Project Smart School's classrooms all have a bundle of software that includes ClarisWorks (also called AppleWorks), HyperStudio, and an electronic encyclopedia. These pieces of software provide the fundamental tools needed for teachers and students. In addition, teachers have found other software to be useful as well. The list that follows includes some of the software that teachers in the field have suggested as being useful. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Acquiring additional software is up to the school and/or district. If you wish to evaluate software you might want to use a form that has been developed. It can be downloaded by clicking here. To read the evaluation form you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't already have the reader you can download it from Adobe.
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| The Accelerated Reader Publisher: Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. Vendor: D. Kriveloff Associates Grade Level: K through 12 Curriculum Area: Reading, Language Arts, Literature Description: Accelerated Reader is a computerized learning information system that manages literature-based reading practice. It serves as a task-level learning information system providing student data on a daily basis. Accelerated Reader measures reading comprehension, tracks performances, and provides reports. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E1a, E1b, E5a. return to top |
Imagination Express - Destination:
Castle Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 6 Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music Description: Tool software that enables students to produce printed works (stories, poetry, reports, etc.) and interactive electronic books. Stickers of characters, animals and objects can be combined with illustrated backgrounds. Word processing features allow text to be entered and edited. Other features of the program include a talking castle fact book, and story ideas. Provides opportunities for theme-based learning. Students can combine text with art, animation, narration, sound effects, and music. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E2a, E2c. return to top |
| Imagination Express - Destination:
Neighborhood Publisher Edmark Vendor Meizner Grade Level K through 6 Curriculum Area Language Arts Description Tool software that enables students to produce printed works (stories, poetry, reports, etc.) and interactive electronic books. Stickers of characters, animals and objects can be combined with illustrated backgrounds. Word processing features allow text to be entered and edited. Provides opportunities for theme-based learning. Creativity and communication are enhanced as students combine text with art, animation, narration , sound effects and music. Other features of the program include a talking rain forest fact book and story ideas. Provides opportunities for theme-based learning and suggestions for using collaborative writing experiences. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E2a, E2c, E3b, E3c. return to top |
Imagination Express - Destination:
Pyramids Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 8 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum - Language Arts and Social Studies Description: Tool software the enables students to create stories of exploration, adventure and daily life in the mysterious setting of Ancient Egypt. It includes art, animated stickers, music and sound effects. Students write and edit text, add dialogue and sounds, and create artwork. In addition there are story ideas, a talking pyramids fact book and a sample electronic book. It will encourage students to explore a language written with pictures instead of letters, gain insight into the culture and way of life of people who lived thousands of years ago and develop an interest in archaeology and ancient history. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E2a, E2c. return to top |
| Imagination
Express - Destination: Rain Forest Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 6 Curriculum Area: Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art and Music Description: Tool software that enables students to produce printed works. Stickers of characters, animals and objects can be combined with illustrated backgrounds. Word processing features allow text to be entered and edited. Creativity and communication are enhanced as students combine text with art, animation, narration, sound effects and music. Other features of the program include a talking rain forest fact book and story ideas. Provides opportunities for theme-based learning and suggestions for using collaborative writing experiences.Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E2a, E2c. return to top |
Imagination
Express - Destination: Time Trip, USA Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 8 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum - Language Arts and Social Studies Description: Tool software that enables students to produce printed works (stories, poetry, reports, etc.) and interactive electronic books. Stickers of characters, animals and objects can be combined with illustrated backgrounds. Using the movie tools, students can record and play back. Word processing features allow text to be entered and edited. Other features of the program include a talking scrapbook, story ideas, and a sample electronic book. Provides opportunities for theme-based learning. Students can gain insight into how Americans lived in six different time periods (1640, 1776, 1865, 1929, 1945, and today); discover how a town may evolve and understand what causes change; and learn how historic events affect day-to-day life. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E2a, E2c. return to top |
| Reading
Galaxy Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 4 through 8 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum. Description: Reading Galaxy uses a TV game show setting to introduce students to thirty novels of outstanding fiction while reinforcing reading comprehension skills and encouraging reading for pleasure. Players must read passages, answer questions, and solve puzzles that prove their knowledge of these books. The thematic lessons in the guide afford many opportunities to use cooperative or collaborative learning groups. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E1a, E1b, E1c, E1d, E1e. return to top |
Rosetta
Stone Publisher: Fairfield Language Technologies Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 3 through 12 Curriculum Area: Reading, Language Arts, Foreign Language, ESL Description: Multimedia CD-ROM program designed to take beginning language learners (English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Dutch, etc.) to intermediate levels. It is sequenced, self-paced and emphasizes spoken and written language. It features over 3,600 real life color images and has voice recording capability. Students work exclusively in the target language because the program depends on pictures to create its context of meaning. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E4a. return to top |
