Action SATS Learning: Key Stage 1 4-7 Years: Early Science

Action SATS Learning: Key Stage 1 4-7 Years: Early Science is a title that is designed to help children learn through a gaming environment. The subject here is, obviously, science and the title plays just like a computer game.

The format throughout is the same, The player is presented with a series of multiple choice questions each of which has four possible answers. Each question has a points value which decreases the longer the pupil takes to answer. To aid the pupil there are three help options, a 'Zap 2'box which eliminates two false answers; a 'Clue' box which gives the pupil a very strong hint that, in some cases is the same as giving the full answer; and a 'Look It Up' box which gives the pupil the information they need to answer the question. The topics/levels in this title are: Life Processes, Humans, Plants, Variations, Living Things, grouping Materials, Changing Materials, Electricity, Forces and Motion, Light and Sound, Equipment and The Solar System

The first level, 'Life Processes', typifies the game play; here the pupil is shown four pictures or words and is asked questions such as 'Which of these has never lived?' or 'Which of these is alive now?'

Each topic is treated as a new level in the game, when a level is completed the player is treated to a mini-game and the points scored in these games are used to increase the pupil's game time. The game continues until the player runs out of time at which point the game ends. The mini games in this title are: Sirius B: A mouse controlled Defender* style game where the player flies left and right shooting alien space ships, there are no little men to rescue though

• Floyd: a mouse controlled Breakout game where the object is to destroy as many blocks as possible with three balls.
• Rocks: a mouse controlled Asteroids game where the player has just one ship to destroy as many rocks as possible.

All levels can be revised, i.e. played individually, and the pupil can also take a test in each subject for which they are rewarded with a printable certificate