February 1997 Issue, copyright 1997, Canada Computer Paper Inc.
Explore the wilds in your own backyard
Jr. Nature Guides appeal to kids and teachers
by Jean Allen-Ikeson
Jr. Nature Guides
(Series includes several titles)
From: Integrated Communication and Entertainment
Street price: $39 each
Children love anything that creeps or slithers or flutters in their own
backyard. Now they can learn about these creatures with the Jr. Nature Guides
book and CD-ROM sets from Toronto's Integrated Communication and Entertainment
(ICE) Inc.
The newest release in the series is Amphibians and Reptiles, which will
soon be followed by Birds. The first title covered insects, including butterflies.
And there is more in the works on topics including stars and planets, mammals
and freshwater and saltwater life.
The combined ICE titles work out to quite an ambitious project that both
children and schools will welcome. The guides contain text that is appropriate
for Grades 3 to 6, and the CD-ROMs run on both Windows and Macintosh computers.
What makes these guides so nice is their smooth use of "multiple"
media: books, CD-ROMs, printable field guides, references and a fun Web
site. The use of technology in the presentation will not blow you away but
the solid presentation of content provides great value for a modest street
price of about $39. Sometimes we review programs that are best for schools
or best at home but this software should keep both markets smiling.
Here is what you get: the Amphibians and Reptiles CD-ROM, for example, contains
general descriptions of features of snakes or salamanders, specific descriptions
and photos of species grouped by the environment they are found in (six
in all), videos on the habitat, and a game/quiz with six questions that
can be reset over and over. A unique inclusion is a list of organizations
(Canadian ones included) concerned with reptiles and amphibians, books of
interest, places to go to study or see the creatures, and a wonderful collection
of Web sites such as the Rainforest Action Network.
For the set on insects, the Web sites listed include a wealth of information
on butterflies and bugs that will delight children. The 80-page hardcover
book that comes with the disc is filled with information. Even though much
of it is a repeat of the CD-ROM, it is still useful to have for taking on
nature walks or resolving conflicts among siblings who all want to use the
computer at the same time. The disc highlights and pronounces, if asked,
new or unusual terms.
An extra bonus is an explorer's guide that makes suggestions on clothing
and equipment to take on hikes and a list of safety and environmental dos
and don'ts.
The printable field kit is one of the best features. It is a 16-page field
questionnaire that asks children to identify where, when, and what they
have found. So they learn to attach a find to a particular habitat, or season,
and observe all kinds of characteristics of the creature that they may not
have noticed otherwise. It has solid educational value.
There is one final bonus. ICE has developed a Web site of its own (see contacts),
designed specifically for kids to explore and interact. Kids may join the
Explorer club and receive fun goodies. The site has a list of places to
go collected from the CD-ROMs with some specific information on why they
are interesting. A vacation across Canada could be planned for next summer
using these resources: look for places and parks near your route, use the
CD-ROM to see why they are important, and bring the book along to integrate
a little learning and depth into your summer holidays.
Teachers will love the package as well: ICE has done its homework on interesting
Web sites, prepared a field kit for nature walks and provided both hard
copy and computer resources for learning about nature.
Contact: Integrated Communication & Entertainment, Tel: 416-868-3294,
ext. 2240.
Web site: http://www.natureguides.com
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