This program begins with an introduction to Interplanet Janet. Her ship crashed on planet Earth and she needs help getting home. Students can help her get home safely by exploring the sciencescape and conducting the experiments found inside. There are seven different and challenging activities found here. Every time students successfully complete an experiment, they help Interplanet Janet prepare for her journey home by earning points that are equivalent to parts of her ship. Players also earn energy crystals to fuel the ship for its return home.

Students begin their attempt to get Janet back home at Mission Control. Here they are required to sign in before beginning the game and entering the sciencescape. Signing in involves entering the player's name or selecting a previous game that was saved earlier. Next, a difficulty level should be selected. There are three to choose from.

The content of this software is accurate and complete. It incorporates a variety of science topics and addresses many science concepts, all of which are accurate. This program fits in very well to my school district's fourth grade science curriculum. It also provides an appropriate challenge for this grade level and above. Although I am not that familiar with younger students, it does seem to be above students in grades two and three. I did not find any errors or omissions, but I did find some parts somewhat confusing and difficult to access. This was especially true for finding which icons let you access activities in the sciencescape. I also found some of the activities rather difficult to figure out and complete.

Science Rock is very easy to load. This can be done with very little experience. The initial use of this program requires more experience than installing it. With some practice and an introduction to the program, students should be able to use it independently. The graphics and sound are exceptional and very aesthetically pleasing. Music with a catchy beat enhances the program and adds interest. The animation is lively and provokes interest and enthusiasm. Everything serves a purpose with the exception of some graphics on the sciencescape scene. Here they are merely decorative. Several videos are included in this program. All of the favorite "Saturday Morning" songs and clips can be accessed by clicking on the television icon at the bottom of the screen.

This piece of software makes good use of technology. In addition to the science activities incorporated into the game, lesson plans and activities can be downloaded from the Internet. Some activities are also available for printing right from this program, so students can easily access them independently and without Internet access.

Students are not only empowered by this software program, but also actively engaged in the learning process. Although they need to follow a prescribed format, there is some flexibility within it. For instance, the user level can be adjusted and students can select specific science categories to investigate. A product cannot be produced using this program; however, it does require students to interact and experiment. It is primarily designed for individual use, but there is a two-player option. In addition, lessons and activities that accompany this program are designed to incorporate groups of students or the entire class.

The teacher's role is very limited. After an initial orientation to the program, students should be able to use it independently with little assistance or monitoring. The teacher has the option of modifying the user level of the program. This program contains a tracking system so the teacher can monitor student progress. This system has the option to print. The software package consists of a three-ring binder with a teacher's guide, user's guide, learning units, and print activities. The learning units contain wonderful lessons and activities that are aligned with the National Council of Science Standards.

Since this program incorporates science standards and a wide variety of science topics and concepts, it fits into the curriculum very well. Students should have regular access to this program both independently and with a partner.

School House Rock! Science Rock is a great program to have in an upper elementary classroom. It provides a great variety of activities to supplement the science curriculum. It challenges students to think critically and use higher order thinking skills. It also provides students with opportunities to further their learning.

Overall Rating (based on a scale of 1 to 10) 8

Overall, this is a very good piece of software that enhances learning and motivates students. I gave it an eight for two reasons. First, I found the directions for some of the activities somewhat confusing and difficult to follow. Secondly, I believe this program to be too difficult for the intended audience. I feel second graders would have some difficulty completing some of the activities, especially those that require the player to read.

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