| Smart
Place Publisher: Scholastic Vendor: Scholastic Grade Level: 6 Curriculum Area: Reading, Language Arts Description: Comprehensive literacy program with 6 theme-based units. Each unit contains a Scholastic Smart Book (various genres), CD-ROM, teaching plans and user's guide. Some of the reading skills taught in these units are identification of main idea and details, evaluation, synthesis, summary, character analysis, etc. Six writing assignments are included in each unit. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: E1a, E1c, E2a, E2b, E2c, E2d. E2e, E3b, E5a. return to top |
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| Geometer's
Sketchpad Publisher: Key Curriculum Press Vendor: Key Curriculum Press Grade Level: 5 through 12 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: This program enables students to accomplish Euclidean constructions with the drawing tools in the toolbox and with the commands in the Construct menu. It goes beyond Euclidean constructions by using the commands in the Transform menu to accomplish translation, rotation and dilation by fixed, computed and dynamic quantities. Users can also enter the realm of analytic geometry using the Measure and Graph menus to measure properties of a sketch and work in rectangular or polar coordinate systems. Labels, captions and animations can be added. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M2. return to top |
Logical
Journey of the Zoombinis Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 4 through 6 Curriculum Area: Mathematics, Logic, and Problem Solving Description: Hybrid animated program; in a game format, is designed to help students explore and apply fundamental principles of logic, problem solving and data analysis. Its twelve puzzles have four levels of difficulty. Identifying attributes; data sorting classifying and ordering; hypothesis testing; statistical and algebraic thinking and set theory are some of the concepts supported. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M4a, M4d, M4g. return to top |
| Math
Heads Publisher: Theatrix Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 9 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Math Heads is set in an interactive television format, where players navigate with an on-screen remote control. Each channel is a parody of a different TV program and presents a different math activity. It is designed to help players solve word problems; recognize multiple representations of the same quantity; manipulate fractions, decimals and percentages; use proportional reasoning; and, perform basic computation and estimation. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1a, M1f, M6a, M6c. return to top |
Mighty
Math Calculating Crew Publisher: Edmark Vendor Meizner Grade Level: 3 through 6 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: This animated program strengthens problem-solving and reasoning skills. Topics covered are money, estimation, rounding and 3-D geometry/nets. The CD is a hybrid. return to top |
| Mighty
Math Cosmic Geometry Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 6 through 10 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: This program uses a 3-D cosmic landscape as a theme to teach basic geometry concepts and problem-solving skills. Topics covered are length, perimeter and area; surface area and volume; attributes of shapes and solids; constructions and transformations; and 2-D and 3-D coordinates. The CD is a hybrid. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M2d, M2k. return to top |
Mighty
Math Astro Algebra Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 7 through 10 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description This middle school algebra program uses a 3-D space ship theme to pose math problems. The program tracks the progress of individuals. Teachers (or students) can specify which math subject they need to work on. Over 100 different math missions are used to practice math: An off-mission "Astro-Net" (with hyperlinks to similar concepts) is used to teach math content. Topics covered are functions, graphing, variables, expressions, equations, inequalities, ratios, proportions, fractions, decimals and percents. Multimedia sounds, movies, and graphics will motivate student use. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1f, M1g, M3a, M6f. return to top |
| Prime
Time Math, Cliffbound! Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 6 through 7 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description Students watch a three-part movie, record data, solve math problems and cooperate as a team in response to a wilderness rescue. The math topics covered are computing time, rate and distance; using unit ratios; and using equivalent ratios. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1f, M1g. return to top |
Prime
Time Math, Emergency! Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 7 through 8 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Students watch a three-part movie, record data, solve math problems and cooperate as a team in response to a medical emergency. The math topics covered are conversions of metric units; medical measurements and rates; and graphing of change over time.Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1a, M1c, M4a. return to top |
| Prime
Time Math, Fire! Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 8 through 9 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Students watch a three-part movie, record data, solve math problems and cooperate as a team in response to a building fire. The math topics covered are formulas, order of operations, fire fighting measurements and rates, and triangles and the Pythagorean theorem. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1b, M1c, M2b, M2d, M6b, M6f. return to top |
Prime
Time Math, Lost! Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 6 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Students watch a three-part movie, record data, solve math problems and cooperate as a team in response to a wilderness search and rescue. The math topics covered are ranking decimals and percents; multiplying two-digit decimals; and measuring angles and distance. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1a, M2g, M6a. return to top |
| Prime
