I Spy Junior

PC version requires:
486 DX 66 MHz, Windows 95/ 98, 16 MB RAM, 10 MB HD, 640 x 480 with 256 colors, 4X CD-ROM

Mac version requires:
Macintosh-PowerPC, 75 MHz, System 7.5, 16 MB RAM, 10 MB HD, 640 x 480 with 256 colors, 4X CD-ROM

Description:

Click on the bright blue box in Scholastic's I Spy Junior and kids will see six cubbies: Nature, Pattern Place, Oops Hoops!, Blocks, Busy Bins and Make Your Own I Spy.

Nature, Blocks and Busy Bins are all made up of six screens. Each screen has two riddles to solve. Your child may read, "I spy a red cup, a green wooden tree, a blue fox and the letter 'B'". They will then hunt for the objects in the riddle and click on them when they are found. When the objects are found the words will light up below and the riddle will be read again. Find all the objects and move on to the next riddle. Riddles become increasingly harder as you progress.

Oops Hoops! There are objects outside the hoops just waiting to be placed inside with other objects that are similar. Where the hoops intersect you'll place objects that have something in common with both hoops. For example: one hoop may contain people, the other sport equipment, where they intersect place people playing sports. Difficulty increases as more hoops are added.

Pattern Place has kids sorting by shape and color sequence. Create pompom caterpillars, and vines of blossoms and leaves.

Make Your Own I Spy encourages kids to create their own pictures. They can click and drag objects from the box at the bottom of the screen onto their picture.

Features:

• Built-in magnifying glass to find hidden riddle objects.
• 70+ rhyming picture riddles.
• Multiple levels.

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

As a parent is was nice to sit down with my kids and discuss what they were seeing. In nature you look for objects like pinecones, stones, and different animals. Oops Hoops! leads to great discussions on how objects are the same, different, or perhaps have something in common. The longevity of the program is increased by the interaction of the parent. You could either let your child go it alone or sit down and talk about each photograph looking at all the items contained within. Discuss why items are important to nature, talk about the difference between baseball and tennis, and notice the differences and similarities between daisies and dandelions. Something I've decided would be fun is to print out their I Spy pictures that they create and then take them for a walk and see if we can spy the real thing in nature.

Scholastic's I Spy Junior promises to be a hit with kids and parents alike!