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Integrating Educational
Software
Social Studies Grades K-6 |
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Integrating Educational
Software
Social Studies Grades K-6 |
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Click on a featured software title, or scroll down through all the reviews. |
| Title:
Imagination Express
Destination: Time Trip USA |
| Publisher: Edmark |
| Grades: K-8 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 16, 17 Language Arts Std. 1, 2, 6 |
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Description: Students create interactive stories by adding text, narration, images and music, all set in a fictitious New England town. An electronic fact book teaches about the evolution of architecture, transportation, inventions, fashion and entertainment--information that can be incorporated into the students' creative stories. An online scrapbook gives students insight into family life throughout the town's history from the early 1600's to the present. Students' creative works can also be printed. Six time periods are featured: 1640--Getting Settled, 1776--Happy Birthday USA, 1865--Westward Ho, 1929--Hard Times Ahead, 1945--The War Ends, Today--How Things Change. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals or pairs/small groups of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for enrichment or as supplement to curriculum |
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Teacher guide includes complete program description, tips for adapting the program to different grades and ability levels, story ideas and 30 cross-curricular activities with blacklines. |
| Top of page |
| Title: Timeliner |
| Publisher: Tom Snyder |
| Grades: K-12 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM or Mac/Win disk |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 16, 17, 18 |
| Description:
Timeliner is a cross-curricular tool that lets students organize
data and create, edit, merge and print timelines. Four display modes are
available (banner, compact, list, table) and four different scales are
possible (standard, floating, geologic, custom). Graphics can be
imported and text is fully customizable.
The software comes with sample timelines. Optional data disks are available covering 17 different curriculum units. |
| Integration: |
| Single or multiple computer environment, depends on nature of assignment |
| Individual or groups of students, depends also on nature of assignment |
| Curriculum reinforcement or enrichment |
| Guide includes complete operation, lesson plans, student project worksheets and dozens of student activities across all curriculum areas, across all grades levels. |
| Title:
Trudy's Time and Place
House |
| Publisher: Edmark |
| Grades: pre K-2 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 10 Math Std. 4 |
| Description:
This early learning software invites students to explore
geography and time through 5 engaging activities. Each activity includes
explore & discover mode and question & answer mode. Positive,
gentle reinforcement guides students through the learning experiences.
Skills developed include telling analog and digital time, understanding units of time measurement, using directions (left, right, North, South, East, West), locating and naming 7 continents and 4 oceans, locating and learning about major landmarks, understanding common map symbols, and exploring relationships between a globe and world map. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals or pairs of students or with entire class (projection device needed) |
| Single or multiple computer environment |
| Curriculum reinforcement and enrichment |
| Teacher guide includes basic instructions for explore and Q & A modes along with 27 cross-curricular classroom activities. |
| Title: Where
in Time is Carmen Sandiego? |
| Publisher: Broderbund |
| Grades: 4-8 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 16, 18 |
| Description:
Students travel through time from ancient Egypt to the 20th
century, solving historical puzzles while trying to capture the elusive
Carmen Sandiego. The 18 cases include Queen Hatshepsut, Julius Caesar,
the Vikings, Murasaki, William the Conqueror, Khan, the Mali Empire,
Gutenberg, Inca Empire, Columbus, da Vinci, Aztec Empire, Shakespeare,
American colonies, Lewis & Clark, Beethoven, Edison and Yuri Gagarin
(space race).
Students develop analysis, decision making and interpretation skills, work on their historical comprehension, research capabilities and chronological thinking as they piece together clues to rescue historical artifacts and catch thieves. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals or pairs of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for enrichment or as tie-in to curriculum |
| Teacher guide covers all capabilities of program along with 17 lesson plans that incorporate history, social studies, language arts, fine arts and technology. Supplemental guide entitled "World History Simulations" by Teacher Created Materials is also included. |
| Title: Where
in the World is Carmen Sandiego? |
| Publisher: Broderbund |
| Grades: 4-8 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 10, 11 |
| Description:
Students travel to 50 countries throughout the world, gathering
clues to solve cases and capture Carmen and her gang. Electronic
database includes essays, photos and video clips from the National
Geographic Society. This latest version also features a talking foreign
language glossary and direct Internet access to geographic resources.
The software and related activities reinforce basic thinking skills and geographic skills (acquiring, organizing, analyzing geographic information). |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals or pairs of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for enrichment or as tie-in to curriculum |
| Teacher guide covers all capabilities of program along with 3 tutorials and 16 lesson plans that incorporate geography, language arts, mathematics and fine arts. Related Internet resources are also included. |
| Title: Where
in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? |
| Publisher: Broderbund |
| Grades: 4-8 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 10, 11 |
| Description:
Students travel to 51 locations throughout the United States,
learning interesting facts about each state's geography, history and
people as they gather clues to solve cases and capture Carmen and her
cohorts. Electronic database includes essays, video clips, regional
music and maps. This newest version also features direct Internet access
to geographic resources.
