Math Applet: How Many Under the Shell: Grade K-2

How Many Under the Shell
K-2
http://illuminations.ncthttp://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=73m.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=198

Summary:
This is a very simple application that allows young students, from kindergarten to second grade, to practice with addition and subtraction. It is a very straightforward game that will help the students with their counting, addition and subtraction skills. The bubbles pop up, as each one appears it is counted, then the shell covers the bubbles and some of the bubbles are pulled away or added, and some remain under the shell. Then the octopus asks, “How many bubbles are under the shell?” and the equation appears. The students then answer the question using the number pad. If the students select the correct answer the applet dings that the answers is correct, if it is incorrect an angry buzz is heard and the student has another opportunity to answer the question. In general, it is a very simple applet, ideal for the young student just learning to use these types of tools.

Critique:
I feel that this is a very useful application that can be used to introduce young children how to use math applets. The interface is very friendly and the program is very intuitive. Again, I feel that the biggest problem is that the program does not record student responses in any way to show how many questions that a student has answered in a session. Unlike the applet for the third for fifth grade student this application does not have a “help” option, which I feel might be helpful for the students. Furthermore, the instructions are a very small font and are not appropriate for the kindergarten through second grade student. It is obvious that the parent or teacher would have to explain the directions if the students didn’t automatically get it and that the instructions are there for the adult audience. This applet is especially useful in the young grades as the teacher can have the student select a specific skill; the questions can have either, all addition, subtraction or a random assortment of both addition and subtraction. The program can also be test specific numbers, any number one through nine. This would be useful if you were working with a student who had a strong understanding of addition and subtraction with the numbers one through five but needed assistance with five through nine.