Time Math, Stakeout! Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 6 through 7 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Students watch a three-part movie, record data, solve math problems and cooperate as a team in response to a rash of burglaries at local comic book stores. The math topics covered are mean values, percentages, and ranges; using statistics to establish patterns; and, tables, bar graphs, and frequency charts. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M4a, M4b, M4c. return to top |
Wide
World of Mathematics - Middle School Publisher: Scott Foresman Vendor: Scott Foresman Grade Level: 6 through 8 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum, correlating Mathematics with English Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and the Internet. Description: This multimedia program uses news and sports footage to show students how mathematics is at work in real-world events. Decimals, area, probability, equations, bar and line graphs, rates and proportions are some of the concepts addressed, This package contains interdisciplinary investigations, classroom guide and reproducible black-line masters. CD-ROM hybrid. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: M1a, M2d, M4a, M4b. return to top |
| Let's
Do Math: Tools & Things Publisher: Math Resources, Inc. Vendor: Math Resources, Inc. 1-800-720-1323 Grade Level: 4 through 12 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: A collection of interactive math demonstrations. There are over 1000 terms and descriptions. This collection also includes a graphing calculator and interactive math and logic puzzles. return to top |
Trudy's Time and Place House |
| Millie's
Math House Publisher: Edmark Vendor: Meizner, Inc. 718-671-7400 Grade Level: PreK - 2 Curriculum Area: Mathematics Description: Students explore fundamental math concepts as they learn about numbers, shapes, patters and sizes. The CD-ROM version features addition, subtraction and counting to 30. A Spanish version is also available.. return to top |
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| Decisions,
Decisions: The Environment Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Science/Social Studies Description: Students evaluate data, facts and opinions to decide social policy. They experience political tradeoffs, learn about landfills, land-use issues, recycling, the greenhouse effect and water pollution. In this simulation, their actions affect local and global environments. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: S2d, S3d. return to top |
The
Great Solar System Rescue Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 8 Curriculum Area: Science Description: This program is a game/simulation in which students work cooperatively and must find and rescue probes lost in our solar system. They use geology, planetary science and chemistry to guide their search. The CD-ROM contains over 65 short movies and stills. Student reference books, Teacher's Guide with lesson plans are included in the program. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: S3c. return to top |
| Rainforest
Researchers Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 8 Curriculum Area: Science Description: This is a simulation in which students can work in cooperative teams and play the role of a scientific expert to probe the Indonesian rain forest for clues and explore the diverse web of life in this ecosystem. With Rainforest Researchers, students can understand current research efforts on tropical forests and biodiversity, learn adaptions of organisms, gain knowledge of tropical rain forest issues and explore plant life cycles. This program includes a video, CD-ROM hybrid and student reference books. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: S2a, S2d, S2e. return to top |
SciencePlus
Interactive Explorations Publisher: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Vendor: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Grade Level: 6 through 8 Curriculum Area: Science Description: This program is an interactive simulation which gives students the opportunity to explore concepts using CD-ROM technology. Students conduct experiments, do research and record their results in electronic lab reports. SciencePlus is divided into three levels, Green, Red and Blue. Each level contains 8 explorations. Teacher's guide and assessment tools are included. return to top |
| Women
in Science Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 12 Curriculum Area: Science Description This CD-ROM hybrid introduces the biographies of eight women scientists and their work. It includes photo albums, multimedia field trips, interactive experiments and audio and video interviews. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: S4e. return to top |
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| Decisions, Decisions: Ancient Empires
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies Description: Students role-play the leader of a city-state and must make decisions about the dilemmas of an ancient culture being overrun by an expanding empire. The topics covered are ancient civilizations, famous battles, cultures and the role of myths in society. return to top |
Decisions, Decisions: Building a Nation
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/World History Description: Students control a new nation that has emerged from colonial rule. They must decide what kind of government they will establish, how to stimulate the economy and how to share authority and resources. The topics covered are nationalism, government, African history, economics and colonialism. return to top |
| Decisions, Decisions: Campaign Trail
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/U. S. History Description: Students work through all the major issues faced by actual presidential candidates. Role-playing as a third-party candidate, they must form opinions on the role of the U. S. in the post-Cold War era, the struggle between liberals and conservatives for control of the national agenda, defense spending, the environment, civil rights and education. They will also experience the electoral process, party politics, campaign finance and the role of the press. return to top |
Decisions, Decisions: The Constitution
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/U. S. History Description: This title in the Decisions, Decisions series brings students face to face with the dilemmas, compromises and struggles of writing the American constitution. Students live in a fictional confederation that is plagued with many of the same problems America faced in the 1780s. They must draft a constitution that will alleviate these problems. Students weigh the pros and cons of the Articles of Confederation. Some of the topics also covered are balance of power, separation of power and Federalists and Antifederalists. return to top |
| Decisions, Decisions: Feudalism
