Tiny Planets~ Exploring & Learning in Space

Tiny Planets is a website that provides" award-winning educational entertainment set in space exploration and discovery, inspiring creativity and critical thinking in youth ages 4-12."

Follow the adventures of Bing and Bong, two adorable little aliens as they explore in space, traveling on their comfy, plush coach- which is loaded with special gadgets.

Aren't they cute??

Bong is on the left- Bing on the right

My oldest two children used to watch Bing and Bong on television back in the day and I knew it was no longer on television, so I was surprised when I was recently asked to review this website.  I had no idea that such a site existed.  It was fun to reintroduce my children to the characters.  They didn't remember too much at first until I played the theme song.... it brought back memories for them...

You can check out The Tiny Planets Website, but I would like to give you a brief review/summary of what it is all about.  

• Tiny Planets has won two BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television) Awards- Interactive Best Entertainment Website and Best Children's Interactive
• Chose to watch old episodes of Tiny Planets television episodes- created with Sesame Workshops with emphasis on science education and social & emotional development (& other learning goals).
• My Tiny Planets- Virtual world community that combines social elements & gaming to create on engaging space exploration experience.  Children create on avatar, solve galactic missions with Bing and Bong, play fast-paced mini-games, care for a planet, earn badges and more... This is where my children spent most of their time.
• Tiny Planets Fun- Find brainy puzzles, coloring books, comics and more
• Tiny Planets Books-  Read books with pictures about Bing and Bong, their friends, and many of the planets you will explore in your space adventures.  You can read to your child or they read on their own.
• Tiny Planets Learning-  is a place for parents, homeschoolers,  and educators.  It contains mini lesson plan & science experiments, as well as providing information on how every episode of the Tiny Planets television series maps to an early learning goal.  
• Tiny Planets Labs-  This is a Playground for things to come.  Tiny Planets is connected with EU University research projects, which keeps them up to date on technology.  New games will be posted and tested here.  

** Click on the names above to be taken directly to each site on the Tiny Planets Website**

MY THOUGHTS ON TINY PLANETS:

• No scary content
• No ads
• No freedom to chat- kids choose from pre-set phrases in speech bubbles
• No freedom to make up your own Cadet code name-  means no inappropriate names
• Easy to create a Cadet Account-  Click on Create a Cadet in upper right hand 

Obviously, the above listed items are good things.

I must say, there are some parts of Tiny Planets that are a bit silly to an adult.  My kids, however, all loved and enjoyed using the site!  My 13 year old daughter did not use the site nearly as much as her 12 and 7 year old brothers, but she enjoyed her time spent on the site.  My boys completely enjoyed taking care of their planets-  purchasing landscapes, choosing spaceships, purchasing pieces & lasers for their ships.... and, of course, playing the many games.

KEYS-  Much of the site is free.  BUT there are things you can only see and access with KEYS which must be purchased.  KEYS will unlock more tv episodes, stories, and items to care for your planet.  

The KEYS can be purchased in various amounts.  It is 10 KEYS for $1.95, 25 KEYS for $3.95, and so forth.  They can only be purchased by a parent using the Parent Account.

Most of the items my children came across required either 2 or 5 KEYS to access.  For the purpose of this review my children were each given 25 KEYS.  I would not have purchased KEYS otherwise.  

Children also earn Stars for various reasons and can use Stars (free) to earn items.

You should know though the Tiny Planets site does contain some educational aspects, I personally felt the entertainment aspect was the stronger element.  My kids honestly had a "blast" with this site!  

 I am not one who is willing to pay for items on websites, but my children have Wii and Nintendo.  

If my children did NOT already have access to their own video games it may be something I would consider paying for.  It may be something YOU would choose to pay for......

IN SUMMARY-  I think Tiny Planets is a site worth checking out- remember much of the site is FREE.  My children really have enjoyed their experience.  Even my almost 3 year old enjoyed watching them play their games & watch episodes.

Watch an episode of Tiny Planets-  Night Light, Sleep Tight

I was asked to review this site and give my honest opinion. My children each received 25 KEYS, but I was given no compensation for this review. 

Read many other reviews of Tiny Planets from The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew

I'll Make a Wager with You....

I'll make a wager with you.... that you will LOVE this game!

