Much like other titles of this type for this age group, it's best for quiet time, recess, a specific InnoTab station, or a reward for completed work. Brave can help reinforce addition and subtraction skills, although kids will need to be past the stage of requiring objects to count. The cooking activity can help kids develop observation skills, as well as introduce/reinforce the idea of fractions. The e-book language is challenging for early readers, but older/more advanced readers may benefit from being read to with the highlighted text.
Continue readingEditor’s Note: This game’s publisher, VTech, experienced a breach of parent and student data on November 14, 2015. Click here for more information.
VTech InnoTab Software - Brave is a collection that includes an e-book that roughly follows the movie plot, two creative activities, and three learning activities. Kids can help the witch cook by matching shapes and figuring out simple fractions. They can help Merida with her archery by solving math problems that include the addition and subtraction of two or three numbers. And they can use their logic and problem-solving skills to help the little brothers navigate the castle in search of a key. For kids who are feeling more creative, there's the option of decorating a tapestry or designing their own archery course.
While not always completely organic, the learning is well-integrated throughout. The cooking activities are a wonderful way to illustrate fractions, as well as demonstrate how fractions are useful in a practical setting. Kids may be asked to cut a sausage into six parts and then add one-sixth into the pot. Kids can select an easy or difficult mode for each of the learning games, but there's no automatic leveling if they choose incorrectly. Helping the triplets find their way through the castle also gives kids the feeling that they're able to explore the environment. Players can also save up gems (or perhaps wisps!) to purchase additional items for the archery and tapestry activities, helping them plan ahead and think about saving/budgeting.