The software and related activities reinforce basic thinking skills and geographic skills (acquiring, organizing, analyzing geographic information). |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals or pairs of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for enrichment or as tie-in to curriculum |
| Teacher guide covers all capabilities of program along with 3 tutorials and 17 lesson plans that incorporate geography, language arts, mathematics and fine arts. Related Internet resources are also included. |
| Title: Neighborhood Map Machine |
| Publisher: Tom Snyder |
| Grades: 1-5 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 10-15 Math Std. 4 Language Arts Std. 5, 6 |
| Description: Students
create maps of real or imaginary places, travel around neighborhoods and
towns, and learn about direction, symbols, scale, grid coordinates and
other important geography skills. They can create slide shows that
chronicle town history, give a guided tour or present a proposal for
town development. Maps can be printed from standard to wall-size.
The program includes three modes: Create, Explore and Mystery. Software and related activities incorporate all five geography themes of location, place, movement, interaction, and region along with numerous math, language arts and science objectives. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals, pairs or groups of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for curriculum reinforcement and enrichment |
| Teacher guide covers all capabilities of program along with dozens of activities grouped into nine different themes: symbols, direction, scale & distance, grid coordinates, perspective, place, movement, interaction, and economics. |
| Title: Where Are We? |
| Publisher: Tom Snyder |
| Grades: 2-4 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 10, 11 |
| Description: Where
Are We helps students become skilled, confident map users.
Within the program, they can model and practice using visual landmarks,
planning routes and testing their plans, using map scale and compass
directions, using maps to record locations of real-world objects and
using maps to store and convey information.
Four modes are included in the software. Each mode provides a map on the left side of the screen and a live-action video filmed within the map area on the right side. The video shows the landscape students would see if they were really in the area. The four modes are as follows: Exploring the Park -- a red dot and arrow indicate user's position and view direction as one steers a route through the environment. Use this mode to familiarize students with the software and for lessons on map scale, compass rose and planning a route. Are We There Yet? -- students pick the destination, then must find their way to the destination based on visual information within the video. Add to the Map -- students find objects in the video that are not on the map, figure out where these objects will should be located on the map, and add this information to the map by dragging the appropriate symbols. This mode introduces students to the concept of a map as a tool for organizing spatial information, not just as a tool for personal navigation. Lost! -- students are "dropped" at an unknown location on the map and must figure out where they are from information in the video. This mode requires students to pull together all of their map skills. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals, pairs or groups of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for curriculum reinforcement and enrichment |
| Teacher guide includes instructions, 12 lesson plans, assessments and field trips. |
| Title: Community Construction Kit |
| Publisher: Tom Snyder |
| Grades: 2-6 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 4, 10, 11, 13-18 Math Std. 4 |
| Description: This
program features easy-to-use tools for designing and constructing homes
and buildings. It encourages students to explore their world and
other less familiar places. They incorporate geography, history
and math skills as they build real and imaginary communities and learn
how they are alike and different.
Four building sets are included -- Medieval, Native American, Colonial America and Today. The Photo Gallery features famous buildings and other structures typical of each era. Photos are accompanied by narration that tells about the history, style and construction of the building. Sample maps for each era can be printed standard size or floor size to lay out a finished community. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals, pairs or groups of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for curriculum reinforcement and enrichment |
| Teacher guide includes instructions, pages of classroom tips, black lines and dozens of activities falling under six broad themes: Communities (urban, suburban, rural), Homes for Hot and Cold Places, Buildings through the Ages, Spatial Perception, Creative Writing, and Art & Architecture. |
| Title: Diorama Designer |
| Publisher: Tom Snyder |
| Grades: 2-6 |
| Platform: Win/Mac hybrid CD-ROM |
| NH Frameworks: Social Studies Std. 4, 10, 11, 13-18 Math Std. 4 |
| Description: Diorama
Designer features innovative tools for designing and constructing
3-D dioramas, taking students inside homes and buildings in their
communities and other communities around the world and throughout
history. Every diorama can be printed in three sizes and two
styles. You can also print super-size dioramas for a puppet stage
or print mural size to use as a backdrop for a play.
Four building sets are included -- Medieval, Native American, Colonial American and Contemporary American. All building parts, furniture, decorations, coverings, even ceiling types, are all representative of the given era. A collection of ready-made dioramas is also included. |
| Integration: |
| Can be used by individuals, pairs or groups of students |
| Multiple computer environment preferred |
| Good for curriculum reinforcement and enrichment |
| Teacher guide includes instructions, pages of classroom tips, black lines and a multitude of activities falling under 9 broad themes: What's Wrong With This Picture; Now and Then; Urban, Suburban, and Rural; Spatial Perception; Home Improvement; Creative Writing; Giving and Following Directions; High Energy Home; It's a 3-D World. |