Can't seem to find that perfect family game that is TRULY for the WHOLE family?  Often games are labeled for the whole family, but the youngest is left in confusion and frustration.  NOT with this game!  Well, don't get me wrong, your 3 year old may be a bit too young- but beyond that- everyone can play.  And everyone will have fun!

When our box first arrived my children dug in and wanted to play right then.  My daughter read the instructions so we would be ready to play after dinner with the whole family.  She explained the directions to us and we got started.

The Main Idea

Play as individuals or divide into teams (3-10 players)

• A question is asked
• Every player (or team) writes an answer on the back of his card (sturdy, laminated cardboard) with a dry erase marker (provided).
• Place your two Meeples (game pieces, one large on small) on an answer card.  Not so sure your answer is right?  Place one Meeple on your mom's answer card, and one on your sister's.  (The large Meeple is worth more points than the smaller).
• First to reach 15 points wins! 

There is a bit more detail to the game, but trust me it is very fun.  
My kids, especially the 7 year old, appreciated that he could still get points and win, even if he was not sure of the answers-  simply by making the correct wager- and figuring who DID know the correct answer and placing his Meeple on it.  


Oh, I forgot to mention ALL the answers are numbers.  Yes, you heard me.  When my daughter first told me this I thought, "This is going to be really dumb!"  But, thankfully, I was wrong.

Here are a few sample questions:

• How many Life Savors come in a standard roll?
• On average, how many ants and termites does a giant anteater swallow each day?
• In The Hobbit how many dwarves accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure?

The following are a few photos to give you a better idea how the game is played and what comes in the box:

Meet some of the Meeples

Question tray and score board

There are two questions per card.  Use the top questions until you get through the deck,

then switch to the bottom question.

Each player writes an answer (it will be a number amount).

Cards are turned over to reveal answers.

Each player decides where to place his Meeples. 

You can place them on different answers to increase your chances of getting points.

Get 1 point for guessing correctly (closest to answer- doesn't have to be exact)

2 points for placing your large Meeple on the correct answer

1 point for placing your small Meeple on the correct answer =

4 points possible

Having fun....

Read more about Wits and Wagers HERE

Read more about the Designers HERE

FROM THE WEBSITE

FREE PARTS REPLACEMENT

Don't let a lost or broken component stop you from playing.  

If any of our game components should fail (or even be lost) within the first year of ownership,

we will deliver an identical or comparable replacement to your door free of charge!

Email us with the requested part along with mailing address

We will send out the part within two weeks.

My kids LOVED this game!  I highly recommend this game for your family or others on your Christmas list! 

TO PURCHASE:  North Star Games (the producers) direct you to Target Website where it can be purchased for only $19.99.  See ordering information HERE- click on the shopping cart by Wits & Wagers Family

READ WHAT OTHER REVIEWERS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS GAME HERE

I was given a free board game of Wits and Wagers in exchange for my review

ALEKS- A Motivating Math Program!

Aleks, which stands for Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces, is a web based artificially intelligent assessment and learning system like no other!

Just what makes Aleks so different from other online programs?

• Aleks makes use of artificial intelligence to target gaps in student knowledge
• Contains a cycle of assessment and learning
• Assesses and instructs with standards-based content
• Remediates gaps in student preparation
• Adapts to individual instructions according to student and needs
• Presents only those topics the student is ready to learn
• Clear explanations and feedback
• Monitors learning progress with automated reports
• Toggles between English and Spanish (optional)
• Unlimited online access from any computer
• No minimum purchase- buy as few or as many subscriptions as needed
• Ability to save unused subscription

After registering with Aleks you will be walked through a simple tutorial on how to use the program.  You will then be given an assessment with about 15-30 math questions on a variety of topics (related to the course you have chosen).  Based upon your answers to these questions you will be given a colored pie chart.

Like this

Each uniquely colored slice of the pie represents a particular area of the syllabus.  The degree to which the darker color permeates the slice/area demonstrates how much material the student has mastered.

My two oldest children have been using this program for the past few weeks.  My 13 year old daughter, who is taking Algebra I this year, has been using Aleks Algebra I.  My 12 year old son has been using Aleks PreAlgebra.  

Both of my children are immensely enjoying this program.  Neither found it difficult to register, learn from the tutorial how to use the program, take their assessment test, or operate their programs from their pie charts.  They like the choice they have in choosing what math concepts and topic they will work on that day.  They have enjoyed seeing their pie slices fill in showing they are mastering the topics contained therein.  

