Do you have a favorite learning style: learn by doing, relax in the shade and spend the afternoon with a good book, pore over pictures and diagrams, talk with the an expert? Another style that is getting more and more popular is playing educational computer games.

     You will need access to a computer and educational games (or "edutainment") software. Some examples are the Carmen SanDeigo series, Oregon Trail, and the SimCity series.

     Decide on the purpose of the educational game. Ideas: look at the titles of educational games and pick something that sounds interesting. Work on a skill that you want to improve such as multiplication tables or learning the states and capitals. Learn how to plan and set up a garden.

     Select the educational game and focus on learning while having fun.

• Think about what you have learned. How did the game teach you these things?



• Use your newfound knowledge in some way. You may apply it directly to something you are learning in school. Build or organize something using what you learned in the educational game.

• List some specific new skills or blocks of information you want to learn. Look in the public library or school library for educational software to help you do that.



• Talk with your teacher about upcoming topics that the class will study and identify educational software to help you learn more about the topic.

     SuperKids Educational Software Review - http://www.superkids.com/.

Adapted from material developed by Illinois 4-H. Used by permission.

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