Charlie Chimp’s Big Modelling Party

Life

1 April 2005

For the past 20 years, Sherston has been responsible for producing a raft of quality educational software. With a list of classic titles the length of your arm, Sherston’s success is built on sound educational content, superb graphics, interactivity and sound, which endear both teachers and children.

Admittedly you won’t find its software in the bargain basket of your local PC store, but few could argue that the learning potential afforded by their cross-curricular catalogue isn’t well worth the investment.Readers may already be familiar with Sherston’s logo-based adventure games The Crystal Rainforest and Mission Control, designed for senior pupils. Now with the latest release of Charlie Chimps Big Modelling Party, children as young as five can try their hand at logo and modelling, developing important problem solving and classification skills in the process.

It’s almost party time in the Tropics! With the Annual Modelling Party looming, preparations are in full swing with Charlie Chimp and friends toiling feverishly but they can’t do it alone. Your class of Caribbean explorers must lend a hand to complete seven activities. Be it kitting Charlie out in the right gear for the party, packaging sweets in Tina Tiger’s Sweet Shack or negotiating obstacles on route with party invites, this is not a mission for the fainthearted but one that could
ultimately result in the greatest modelling party ever seen.

On arrival at Charlie’s house, children can choose between adventure or activity modes. Adventure mode integrates activities into an adventure simulation environment while the latter enables any activity to be completed in isolation, allowing pupils to focus on specific skills if needs be. Activities are diverse and brilliantly designed, encouraging children to make decisions, predict outcomes, classify information and solve problems, all a logical part of the quest. To begin adventurers must simply locate the hyperactive primate in ‘Where is Charlie?’ by completing jigsaw puzzles of both the exterior and interior of his abode to eventually reveal his hideout.

However, as the adventure progresses, the activities become increasingly challenging. For instance in ‘Charlie’s Deliveries’ children must assist Charlie deliver the remaining four invitations by either land or sea, using basic logo instructions to navigate a course. Furthermore, en route with Bertie Bat’s invite, a maze with bamboo elevators must be negotiated. With all party preparations complete, to finish children compose a unique score to accompany the fireworks finale in ‘Magical Fireworks’ by selecting a series of musical phrases and instruments, and dragging them onto the fireworks music line. This is an excellent activity and certainly one children will thoroughly enjoy, manipulating, refining and adapting compositions to achieve the ultimate accompaniment.

Charlie Chimps Big Modelling Party is best suited to whole class use from infants to first class. Each activity has three difficulty levels which can adjusted on the Teacher Options screen. Activities available, sound levels and activity mode can also be set. Navigation is easy and an abundance of clear oral instructions ensures children will quickly learn to work independently. However, the absence of
individual progress tracking is certainly an oversight, with children required to start over on resumption or at least remember the last activity attempted.

Charlie Chimps Big Modelling Party is available for Mac and PC, and will install and operate effectively on Pentium II PCs with 64Mbyte of RAM, running Windows 95 and above. The accompanying comprehensive User Guide is invaluable for those who come unstuck. A single user license costs €91.58 while an unlimited site license will set you back €456.50.

As we have come to expect from Sherston, Charlie Chimps Big Modelling Party is another superb and innovative release. Developing logo, problem solving, classification skills and more, in an engaging game environment complete with lovable characters, adventure and intrigue. Early learners will certainly benefit from tropical capers with Charlie and friends.

Charlie Chimp’s Big Modelling Party
Publisher: Sherston
Supplier: Diskovery 01 803 8822
www.diskovery.ie

20/12/04

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