Home Library Product Reviews

Download/view the PDF version

Thinkin' Things: FrippleTown

Thinkin' Things: FrippleTown from Edmark

This software has been designed for students in Grades Prep to 2. It gives students an opportunity to develop reasoning and problem solving skills. The activities are all introduced with lively animations, music and voiced directions. It has built-in scanning that allows students who use a single switch to participate in mainstream classrooms. FrippleTown is a colourful, vibrant community where children can learn about spatial awareness, shape, colour, in fun problem solving exercises.

The software will run on Windows 95 or 98 as well as on Apple Macintosh computers. The installation is very easy to perform and is straightforward. After installing a few files on your hard drive you only need to place the CD in your CD-ROM drive and it will launch automatically. The install program also places a shortcut in the Edmark directory. It comes with a comprehensive teacher's manual, a demo of other Edmark titles, an online Help file and a program that gives information on what the students will learn. These guide parents as to the content and the learning/leisure opportunities afforded by the program.

The various activities encourage students to plan, think and analyse. It also provides opportunities for exploration, observation and decision making. The exercises are graduated and students can progress at their own pace. The age appropriate music and graphics will appeal to younger primary aged children in school or at home. The amusing animations and fun characters add to the appeal of this package.

In Cookies, you must design cookies that have different shapes, interior shapes, colours and design features. Students have to order the manufacturing process as a sequence of steps. They must analyse a finished product and re-create it. The process may involve up to 5-6 steps, with turning the shapes, twisting them, turning them upside down etc until the desired cookie has been made successfully. There are activities from A-N in this interesting and challenging problem solving exercise. The exercises start at an elementary level, then progress to more complex problems. Children can experiment and form hypotheses as to what machine to use and where to place it in the production line. The manufacturing process is delightfully animated with interesting and captivating machines and components.

In Fripple Deliveries, children must drive about town. They learn to master concepts of left right and straight ahead as well as compass settings, North, South East and West. They drive a van about town and negotiate turns at street corners. The screen animates as the delivery van drives about town, performing right angle turns.

The student must direct the van, using 1-step movements and thereby deliver parcels to customers. The van has an arrow on its roof. This clearly indicates in which direction it is headed. The animations are lively and very well drawn. Each street corner has cross street names, such as 'B3" these are cleverly named as they form coordinates on the map. A picture map is available at all times, with the delivery site noted as a red dot. The parcel pickup is a small blue square. There is a Hint button to give clues if you need help. A speaker allows you to listen to the voiced instruction. You go back to a loading dock after each successful delivery and then start the next delivery.

The problems become more complex and terminology is introduced, for example, "Go to D and 6, then go three blocks east". They learn to negotiate obstacles (i.e. roadblocks), go to street addresses, negotiate one way streets and avoid being stuck in traffic. It is a very clever use of grids in a real life scenario to practice skills and understandings about direction and compass settings. It might even prove useful for some 'big' kids! At the most difficult level it is very challenging!

Fripple Flags involves rule formation. Children are presented with two flags that are the same (i.e. follow the rule) and two that do not. They must use the process of elimination as well as determining what is 'the same' to work out the rule. They can use the Hint if they wish. NOTE: All activities have the Hint feature.

They are given voiced directions as to how to apply the rule. There are exercises from A-N. Each progressively becomes more complex in design. The activity uses shape, colour, orientation and number. Activities include making flags with 1 kind of decoration, 1-3 kinds, horizontal and vertical lines, position of decoration (in relation to a line e.g. above or below it). Others include decorations that form a cross, 3 kinds of decorations that are in specific colours to longer vs. shorter lines.

Fripple Patterns introduces a skating rink. Number patterns have relationships with drawings and children can explore the differences and similarities in a variety of ways. They can investigate the relationships between visual and mathematical patterns. The resulting visual patterns that they create can show the relationships that they may not have been aware of in nature or in art forms and designs. It is an activity that invites artistic expression as well. Children select a number of steps and then paint colours. The skater (an animated character) skates down a ramp. It then skates about a set number of 'dots' or markers in a skate rink. The set of numbers (from 1-4 selections) will determine the pattern that is made.

The pattern may consist of straight lines, curved and rounded lines. The multi-coloured patters are very intricate when the child chooses the four 'steps' with either positive or negative numbers. At the most difficult level, it challenges even the most mathematically minded person. An ideal activity for extension or for open-ended exploration of pattern making. It might be too abstract for some children at this age.

Some students might appreciate the artistry, but not 'connect' with the association between the concept and the execution. Introducing negative numbers may also confuse or challenge children at a young age. It might be more appropriate at Grade 5 or 6.

In-Built Scanning

Scanning is built in so children who use a switch can participate with their peers or siblings. The program allows single switch users to access three of the four activities. Touch Window users will also delight in interacting with all of the exercises in the four activities.