JumpStart Explorers

by Vivendi Universal

Product Features

• Ages 5-8
• Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista, Win 7 (32-bit)
• Famous world explorers & Ancient world history and cultures
• Geography
• Navigational skills

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005KG5F
• Item model number: 71243
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 15, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,621 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Play hide-and-seek across time with CJ Frog, and get a history lesson in the bargain. In JumpStart Explorers, you will travel to the Egypt of the pharaohs, explore the Orient with Marco Polo, and race a dogsled at the South Pole.

Designed to give children in the 5- to 8-year-old age range an introduction to past events and cultures, JumpStart Explorers mixes entertaining animations with educational activities. Each of CJ's nephews and nieces has used a time machine to hide in the past. To find the wayward tadpoles, players must navigate mazes, identify items that belong in the time period they are visiting, solve puzzles, and search complicated scenes for clues to the whereabouts of the runaways.

JumpStart Explorers is a comparatively simple game, an excellent starter game for kids new to educational software. The tasks included in the various activities cover a range of skills, from following directions and counting to elementary geography. While some of the activities are more learning drills, others are purely for fun. In Egypt, for example, players wrap CJ in a mummy's bandages and remodel the Sphinx.

Older children may find this game's challenges too easily solved, the structure of the search for the tadpoles a bit repetitive. Additionally, its soundtrack is the type that will make parents cringe: loud and repetitive, with overly chirpy dialogue. For younger kids, however, this varied collection of games and scenes is sure to be a big hit, one that will send them back in time again and again. --Alyx Dellamonica

Product Description

Take Command of Five Incredible Expeditions!Product InformationDiscover History Early!The time to ignite your child's interest in history is right now while thewindow of opportunity is wide open.  Child development research indicatesthat children are most receptive to learning at a young age. JumpStart's earlylearning products take advantage of this window of opportunity and offerchildren a solid foundation for future skill development.You'll make history as you blaze the trails with the world's great explorers.Jump right into the adventure as you travel back in time and team up withcourageous explorers to reveal the secrets of newly discovered worlds. Fivehistory-making expeditions in all: Explore the Pyramids with King Tut Claim first steps at the South Pole Uncover the lost civilization of the Incas Sail to Asia with Marco Polo Discover You will explore ancient China and celebrate Chinese New Year. Sail theMayflower across the ocean to Plymouth Rock. Discover the wonders of thepyramids with King Tut. Uncover the lost civilization of the Inca Indians inPeru. Travel by dogsled to claim first steps at the South Pole.  The fun isjust beginning!Skills LearnedFamous world explorers Ancient world history and cultures Geography Navigational skills Problem solvingProduct FeaturesBlaze Your TrailWhat's the best route to your final destination? Play the mapping game toget your bearings straight.Sneak a PeekWant to know what life was really like in the places you're going? Animatedvideos give you the inside scoop.Discover New WorldsThe Sphinx is a lion with the head of a king - but you can have fun designing itany way you like!Get Your GearMake a Chinese noisemaker and celebrate the New Year! Printable gamesdecorations and crafts let you take the fun offline.Race to the FinishMake your way through twisting trails as you race to b

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! This is a fantastic program!, July 27, 2003

By 

Lara Ashmore (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JumpStart Explorers (CD-ROM)

This is one of the best educational software programs I have ever seen. The graphics, interface design and games are fantastic. My daughter is fascinated with history and she loves exploring the different places and times around the world. I love the fact that kids can earn crafts to do offline. The crafts are related to the historical time period and they are very simple and easy to make with minimal supplies. The directions are short and simple and they provide all needed templates, outlines, etc. For example, you can make an Incan headress with just paper, and a pilgrims vest out of a paper bag. You can also earn stickers to print and put on your own wall map or print the one they provide. This is just a superb program and one your child is sure to enjoy!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JumpStart Explorers teaches history, geography, and science, March 18, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: JumpStart Explorers (CD-ROM)

Hello, everyone! You can call me StoryMaker. JumpStart Explorers is fun and teaches, like Knowledge Adventure's other JumpStart products. Meet CJ Frog and Edison Firefly, two partners who travel all over! CJ's neices and nephews, some frisky tadpoles and polliwogs, drop by one day, in search of a rainy day game of hide-and-seek! CJ and Edison agree to seek, but those tadpoles go into CJ's time machine to hide all over the world and all over time! CJ and Edison need your help to track down the tadpoles. I love the sphynx decorating activity in Egypt! You choose a head, make a face, and add some extra things! Also, the cat-taking-care-of activity is fun and funny (the cat makes expression-filled funny noises when you put pink makeup on her!) I learned a lot of history from this program. I like the dogsled activity, but it is sometimes hard to control. It also has some great jokes and stuff. The llama spitting at you is not the best, but you would expect it to not be good for a llama to spit at you, even if the llama is in the computer. I want to try some of the craft instructions you get as presents! They look cool! Overall, a nice, exciting, fun JumpStart game that teaches history and other things. Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JumpStart Explorers review, March 18, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: JumpStart Explorers (CD-ROM)

You can call me Russian Blue Witch (RBW for short). The first thing I want to say about this game is it's great! It all starts when one rainy day the tadpoles dropped by without knocking. They want to play hide-and-seek, but instead of just hiding, they climb aboard CJ's time portal to hide within time. They think that CJ will never find them there. Think again, small tadpoles! With your help, CJ and Edison zoom thru time to rescue those pesky tadpoles. The age range dosen't seem correct, because I am over the top of it. I learned everything it teaches about Egypt before, but with practically everything else I'm stumped (without playing this program, that is). Anyway, it's very good at teaching you while you play a fun game. It has games where you take care of animals, games where you pick plants, and other games that are great fun! One of my favorite games is in the pilgrim area where you prepare for the feast. The only problem is, it dosen't last long. They also have mazes where you collect items on your way to the end of the maze, but the problem is the maze is timed and so you feel like you have to skip over some bonus items to make it to the finish in time. It is a great game for all ages and I highly reccomend it. ~Russian Blue Witch