Reading Blaster for 1st Grade

PC version requires:
Windows 98/95, P90, 256 color display, 16 MB RAM (32 MB RAM Recommended), HD, 4 x CD-ROM, Sound Card, Mouse, Printer recommended

Mac version requires:
System 7.5.3, 256 color display, 32 MB RAM, 4 x CD-ROM, Mouse, Printer recommended

Description:

Blaster, G.C., and Mel are back with another intergalactic mission! In Reading Blaster for 1st Grade, help the crew find missing objects (like blocks, socks, balloons, crayons, and other toys). The objects are all hidden on another planet where they will remain until you find them and send them back to the children where they belong. The "lost and found" room, however, is locked. So you must play the games using your reading skills and earn keys for your performance. Once you have earned 5 keys, go to the lost and found to find the hidden objects. Get ready to "blast off" on your next learning adventure!

There are five fun activities, each emphasizing different reading-related skills:
• Sorting Socks - Catch the socks in your laundry basket as they come out of the washing machine! You may be asked to catch only the socks that have the same beginning sounds, only those that rhyme, or only those socks with words that are part of the same word families.
• Lost Your Marbles - Sort words into simple and complex thematic groups. Move your marble "snake" around the screen to collect specific categories of words. For example, choose only the words that are types of pets or names of colors. By level 5, you are sorting complex nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Look out for the bonus round! Move your string of marbles around the screen to capture as many points as you can. But be careful not to run into yourself (as your string grows longer and longer) or zap!
• Picture This - In this game, following directions is must! Follow 3 simple directions such as 1) place the open set of eyes on the face, 2) place the large round nose on the face, and 3) place the blue mouth on the face. As you progress through each level, the directions and tasks become more and more complex.
• Toy Trains - Move the train cars into the correct positions to make the words you hear. Build words with simple beginning and ending sounds, build words with complex beginning and ending sounds, and finally build words by adding s, es, er, ly, ed, and ing.
• Balloon Blowout - Arrange the balloons to spell the correct words (c t a = c a t). Move to higher levels and order simple sentences, complex sentences, and finally simple stories.

Features:

• Familiar characters such as Blaster, the Galactic Commander, and Mel
• Practice 1st grade level reading skills
• 5 reading activities
• 5 skill levels for each activity (from basic to challenging)
• Introduces over 1,500 vocabulary words
• Arcade style play
• Printable activities, charts, and stickers
• Progress tracking

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

Reading Blaster for 1st Grade encourages children to have fun while developing essential reading skills including: (1) beginning and ending sounds, (2) short and long vowel sounds, (3) identification of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, (4) read and write letters, (5) follow directions, and (6) spell 3- to 6-letter words. Children who enjoy other Blaster titles such as Math Blaster will want to give this new mission a try!