VINCI Paint Pro

Educational Objectives

Observe, explore and build an understanding of creating art through the exploration of color (12 different colors to choose from) and writing tools such as pencils, crayons, and a variety of brushes both thick and thin.

Introduction to spatial recognition through mirroring.

To develop letter recognition and sounds and to become familiar with correct letter formations. (Uppercase letters A - Ant (Billy Ant), B - Baby (Baby Haha), and M - (Hohoha Monkey) will be introduced and can be traced with a writing tool).

Description - Your child will be able to freely explore and create art through this app. She/he can begin by choosing a color (12 different colors to choose from) and a tool (pencil, crayon, thin or thick paint brush) that she/he wishes to use when starting her/his creation. Your child can choose a designated background or can create one of his/her own (a farm, a park, or an underwater scene). Geometry and spatial recognition is developed through mirroring (by using a kaleidoscope) which allows your child to see how matching pictures are created. If she/he is satisfied with his/her work, the picture can be saved. If he/she would like to start over, the art can easily be erased to start again. This app can be used as a tool to encourage children to explore with shapes, letters, and number formations.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

Please refer to VINCI Paint app (L1) for early learning examples.

1. Spatial recognition through mirroring allows children to see how matching pictures are created. Touch the picture of the mirror on the right side of screen. Free exploration can occur by choosing different shapes or pictures that are divided into halves or quarters.
2. Touch the picture of the frame on the right side of the screen. Your child can use different backgrounds as a canvas to create his/her own picture. A farm, park, or underwater scene can be added to, or a specific color can be chosen for a one-of-a-kind design.
3. The letters A, B, and M are introduced. A picture that begins with each letter is located next to the letter (A - Ant, B - Baby, M - Monkey). Your child can trace the letter to become familiar with correct letter formation. Discuss with your child the sound of each letter and name the object located on the screen. Enjoy coloring with VINCI's characters

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. In addition to using the VINCI Tab to create shapes, numbers, and letters, use tangible materials such as paper, markers, paint and crayons to allow children time to create and explore through art.
2. Gradually build more shape, letter, and number knowledge, following the example in this app. For example, ask your child to create something for you to copy - ask her/him to copy longer words, larger numbers, or ask her/him to create the correct number of items to match the number that you have provided.
3. Fold a piece of paper in half. Open the paper. Paint on one half of the paper and close the paper. Rub your palm on the outside of the paper to spread the paint evenly within it. Open the paper and discuss with your child how the paint made a symmetrical design (spatial recognition). The piece of paper can also be folded into quarters.

Observation Points

1. Point to different shapes, letters, and numbers to see if your child can recall the correct names. See if your child can write his/her name independently.
2. Listen to your child speak to see if he/she is using descriptive language such as shapes, colors, numbers, etc., when discussing everyday events.
3. Observe your child becoming aware of spatial recognition when drawing.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Monkey & Banana

Educational Objectives

To help children tell and retell stories in a logical and sequential way. In addition, he/she will learn how to describe what happened in between the pictures to fill in the story's gaps, increasing the demand for cognitive capability.

Description - Your child will watch a short movie carefully. He/she will then be asked to organize four pictures in sequential order, recalling what has happened in the movie, in order from first to last. The pictures that are provided are derived from fragments of the story without continuous clues. Your child will have to determine the order and mentally fill in the gaps to determine which picture comes next. This process is more demanding than putting continuously sequential pictures in order.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Your child will watch a short movie carefully.
2. Your child will then be asked to put four pictures in sequential order from first to last.
3. Your child will be asked to drag the picture to the correct location.
4. Once he/she is satisfied with her choices, ask him/her to push the "submit" button.
5. If the order is correct, your child will be congratulated. If an error has occurred, your child will be encouraged to try again.

Note: The pictures can be enlarged by touching the magnifying glass found below each picture.

Your child might be frustrated with not being able to put pictures in a sequential order. There could be confusing scenes. You can stop if you find your child is becoming too frustrated, which may indicate that your child is not ready, just yet, for such exercises. Wait for a couple of weeks and try again. Gradually your child will get used to thinking "between the pictures".

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Reflect on your daily activities with your child. Ask your child to list what happened from first to last. This can be done verbally or through drawings.
2. Create a one-week timeline of your child's life together with your child. Include photographs and captions of what is taking place.
3. Make a card game made of photographs with your child. Include four cards/photographs that represent an activity that he/she prefers to participate in. An example could be, "How to Make a Sandwich." The first photograph could show all the ingredients that are needed when making a sandwich. The second photograph could show a sandwich partially made. The third could show a sandwich on a plate. The fourth could show a person eating the sandwich. Mix the pictures up and ask your child to place them in the correct order from first to last.

Observation Points

1. Observe and listen to your child tell and retell stories to see if he/she is capable of explaining what has happened in sequential order.
2. Observe your child to see if he/she can retell a story when gaps are present. Is he/she capable of filling in the gaps in a logical way?

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

The Balance

Educational Objectives

To introduce the basic scientific concepts of weight and balance.

To experiment with a balance and compare “heavy” vs. “light” items.

One-to-one correspondence, counting, hand-eye coordination, memory, comparisons, and symbol and quantity relationships are all found in this app.

