Starfall

Title: Starfall

Bibliographic information:

Creator: Starfall, Inc

• Language: English

Reader's Annotation: Starfall is a web-based service that provides early educational games for the kindergarten to second-grade set. This program focuses on reading, mathematics and the holiday-based games.  

Interest Level: Ages 4-6

Awards, if applicable: N/A

Resource summary: Users start at the main menu, and can click on any icon.  The icons on the left of the page will bring them to individual games.  The icons on the right will bring up new menus with anywhere from three to a dozen different games.  Some of the games include mathematics and pattern recognition, some require solving math problems or finding the time in order to progress to the next level.  Completing each program results in a small celebration.

Critical review:

The Starfall family of games provide a solid foundation in early literacy skills.  The exercises that it provides teach fundamentals like phonics, arithmetic and pattern recognition, which are building blocks to future learning.  It is a very accessible system, with games that are suitable for school-aged children beginning to learn

Why include it?

This system provides a wide range of games which deal with early literacy concepts in an entertaining fashion.