Step-Up to SATS Year 4
from Knowledge Adventure
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Step-up to SATs Year 4 is an excellent set of two CD-ROMs. For those children who have used the Year 3 package, the first CD is the same and allows children to visit Adi the friendly alien's spaceship. They can create their own character to play the games and create their own virtual room by selecting from designs. In Adi's room they can visit subject-based corners and find out a whole range of information about the solar system, different countries, endangered species and much, much more. The graphics are excellent and include video clips. Children can also create memos and write a diary and keep track of things by using the appointments calendar.
The second CD-ROM allows children to practice their literacy and numerical skills by entering the English or the Maths space station, each of which is divided into three areas. The Learning Capsule consolidates work that is carried out as part of the Year 4 curriculum at school. Children can either choose which exercises to carry out or Adi, who takes into account their progress, can guide them. Teaching points are explained and children are given tips if they get the answer wrong. Children can also look at multimedia documents and animated lessons if they need further explanations. Exercises include work on all areas of the English and Maths curriculum, for example, identifying which piece of text shows you that it is fiction, identifying proper nouns, completing number patterns, work on place value, decimals and so on. Children and parents can keep track of how they are doing by looking at the results sheets. As a reward, children are able to "buy" games to play when they have scored enough points.
The Teaching Capsule provides children with challenges against the clock and memory games. This capsule is not quite as well matched as the Learning Capsule to the Year 4 curriculum, as some of the questions are a little easy, but children would really enjoy trying to beat the clock.
The Resource Capsule gives excellent explanations of all the areas covered on these CD-ROMs and there are tips on how to write a summary and studying techniques.
Despite the repetition with the Year 3 CD-ROM, Step-up to SATs Year 4 would be an excellent purchase for a Year 4 child (8-9 years old). The Learning Capsule provides excellent consolidation of work that is carried out in school and there are enough educational and fun activities to keep children busy for the whole year. --Amanda York
