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The Clue to Making Learning Fun

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: May 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I purchased Cluefindes 3rd Grade Adventures about 6 weeks ago, and since have watched my child use it to completion. She has played it 4 times and will probably play it again in the future. In the meantime, she has moved onto the 4th grade game.

Setting up the game is pretty easy, and the directions are clear. Starting up is a cinch as well. You have the options of taking the test drive which is a placement test. It is not as much fun as the actual game, but it is not too boring either and it gets the child started at a challenging level. The first time my child "played" it she started at the beginners level, and finished it in two days. The second time, I set it to level two and it took her a week to complete. The third time I had her do the test drive. This is where the real value came in.

When she started the game on the lowest levels she was basically reviewing what she had learned the previous year, which is a good thing. But, when she played the game after the placement test, she was truly challenged to learn more. I never imagined in a million years that a child would follow me around begging to be taught long division. She could not cross a bridge in the game without being able to divide. So I taught her and she practiced and cemented the skill by playing the game.

As a homeschooler leaning towards self directed learning, I found this game to be invaluable. It gives me the freedom to wait for a child to be ready to learn a skill while at the same time ensuring that such comes quickly through constant challenges. After all, the best time to teach a child a skill is when they want to learn it. This game provided that want for me.

This game does not teach skills your child must know, but provides challenges. The way I use it is to wait for a challenge to be presented, and then teach that child whatever they need to succeed and overcome that challenge.

The only problems I had with this software is that each time the child finished the game, they had to start again with a new member name, it would not let us back into the game as the same person. This did allow me to compare the membernames records to check for progress which was evident.

If you purchase the 2 cdrom version of this game, with the personalized learning center, you will be able to print worksheets according to your childs strengths and weaknesses and to see where the child needs more practice. You will also be able to spot where your child may be gifted.

The personalized learning center disc, however is not formulated to give a child a "grade" based on how well the child did in the program, but to show progress over time. Therefore, If you are a homeschooler and grades are important to you, you will want to "test" the child separately perhaps using the worksheets or making up your own exams.

Well rounded

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: July 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My 6 year-old son has enjoyed this program a great deal, though the more difficult levels are beyond his current skills. Cluefinders features fairly generous dialog, simple yet colorful graphics, and even a bit of music, critical elements in distinguishing it from a tedious math and language drill.

Like most educational programs, the close involvement of an adult is very important at the outset. Once my son had learned his way around, he was very motivated to play on his own, and I think he'll come back to the program periodically in the future as his skills grow.

Great teaching game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: August 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

We are a homeschooling family. I bought this game along with the fourth grade and fifth grade versions for my nine year old. She sailed through the other two, but found this one challenging. It is great for reinforcing math, introduces chemistry, addresses the pollution problem, history, spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension. There is a level selection area in which you can choose how hard or easy the game is, but this is also handy for letting parents know where your child may need some help in or where they excel. It has a practice mode where the child can just do the activities without having to play the game. I found this great for reinforcing some of those areas my daughter needed more help in.
Even though my daughter has finished all three games, she still plays these.

Cluefinders 6th Grade Adventures

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: December 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This product provides an excellent source for preparation or reinforcement of what a 6th grader is expected to know. Players are put into a mystery situation where they have to solve clues in order to figure out the answers. Various aspects of the 6th grade curriculum are covered, and the computer adjusts for the skill level of the player, making the games increasingly more challenging. Areas covered include logical thinking, mathematics, science, geography, social science, and language arts. The games are fun, and since they get progressively harder as the student masters a skill, they do not get boring. At times the transition time from one activity to the next can be a bit long, and instructions are repetitive, but this seemed to bother adults more than children; this should not deter the buyer, however, as the positive aspects of this game far outweigh the negatives. Graphics and sound are excellent, and help includes a map and a reference section. Levels can be set manually, or the program can be adjusted to automatically determine when to advance to the next level as a skill is mastered. On the whole this is an excellent product, and a great way to make learning fun. Highly Recommended. Reviewer is a teacher and a librarian.

Cool

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 02, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is fun and VERY educational... I even forgot I was
learning while playing it! The games are fun and have different levels, so if one level is too easy you may make is
harder and more challenging. It explains the mini-game
and how to play. The charactors are click-able and they seem to talk and help you throughout the whole game.
You meet cool alien type things, and in order to survive, you must figure out the answer to the mini-games.
The backround music is pretty cool, but it may get annoying
you can turn off the music, too! before you begin the game, it shows a mini movie of what's happening and it tells about
your mission.I love this game!

Never Too Old To Play!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: July 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It's great I'm 14 going on 15 in a month but I don't care
because that doesn't stop me from having fun. It's the greatest game. I've only played the 3rd and 4th grade one but they're still and always be my favorite software. If you've never played any of these games and you love computer games; buy this then even if you're older then me. Who cares? Just remember HAVE FUN!!! You won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Could you make one for 10th graders or do you already?

Thank You

amazing tool for elementary school kids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

you can never stop learning and school is not the only place you can learn. This is perfect for giving to your kids to play after school while you make dinner or something. Much better than sitting in front of the television or playing video games. This one is an EDUCATIONAL video game that teach skills in academic and core subjects in a fun, presentable, age appropriate manner. My sister had all the cluefinders, magic school bus and all the games like that and she's now the top student in her grade and is in a gifted students program. These type of games can really bring out the best in children by providing recreation, education and even brain teasers that challenge them in a friendly manner. Highly recommended

Cluefinders 3rd Grade Adventures: Mystery of Mathra

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: March 23, 2008
Author: Amazon User

My 2nd grader is advanced in math, but occasionally struggles with problem-solving. I bought this hoping to challenge him and it delivered! It is a little old-school, but easy to use and involves problem-solving, not just straight math problems. He really enjoys it, so it doesn't feel like work, yet he's learning. Recommend!

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