ClueFinders Mystery of the Missing Amulet software by The Learning Company

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ClueFinders Mystery of the Missing Amulet Software

Windows

Mac

By: The Learning Company
Age(s): 7 to 10

Packaging: Sleeve
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by the packaging for easier viewing.
You will receive actual software
on CD-ROM in sleeve.
Product ID# 1345

Price: $14.98
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Join the ClueFinders on your search for the valuable amulet!

While exploring the impact site of a large meteor, the ClueFinders are unexpectedly transported across the galaxy to a far-off planet. Joni and Owen find audience with a beguiling princess while Santiago and Leslie are apparently trapped by a wicked sorceress. The sorceress threatens the entire planet with destruction and the ClueFinders are the kingdom's only hope.

The ClueFinders need you! To rescue Leslie and Santiago and save the planet Millennia, Joni and Owen must find the two halves of a missing amulet. As they search the land and rush to free its native peoples, they uncover compelling legends and strange tales.

SKILLS LEARNED:

Educational Focus
The ClueFinders Mystery of the Missing Amulet builds children's reading abilities in a rich game world filled with mystery and exploration. It is designed to provide engaging reading experiences that will lead to healthy reading habits.

Reading to Learn
An important change in reading ability takes place during the upper elementary years. At this time, many children shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." They are now better able to use contextual clues to understand new words, and so begin to build vocabulary at an ever increasing pace. With a larger vocabulary, their confidence in their own reading ability increases as well. This allows many children to develop a taste for reading for personal enjoyment as they discover the vast variety of literature available to them.

Auto-adjusting Skill Levels
Each activity in The ClueFinders Mystery of the Missing Amulet has multiple levels, so the program can move from simple to more complex concepts at a pace that suits each player. Players can tackle more challenging problems even if they haven't mastered all skills or concepts in the program; most skill areas adjust their levels up or down independently from the others, thereby creating a tailored learning experience that addresses each player's specific needs. The program carefully tracks players' responses to each level's activities, using that information to adjust the type of puzzle presented. Users may also choose to adjust the difficulty levels manually. If players want more practice on a particular puzzle type or content area, they can use Practice Mode. In Practice Mode, players can choose a specific activity and level on which to work.

Problem-Solving Help
In The ClueFinders Mystery of the Missing Amulet, an onscreen character explains each activity. This explanation aims to support players in understanding what they are being asked to do. Often it directs players toward recognizing the different parts of a puzzle on the screen that they may need to use. If users don't understand the directions the first time, they can hear the directions repeated by clicking on the puzzle character or on the ClueFinders Joni and Owen. Players can also get help by clicking on the ever-present red video phone. The video phone keeps the four ClueFinders in constant communication. Leslie and Santiago will automatically call when they notice players having difficulty solving a puzzle, or players can click on the red video phone at any time to receive additional support in solving a question or puzzle.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

ThermaGems - Players use their vocabulary and logic skills to determine which word in a set of four words doesn't belong. Players then direct a probe to catch the gem with the word that doesn't belong.

Ice Breaker - In this arcade-style vocabulary activity, players exercise their familiarity with language as they determine the missing word in a sentence or find a synonym or antonym of a word in the sentence.

Jukebox Jumbler - Players use word definitions to fill in a crossword puzzle. Prefixes and suffixes of the answer words are already filled in to provide focus. This activity helps players develop their spelling and vocabulary skills.

Crystal Gateway and Mystic Gateway - In each of these activities, players decipher clues which they have earned throughout the game to open a door to a secret passageway. Players develop skills in sequencing, following directions, and reading for meaning.

LavaRocks - Players use their vocabulary and logic skills to determine which pair of words in a set of four analogies doesn't belong. Players then direct a probe to catch the LavaRock with the word pair that doesn't belong.
Bridge Builder - In this grammar activity, players must determine the part of speech of a particular word in a sentence. The word appears on a block that players must maneuver correctly to form a bridge across a chasm.

Rock Muncher - In this reading comprehension activity, players read passages which give them important information about the planet Millennia. Players then answer questions demonstrating their understanding of what they've read. They must determine the main idea or topic of each passage, make inferences, find synonyms, and locate specific details.

Mystic Messages - Players read story passages which have words missing. By using contextual clues to draw conclusions, players must correctly determine and spell the missing words. As each word is correctly filled in, certain letters from the word "magically" appear in a secret message at the bottom of the screen. By using logic skills, players can infer what the message will say and use that knowledge to help determine the missing words above.

Gates of Mount Valdrok - In this strategy activity, players must figure out a secret password by typing it into spaces provided on a locked door. Characters on screen then tell players if any of the letters they entered are in the password and the number of letters in the correct places. This activity helps to build skills in spelling, planning, and logical thinking.