Jump Start Adventures 6th Grade

My family has thoroughly enjoyed the Jump Start Adventure 4th and 5th Grade programs. They are both reminiscent of The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis. While the adventure is compelling, and the program perhaps even entertaining, the 6th Grade version of this series reverts to workbook mode/fill-in-the blank learning activities.

The theme this time is space adventure. A wayward artificial intelligence has decided to take over the world by causing chaos. Your child must help Zak and Jess stop him at every turn. A world map shows you where he is at the moment. There are eight missions that must be completed before the final 'show down.' Each mission is completed by flying the 'Pod.'

Pollution Solution: Barrels are spilling toxic waste. In order to stop the leaks, you must fly around the factory answering math questions which appear on the screen.

Mine Games: Here you must maneuver the submarine Pod around in order to disarm mines which have been left to destroy the sea creatures. The questions here involved grammar and language arts.

Virtual Vanguard: This time your Pod must descend to the cellular level to stop the destruction of the world's animals. Answering science and biology questions will win this mission.

Insect Overthrow: Saving the world's forests involves answering math questions.

Canopy Crusade: The science questions here allow you to drop bags on a bulldozer which is bent on destroying the rain forest.

Robot Recircuitry Center: Language Arts questions here will help you rewire the brain of a robot in order to track the leader of the stray artificial intelligence.

Space Scan: In one of the only 'hand-on' activities here, you must plot geometric shapes in order to win this mission.

Monument Mischief: Fill-in-the-blank history questions will stop the world's monuments from eroding.

As you may be able to tell, none of these left us jumping for joy. Even with the fancy graphics, and Pod flying, these were still nothing more than workbook questions. There was some hope when we saw there was a tutor mode, but here you simply get to...answer more questions!

Considering how well done the previous Adventure programs were, this one left us with a bad taste in our mouths. Sure, it's more fun than a workbook, but don't expect much more learning here than you would find from that workbook.

Grading for Jump Start Adventure 6th Grade

Educational Value: 3

Entertainment Value: 3

Replay Value: 2 1/2

Ages: 10-12

Buy the latest version of JumpStart 6th Grade at Amazon! This new version is a bit different, and got better reviews. Sorry, I do not have a current review of the new version.