Puzzle Play Software: Hidden Pictures
© 2007 School Zone Publishing
Great for teaching elementary-age children how to use the grid system, this software includes a collection of pictures that are divided into 11 x 11 grids. By using numbers and letters, children find hidden pictures, using color coded dots as hints. In addition to solving the puzzles, children can also create their puzzles by placing their own pictures under the scene. Teachers should note that this activity is not a typical 'click and find' type of thinking, such as that used in the Highlights For Children or I Spy types of games. Instead, the process is more like Battleship, only with hints. Players can save high scores over time. All in all, this unique activity could be very useful for teaching. The music and looping instructions can get annoying; while the music can be turned off, the instructions keep talking. The price includes a 64-page color workbook. This could work in either home or school settings.
$8, Windows, Mac OSX
Teaches: math, x,y coordinates, creativity, deductive reasoning
CTR Rating: 96%