wonderful for a variety of age groups (some of the younger kids may need some help figuring out the logic behind the puzzles), for different ethnicities (the Zoombinis are blue), and genders (most of the characters are somewhat ambiguous on gender, and the Zoombinis are all equal). I've seen it played solo, and in groups, with equally enjoyable results. And there are a number of resources available for educators, parents, etc. to help your kids make meaning from the games they are playing.

All in all, this is a must for any elementary/middle school computer educator, and a highly recommended for parents who want their kids to use computers as a tool as well as a toy.

One of the best logic games, all in a fun package
I'm a 13-year-old boy, I loved Zoombinis ever since it came out about 7 years ago, and I still love it now. Zoombinis is a great education game, it teaches logic and mathematical skills essential to learn, and also lets children (and adults) have fun while doing it.

Zoombinis is set apart from so many other logic games by adding characters that are enjoyable and funny to a 2nd grader, while not being so annoying or childish that a 7th grader cannot enjoy or laugh at them as well.

Another way Zoombinis excels is in the way it adjusts to the user's ability. The game will start out easy and teach more simplistic concepts, and after the user is comfortable with that, it will move on to more complex problems.

A nice thing about this game is that it will encourage someone to learn and keep going. It can all happen because the game is both educational and fun, and the child will get a sort of self-satisfaction when they accomplish something. Whenever a puzzle is completed, the user gets a little bit closer to the goal of saving all the Zoombinis, and this gives them something to work for.

Zoombinis consists of 12 different puzzles for the user to go thru, and one of the factors that have made it so successful is how it makes the user actually think. Instead of letting you just guess the answers, Zoombinis has you think about why a certain answer does or doesn't work, then lets you come up with some sort of practical method to solve such problems, which can later be applied to more advanced levels of education (I am currently taking geometry, and I still use many of the methods I learned here to help me solve problems).

In all, Zoombinis is one of the most valuable and fun game (educational or not) that I have ever used. It is a great product, and I would certainly recommend it.

Nice Game, but just a little hard
I got this game with a multipack and it rocks!!! But just kind of a little hard but I like it.

My kids loved it!
Not only fun but a great logic builder! The best peice of software I've bought for my kids!

What a great surprise!
We love this game! When I was searching for new games for my girls, 8 & 11, I came across this game, but made the mistake of not ordering it. One day, my daughter came home from her computer class and raved about this game - I ordered the Logical Journey and Mountain Rescue...I am so glad that I did. My 8 year old and I enjoy playing Logical Journey together - its a little more basic and easier for her to understand. My older daughter prefers the Mountain Rescue - the graphics are a little more advanced and she enjoys the games more. I would recommend these games to anyone looking for fun, safe, and mentally challenging entertainment! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

"Not too long ago, Zoombinis enjoyed the good life. Though they alllooked slightly different--different eyes, noses, hair, feet--such differencesmeant nothing to the Zoombinis. And so they lived happily on Zoombini Isle,making small, useful products, which were prized the world over." So begins anunsuspectingly addictive CD-ROM, featuring uncommonly fun reasoning games thatrequire serious problem solving and math-thinking work. Yet the perils that facethis cheerful society are not as fearsome as the amount of time you'llpotentially spend on this pursuit. Beware the chubby, chattering Zoombinis ifyou don't want to get hooked to your computer for at least 90 minutes asession!

Adored by educators and parents alike, Zoombinis Logical Journeychallenges children to employ such basic fundamentals of mathematical thinkingas organizing information, reasoning of evidence, finding and making patterns,and systematic testing of hypotheses. The journey follows four puzzle-filledtrails, each exploring related mathematical ideas. The fundamental data andvariables for all this work are the variations in the Zoombinis' features. Their"feet," for example, can be shoes, skates, whirligigs, or coiled springs (thesound effects for these items are particularly great), while their "eyes" may beheavily lidded, enhanced by eyeglasses, blocked by dark shades, or limited tojust a single eyeball. Sorting and arranging these variables in order to solvepuzzles requires concentrated effort from the players, and the game rewards themwell with inventive scenarios that evolve in fabulously curious ways as skillsare gained. This may not sound like much, but when Arno the Pizza-Eating TreeTroll, who has been yammering for the perfectly topped pizza his entirelifetime, suddenly demands a perfectly topped ice cream sundae, too, it is astaggering, giddy surprise.

