ClueFinders 5th Grade

by The Learning Company

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00003069T
• Item model number: CFF3744AE
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 24, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #3 in Video Games > Mac Games > Arcade
  • #25 in Video Games > PC Games > Arcade
  • #89 in Software > Children's Software
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

Our just-graduated fifth grade testers found this new ClueFinder program challenging but doable, and boy, did they enjoy it. The adventure begins with the ClueFinder kids shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Two of their teammates are trapped in an underground hideaway, and the ship's captain and crew are missing as well. It's up to the rest of the gang to find their friends and get off the island- all before a monstrous volcano blows its top. To solve the mystery and save the day, kids help the ClueFinders complete activities and collect the strange CrypTiles that will unlock the island's secrets. The ten activities cover math, social studies, reading, critical thinking and science. One especially challenging game has players combining fractions with unlike denominators to make whole units. This is done by manipulating tubes of various sizes, a very hands-on method of studying fractions and their relationships. Another strong activity asks kids to read mixed up passages from paragraphs and put them in the right order. There are spelling and vocabulary games, computational activities and map reading exercises. With each successful play, kids are awarded CrypTiles, which they use to get closer to the big rescue. Besides a compelling theme and solid activities, the program has other thoughtful features that kids and grown-ups will appreciate. For instance, before beginning the adventure players can take a brief skills test that sets the activity levels to match kids' strengths and weaknesses. The program also jumps in with help when children are struggling and keeps records of kids' progress. There's a second CD in the package that lets you print customized skill workbooks. Complaints were few- some kids thought the math games were a bit too challenging. But as one tester said, "You stick with it and once you figure it out, it's easy!" Self-confidence born of hard work is a valuable quality.
Teaches: reading, math, geography, science, history, problem solving
Age Range: 9, 10, 11 Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

Product Description

Plunge into an island adventure with the ClueFinders! When a sudden tsunami shipwrecks the savvy sleuths on an uncharted volcanic island, they need your help to solve a mystery and escape before the volcano blows.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, June 28, 2000

By 

Ronnie Nelson (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ClueFinders 5th Grade (CD-ROM)

Probably most important with any educational software is finding something you're child really likes. My son loves to play this game!

He especially likes playing geography and maps. He loves choosing were in the world to send one of the characters. If he sends the character to the correct place, then he wins a "crypt tile". Crypt tiles are important because they are used to solve the games overall puzzle.

The math section makes doing fractions fun. Cylindrical tubes are aligned on the ocean floor by putting fractions in their proper place. If all the tubes are correct, then a "tube worm" coughs up a "crypt tile."

Navigation in the game is easy. Playing is fun - yet challenging. We recommend this one highly.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You're the ClueFinder in this game, August 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: ClueFinders 5th Grade (CD-ROM)

The ClueFinders' are four kids who as a team gather clues and solve a mystery. They solve fractions, solve English problems, and many more educational games. It is a fun way of learning, and it is intresting, easy, and awsome. I highly recommend any ClueFinder's game there is, because they teach you and let you have fun at the same time. This product is defienitly worth its' money.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great combination of fun and learning!, February 8, 2001

By 

Top Dragon (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: ClueFinders 5th Grade (CD-ROM)

Both of my children have thoroughly enjoyed the Cluefinder Series, especially this 3rd Grade Edition. I have tried many similar products but have found them to be either to heavy on the education, thereby losing the kids interest, or too heavy on the fun and they don't really learn much. In this product, the children get to work with a small group of kids (whom they may know already from other Cluefinders adventures)as they seek to solve the story/mysteries. I love the way the kids get rewarded for progress during their journey, providing even more incentive to continue. And the best part of all: they really do learn! During dinner one evening, my daughter showed off some of the math skills she had learned quite far in advance of her school classmates. And it wasn't just rote memorization. She had really learned the concepts. My hat is off to The Learning Company!