Description - This app begins by explaining how a balance (scale) works. A balance is a machine that compares the mass or the weight of objects. The first Baby Haha stands on one side of the balance, and another Baby Haha stands on the opposite side of the balance. The child is told that the scale is balanced - both sides are equal, and holding the same weight. Your child is then asked to help Hohoha Monkey place objects on each side of the scale to ensure it is balanced. One item will be compared to another item (e.g. one pineapple weighs the same as three lemons). Your child will be asked to place items on each side of the scale to make it balanced. He/she will count the correct number of each item and the number symbol will be displayed ("1 pineapple" and "3 lemons"). Once you are satisfied, touch Hohoha Monkey to see if the scale is balanced. Your child will then be asked which item is heavier or lighter.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Listen to the weight comparison of two different items (1 carton of milk = 2 boxes of cereal).
2. Touch the picture of one carton of milk below the scale to place it on the balance.
3. Touch the picture of the cereal box two times in order to place two boxes on the balance.
4. Touch Hohoha Monkey to see if the balance is balanced.
5. You will then be asked to compare the items and determine which item is heavier or lighter.

If an error occurs during the game, Hohoha Monkey will shake his head and your child will be reminded that both sides of balance needed to be equal.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. A kitchen scale (or a balance) can be used to compare different household items.
2. Experiment with two different items to see how many of each are needed to make the scale balanced.
3. Compare the two items and discuss which item is heavier and which item is lighter.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if he/she understands and are capable of making the scale balanced.
2. Listen to your child speak to see if she/he can compare different items and determine which item is heavier and which is lighter.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French, and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Where In The World Did You See

Educational Objectives

To help your child observe, pay attention, and exercise his/her short term memory.

Description -Your child will be asked to watch a scene on a pirate ship and on an island. He/she will be given 15 seconds to observe what is taking place. A specific question will be asked after the observation period ends. Your child's answer will be reviewed and your child will be able to see if their answer was the correct one. Your child will be congratulated if his/her answer was correct.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Your child will follow Baby Haha and friends to play pirate games.
2. He/she will be asked to watch a scene (sea-fishing or on land-hunting for treasure) and observe what is happening.
3. A specific question will be asked (e.g., "Which pirate was looking for treasure using a spy glass?").
4. Your child will be given three choices. He/she will have to identify the correct answer.
5. Your child's answer will be accepted and compared to the scene to see if it is correct. If the answer is correct, your child will be congratulated. If his/her answer is incorrect, he/she will be reminded to watch what is happening in the scene carefully.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Take a picture of a room in your house using the VINCI Tab. Let your child observe the picture for a brief period. Remove the tablet. Ask your child specific questions about the picture - exercising observation and short term memory skills. Review your child's answer using the picture as your guide.
2. Ask your child to recall a previous activity. Ask specific questions regarding details of the event. This can be done through a discussion or by creating a drawing.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child discuss details when speaking to see if he/she is capable of recreating accurate descriptions of previous occurrences that have taken place.
2. Observe your child to see if he/she is capable of remembering details using his/her short term memory skills.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

My Alphabet

Educational Objectives

To introduce letters and sounds, both in uppercase and lowercase formations.

To learn how to form letters and write letters of the alphabet.

To become familiar with sound and symbol relationships.

To introduce initial sounds and objects that correlate with specific sounds.

To become familiar with the use of a keyboard.

Description -Your child will begin this app by looking at a keyboard. He/she will be invited to choose a letter that he/she would like to work on. You can start by writing the letters of his/her name. You can choose whether uppercase or lower case letters are used by touching the key that has Aa; found in the lower left hand portion of the keyboard. Once a letter has been chosen, it will be named and used in relation to a word that begins with the letter. The letter formation will be displayed and your child will be invited to form the letter after observing the model. He/she will then compare his/her work to the model to see if he/she has formed the letter correctly. Once the child is satisfied he/she may move onto the next letter.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Choose whether you want to work on upper or lower case letters by pushing the Aa key found in the lower left-hand portion of the keyboard.
2. Choose a letter by touching the keyboard, then touch the green arrow on the lower right-hand portion of the keyboard to begin.
3. Listen to the letter name and watch the letter being formed. The picture that correlates with the letter will be named (e.g., "E" as in elephant. This is how I write E").
4. You will be invited to try to write the letter yourself. Write the letter.
5. Touch the green arrow once you have formed the letter.
6. You will be asked if your letter looks the same as the model. The letter sound will be repeated: “E” sounds as "e", as in "elephant".
7. You will be invited to try another letter.

Note: In the current version, the program is showing "G" as in "Giraffe", "I" as in "Ice". Encourage your child to find "G" as in "Gold" or "Gate", "I" as in "Igloo" or "Italy" and congratulate your child for the great findings. Instill a sense in your child to look beyond what has been taught. By doing this will greatly benefit her/his future achievements.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Practicing letters can be done in many ways: using paper and pencil; finger paint; sand on a beach; or a dry eraser board with markers - just to name a few. Model a letter for your child and have them form it on his/her own. If he/she is having difficulty, write the letter using a yellow marker and have him/her trace over the letter.
2. Helping your child realize that the letters have sounds is the first step to beginning reading. Play a sound game with your child. Have them form a letter on a "sticky note". Ask them to find something that begins with that letter- e.g. Have your child practice writing the letter "b". Hand the sticky note to your child. Say the sound aloud. Ask your child to find something in the room that starts with "b". He/She could label it as a "banana", or the "bathroom" door. Take turns at being the teacher.

