Samantha+Nelson

= =
 * Assignment #3 EDC203 Wiki of Great Language Arts Sites **

**October 1, 2010**
[] Level: Primary K-3 Game: Paw Park Sassy Seals Summary: This website has a number of different games that help children to learn the different parts of language arts. There are a number of different colors and shapes as well as silly named games that catch the child’s attention. The website has three levels of activities: beginner, intermediate, and advanced, that teach things from letter-sound correspondences to identifying antonyms. Some of the games on the website also help to teach children to understand and follow directions. The website appears to be very accessible to children both at home and at school. Summary of the game: The game I found was Paw Park Sassy Seal. The main characters are a big seal, who appears to be the ring leader, and a smaller seal who appears to be the assistant. They give you a word and you have to find a fish with a matching first sound, then once you find the fish you click on the fish and it gets feed a worm. Once you match 10 sounds to their corresponding fishes, you are then instructed to match the last sound of the word to the corresponding fish. Evaluation: This game was appropriate for grades K -3. The colors used were bright; however most of the screen was either purple or blue. The big seal, who is also the ring leader, explains the directions. The game helps children to match letter-sound correspondence. If they click on the big seal, he will repeat the word, and if they moved the cursor over the fish, they will hear the words that each fish represents. This game also helps children to tell the difference between different sounds and how they are used in words.  1. Color: The colors used in this game are bright, by are mainly blue and purple. 3. Talking text: As the child moves the cursor over one of the fish, the word that the fish represents is repeated. 4. Visual cues: There aren’t very many visual clues, because this game is for the most part an auditory game. 5. Mistakes: When a mistake is made, the character says “try again” then repeats the word/sound they were supposed to find. After three guess, the answer is given. 6. Rating: N/A  7.Highlighted cues: In the beginning, there is a demonstration of what the children should do. 8. Navigation routine: The children can skip the introduction, which include the instructions and the example. There is no next button because the game moves on to the next stage on its own. 9. Click back and back: N/A  10.Click and drag: N/A

Rating: 7

[] Level: Primary K-3 Game: Spin & Spell Summary: This website has only a single game that helps children to learn how to spell different words. There are a number of bright colors and shapes. This website is very accessible to children both at home and at school. Summary of the game: The game is called Spin and Spell. Upon first arriving gat the site, there is a page that gives you the directions, to start the game the child only needs to click on the start button. Then the child chooses the subject that they wish to spell words, with topics ranging from what to eat to the animal kingdom. Then the children are instructed to either click on a picture or click on the “pick a word for me” button. The word is then spoken, and then the child clicks on the letters in order to spell the word. Then when they think that they have the correct spelling of the word, they click “submit. There is no clear start and end to the game. Evaluation: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">This game is appropriate for grades K-3. The colors are bright, and there are pictures of different objects that the child can try to spell. A word is chosen by the child clicking on one of the pictures. If a child is unsure as to how to spell a word, there is a “show me the word” button they can click on to see the correct spelling and a picture of the word they are trying to spell. This game helps children learn to spell different things, such as animals, different articles of clothing, and transportation. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">1. Color: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">There are a number of different bright colors used in the game. 3. Talking text: As the child moves the cursor over, or clicks on one of the pictures the word is repeated, using talking text. 4. Visual cues: There are a number of bright pictures that are used in this game, that are a cross between photographs and animation. 5. Mistakes: When a mistake is made, the words “Sorry! Try Again!” are heard. There is not a limit to the number of times you can spell the word. This game never corrects the spelling for you. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">6. Rating: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">N/A <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> 8. Navigation routine: There are no next buttons; however there is a back button if a child wants to change the category of words they are trying to spell. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">9. Click back and back: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">N/A <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> 10.Click and drag: N/A

Rating: 8

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">[] Level: Primary K-3 Game: Phonic Fighter Summary: This website has two different sections, one for numeracy and another for literacy. The colors are very dull and the site is mostly text. Children can easily access the website, both from school and at home. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Summary of the game: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">There are aliens trying to steal the alphabet, the students must know what sound each object starts with in order to win back the letter. There are three objects on the bottom of the screen; the child has to choose the one that starts with the same letter as the one on the alien space ship. Each match that you get correct, you get a point. In order to get new pictures and a new letter, the child must hit the orange arrow on the right side of the screen. There is no clear ending to the game, to stop playing the child just closes the window. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">Evaluation: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">This game is appropriate for grades K-3. There are a number of different colors. However the fact that there is no way to “win” the game may not appeal to students for long. And the fact that the child must click the arrow in order to go on to the next letter/group of pictures might not be fun for very long. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">1. Color: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">While there are a number of different colors in this game, they are the duller shades. 5. Mistakes: When a child makes a mistake, the alien ship fires back at the spaceship, but it does not tell you the correct answer, it is trial and error. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">6. Rating: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">N/A <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> 8. Navigation routine: There is a back button, but it will bring you back to the home game, not back to the beginning of the game. <span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">9. Click back and back: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';">N/A <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> 10.Click and drag: N/A <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','serif';"> Rating: 6