Title: Math Blaster Mystery: The Great Brain Robbery (Word Problems and Logical Thinking Skills in Pre- Algebra)
Publisher: Davidson & Associates, Inc.
Date Published: 1996
Platform: Both Mac and Windows compatible
Content Area: Math, Pre-Algebra
Range of Grade Levels: This game is ideal for any age student that is preparing to move into algebra. This game includes options for increasing or decreasing the difficulty level; therefore, it is appropriate for many ability levels. The software may be used with some advanced fourth graders. It is probably more appropriate for fifth grade and beyond.
Content Description: The game begins with an interesting
mission. Dr. Dabble has stolen Big Brain’s brain. Big Brain
needs in back in order to compete in the math competition. You help
the character Rave go to Dr. Dabble’s mansion to get the brain back.
In the mansion, you travel from room to room. In each room, there
are problems to solve. You may pick a difficulty level in each room.
After completing a room, you receive coins and a puzzle piece. For
some rooms, you must pay coins. The puzzle pieces must be saved to
the end. The rooms are Kitchen Comparisons, Number Guesser, Equation
Maker, Ghoulish Word Problems, the Puzzle Room, and the Critter Arcade.
In Kitchen Comparisons, you must help the cook find the specified amount
of a certain ingredient. You must balance numbers on a scale in the
correct order. All levels work with addition skills and number order.
Level 1 uses whole positive numbers. Level 2 uses positive and negative
numbers. Level 3 uses fractions, decimals, percentages, converting
decimals to percentages, and converting unlike fractions to like fractions.
In the Number Guesser, you pick a number between –50 and 50. The
computer asks questions to guess the number. Then, the computer will
pick a number and you ask it questions to guess the number. You may
ask if the number is divisible by a certain number, if it is a prime or
composite number, if a certain number is a factor or multiple of the number,
if it is greater or less than a number, or if it is odd or even.
It is similar to 20 Questions. In the Equation Maker room, you must
fill in the blanks of an equation to get the right answer. Numbers
may only be used once. Order of operation skills and addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division are practiced here. In the Ghoulish
Word Problems room, students must read the question carefully, determine
what information is necessary, and use the information to solve the problem.
Many skills are used in this section. The skills that are necessary
are determined by the level the student picks. If students have trouble
solving the problem, they can use the tutor. The tutor will walk
them through each step while asking questions. After the students
gather all of the puzzle pieces, they take them to the puzzle room and
place them in the puzzle. This requires the use of visual spatial
skills and critical thinking. The puzzle allows them to enter the
Critter Arcade where they must get past the critters. It is very
much like a traditional video game where they must use hand-eye coordination
to succeed. Then, they are allowed to enter the lab where the brain
may be found. There are many tools the students can utilize such
as a blueprint of the house, a calculator, a math glossary, and a tutor.
Instructional Type:
Problem Solving
Game
Tool
Tutorial
Strengths: The game is very interesting and fun. I think kids will love to play it. It requires that students try many types of problems and use many skills and strategies. The tutorials for the word problems are great. They do not just give the students the answer. The student must answer questions about the problem. The answers to these questions help students work through the problem. The problems are fun and are real situations. The game is wonderful. Most students will be so interested in solving the mystery they will not mind doing the math problems. Because the students can select a difficulty level, kids that are on, above, or below grade level can play the game. Students are encouraged to take challenges because difficult problems earn more coins. The coin system also introduces players to economics and budgeting. Even though the game takes lots of time, students can play the individual games at any time. The games can also be saved in case there is not time to finish the entire game.
Weaknesses: The game was moderately difficult to understand. It took me a few minutes to decide how to begin. There were no explicit directions. I had to play around and use the help option many times to understand the whole concept. Also, many of the activities did not have tutorials.
Use in the classroom: I would definitely use this in my classroom. I would allow students to use the software individually to review and practice certain skills. I would also have students use specific games for practice after a lesson instead of worksheets. This game is so much better than a worksheet. It is more engaging and interactive for the students. It also provides scaffolding for certain problems in case I cannot help everyone that has a question. The problems on this game are real problems. They are not the “naked numbers,” or numbers with no meaning or context, that worksheets often use.
Rating: 10
User Comments:
“Math Blaster for 5th Grade offers students a comfortable yet challenging
transition between elementary school math and algebra.” --Tom
Nelson and Mary O’Connor
Links:
· http://www.familyeducation.com/software/0,1745,24-8423-1,00.html
This link offers a free download of the game and a quick overview.
· http://cyber-reviews.com/apr98.html
This site describes the game and explains which mathematical skills
it requires players to use.