The Backyard

Publisher: Broderbund

Reviewed by Jessica Wade

SCHOOL SUBJECTS: science, problem solving

GRADE LEVEL: 1- 6

PLATFORM USED FOR EVALUATION: Mac

HARD DISK OR CD-ROM?:disk

TIME TO PLAY: varies

RATING: 8.5

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM:

When the screen first comes up, it looks like there is nothing to the game. Actually it is just a picture of a backyard which is the menu. When you begin to click your mouse on different items in the back yard, they do something fun. For instance when you click on the paint buckets with the paint brushes, you can paint the fence. The game does a nice job in showing limits by making the paint brush go back into the bucket when you try to paint something other then what you are supposed to be painting.

There is also another part of the program. If you click on the pumpkin, it opens up into a new screen where you can make a face on the pumpkin. There are four worms that help make the pumpkin's face. The worms that are doubled up are to make doubles of the items that you want. The worm that is by itself is to makes the item single. The worm that is on an angle is to turn the item on an angle. The worm last worm turns the items on 90 degree angles. This is very beneficial to children because it makes them use their imagination. The pumpkin can be something so unique and different to everyone and final products can be printed.. Another nice activity that the game allows you to do is matching the correct habitats to different animals. This part of the game was neat, but the animals didn't vary much at all. There is another part on animals. This part is sort of like a puzzle. There are a bunch of parts of two different animals, and you have to put the parts together to complete the animal.

My favorite part of the game is when you can play tic-tac-toe against the computer. This is where children can practice their strategic skills. I must admit, the computer is extremely easy to play against and I think that it lets you win. But from a childÕs point of view, they love to win, so IÕm sure they feel good about themselves.

\ The last part of the game is a board game. This game is sort of similar to the part where you had to match the animals with the correct habitat. However, in the board game, when you match them up correctly, you get to move a space. There is also no time limit, so it allows the children to take their time.

EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM:

Overall, I really enjoyed playing this game. I think that it does a nice job at teaching children and at the same time they made learning fun. I feel that young children can benefit from playing this game. They can practice and build on the skills that the program is developed to work on. The game does get a bit repetitive at times. Especially during the part of matching the animals and habitats. I think it would be better if the game included more animals.

APPLICATION OF THE PROGRAM:

This program would make a nice supplement for teaching children about science and problem solving.