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Foreign Language Learning Games

March 16th, 2013

Hi!  It’s Saturday, March 16, 2013 and time for Foreign Languages at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Digital Dialects

Age Range: All (with parental supervision)

This website offers a variety of interactive online games that help foreign language learners acquire basic language skills in a relaxed and fun way. Audio files have been incorporated into some of the animations so you can hear the correct pronunciation of the words and sentences.

As explained at the website, you’ll find “The world’s major languages, with a cross-section of languages from diverse regions,” represented including:

  • Arabic
  • Bosnian
  • Cantonese
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Farsi
  • French
  • German
  • Gree
  • Hebrew
  • Hindi
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Maori
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Swahili
  • Turkish
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietnamese
  • And many more!

When you get to the site just click on the language of choice. A new page opens with a selection of games. Some languages have more than others and the menu may include:

  • Animals
  • Clothing
  • Colors
  • Days and Months
  • Food
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Numbers
  • Phrases & Greetings
  • Units of Time
  • Verbs
  • Verb Conjugation
  • Vocabulary

Geography games that help familiarize learners with the locations of cities in countries are included for just a few of the major languages.

This is a terrific educational tool to enhance learning foreign languages.

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Free Offline Math Games & Much More!

January 21st, 2013

Hi!  It’s Monday, January 21, 2013 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

EllenMcHenry.com: Math (and much more)

Age Range: 5-16 (approximately and varies by topic and activity; with parental supervision)

This website provides free downloadable games and curricula for a wide range of subjects to be used offline. I’ve focused on math for this review. The free math games and activities teach various math strands and concepts in a fun, hands-on way. The game instructions and materials can be printed out and assembled for play offline.

The games were designed by a homeschool mom and illustrator named Ellen McHenry.  When she couldn’t find resources that were really what she wanted and needed, she got out her old college texts (she majored in drawing and minored in math), did some review, and started inventing her own stuff, much of which she makes available on her site for free.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu of the math games and activities that include:

*Storm the Castle! – Players (ages 5-8 or so) pretend to be medieval soldiers attacking a castle. They must cross a field and a bridge using math skills, find the difference between two numbers, find coordinates on a grid, and solve simple word problems. 

*Loot the Pirate Ship! – Players (ages 8-11 or so) use and practice multiples of numbers, prime numbers, and divisibility rules to capture ships and loot them.

*Sheep Herding Math Strategy Game – This is a two-player game that is fun for all ages. One person plays the sheep, the other is the border collie in this classic strategy game that is similar to “Hares and Hounds.” 

*Professor Pig’s Magic Math (a mini-curricula) – Professor Pig teaches his students (ages 5-8 or so) to see patterns with numbers that will allow them to easily do addition without any memorization. There is review and practice built into the activities eliminating boring drill worksheets! 

These games are not only great for elementary students, but are helpful to older students who struggle with math or need remedial work.

But that’s not all!  Ms. McHenry has also created free educational games and lessons for students of all ages, in the following subjects:

  • Plants
  • Animals
  • Human Body
  • Earth Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Physical Science
  • History/Social Studies
  • Geography/Maps
  • Language Arts
  • Art
  • Drama
  • French and Latin

You will be astounded at the innovative ways she has developed, and ingenious materials she has created to help students of all ages learn. Words simply can’t do it justice. Bookmark this site, you’ll want to return often.

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Free Game & Curriculum on History of Detroit!

January 10th, 2013

It’s Thursday, January 10, 2013 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Building Detroit

Age Range: 8 and up (with parental supervision, non-readers will need assistance)

The Detroit Historical Society sponsors this website that provides free curriculum, an interactive timeline, and a fun interactive game focused on the geographic, economic, historic, and cultural events in Detroit from 1600 to 1901. The presentation highlights the history of Native Americans, military occupation, fur trading, economic and population growth, industrialization, and the Underground Railroad, as well as the influence of French, British, Spanish, and Dutch explorers and immigrants.

When you get to the site, you can select from three items on the menu that include:

*Building Detroit: The Game – Play a game that allows you to help build the city of Detroit over five generations. As you progress through the game, you’ll learn about people and events of historical importance.

*Detroit History – Explore an interactive timeline that covers events from 1600-1901.

*Curriculum – Get free lessons plans in social studies and English language arts. Designed with third grade classroom students in mind, it can be enjoyed by a wider age/grade range and tweaked for homeschool use. The lessons are divided into six sections as follows:

  1. Before 1701 – Learn about the Native Americans who inhabited the area and explore Anishinabeg culture and oral traditions.
  2. 1701-1760 French Detroit – Meet French explorers and learn about the French fur trade.
  3. 1761-1796 British Detroit – Find out about Pontiac’s Rebellion, life in British Detroit, and the American Revolution.
  4. 1796-1825 Early American Detroit – Meet people of historical importance to Detroit, and learn about the great fire of 1805.
  5. 1825-1865 Boomtown Detroit – Discover how Detroit became a city, and its role in the Underground Railroad.
  6. 1866-1901 Industrial Detroit – Learn how Detroits natural resources led to its industrialization.

