Publisher: Tom Snyder Productions
Date Published: 1996-1998
Platform: Original Macintosh Version, Updated Macintosh Version, Windows Version
Content Area: Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies
Range of Grade Levels: K-4, but has potential for upper elementary and middle school students
Content Description:
The specific content of The Graph Club is graphing, however, the graph
activities provided can be used across the curriculum. The main content
goals of the software are to create and interpret tables, picture graphs,
bar graphs, line graphs and circle graphs. Also, students can learn
counting, adding, subtracting, sorting and classifying. They use
comparing skills and can generate questions and determine what information
is needed to answer a question. Data collection and organizing data
are also skills that are evident with The Graph Club. Children will
discover patterns, use graphs to communicate information, especially reading,
writing and mathematics.
There are many game levels in which students can match, explore, guess
and create. One example of a Match It game deals with farm
animals. On one side of the screen, there is a table with different
icons of farm animals, and in the other column of the table is listed how
many of each farm animal there are. The player must create a graph
on the other side of the screen with the information given and then they
will click Check my match when they are finished to have their work checked.
The students can also create their own graphs with topics such as:
· Hours you read a day?
· Favorite weather?
· Hours of TV per day?
· Favorite snacks?
· Favorite colors?
These games can be played with young children around ages 5-10.
Older students can be mentors for such activities. The time needed
to play the games depends on grade level. Older children will could
be finished with one game in five minutes, while younger students could
take up to twenty minutes. The graphs would be most effective if
they used individually, however, group data collection and interpretation
of data can be highly effective.
Instructional Type: ____ Drill & Practice
____ Simulation
____ Problem Solving
____ Tutorial
____ Game
____ Tool
Strengths & Weaknesses: The software activities are very easy to
follow, understand and play for older students who may have more computer
experience, but for younger children, it may be necessary for teacher instruction
on how to use the computer software. Strengths of the software are
the icons, color choices, and the choice of which type of graph to use:
line, bar, table, circle, and picture. Also, there are many hints
and ideas for teachers including an entire section in the manual about
Getting Started in the Primary Grades. There are manipulatives included
in the manual as well. Other strengths include usability for children.
For example, the first screen in which the child decides what to use, it
is written in child-friendly text including large words, pictures, and
bold colors.
Yet another strength of The Graph Club are the print options.
It would be neat for the children to see a hard copy of their work diplayed
on bulletin boards and walls around the classroom and school.
This software would be an asset to any elementary classroom. It is user-friendly and for the most part, students can learn to graph just about anything. Not only do students get to integrate technology skills in their daily activities, but they can use their minds to create symbolic representations of the day-to-day activities that are happening around them, like the daily weather.
I would certainly use this software with my students. It is again, user-friendly, readable, colorful (which is a must for young children), and more than anything else, a great teaching and learning tool.
Rating: 8
I chose to give The Graph Club and 8 on the 1-10 scale because the
only weakness and drawback I discovered was trying to understand what to
do with the matching. There should be a directions icon that children
can click on to make sure they understand what they are doing.
User Comments:
“I feel the Graph Club will revolutionize the teacing of graphing skills
at the primary level. It is easy and fun to create graphs, and I
was very pleased at how well my Kindergartners analyzed the changes taking
place as they placed the icons for their choices in the graph. Since
they were all able to participate in the creation of the graph, they felt
as though the graph reflected their thoughts and feelings. I posted
the graphs we made and the children remained highly interested int assessing
the printouts long after the lessons were finished.”
Karen Bryant, Kindergarten Teacher
Reviews
1. Conjunction Junction, What’s your function…
The author of this review is Rich Cunningham and it is posted at http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/scholrev.htm
I would definitely be interested in trying this software! I love
to watch SchoolHouse Rock and this is a break off of it. The reviewer
gave it excellent reviews and said that his children even enjoyed the software.
The pictures of the different screens were a little fuzzy, but I am sure
it is something students will enjoy and learn from.
2. They’re Baaaaack!
The author of this review is Brenda Prefling and it is posted at the
web site: http://www.worldvillage.com/wv/school/html/scholrev.htm
This software seems like so much fun, yet challenging too. I
think this software would be a benefit in an elementary classroom because
it does challenge children to use their “noodle” and really focus on answering
a problem correctly. I especially liked the description of each game
and the names of it.
3. My First Amazing World Explorer 2.0
This author of this review is Sue Gilbert. It seems to me that
this review is a little less detailed than the previous two, so before
I bought it to use in my class, I might have to read a few more reviews.
I found this review at http://www.aardvark-kids.com/software/review4.htm