Observation Points

1. Observe to see if your child is capable of forming the letters of the alphabet.
2. Listen to your child to see if they are able to name a letter and the corresponding sound.
3. Listen to your child speak to see if they are capable of identifying objects that begin with a given sound.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

How Many Pins?

Educational Objectives

Learning quantity and symbol relationships.

Become familiar with one-to-one correspondence.

Increase knowledge of linear counting.

To perform basic addition and subtraction problems.

To refine hand-eye coordination skills.

Description -Your child will be exposed to basic math through this app. They will be counting, matching quantity to symbol, and performing basic addition and subtraction problems through bowling.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. A screen will be displayed with a variety of backgrounds (a carnival, a castle, or a cave). You will be asked to count the number of bowling pins that are provided.
2. Count the pins and identify the symbol (number) that matches the quantity of pins. Touch the appropriate number found on the left side of the screen.
3. You will be asked if you want to add more pins to the bowling pin rack and you will need to touch the number of pins that you would like to add on the left side of the screen.
4. A number sentence will be provided. For example, “You had 3 pins and you added 1 more pin. How many pins are now on the bowling pin rack?”
5. Count the pins and identify the number by touching the left side of the screen. If you were correct the answer will be added to the number sentence. For example, “Yes, there are 4 pins in total. You started with 3 pins and you added 1 pin, now there are 4 pins.”
6. You will then touch the bowling ball and drag your finger away from you, toward the pins. The number of pins will be located on the lower right side of the screen.
7. You will be asked to see how many pins you knocked over. Count the pins that are down and touch the appropriate number on the left side of the screen.
8. If the number is correct, the number will be identified and you will be congratulated with a firework show.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Basic addition and subtraction skills will allow your child to get ahead in life. A variety of counting games can be played throughout the day. For example, play bowling with your child using a plastic bowling set. Count the number of pins standing before the game begins. Once the pins have fallen, count the number of pins that remain. The fun of knocking down the pins is a nice addition to the brain teasers.
2. By counting items throughout the day, your child will practice linear counting, one to one correspondence as well as addition and subtraction methodology. This can be done when climbing the stairs, eating cheerios or goldfish crackers, or by counting leaves in the park.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child counting objects to see if he/she is capable of one-to-one correspondence.
2. Listen to your child to see if he/she is able to add items to existing items, and if he/she is able to count the total number of items.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Patterns

Educational Objectives

To identify patterns while learning geometry and developing analogical skills.

Description - Your child will learn about patterns through this app. Both simple and more complex patterns are available. Begin by using the simple patterns that are made up of shapes. Your child will observe a portion of a pattern and they will need to identify the missing shape that will complete the pattern. These patterns are made up of two shapes that repeat (A-B patterning).

Once your child has learned and is able to understand basic patterns, introduce more complex patterns that are made up of shapes and VINCI friends. The more complex patterns introduce an additional aspect - background color change. They will not only have to identify the shape or picture, but they will have to identify the correct background color that completes the pattern (A-A-B, A-B-C, A-B, A-A-B-C patterns are available).

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Begin by using the simple patterns that are made up of shapes found on the left portion of the start screen.
2. Observe the pattern given, and choose the shape that will complete the pattern. The choices are found below the pattern strip. Touch the shape.
3. If the choice is correct, your child will be told the name of the shape and a star display will occur. They will be told that their choice is correct and that the shape completes the pattern.

Once your child is capable of predicting the patterns, touch the “Play button” found on the right side of the start screen, which displays VINCI friends. These patterns are more complex and include shapes, pictures, and different color background choices. Observe the given pattern as previously done, and touch the shape or picture that will complete the given pattern. Pay close attention to the background, since the shape or picture may be correct, but the color may differ.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Play a pattern movement game with your child. Clap your hands and tap you lap (showing an A-B pattern). Repeat the pattern several times. Stop and ask your child which movement would come next to complete the pattern. Once they are capable of understanding the basic pattern, make the pattern more complex with additional movements.
2. Create a pattern with your child out of edible objects (e.g., cheerios, goldfish, and raisins can be used). Place the pattern on a plate. Ask your child to predict which item would come next to complete the pattern. Increase the level of difficulty when your child is able to understand the previous pattern (A-B, A-B-C, AA-B-C patterns can be used).
3. Make a noodle necklace with your child. Offer several different types of noodles. Start a pattern for your child and ask them to repeat or start the pattern themselves (note: beads can also be used depending on your child’s age).

Observation Points

1. Observe your child creating different patterns.
   Observe your child to see if they are capable of determining a pattern and if they are able to continue the pattern if it has been partially created.
2. Once simple patterns have been completed, observe your child to see if they are successful with more complex patterns.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

I Know 100!

Educational Objectives

Introduction to the decimal system.

