I’ve got a couple of kids working on Geography studies right now, and once again we’ve discovered a marvelous online tool to assist us. I’ve mentioned this site before, but it’s worth mentioning again and again! It’s Owl and Mouse Educational Software, and they are FANTASTIC. I’ve been going to this site and using their free software for eons– probably close to seven or eight years now! They still have all the old software up, too. I have never seen such simple, excellent software for kids.
OK, enough gushing! The main site is here, and the free geography games are here. You can play the games online or download them, for free. They are not technically games– not in the sense that you and I think of games– but more like interactive study tools. I much prefer software like this instead of the “racing cars” or “shooting spaceships,” which, in my opinion, don’t do much to educate the child.
I spent some time doing some of the quizzes myself. I took a screenshot of the World Monuments game.
I think I need to study more, though. :-p There are other games, for continents, world features, countries, capitals, etc. There is Easy Mode and Hard Mode.
The Owl & Mouse software is a perfect tool for the homeschool or as an educational supplement. I’m very impressed with the way it is put together. And I’m thankful it’s all free! Well done! Thumbs up!
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Tags: games, kids, school
…they love you. They really do. 
I am gushing tonight. I like to see them happy.
I gave my young boys my Acer Phenom X3 computer today, and they are flipping out. You see, last year I’d bought them some very nice computer games for their birthdays (Civilization & Colonization, and other graphic-demanding games) but when we tried to install these games on their meager single-core processor, budget-grade desktop computer, the games wouldn’t work. The games required a beefy graphics cards and, at the least, a dual core processor. I couldn’t afford to replace the computer at the time, so we had to wait. They were devastated, to say the least. The computer games went on the shelves and have been collecting dust for the past 5 months or so, until tonight. I finally got around to switching all the computers, installing software, and setting everything up.
So they installed some games and are AMAZED that the graphics are in color– and not black blocks! And the sound does not stutter, and the images move fluidly, and the sounds are synchronized! I asked them, “Do you love me?” And they smiled and said YESSS!!
It’s great being a geeky mom. lol. The next best thing to acne treatments has got to be a souped-up computer for teenage gaming. LOL!
So I am quietly sitting in the living room, listening to their exclamations and watching them play. The kids work hard– they are all my right-hand men– and I really enjoy giving them something that brings them such delight.
Tags: computers, games