The product is full of so many little joys, it's hard to demand improvements.Still, it'd be a great thing if version 2 would feature something other than themonotonous, ping-ping-ping soundtrack that's featured here. But that's minor. Inthe end, the creators' promise that this CD-ROM will "encourage kids to developa lifetime habit of associating fun with learning" is dead-on. (Ages 9 andolder) --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Love, love, love this game...
I was introduced to this game while helping out in an elementary school computer class (yeah, I'm technically a grown-up). It's an engaging way to teach logic skills, and the puzzles are a lot of fun. I agree that there are a LOT of Zoombinis to save (the purpose of the game)and that once you've mastered the higher levels it's a bit tedious to keep playing the harder versions of the puzzles, especially if there are any you don't like to begin with.

On the other hand, this game is wonderful for a variety of age groups (some of the younger kids may need some help figuring out the logic behind the puzzles), for different ethnicities (the Zoombinis are blue), and genders (most of the characters are somewhat ambiguous on gender, and the Zoombinis are all equal). I've seen it played solo, and in groups, with equally enjoyable results. And there are a number of resources available for educators, parents, etc. to help your kids make meaning from the games they are playing.

All in all, this is a must for any elementary/middle school computer educator, and a highly recommended for parents who want their kids to use computers as a tool as well as a toy.

One of the best logic games, all in a fun package
I'm a 13-year-old boy, I loved Zoombinis ever since it came out about 7 years ago, and I still love it now. Zoombinis is a great education game, it teaches logic and mathematical skills essential to learn, and also lets children (and adults) have fun while doing it.

Zoombinis is set apart from so many other logic games by adding characters that are enjoyable and funny to a 2nd grader, while not being so annoying or childish that a 7th grader cannot enjoy or laugh at them as well.

Another way Zoombinis excels is in the way it adjusts to the user's ability. The game will start out easy and teach more simplistic concepts, and after the user is comfortable with that, it will move on to more complex problems.

A nice thing about this game is that it will encourage someone to learn and keep going. It can all happen because the game is both educational and fun, and the child will get a sort of self-satisfaction when they accomplish something. Whenever a puzzle is completed, the user gets a little bit closer to the goal of saving all the Zoombinis, and this gives them something to work for.

Zoombinis consists of 12 different puzzles for the user to go thru, and one of the factors that have made it so successful is how it makes the user actually think. Instead of letting you just guess the answers, Zoombinis has you think about why a certain answer does or doesn't work, then lets you come up with some sort of practical method to solve such problems, which can later be applied to more advanced levels of education (I am currently taking geometry, and I still use many of the methods I learned here to help me solve problems).

In all, Zoombinis is one of the most valuable and fun game (educational or not) that I have ever used. It is a great product, and I would certainly recommend it.

Nice Game, but just a little hard
I got this game with a multipack and it rocks!!! But just kind of a little hard but I like it.

My kids loved it!
Not only fun but a great logic builder! The best peice of software I've bought for my kids!

What a great surprise!
We love this game! When I was searching for new games for my girls, 8 & 11, I came across this game, but made the mistake of not ordering it. One day, my daughter came home from her computer class and raved about this game - I ordered the Logical Journey and Mountain Rescue...I am so glad that I did. My 8 year old and I enjoy playing Logical Journey together - its a little more basic and easier for her to understand. My older daughter prefers the Mountain Rescue - the graphics are a little more advanced and she enjoys the games more. I would recommend these games to anyone looking for fun, safe, and mentally challenging entertainment! ... Read more

Features

• Test your math skills as you fake out your opponents on the soccer field
• Test your knowledge in place values, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
• Practice math problems at your own pace
• Includes U.S. and metric measurement
• For ages 7 to 14

Amazon.com Review

Math skills come in handy when playing this mystical, mathematicalAladdin adventure. By solving math problems that test skills ranging fromaddition and subtraction to patterns, estimation, and logic, children can savethe day and rescue Aladdin and his friends from the forces of evil. A wickedgenie named Bizarrah has escaped from her lamp and has captured Jasmine, Abu, and Aladdin in Agrabah. Players must do the math to put an end to Bizarrah,once and for all.

