Schoolhouse Rock Math Rock-

Anyone growing up in the 60's or 70's is familiar with the "Schoolhouse Rock" videos which graced our Saturday morning cartoon viewing. In recent years these videos have made a nostalgic comeback of sorts. Creative Wonders has added to it's "Schoolhouse Rock" collection this fall with the release of "Math Rock" and "America Rock." While I really enjoyed "Grammar Rock," I am sorry to say I was not all that pleased with "Math Rock."

Included in the computer program are each of the Math Rock videos. These are well done as always and valuable to own. The videos are available separately from ABC and in this case I would wager a better buy. Math Rock contains numerous games which correspond to the videos. As you begin "Math Rock" you are invited to explore "Funky Numberland" with your host Lucky the Schoolhouse Rock rabbit. You must help Lucky earn coins in order to get his band members back to the garage and on to the "Road to Fame Game." Each game contains five skill levels which makes this program useable for kids ages 6-12. As you travel through Funky Numberland you can click on sparkling hot spots around your screen or click on any glowing building or object to begin a game.

In one game you need to chase zoo animals back in to their pen. Nothing seemed to work smoothly. I felt I was chasing a bunch of animals around with random clicks and could make nothing happen right. Checking to see if it was just my ineptitude, I watched three other kids attempt to coral the animals with the same lack of success. I hoped I had perhaps found the one dud game in the program. At the carnival. I was supposed to shoot balloons at a target in order to create a sum which matched the given criteria. I could see the answer immediately as could the kids with me, but none of us was able to hit the target correctly even on the easiest level. At the skate rink your job is to give exact directions to a skater so that she can skate her "figures." The game was confusing at first and frustrating until we "learned the ropes." The instructions left us hanging and it was only through trial and error that we discovered what we were supposed to do. When you visit the moon your job is to load a conveyor belt with moon rock while using place value skills. Again, it was through trial and error that we learned what to do. I was also disappointed to find that if you made a mistake there was no way of correcting that mistake until your next round of play. The list goes on. I found the games clumsily put together and confusing to understand. The time it took to load each game was exorbitant even on a system which surpassed the minimum requirements.

All in all I was disappointed in this program after thoroughly enjoying "Grammar Rock." It is worth mentioning that they have included extra "away from computer" activities and a neat Internet link up to the Schoolhouse Rock Playground on America Online. The videos are a trip down memory lane for any adult, but I would opt for purchasing the videos in this particular case.

Grading:

Educational value- **
Entertainment value- ** 1/2
Use of medium- **
Age- 6-12

Buy Math Rock at Amazon!