The Backyard
Publisher: Broderbund Software, Inc.
Reviewed by Sarah Betts
SCHOOL SUBJECTS: science, problem solving, art
GRADE LEVEL: preschool to second grade
PLATFORM USED FOR EVALUATION: Mac PowerPC
HARD DISK OR CD-ROM?:disk
TIME TO PLAY: about 50 minutes
RATING: 7
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM:
When you first start the program, a screen appears with two characters on it. Click on one character and you will move to the main screen, which is full of colorful items. There are about six main activities to do here.
The first activity is Scarecrow faces. Click on the scarecrow from the main screen. You will move to a new screen that contains a scarecrow head with options to make a specific kind of face. For example, click on the small silly face and it will then appear on the larger scarecrowÕs face. This activity allows your child to make associations between faces and the words that represent the specific expression.
If you move back to the main screen, there is a picture of a sandbox. Click on it to move to a new activity. In the Sandbox Treasure game, you are allowed to choose the difficulty, which is great because slow and fast learners are accommodated. You are given a map, and on the map is a crane, various obstacles, and an x, which marks the spot of a treasure you are trying to find. The object of this game is for the child to use the arrow buttons to move the crane in order to find and dig up the treasure. This is excellent for showing kids to find directions. Also, you have the option to create your own map, thus allowing the game to be played with two people; one draws and one finds.
Back at the main menu is a picture of a small picture book, which is the icon for the Animal Habitat Sticker book game. The sticker book will open up so that one side of the page shows a specific climactic region of the world. There is a small description of the region and then two animals appear at the bottom of the screen. The child must place the appropriate animal into the correct habitat. This game is educational in that it visually shows and then describes the nature of various geographic locations around the world. The child is then to associate the correct type of wildlife with that region.
The Pumpkin Patch game, which is also located off the main menu, is very similar to the Scarecrow game. Here, the child chooses from various items to construct a face on the pumpkin. There are several groups of items to choose from. This game enhances the artistic creativity of children and also helps them associate specific words with specific faces.
The Animal Cookies game allows children to get a better look at the anatomy of animals. Part of an animal appears on the screen. The child must then attach the missing body parts to the appropriate portions of the body that are present on the screen. The child's ability to visually recall the correct anatomical makeup of an organism is practiced and enhanced.
The final game is the Knothole game. This is very similar to the Animal Cookies game. Various levels are available, with the option to play against the computer or a friend. The child moves to various spaces around the game board in order to collect body parts that will complete the body of their assigned animal. During this game, kids develop ideals for where to move so that they can collect the next piece thy need.
Other activities present on the main screen are a tic tac toe board, a fence that plays music when touched and a plane which can be flown around by using the mouse.
The Backyard contains positive feedback if the child correctly completes a game, or provides help if it is needed. For example, the Animal Cookies game contains a help wand if the child gets stuck. There are no record keeping or teacher management options available. The program contains colorful graphics and sound. The option to print is available. For example, faces made during the Pumpkin game can be printed.
EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM:
The content of this program is clearly presented and easily accessible. All games are accessible right off the main screen. The program stimulates creativity by allowing the child to make their own choices and decisions that will affect the outcome of the specific game being played.
The Backyard is motivational because once the child makes a correct choice during a game, more items to correct or solve appear, causing the child to want to play further. This program could be adapted to other races and cultures by changing it from English to the language that is needed. Fortunately, there are parts of the program, such as the music fence, the Pumpkin and the Scarecrow games that can be used by any child across the world because language is not needed to play the game. The Backyard is gender neutral. The program appeals to any type of learning style because visual and auditory games are present. None of the activities are timed.
I felt the program was pretty strong overall, with some fun activities that would be enjoyed by young children. I felt there was good educational value to each game. The colorful screens really made the program look fun and interesting to play. However, there were a few instances when I was viewing the Backyard where I was unsure of what I was supposed to do. I felt the Knothole and the Sandbox games were unclear and had to refer to the manual in order to get going.
APPLICATION OF THE PROGRAM:
This program would be valuable to my teaching. If I wanted to educate the children on climactic regions and some of the animals present in each region, I could use this program. I could present material to the kids, and then allow them hands on experience with the phenomenon by allowing them to play the Animal Habitat Sticker book game. The Sandbox would also be helpful in getting the children to practice with newly learned directions in a fun manner. I foresee this program as being very helpful in the classroom.