Movie-quality animation and an astounding number of multilevel, age-appropriatemath games make this software a classic. Whether kids are playing the DungeonGames, Agrabah Games, Magical Carnival Games, or Pyramid Games, they'll love thechallenging gameplay and adventure this unique software offers.

Games range from Yazoul's Number Wall, which has kids making mental computationsby using addition and subtraction skills, to a fast-paced virtual marble game,Square Up, where geometry and logical reasoning rule as kids race the carnivalbarker by being the first to create squares in a challenging grid screen.Noflying carpet required, just bring along your math skills for hours ofchallenging math fun. (Ages 6 to 9) --Tina Velgos ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent math practice
My son received this when he was 6 years old. He played with it constantly. He helped his 5 year old sister play with him. Today he is 8 and still loves playing at a higher skill level. The attraction for my kids is that their goal is to get the pieces of the magic lamp from which Bizarra escaped. Once they get the pieces, they can capture her. To accomplish this, they have to play various math games to free their friends and get the pieces. They get basic math skill practice and have fun doing it. Even after they've accomplished their goal, they can come back and play any game they want or start a new game. They get practice in basic addition, geometric shapes, sequences, matching patterns, etc.

Pretty but limited
I bought this for my almost 7 year old and played it a little alone first. I thought the graphics were great, and the games seemed interesting enough... BUT.... I didnt realize there was so little to the game. My quick peek at it actually was almost to the end of it. Basically there are only 14 games (I think that's right) and once you've played them... its over. It took my son less than 2 hours to play this game (would have been faster but it was sometimes a bit slow changing screens, and we have a 1gig/Athalon pc.) He liked it cuz he's goal oriented, and solving the story makes it more interesting to him than the ones where you do tasks for no particular reason. But ... what now? A few more hours at different levels and we'll be done with this game....

Does run under NT 4.0
While the package says it is for Win 95/98, it does install and run under NT 4.0 (saying its NT 3.0 and I might have problems with NT) on my Dell 7500 laptop. The installer does want you to change to 256 color mode, but runs okay in 65,536 (16-bit) color mode.

My 8 year old son loves this program.

Do math in Aggrabh
I am horrid at math, and still enjoy this game. While it can be hard, once you get used to it you won't want to quit. You'll want to keep going so you can save Aggrabah from the evil genie who has been unleashed. The only problem is that there is no refrense whatsoever in the plot here to the plot of the movie.

Great thinking skills!
This CD helps kids build a variety of math skills, including addition and logical thinking. The different levels are good, but what I really love is how you can move around and play your favorite games again and again. The only negative is there is no subtraction practice. But kids learn without even realizing it. This is great. I wish there were more like it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Cluefinder's Math (Ages 9-12)
Cluefinder's Math : Ages 9-12
• Grades 3-12
• Mathematics
COMMENTS:
Students can build math skills as they solve mysteries. There are 15 games at 10 different skill levels, which build more than 25 key math skills, including number computation, fractions and decimals, tables and graphs, and early geometry. Logic and problem solving skills are used as the student attempts to piece together clues to deduce the answers to the mystery.

ClueFinder's Math includes exceptional graphics and animation and a great storyline. I would not recommended ClueFinder's Math for the struggling student who needs instruction and practice with math skills, but for an average or above-average math student who enjoys fast-switching games and wants to work at quick-thinking and multi-tasking. I also do not feel that the three levels of play cover all basic math concepts for children ages 9-12 and at some levels there are both extremely easy as well as extremely difficult problems. Additionally some students may become frustrated with the speed at which they are required to respond as they solve problems.

CLASSROOM CONNECTION:
I would have students work individually to work their way through the village, solving math puzzles in the eight activity locations, and earning clues in an attempt to discover what treasure was stolen, where it is hidden, and who stole it.

A fun and intresting game
The Cluefinders' have all sort's of games out. Some of the games are a little easier to figure out but the math game is still really fun. It teaches all sort's of math that gears you up for 5th grade. It is fun and intresting. ... Read more

Features

• In Ready To Read, kids will enjoy great word activities while exploring the Hundred Acre Wood
• As they visit with Piglet, Tigger & the rest, they'll learn about rhyming, sentence construction, word recognition, problem solving, and deductive reasoning
• In Ready for Math, kids will enjoy seven activities that test their numerical skills
• They'll develop important skills like counting, number tracing, arrange sequences and more
• Kids will be rewarded by getting seeds and watching them grow -- they'll love it!

