Memory Fun!
Zap! Around Town
Data Explorer
Secondary Math Lab Toolkit

Sunburst Communications has released four new programs that address mathematics education across the grades. Beginning at the primary level are Memory Fun! and Zap! Around Town. Data Explorer is for students in Grades 4 though 8. Secondary Math Lab Toolkit is designed for high school students.

Children use Memory Fun! to play a matching game in which they clean an attic to work on memory, their first problem-solving skill. They also can work on counting, time (analog and digital), money, and letter identification.

Skills with maps, directions, and coordinates are addressed in Zap! Around Town. Children in kindergarten through third grade use number and letter coordinates and an on-screen compass to learn to read maps and navigate in Sunbuddyville, which must be a nice Midwestern town, considering its rectangular grid.

Data Explorer, a new graphing program, includes line plots, bar graphs, circle graphs, Venn plots, grid plots, stem-and-leaf plots, and tables. Students can gather and graph data in several ways, and use various analysis tools such as movable lines, a median-fit line, and a least-squares line. Guided tours introduce students to the math concepts as they learn how to use the program’s tools.

Secondary Math Lab Toolkit was co-published with Prentice Hall, so the materials are directly correlated to math lessons from that company’s algebra, geometry, and advanced algebra series. The symbolic editor, algebra tiles, coordinate graphs, geometry tools, probability experiments, and data-analysis tools work together so students can solve problems within one discipline and make connections among mathematics disciplines.

For program prices, contact Sunburst. In most cases, multiple license agreements offer the best buy. Each program is contained on a hybrid Macintosh–Windows CD-ROM in a binder with teacher-support materials and blackline masters. Sunburst Communications, 101 Castleton St., Pleasantville, NY 10570-3498; 914.747.3310 or 800. 321.7511.

French for the Real World
Spanish for the Real World
Spelling Blaster
JumpStart 1st Grade

Knowledge Adventure has released four new products under its new consolidated name. The two Kaplan titles (French for the Real World and Spanish for the Real World), the newest in the former Davidson line (Spelling Blaster), and JumpStart 1st Grade (version 2.0) are now available. Knowledge Adventure, 19840 Pioneer Ave., Torrance, CA 90503; 310.793.0600 or 800.545.7677.

Arthur’s Birthday and Arthur ActiMate

What good timing! Brøderbund has released the newest version of Arthur’s Birthday, and Microsoft has released Arthur, a new ActiMate. The programs were not released together, so Arthur doesn’t tell the story, but he could be used with younger children to enhance the software’s interactive experiences. Barney, the first ActiMate, was popular in homes but suffered from a somewhat purple reputation when it came to schools: He was a bit too long on entertainment. Arthur, however, comes from a distinguished family of books. In addition, D. W., his little sister, has been released as an ActiMate. She’s a cutie. For information about Arthur’s Birthday and other titles in the Living Books series, contact Brøderbund Software at PO Box 6125, Novato, CA 94948-6125.

The NGS Kids Network

When something is going well you often don’t hear enough about it. The National Geographic Society’s (NGS) Kids Network is a good example; it continues to coordinate quality student collaborations. Four science projects created by TERC provide the basis for four middle school activities: Is Our Water at Risk? What Is Our Soil Good For? Are We Getting Enough Oxygen? and How Loud Is Too Loud? Four components are needed for participation: reusable NGS Works software for $199; reusable curriculum unit for $149; a test kit (if necessary), starting at $33.50; and an eight-week tuition membership for $80. If parents are looking for an exciting way to contribute, suggest they finance the first session; that will cover the software packages and make further involvement less expensive. National Geographic Society, 800.368.2728 or 515.362.3367

Stagecast Creator

Stagecast Creator is one program I saw at NECC that clearly stood out in my mind. Stagecast is a new company that owns the rights to Cocoa (a Web-based programming environment) and has access to some of its original developers.

The company’s newest creative environment is a Java-based and thus platform-independent tool. Building science and math simulations is relatively easy. Select characters, locations, and conditions and then set the simulation in motion. Modify as needed. Warning: Becoming fascinated and spending hours on end exploring possibilities is highly possible.

Creating engaging simulations using a few or many variables takes relatively little time. Fully examining each activity and modifying it to study a particular concept could take months. We rarely encounter software that lets us create such a deep learning environment without needing to learn a programming language.

I recommend examining Stagecast Creator if you teach math, science, computer science, or Web-based instruction. But don’t restrict your creativity to these areas. The characters can be animated and used for book reports, history lessons, or any other subject in which animation can enhance student understanding. Stagecast Software, 580 College Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306.

Curious George Learns to Spell
Cornerstone Reading Vocabulary
Leap Into Phonics

Software companies are paying a lot of attention to language skills. Curious George Learns to Spell (for Grades 1 and 2) has been released by Houghton Mifflin Interactive, 120 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143; 617.503.4800 or 800.829.7962. The package includes a board game.

The newest CornerStone Reading Vocabulary, developed at Skillsbank, is now available from The Learning Company, 617.761.3000 or 800.685.6322.

BrightStart has released Leap Into Phonics for Ages 4–7. BrightStart, 619 S. 37th St., Suite 406, Omaha, NE 68105; 888.777.7003 or 402.342.9412

Encarta 98 DVD-ROM Reference Suite

I’m often asked about digital videodiscs and their role in education. What role? Cool movies, wonderful language tracks, and choice of formats—but education? If parents ask, you can recommend one excellent DVD title with comfort: Microsoft’s Encarta 98 DVD-ROM Reference Suite. Encarta 98 Encyclopedia Deluxe, Virtual Globe 1998, and Bookshelf 98 are all included on a single high-tech disc. DK Multimedia also plans to produce DVD titles in the coming year, and the holiday season should bring many other commercial DVD titles. I’ll keep you posted about educational DVD titles as they are released.

Animate Your World

An online resource is now available to accompany an exciting television series. The Cartoon Network airs two half-hour Animate Your World inspirations back-to-back at 2 A.M. the first Monday of each month. This series for celebrating creativity supports teachers with an educator’s guide and activity masters (www.CartoonNetwork.com/animate/activities/
index.html) and lets students post their creative endeavors on the Big Fridge.

Ecosystems

Ecosystems, the first title in the Digital Studios’ Electric Biology series, has been scheduled for release. This college-level CD-ROM is designed to work with introductory biology and environmental science courses. If you teach upper-level courses, then examine Ecosystems to see if the depth of information meets your needs. Digital Studios, 209 Santa Clara Ave., Aptos, CA 95003; 831.688.3158.