Association of quantity and symbol.

One to one correspondence.

Linear counting 1-10, and counting by 10s, 10-100.

Learning what the number 100 means.

Description - Through this app your child will be introduced to the decimal numeral system. The decimal system is made up of units (ones), tens, hundreds, and thousands, with ten as its base. To begin, your child will make towers of blocks that correspond with the given symbol. One to one correspondence will occur as your child counts the correct number of blocks that go with each symbol (ones place value). Once ten towers have been made (1-10), groups of ten will be introduced (tens place value). Each group of ten will be counted and the correct number will be identified and named. For example, “One 10 block tower equals 10 blocks, two 10 block towers is called 20…..” (10 - 100). Once 10 towers of 10 are made, the number 100 will be introduced (hundreds place value).

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Stack the number of blocks on the corresponding number that is displayed on the bottom of the screen. Touch the highlighted number to begin.
2. Drag the number of blocks to the appropriate number and build a tower with the required number of blocks (e.g., one block on the number 1, two blocks on the number 2).
3. Touch the yellow arrow once the tower is complete. If the number is correct, you will be congratulated and the number will be stated to reinforce the appropriate number (1 -10). If an error has occurred, you will be asked to add or remove blocks to structure the tower correctly.

Note: The source of blocks contains 10. Your child will be able to see how many blocks remain after the corresponding number has been removed.

4. Once your child gets to the number 10, different colored blocks will be available for stacking. They will begin by stacking one tower of 10 and then will be asked to build several more towers of 10 (i.e., 10 towers of 10 blocks in total). Once the second tower is built, your child will count the towers and touch the appropriate number that corresponds with the number of towers they have stacked up.
5. They will be asked to touch each 10-block tower and check out the total number of blocks. They will be told that two towers of 10, or two groups of 10, equal to 20 and that we call two 10 block towers 20. They will make additional towers and will repeat these exercises until they reach a total of 10 block towers of 10s, which equal to 100 blocks.
6. Once 10 block towers have been made, your child will be able to smash the towers by touching them. A review will then occur to reinforce what they have learned, 10 towers of 10 equals 100 blocks.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Build block towers with your child. Make towers that contain 10 blocks each. Count the towers with your child (10 towers containing 10 blocks). Once your child is capable of understanding the previous points, count by tens from 10-100.
2. Play a game with pennies. Ask your child to group the pennies into piles of 10 (10 piles containing 10 pennies). Count the piles of 10 to determine how many pennies you have in total. Once your child is capable of understanding previous points, introduce the idea that 100 pennies is the same as one dollar (note: other items can be used to replace pennies such as raisins, cheerios, or goldfish crackers).

Observation Points

1. Observe your child counting to make sure that they have one to one correspondence.
2. Listen to your child count by 10s from 10-100.
3. Observe your child organizing piles or towers by 10s. See if they count out individual pieces of each tower, or if they are capable of using the tower as a guide.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

American Northwest

Educational Objectives

Children are exposed to American History and Culture, and learn about animals and landscapes that are found in the American Northwest (also called the Pacific Northwest).

Description - Throughout this app your child will have several lessons in Cultural Studies while visiting the American Northwest. Famous sightseeing recreation sites are available for exploration such as the city of Seattle, Yellow Stone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), the Sequoia Forest (Sierra Nevada Mountain of California) and Mount Rushmore (Black Hills of South Dakota). Your child will be able to participate in recreational activities that are found in each location such as observing animals, logging and camping, feeding a hungry bear, gold mining, observing Old Faithful Geyser, and learning sign language from a Native American Chief.