Reviews (1)

The 3 kids love it!
We have three children ages 3, 3, and 5. All of them love it and I even enjoy taking a turn or two :). The games teach excellent skills for school and stress math and reading in a fun and interesting way. The kids love earning items to be put in their garden and contraptions to be added to their treehouse. We have to set the timer so everyone gets a turn.
I highly recommend Disney's Ready for Reading and Math with Pooh. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The devious M&M Minis have taken over the candy factory, and it's up toyou to help Yellow get a grip on this candy-coated calamity. Bubbling vats ofchocolate, messed-up machinery, and revved-up robots are only some of the manyobstacles you'll face in this wild driving, surfing, running, and flyingadventure game.

The Lost Formulas puts kids in the driver's seat as they engage in threelevels of play per game, but it's not all fun. There's an "edutainment"component that allows players to practice multilevel math drills (coveringtopics ranging from basic number recognition to addition, subtraction,multiplication and division), all the while going bonkers searching for the lostformulas hidden by the mischievous Minis. "I could play this forever," raved our8-year-old tester as he expertly manned the up-, down-, left-, and right-arrowkeys for the ride of his life. To turbocharge the fun, our tester suggestspressing the ALT key (Command or Apple key on the Mac) to help Yellow "do hisspin attack."

Players can earn extra lives in bonus rounds and play eight zany levels,including:

Get Out of Town: The best arcade driving game we've seen. Here, kids raceYellow and his car through superbly animated cities and suburbs to arrive at thecandy factory. This game makes demolition derbies seem tame.

Milk Chocolate: Vats of bubbling chocolate and crazy robots could spelltrouble for Yellow. Be sure to jump the chasms and land on the platforms withthe correct math answers that match the clues.

Oh, Chute!: Cleverly named, this behind-the-scenes look at the chocolatefactory has kids negotiating conveyor belts, moving machinery, and openingchutes as they boost their math sequencing skills.

Candy Colors: Watch out for the flying color blobs while you fly your waythrough this colorful mess.

Stampin' and Sortin': Dodge the stamping and sorting machines as you run for your sweet life in this cool down round of game play.

Pack It In: Jump on the right candy boxes or else you could be indangerous trouble. This part is what disaster management is all about.

Warehouse Woes: Who says driving a forklift is work? What a hoot!

The Shocking Truth: Get the skinny when you go behind the factory's powercircuits. But don't get zapped in the electrifying final round of game play.

In a nutshell, this fast-paced, cutting-edge CD-ROM plays like a video game, butincludes math drills as an added incentive. Grab this software and a bag ofM&M's for some yummy fun for the whole family. (Ages 5 to 10) --TinaVelgos ... Read more

Reviews (17)

GREAT GAME
I think this game is great for kids 7-13 its a very fun game that builds math skills and helps you learn your addition subtraction and multiplication i recommend this for kids its great

Excellent, Creative Game ****************
I bought this for my son's 4th birthday because he loves the M&M's characters. This is such a cool imaginative game. The graphics are excellent, it's challenging without being too tough, and the music is nicely put together with the different levels. Very entertaining. My son is now 4 1/2 and he has taught me a few things about the game that I even missed. The math levels are also a great thing to get kids to learn without knowing they are. Also, it's very refreshing from some other games that are too violent or serious that are marketed to children.

THE BEST GAME EVER!!
I do not have a copy of this game for myself, but I have played it a lot before. It has great graphics. It's also an awesome game. Explore the M&M's Factory with Yellow as you try to catch all the mini M&M's you can. Run on conveyor belts, hop on crates, dodge evil robots and machines and try your best to beat all eight exiting and fun-filled levels of the game!!!

One of the best!
This is one of the best computer games I have ever played. It isn't easy - that's for sure - but it is so much fun. My 7 year old son is the only one in the family who has gotten through all of the levels - including the bonus levels - but we all enjoy the game. The driving in "Get Out of Town" is a blast!! Well worth the money. This game is a lot of fun. The whole family will enjoy playing it again and again.