PROS OF ALEKS:

• Many of them are listed above in what makes Aleks so unique.  
• Instructor Mode-  enables educator to monitor student progress, view and change the standards applied in the assessment reports, carry out administrative tasks
• Very hands on, visual program
• No lengthy explanations UNLESS the student would like or needs them.  This is perfect for students who just "want the facts mam" as well as those who need to read further explanation.
• Motivating and positive-  encouraging for students to "see" their knowledge growing.  Walks them through the math objectively.  No assumptions from the computer that the students is dumb, slow, or taking too long.  There are no time frames.
• Uses the computer... this is obviously a plus for most children love using the computer
• You have the option to have produced FOR YOU- quizzes, worksheets, progress reports!  Worksheets based on the students work! How awesome is that.  These are generated for you, at your choosing, and can then be printed out.  This is great for practicing with pencil and paper.
• Easy to understand
• Makes your child excited about math
• Great for younger students as well as older-  perfect for adults going back to school or wanting to learn on their own.

CONS:

The only thing I really see as a Con is if a person were to assume taking a course in Aleks would be enough for a high school credit.  My own personal opinion is that it doesn't go "deep enough" into the math concepts to be considered a full credit.  I do not know that that is Aleks' intention either.  I do think it would be great as your only source for an adult needing to learn a topic such as Algebra though- or just brush up.  

My children are enjoying this program and we will continue doing the rest of our free month review, thanks to Aleks for providing this for us in exchange for this truthful review.  We have continued with our regular math curricula while spending about 15 minutes a day using Aleks.  This has been perfect and my children look forward to using Aleks even after spending time on their math text.  I think that says a lot about this program!

Aleks is reasonably priced and worth its cost! 

$19.95 per student per month

$99.95 every 6 months

$179.95 every 12 months

Family discounts apply

See site for more subscription information

** Aleks has graciously offered a free one month subscription to Homeschool Readers of Light, Liberty, and Learning (new users) Please visit here  All others can visit Aleks for a free 48 hour trial.

When you get an incorrect answer it will tell you.  

Notice the box in the upper right- you click there for an explanation.

When you click on the explanation box you get an explanation and worked out solution to the problem.

Be sure to check out the Aleks Tour

Aleks offers math programs from Grade 3 through advanced math

I was given a one month free subscription for myself and my children in exchange for my review.

MINE IS JUST ONE OPINION-  Be sure to check out  OUR CREW REVIEWS HERE

Master the World of Angles!

Master Innovations, LLC is a company started in 1998, with the intention of helping students learn and apply math in everyday life.  Among their products are the Master Ruler, Master Fractions, Master Clock, and the Master Angle, which I was able to review.


Just what is Master Angle?  Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I will save my words...

Meet my 7 year old who is holding the Master Angle. 

As you can see it is a clear, sturdy, plastic circle on which the degrees are marked.

Can you see the radius "dial"?  

Along with the Master Angle, I received the Mastering the World of Angles Workbook.  This workbook is 76 pages of activities, definitions, explanations, and drawings.  You will cover every aspect of the angle with this great workbook.  My 7 year old was not quite ready for many of the activities in the workbook yet, but we did several and enjoyed them.  We look forward to progressing through the book as the school year progresses.  

I really like the idea of a protractor that shows the entire 360 degrees so concretely- rather than the half type protractors.  

Tracing the circumference and drawing an angle

Measuring angles around the house

The Master Angle, as well as all of the products from Master Innovations, meets NCTM and State standards.  It is intended to supplement and can be used in conjunction with any current curricula.  Its purpose is to:

• Help students recognize basic geometric shapes and concepts, and their corresponding angles.
• Discover, measure, and construct various angles.
• Connect geometric concepts to real life application-  I LOVE this about the workbook!  It shows drawings of homes, etc. for children to connect to what they are learning.  

You can see a videos of all the Master products HERE

**  Master Angle-  $5.95  VERY worth that low price!

**  Mastering the World of Angles Workbook-  $15.95-  Again- VERY worth the price!

Two of my next purchases will be the Master Fractions and Master Ruler!  

Be sure to visit their website for Scientific Research Studies, Teacher's Corner, and more.
I was given a Master Angle & Workbook in exchange for my honest review.


MY OPINION IS JUST ONE... CHECK our Crew site  to read more reviews on this product