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Foreign Language Hangman, Wordsearch & Crosswords!

January 5th, 2013

Hi! It’s Saturday, January 5, 2013 and time for Foreign Languages at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Language Games

Age Range: 9 and up (approximately, with parental supervision; ability to read required)

This ad-supported website offers the opportunity to play online interactive Wordsearch, Crosswords, and Hangman games in a variety of foreign languages to help students learn and practice the language of their choice.

When you get to the site, you’ll see a brief introduction followed by the titles of the three games. Select the language you want to use including:

  • English
  • Espanol (Spanish)
  • Francaise (French)
  • Deutch (German)
  • Italiano (Italian)

Click on the language of choice, and a new page opens where you can play the game. Each game page offers a menu of topics to select from such as:

  • Animals
  • Furniture
  • Transportation
  • Clothes
  • Family
  • The Body
  • Colors
  • Weather
  • Flowers
  • Sports
  • And More!

Select a topic, and the program will automatically generate words in that category to use when playing the game.

Depending on your current skill level, these games can be simple or challenging. This is especially true of the crossword puzzles, where you must be able to read and interpret phrases (clues) to come up with the correct word for the puzzle. You can always check the solutions to self-correct.

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Challenging Math Puzzles, ‘Numberpedia,’ and More!

December 3rd, 2012

Hi! It’s Monday, December 3, 2012 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

Archimedes’ Laboratory

Age Range: 9 and up (Approximately, with parental supervision. Younger children may enjoy aspects of this site, too.)

This amazing commercial and ad-supported website was developed by fervent European puzzle enthusiasts, G. A. Sarcone and M.J. Waeber who comunicate the wonders of mathematics and science to the public through challenging and entertaining puzzles. You’ll find all kinds of free puzzles and brain teasers that incorporate math, logic, and geometry problems to challenge young minds to think in ways that lead to discovery and greater understanding.

When you get to the site, you’ll land on the “Puzzles & Tests” page that archives a selection of puzzles, tests, math games, brain-teasers, tangram-like manipulatives, and mental tricks. There’s a brief introduction (available in English, French, and Italian), and a menu that includes:

*Monthly Puzzle – Solve it and win a prize.

*Create Your Own – Get instructions and inspiration to build your own puzzles and try hundreds of puzzle activities.

*Numberpedia – Don’t miss this! Explore (or download for free) a colossal collection of facts about numbers including:

  • Numbers in Various Writing Systems
  • Numbers’ History
  • Prime Numbers
  • Fibonacci Numbers
  • Magic Star Numbers
  • Barcode Numbers
  • 80-20 Rule – The Pareto Principle
  • Numerical Sculptures
  • Memorizing Numbers and Number Facts

Below that, you’ll find newly added activities, visitor favorites, and a way to purchase puzzles, games, and books from the online store. No purchase or registration is necessary to access the many freebies on this site.

But wait, there’s more! Use the tabbed index at the top of the page to investigate other regions of this site that include:

*Illusion & Paradoxes -Check out the “Illusion of the Month.” Stretch your brain by exploring the “Illusion Gallery” and be amazed by the “Hypnoptical Illusion.”

*Mind & Brain – Get a recipe for healthy brain food, play with an anti-stress tool, and test your mental aptitude though games and quizzes.

*Oddities & Curiosities – An assortment of activities that include, puzzles, tests, optical illusions, and “teacher resources” that index some of the activities in other areas of the site.

There are many, many links to activities on this site, and most of the ones I tried were good. I did find a few duds, but not enough to dampen my interest. You’ll want to bookmark this site, as it’ll take more than one visit to see it all.

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Free Music Games & Activities!

November 10th, 2012

Hi! It’s Saturday, November 10, 2012 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

New York Philharmonic Kidzone

Age Range: All (with parental supervision)

Gather the family around the computer and turn on the sound to listen and learn all about the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra! You’ll learn about every facet of the symphony orchestra (and even music composition) through incredible games and activities.

When you get to the site you’ll see an animated picture of a symphony concert hall. Place your cursor over each person or thing in the picture and you’ll see some text identifying a menu item. The menu includes:

*Composer’s Gallery – Meet over 60 composers, read their bios, and listen to their music.

*Games Room – Play games to learn about instruments, music theory, composers and more.

*Dressing Rooms – Take a virtual trip to the backstage dressing rooms to meet renown conductors, musicians, and singers.

*Musician’s Lounge – Read interviews with the musicians of the orchestra and find out how they got their jobs.

*Instrument Storage Room – Discover every instrument of the orchestra including brass, string, woodwind, and percussion.

*Composition Workshop – Create your own minuet and other compositions. Find out what it sounds like when different instruments play the same piece of music. Learn about some kid-composers.

*Instrument Lab – Get free instructions for creating home-made instruments using common materials. Make a French Horn, Trombone, Kazoo, Bassoon, Guitar, Xylophone and more!

*Newsstand – Read stories and learn about music around the world.

*Videos – Watch videos of open rehearsals and musicians playing various orchestra instruments.

Click on the topic of interest and a new page opens featuring a multi-media treat for the senses! Bookmark this one to return often.

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