DO NOT PURCHASE if you have WIN 2000
I love this game! It's worked wonders for my daughter in speeding up basic math facts. Reccomended for Grade 2+
It IS fast, work with flash cards with your child or else they will be discouraged in not playing this game with the math. Make sure your Graphics/Video Card is UPDATED with drivers, max-out on your memory too really helped.
This game works great on Windows 98 - it does require some tweaking - PLEASE read the Read Me file for solving them.
Now the downside - my husband had to upgrade our system to Win 2000 for his software, and Simon & Schuster does not have any patches for this game.
I emailed them and this was their reply:
Thank you for contacting Simon and Schuster Interactive Technical Support

Unfortunately, this program is not supported on NT or Windows 2000 which is an NT platform. Because of the driver structure of NT, very few programs that use video compression programs such as this one are even rated on NT. I think you would find that the problems would be solved if you installed the program on a 95/98/ME system.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail us or call the technical support number listed in the documents that came with our product.

Sincerely,
D. L. Monson
S&SI Tech Support ... 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

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

Amazon.com Product Description

Kids learn about everything from polynomials to polygons with Middle School Math Excelerator's Algebra and Geometry CD-ROMs. Students develop math skills through interactive lessons. The Algebra CD-ROM engages kids using high-quality graphics, animations, and live-action video that help them connect with the concepts and make graphing, algebraic equations, variables, and slopes easy to understand and retain. The Geometry CD-ROM provides detailed illustrations and real-life examples of concepts. With five lessons, 24 exercises, and simple explanations that reinforce topics like angles, postulates, and more, your child will learn the fundamentals needed to excel in geometry class. ... Read more

Features

• Kid Pix Deluxe lets your child exercise creativity while building color, shape and pattern recognition skills
• Reader Rabbit Math Ages 6-9 takes children on a hike through the Word of numbers with Reader Rabbit -- they'll learn basic math while playing great games
• Storybook Weaver Deluxe lets children enjoy interactive storytelling, as they create their own little worlds and see them come alive
• Ages 6-9

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

Product Description

Travel to a remarkable new world and treat your brain to an outlandishly fun and challenging adventure. Embark on a dangerous trek strewn with mind-bending puzzles. Learn important life skills and more as you lead the Zoombinis to freedom in Zoombinis Logical Journey! ... Read more

Features

• Designed for Windows XP

Amazon.com Product Description

Arthur's Math Games invites kids to join Arthur and the gang at the carnival and have fun while learning math. There are six fun-filled activities and five difficulty levels to keep the challenges fresh. Kids learn a number of essential math skills, including counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, basic geometry, simple fractions, memory skills, problem solving, and patterns and sequences. There are also art and music activities for extra fun. (Ages 4 to 7) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's ok but dont expect your child to learn math...
I was disappointed with this CD. There are only 5 or 6 activities on this CD (Other CDs offer more). In a specific game you quickly get through all the options and start soon with reputations. The differences between the levels is too steep so my kid cant really use them all or progress through them. For example: The first level of a game, the child was shown a shape and had to say how many sides there were. The last level was multiplication and division problems. That's a span of 2-9 year olds! I guess its good if you have kids with a wide range of ages. My son wasn't so happy that he couldn't do the last level but was very bored with the first and second level. Children can't actually learn math here on their own. It doesnt offer those kind of games. Theres a painting game (math?!), a maze, a find an object by hints. I was expecting adding and subtracting but there is very little of that. No classic math, maybe math prep.. The good pointer is that the games are fairly easy to play so children can get on their own and of course it IS Arthur...

A win2000 note: although it does work, the sound gets cut all the time so you get partial sentences. It doesnt bother playing.

Arthur Teaches Math and Makes it Easy...
I think by using Arthur, who is a favorite character of my grandchildren, they will always learn easier from a character they like. Also, this book makes it simple and easy to learn and fun to learn. It is a great learning tool. ... 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

Features

• Cluefinders Reading Adventure takes your kids on an adventure to solve an intergalactic mystery
• Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge takes you around the world after the legendary criminal's gang
• Mission T.H.I.N.K. gets you to solve hundreds of puzzles to keep a factory working
• Ages 9-12

Features

• Build 25+ key math skills; solve 150,000+ math problems
• 15 learning games and exercises; 10 different skill levels
• Detailed built-in help; motivating progress reports
• Second CD, Mystery of the Missing Amulet, included
• For ages 9 to 12+