Adventures in My Father's World - Part 2

Since Part 1 was about the beginning of our year of homeschooling, maybe Part 2 can be about the finishing of our homeschool year. So here goes - We waited toward the end of the year to let Hannah try out these CD-ROM games that we picked up last year at the conference. Oregon Trail and Liberty Kids (included together in this History Pack)

They are recommended for 9 years and up. Hannah played Liberty Kids first. In this game you are a reporter and you must gather information about historical events by "talking" to people that you meet. Some information is pertinent and some is not. The player must decide. When they think they have enough data, they return to the printing office, run by Benjamin Franklin and select the items that will be published. At this point, the game will let you know if you have chosen the correct facts. You can proceed to choose a picture and a title for your article and even print it out if you wish. For example, the first job is to report on the Boston Tea Party. Hannah really enjoyed this game and it was a good review of what she had learned earlier in the year. There was also an interesting aspect of the game - some people would not give you information unless you find certain objects and bring them to that person.

Oregon Trail is a much more challenging game. You are a pioneeer in the 1850s setting out across the frontier. You start by choosing what you will take with you, then joining a wagon train out west. Along the way, you encounter hardships (mosquitos, sickness, animal bites, extreme cold, dust from other wagons, etc.) and can "ask" for advice on how to best handle them. There are forts, indians, trading post, and towns along the way to help you. You must take advantage of hunting and fishing and gathering as you go, to keep your supply of food from dwindling. You can also ration food, trade with other pioneers and indians, and set your pace of travel. When you come upon a fork in the road, it is wise to check the guide book. There may be more to this game than what we have figured out so far. I have been playing it with Hannah and I even find it difficult. Word of warning - the pictures are realistic looking and although there is nothing gruesome, people die (it shows a picture of pioneers at a grave) from infection, starvation, thirst, and unknown diseases. We have never made it to Oregon in the short time we have been playing, which is quite discouraging. When your character dies (pretty depressing, huh) you have to start all over again. So what is good about this game? You learn that pioneer life was HARD! Also you learn what plants are edible and which ones are poisonous. You're traveling through places that you may have read about in your studies. As you "talk" to people and watch the intermittent animated stories that pop up at intervals you learn more about history.