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/World History Description: Feudalism gives students a chance to explore life during the Middle Ages. Based on the history of feudal Europe, the program covers the obligations of lords and vassals, the role of feudal oaths and promises and the social hierarchy of medieval society. The Crusades and the rise of towns and cities are also covered. return to top |
Decisions, Decisions: Immigration
Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/U. S. History Description: Students play the role of president of the United State and face the dilemma of thousands of boat people from a war-torn area of the world who are approaching U. S. shores. The topics covered are history of U. S. immigration, illegal immigration, economics and politics. return to top |
| Decisions, Decisions: Revolutionary
Wars Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 10 Curriculum Area: Social Studies/U. S. History Description: Role-playing the governor of a fictitious province, students must decide whether or not to support a revolutionary movement among its citizens and how or how not to bring it under control. The topics covered are the American Revolution, causes of a revolution and the revolutions in France, Russia and China. return to top |
National Geographic PictureShow
Publisher: National Geographic Vendor: Meizner Grade: Level 4 through 8 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum - Social Studies, Science, Geography Description: The NGS PictureShow is a library of individual CD-ROM hybrid titles which includes virtual journeys through ancient civilizations. Science concepts such as geology and ecosystems are explored. Contains clip art and movies. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: S2a, S2d, S3a. return to top |
| Timeliner
Collection Publisher: Tom Snyder Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 12 Curriculum Area: Social Studies Language Arts, Science, Description: This collection includes Timeliner 4.0 and seventeen data disks. Timeliner lets you quickly and easily organize events into a time line. You can view data in a banner, list or table form. You can choose time periods of a day, a year, or many years or create custom scales for showing relations in distance or weight. Students can import graphics or capture a graphic snapshot for a school newspaper or web; and customize fonts, sizes, styles, colors, flags, and bar styles. Each data disk contains at least 10 research time lines and can be merged with timelines students create. Assists middle school students to meet Performance Standards: A1c. return to top |
Where
in Time is Carmen Sandiego? Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade: Level 5 through 8 Curriculum Area: Social Studies, History Description: Game that allows students to travel through time. Ancient Egypt, the Inca Empire, Ancient Rome, the Vikings, the Mali Empire, Feudal England, the Renaissance and the 20th Century are explored. Throughout the program students solve a variety of interesting historical puzzles. Ready-to-use lesson plans, blackline reproducible masters and a bibliography of additional resources are included. return to top |
| Where
in the USA in Carmen Sandiego? Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade: Level 4 through 8 Curriculum Area: Social Studies, Geography Description: This program includes explore and game modes. It includes a database filled with essays, maps, music, color photos, and video clips that can be searched by keyword. Carmen...helps teach U. S. geography while supporting reference skills (database research, almanac reference, map reading) and deductive reasoning. Included in the school edition is a teacher's guide, student tutorials, cross-curricular activities, lesson plans and Internet resources. return to top |
Where
in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade: Level 5 through 8 Curriculum Area: Social Studies, Geography Description: Game that allows students to travel throughout the world. Country capitals, flags, languages, landmarks, music, etc. are explored. Ready-to-use lesson plans, blackline reproducible masters and a bibliography of additional resources are included. return to top |
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| Kid
Pix Studio Deluxe Publisher: Broderbund Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: K through 12 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum. Description: This popular software allows users to paint pictures using standard drawing tools, assorted wacky paint brushes, and ready-made stamps. Animated stamps can be added to the art, which can also be modified using wacky special effects tools. Artwork can be saved as slide shows and exported into HyperStudio stacks. A trademark of Kid Pix is the use of sound effects and/or animation that accompany each brush and editing tool. This program appeals to beginning users as well as advanced graphic artists. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: A3b. return to top |
Astound
Publisher: Astound, Inc. Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 5 through 12 Curriculum Area: The ability to create multimedia presentations spans the curriculum, enabling the teacher to create demonstration presentations and the student to create slide shows on any topic. Description: Tool software for creating sophisticated multimedia presentations that incorporate text, graphics, animation, graphs, video, sound, hot buttons, hyperlinks, transitions and special effects. The resulting presentations are web ready, self contained and can be played and edited on either Mac or Windows computers. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: A3B. return to top |
| Inspiration
Publisher: Inspiration Software, Inc. Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 4 through 12 Curriculum Area: Across the curriculum. Description: Tool software for creating graphic organizers, flow charts and semantic maps. return to top |
PressWriter
Publisher: Broderbund. Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 4 through 12 Curriculum Area: Across the curriculum. Description: Tool software for creating desktop publishing products, such as brochures, pamphlets, and newsletters. return to top |
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| Mission
to Planet X Publisher: APTE Vendor: Meizner Grade Level: 4 through 12 Curriculum Area: Activities span the curriculum. Description: Mission to Planet X is a CD-ROM hybrid which uses the latest multimedia technologies and Web simulations to bring cyberspace to life. Players are challenged to reach the mysterious Planet X. Only by using Internet skills can they solve the puzzles, games and brainteasers. Assists middle school students in meeting Performance Standards: A3b. return to top |