During Play

1. At the start of the app, your child will be invited to explore the American Northwest by dragging his/her finger across the screen. At the beginning, the National Bird (Bald Eagle) is introduced. Your child also sees Big Foot lingering in the forest, and a photo opportunity presents itself for your child to snap a picture and match the pose to an existing picture found on the bottom of the screen. Hand-eye coordination will be used during this first stop, while taking the picture and touching the matching pose.
2. The Sequoia Forest is the next stop. To begin, a logging truck drives through a large carved tree. Your child can help a Lumberjack perform a log dance by touching the button with the flashing body part that is needed to keep him on the log dancing. The goal is to keep the Lumberjack on the log for 20 seconds. If your child misses, the Lumberjack will fall off the log into the water.
3. Lumberjack Jill needs help cutting logs. Your child will be able to select three tools that Jill can use to get the job done (i.e., an ax, a saw or a chainsaw). Your child will observe Lumberjack Jill cutting the logs. He/she will have to compare the tools and determine which tool completes the job the fastest. If your child chooses the correct tool, Lumberjack Jill will jump up in celebration. A two-person saw is also available for exploration. Your child can assist the Lumberjacks by dragging his/her finger from left to right on the saw.
4. A Girl Scout needs help getting back to her camp. Your child will be asked to help her complete several activities to assist her on her journey. Through this portion of the app, your child will be taught about safety and how to be respectful of the environment. To begin, your child will help the girl plant three trees, put out a fire by dragging buckets of water to the fire, and identify and match dangerous items that can be found in the forest. The child will then be asked to help the girl clean up the forest by picking up five items of trash and dragging them to the garbage can. Once the Girl Scout has completed her work, she will head back to camp for a snack (i.e., roasted marsh mallows, which your child will drag to her) and rest.
5. The next stop is observing and feeding a hungry bear. Hand-eye coordination is necessary when completing this task. Your child will touch the pink salmon as it jumps out of the water. To complete the job, six fish have to be caught within 25 seconds. The bear will eat the fish as you catch them.
6. Gold mining takes patience and is hard work. Patience is an important skill for your child to learn. Your child will enter a mine and help the miners find five pieces of gold. This will be done by tapping the rock wall to dig for the gold. Only five of the locations hold a piece of gold.
7. A mountain lion is located outside of the mine. Your child can touch the mountain lion to learn facts about the animal.
8. Be careful, there is the Old Faithful Geyser! The Old Faithful Geyser is found in Yellowstone National Park. Touch the geyser and observe the water squirting from the ground. Your child will be told several fun facts about geysers.
9. The next stop is Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore is found in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mount Rushmore is a famous sculpture of four American Presidents: George Washington (First President); Thomas Jefferson (Third President); Theodore Roosevelt (Twenty-sixth President) and Abraham Lincoln (Sixteenth President), which are carved out of granite on the face of Mount Rushmore.
10. The final stop is an opportunity to visit a Native American Chief. Your child will learn that Sign Language is another form of communication. The Chief will teach your child the signs for the items found on the left portion of the screen. To reinforce the sign lesson, your child will be asked to locate the item within the camp.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Research the American Northwest with your child. Read books and look up the different locations on the Internet. Look at a map and compare where you live to the American Northwest.
2. Research the American Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) and compare the sculpture on Mount Rushmore to the pictures of the Presidents.
3. Visit a zoo and observe the animals that would be found in the Northwest.
4. Learn Sign Language with your child. Take turns signing different objects. Play a signing game. Have one person sign and the other person draw what is being communicated.
5. Visit an American history museum. Compare what your child has learned through this app to the displays that are found in the museum.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child speak about the American Northwest to see if he/she has an accurate understanding of the different locations, animals, and what types of activities take place there.
2. Observe your child using Sign Language to see if he/she is able to sign different words.
3. After learning about the different Presidents, observe your child to see if he/she is able to remember their names.
4. Discuss the safety rules that have been taught through this app and what it means to be respectful of the environment. Listen to your child's response to see if he/she understands what has been taught.

Through this app, the natural scenes, animals, and diversity may spark an interest in this beautiful part of the country. This app will define the richness and diversity of the Northwest region and ensure your child enjoys the learning process.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Water Fun

Educational Objectives

To teach your child the basic rules of survival (i.e., all living things need water to survive).

Through a detailed science lesson, your child will learn about the water cycle and will be able to observe and explore its different stages.

To introduce to different types of waterways and how they work (e.g., rivers flow and carry water to the ocean; when the snow from the mountain top melts, water flows down the mountain into lakes and rivers; the ocean stores the water that the rivers bring from the mountain) to your child.

Description - The water cycle is described. Water evaporates and forms clouds in the sky. Your child will move the cloud around to collect water vapor. When the cloud collects enough water vapor, and the cloud becomes heavy, it will precipitate. Rain or snow will fall depending on the temperature. Your child will be able to observe plants growing as he/she waters them. Unused water is returned to the earth in order for the process to begin again. The structure of a plant is mentioned and water absorption is described (i.e., plants absorb water in through their roots and the rate of water absorption is greatest when the sun is hot). The duration of precipitation is limited, so your child needs to plan for where to water right before rain starts - if water is dropped on plants, they will grow. If water is dropped in the desert, the water will not do a lot, except feed some cactuses. If water is brought to the top of high mountains, it will start snowing.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Move the cloud around to collect water vapor.
2. Once the cloud becomes heavy and gray, the rain will start falling. Drag the cloud to the plants and observe them grow as the rain drops.
3. Visit the lush green land, the ocean, rivers, waterfalls, and the desert. Observe how the rain affects the different regions.
4. Discuss with your child that unused water returns to the earth to begin the water cycle process again.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Discuss with your child that we too need water to survive. Staying hydrated is necessary for good health.
2. Collect and measure rainfall during a storm. Leave the container outdoors for several days. Check on it daily to see if the amount changes. Explain to your child that water evaporates as it did in this app. Document the results to watch the rate of evaporation.
3. Experiment with water and plants. Water only one plant as needed and allow the other plant to be watered by the rain. Watch and compare the plants to see the difference in growth.
4. Build a terrarium using an empty plastic bottle. Cut the spout off the bottle. Place a plant at the base along with water, and cover the plant with the bottle, encasing the plant inside the bottle. Observe the walls of the bottle. Discuss condensation, rainfall, and evaporation as the different stages occur within the terrarium.
5. Place an ice cube on a paper plate. Watch the ice melt. Draw a circle around the puddle as a point of reference. Observe several times throughout the day to see if the puddle becomes smaller. Discuss the concept of evaporation.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child determining when plants need to be watered. Make a watering can accessible to your child.
2. Listen to your child describe the water cycle to see if he/she can comprehend the process.
3. Observe your child collecting data (from experiments listed in the Everyday Learning portion of the guide) and ask specific questions to see if he/she is capable of explaining the process of evaporation.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

American Southwest

Educational Objectives

To discuss American history and culture with your child while encouraging independent thinking.

Description - Through this app your child will have several lessons in Cultural Studies while visiting the American Southwest, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, and Utah. Your child will learn that approximately 19 million people live in this region and they will have the opportunity to explore and participate in activities that each area is known for.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. During a visit to Hollywood, California, your child will be asked to recreate a scene for a movie. To begin, your child will look at the scene carefully, making a mental note of the specific items/characters and locations of where the items are found. The background will then be displayed without the characters and additional items. Your child will have to remember the completed scene. They will have to identify the missing pieces and drag them to the appropriate location. This task may be difficult for your child and he/she may need to try several times before getting the right answer. If they need a reminder, touch the button on the lower left hand portion of the screen. They will be given the opportunity to review the scene again. Once the scene is recreated, your child will be able to watch the movie that they have made. This lesson focuses on memory skills. Your child will be filling in the gaps while recreating a scene in a movie that they have previously observed.
2. Learning about the sounds that coyotes make will assist your child with auditory discrimination. They will listen to the coyote’s call and will have to determine which of the four noises match the call. Once they have completed the activity, they can move on to the Native American dancers.
3. The Native American dancers are wearing beautiful traditional clothing. The goal is to get both dancers in the same pose. Your child will observe the dancer on the left. They will need to tap the dancer on the right until the poses match. Several of the poses are similar. Your child will be using their visual discrimination sense to accomplish this task.
4. During the next stop, your child will be working on hand-eye coordination. In order for the biker to be able to reach his friend, your child will have to guide him over to the gas cans found on the road. By dragging their finger from left to right, the gas in the cans will fuel the biker’s motorcycle. Your child can observe how much gas has been collected by looking at the fuel gage. Once all of the cans have been collected, the biker will reach his friend.
5. The Sheriff needs your child’s help. During the next stop, your child will be asked to help the sheriff catch the bad guy. Again, visual discrimination and hand-eye coordination are needed for this activity. Several of the characters have similar features. The bad guy will be displayed on the left portion of the screen. Ask your child to look at the character carefully. Your child will need to determine the location of the bad guy in the scene. The bad guy and bystander will be displayed quickly, and your child will need to touch the bad guy before it disappears.
6. Now it is time for a Bull Riding Competition. Staying on a bucking bull is a difficult task. Your child will choose which rider will participate in the competition. As the rider climbs on the bull, an arrow will be displayed with a number. In order to keep the rider on the bull, your child will need to tap the arrow the number of times that is displayed. There are three levels of complexity. The early levels have smaller numbers and they increase as the levels go up. Counting and one to one correspondence (tapping the arrow the number of times that correlates with the symbol) are both used when playing this game.
7. Who is hiding in the barrel? Three characters are participating in this game - Dusty, Tippy, and GoGo. The characters are very similar in their looks, only clothing and hats differ. Your child will need to carefully observe the location of each character as they pop out of the barrel. They will quickly change locations and pop out again. Your child will need to observe and recognize the pattern of each character’s movement. Once they have moved several times, your child will be asked to determine the location of one of the characters. Visual discrimination, patterning, and awareness of location are needed for your child’s success in this activity.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Research the American Southwest with your child through the use of books or the Internet. Compare what you find to the app to see what things are the same.
2. Play memory games with your child. Show them a picture and ask them to recreate the picture exactly as they remember it. Compare both pictures to determine the similarities and differences.
3. Play a listening game with your child. Have them close their eyes. Ask them to listen carefully. Clap one time. Pause. Act out four more sounds (snap, clap, stomp, and tap). Ask them to determine which sound was the same as the first sound (they can act out the sound to answer).
4. Play a hiding game with your child. Use three cups and place an item underneath one of the cups. Show your child the location of the hidden item to begin with, then slide the cups around, and end with the cup that contains the item in a different location. Ask your child to identify which cup contains the item.

Note: Encouraging independent thinking is necessary for natural growth and development of a child. Visual and auditory discrimination helps your child to determine similarities and differences in the world around them. Using their memory to recreate or remember things allows them to build their concentration and focus in order to lead to the development of higher order thinking skills. Through this app your child will build concentration, coordination, independence, and order.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if they are capable of remembering details when retelling a story or recreating something that they have seen. (e.g., after visiting a zoo - is your child able to draw a scene from something they observed during the visit?)
2. Observe your child to see if they are able to identify where an item is hidden.
3. Observe your child to see if they are able to match like items.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

How Many Mushrooms?

Educational Objectives

To build critical thinking skills through the use of problem solving where addition, subtraction and categorization are used to solve multi-step word problems.

Description - Your child will help Hohoha Monkey and Billy Ant prepare enough food for Billy to eat during the winter months. He/she will have to prepare a food plan, gather the food, and finally return to Billy's home with the appropriate amount of food to meet Billy's needs during the long winter months. Your child will be using addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills to accomplish the task in this app.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Introduction to Multiplication: To begin, your child will need to help Hohoha and Billy design a food plan that will determine how many mushrooms they will need to gather to keep Billy satisfied during the long winter months. He/she will be told how many mushrooms Billy needs each week and how many weeks are in the winter. A graph will be shown to your child and he or she will determine how many mushrooms Hohoha and Billy will need to gather. (e.g., Billy eats two mushrooms a week, and there are ten weeks during the winter months). How many mushrooms, in total, does Hohoha and Billy need to gather (i.e., 2X10=20)? Your child will count the mushrooms and touch the appropriate symbol on the left side of the screen.
2. Addition Skills: The two friends will then proceed to gather their mushrooms. They will spin the "Wheel of Fortune" to determine how many mushrooms each of them can collect, keeping in mind that Billy needs to gather a total of 20 mushrooms for the winter months. (e.g., Hohoha won 4 mushrooms and Billy won 4 mushrooms. How many mushrooms did Hohoha and Billy win together?). Your child will be required to count the mushrooms and touch the corresponding symbol on the left portion of the screen (i.e., 4+4=8).
3. Subtraction Skills: Now it is time to determine how many mushrooms each character will carry home. Hohoha will spin the "Wheel of Fortune" to determine how many mushrooms he will take home. (e.g., Hohoha will take home four mushrooms). How many will Billy take home (i.e., 8-4=4)? Your child will need to identify the appropriate symbol and drag the correct number of mushrooms over to Billy's and Hohoha's basket.
4. Comparison Skills: Once the two friends return to Billy's house, your child will be asked to remember how many mushrooms both friends gathered in total. He/she will determine and identify the correct number and then will be reminded of how many mushrooms Billy needs for the winter months (e.g. Billy needs 20 mushrooms for the winter. The friends gathered 8 mushrooms. Does Billy have enough mushrooms to last through the winter months?) Your child will need to draw a comparison between the number gathered and the total number needed for the winter. If the number of mushrooms is enough, the two friends have completed their job successfully. In case the two friends do not have enough mushrooms to last through the winter, they will need to head back to the "Wheel of Fortune" until all the mushrooms have been gathered.
5. Review: A review will occur once enough mushrooms have been gathered. Your child will be asked to remember how many mushrooms were gathered during each trip. He/she can either use his/her memory skills or count the mushrooms on the screen to determine the number of mushrooms. The numbers will be combined and a final comparison will be made to determine if enough mushrooms were gathered. If additional mushrooms were gathered, your child will be told the total number of extra mushrooms.

Note: The number of mushrooms gathered and the total number needed will be repeated on several different occasions. Your child can either employ his/her memory or one-to-one correspondence skills to identify the appropriate symbol. By combining the mushrooms, your child will be required to practice his/ her addition skills. When it comes time to decide how many mushrooms each friend takes home, subtraction occurs. Multiplication is also used when the food plan is made. By multiplying the number of mushrooms consumed in a week by the number of weeks, your child will see the pattern of adding the same number over and over again to determine the total number of mushrooms needed. When comparing numbers, your child will determine if he/she has more or less than what Billy needs.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Ask your child to solve word problems throughout the day (e.g., If you have a sandwich, an apple, and a carrot, how many pieces of food do you have?).
2. Ask your child to help with daily chores such as setting the table. Have your child determine how many utensils are needed. Ask them to count and place the appropriate place setting at each location.
3. Ask your child to help by making a grocery list (note: children can draw the items if they are not capable of writing yet). Ask them to write the number of each item needed next to the object to determine how many items in total will need to be purchased from the store (e.g., 4 apples, 6 eggs, 1 loaf of bread, and 4 slices of cheese. "How many items do we need to bring home from the store?").

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if he/she is capable of counting and comparing multiple items.
2. Once a group of items are combined, take a few items away. Observe your child to see if he/she is capable of identifying how many items were taken away, and if he/she understands that the group has become smaller.
3. Listen to your child count items and observe him/her to see if he/she has one-to-one correspondence.
4. Observe your child to see if he/she understands that if multiple numbers are combined that a larger number is created.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Magic Box

Educational Objectives

Often, we see what can be seen. How can we see beyond what is seen? This app tries to initiate children's abstract thinking using three dimensional rotations. Children can match the shapes by rotating an object which may appear to be different from the expected result.

Description - Your child will need to find a matching key to unlock the magic box to see what is hidden inside. The correct key will be one of two rotatable objects. He/ she will be required to look at the keyhole located on the box and try to find a match. The child is asked to rotate one of the two objects until the shape matches the outline of the keyhole on the box. The shape will be inserted into the keyhole after the outline of the keyhole is touched. If the match is correct, the box will open and your child will be able to see who is hiding in the box. If the match is incorrect, your child will be asked to try again.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Point to the keyhole for your child to see. Ask your child to find a matching shape, which is same as the key shape, to open the magic box.
2. There are two objects, one on each side of the screen. Your child can rotate the object in each direction to see the different facets. Your child may be surprised if, for example, a square becomes an L shape after rotating the object.
3. Rotate each object and look for the matching shape (note: these are easy shapes). There are also shapes which have only a slight difference between length and width, which could perplex your child. Point out the physical differences to encourage your child to make mental comparisons and observations before trying the match.
4. Once the shape matches the outline, your child will be asked to touch the box and the match will be made. If the match is correct, the box will open to reveal a special surprise. If the match is incorrect, your child will be asked to try the match again.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Build an object using play dough or blocks and ask your child to make a matching shape. Take turns being the teacher.
2. Allow your child to unlock the door with the key. Ask them to analyze the keyhole to determine which way the key fits. The shape of the key and the outline of the lock must match to open the door.
3. Complete a puzzle with your child. Ask your child to pay attention to shapes of the individual pieces as well as to the whole puzzle picture.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if she/he can determine the correct match through mental rotation. Is he/she able to think abstractly (i.e., visualize an object when changing its orientation in space)? Determine the answer (i.e., by mentally rotating an object to find a match)? And think beyond the obvious?
2. Listen to your child speak to see if he/she is capable of describing the process of finding a match, which requires mental rotation.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

American Northeast

Educational Objectives

Through fun math games, children are introduced to American history and culture.

Description - Through this app your child will learn several lessons in Cultural Studies while visiting the American Northeast. Children will learn that the Northeast region consists of nine states and many cities such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia, to name a few. Your child will be able to freely explore and participate in a variety of math games such as counting and identifying the correct numbers that coincide with the different activities. Your child will have a chance to work on his/ her one-to-one correspondence and hand-eye coordination throughout this app.

During Play

1. Counting Activity While Jumping Rope - The girls are jumping rope. Your child will count the amount of jumps the girls perform and identify the corresponding numbers by touching the left portion of the screen.
2. Learning Dance Moves While Observing A Break Dancer - Your child will be introduced to different dance moves while observing and creating a dance routine for a break dancer. By touching the different pictures found below the dancer, your child will be told the name of the moves and will be able to watch the dancer perform the moves.
3. Strengthening Hand-Eye Coordination While Creating The Perfect Hot Dog - Your child will be asked to drag five hot dogs to cover them with three toppings (i.e., ketchup, mustard, and relish) to create different “tasting” hot dogs. He/she will need to move the hot dog to the correct location in order to top it without making a mess. Once he/she is satisfied with his/her creation, he/she will need to drag the hot dog over to the paper holder found on the right portion of the screen.
4. Number Identification to Help The Bell Hop Guide The Guests To The Correct Floor - Your child will enter a hotel and help the Bell Hop deliver the guests to the correct floor. He/she will need to observe the number found above the guest’s head. Your child will need to match that number to the “elevator button” found on the left portion of the screen. The elevator will either go up or down depending on the number. If an error occurs, the number will be identified for your child and he/she will be asked to try again.
5. Careful Observation And Memory Skills Are Needed To Catch And Identify The Robber - Your child will help the policeman find and identify the robber. He/she will be shown a picture of the wanted person. He/she will need to carefully observe and use his/her memory skills when searching the streets. Your child will have to drag his/her finger to the different locations of the city. Once the robber has been located, your child will tap the robber on the screen. He/she will then help identify the robber at the Police Station. He/she will need to remember the specific characteristics of the robber that he/she has previously observed while looking at the current wanted poster. Your child will be reminded of various characteristics such as what the robber is holding (bag of money or a flashlight), what he is wearing (a hat or a mask), and the color of eyes he has.
6. Sorting and Hand-Eye Coordination Skills Will Be Attained While Participating In A Recycling Lesson - Your child will sort recycling items into the appropriate bins (i.e., Paper, Food, and Plastic and Metal). Through three different levels, trash will be recycled. The number of items and the speed of the conveyor belt will increase as the levels become more difficult. Your child will need to drag the items from the belt to the appropriate bins located at the bottom of the screen.
7. An American History Lesson On The Different Flags Of America - Your child will be asked to find the two matching flags that are located on the screen. Once the correct match has been identified, your child will be told the name of the flag, the year it was created, and several facts about each flag. As the levels progress, the number of flags on the screen will increase. Careful observations skills are required to differentiate between several flags that are quite similar.
8. Balloon Popping With Uncle Sam (Memory Skills, Ability To Follow Multi-Step Directions, Hand-Eye Coordination, Counting, And Color Identification) - Your child will be asked to pop balloons with Uncle Sam. He/she will be told the number and the color of the balloons that he/she needs to pop. A variety of balloons will be released at the same time. He/she will need to focus on the specific task at hand. If the incorrect color is popped, the number of completed balloons will decrease, making his/her job more difficult to complete. As the levels become more difficult, the speed and the number of balloons released increases.
9. Observing The Parade - Three American themes are represented in the parade. Your child can “sit” and watch the parade go by. The National Bird (Bald Eagle), Mount Rushmore, and a float representing an Old American Pastime (baseball) complete the parade. 10.
10. Two American Northeast Tourist Sites Are Available For Observation - Your child can gain knowledge about two popular tourist sites. He/she can visit the Statue of Liberty in New York City, then Niagara Falls at the border of New York and Ontario, Canada.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Each of these stops can be incorporated into your child’s daily life. Ask your child to participate in counting activities, whether it is by counting the stairs as he/she goes up or down, or matching numbers to the appropriate items using small pieces of paper.
2. