Software Previews

The Curriculum Center has been updating its software library to better meet the needs of the curriculum. New software titles can be found in all subject areas. Here is a list of new software titles that may be checked out for you to use. Included is a brief summary of each and the grade levels suggested by the software company.

Math

Fizz and Martina's Math Adventure

This interactive CD-ROM series helps students develop essential skills in problem-solving and mathematical communication. All software titles meet the NCTM standards. Students watch an episode of Fizz and Martina's Math Adventures. Each episode has dramatic events that lead up to a math dilemma. Students then work in cooperative groups to solve the problem.

Blue Falls Elementary (Grades 3-4) Multiplication

Fizz and Martina must find out who broke the school's statue of Pinky McGee.

bulletMultiplication facts
bullet1- and 2- step story problems
bulletcomputational estimation

Lights, Camera, Fractions (Grades 5-6)

While Fizz and Martina's new cable TV detective show becomes more popular, they face more treachery from Mr. Minimood and Trump.

bulletFraction Concepts
bullet1- and 2-step story problems
bulletComputational estimation

Math Mysteries (Grades 4-6)

Solve word problems as mysteries unfold! Math Mysteries offers an effective way to teach the basic skills for solving word problems. Students interact with characters to unravel an intriguing mystery, answering word problems every step of the way. Give your students the skills to tackle math challenges found in today's new standardized tests! Tackle word problems. Math Mysteries gives you a tool to teach students about the key steps in the problem-solving process: understanding the problem, collecting important information, solving the problem, and checking the answer.

 Social Studies

Mapmaker's Toolkit (Grades 4-9)

The easy-to-use mapping tool to customize and print current and historical maps! Mapmaker's Toolkit offers an easy way to select, customize, and print world, continent, country, and state maps. Start by accessing a vast library of present-day and historical maps. Then customize your map with built-in layers, drawing tools, and hundreds of map symbols. Present your creations in print on the Internet!

Community Construction Kit (Grades 2-6)

Design, print, and construct your own 3-D buildings and place them on your large Neighborhood Map Machine maps to create a scale model of your community.

Decisions, Decisions - Ancient Empires (Grades 5-10)

This interactive group software allows students to role-play the leader of a city-state and to struggle with the dilemmas of an ancient culture being overrun by an expanding empire. Ancient Empires challenges students to think like an ancient leader. As they struggle with the best way to please their gods, they learn about the power of myth and legend.

Science

Science Court (Grades 4-6)

The Science Court CD-ROM is an interactive series that mixes animated courtroom drama, hands-on science activities, and humor to teach students fundamental science concepts and model good scientific practice. With Science court students will:

bulletAnalyze and discuss scientific concepts
bulletPerform hands-on experiments
bulletOvercome common misconceptions
bulletWork cooperatively in groups

Living Things

bulletIntroduction to Classification
bulletCharacteristics of living, non-living, and dead
bulletCells and organisms

Work and Simple Machines

bulletWork
bulletSimple Machines
bulletMechanical Advantage

Language Arts

Writing with Literature (Grades 3-6)

Popular books and classic stories launch imaginations and inspire thinking and writing. Students explore themes and express their views in persuasive paragraphs, character sketches, news reports, poetry and more, A few of the titles included in this program are Sarah Plain and Tall, Charlotte's Web, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day.

Growing As a Writer (Grades 6-9)

Building on the basics, students develop skills by writing descriptive essays, business letters, position statements, and persuasive arguments, Content includes literal, connotative, and figurative expression.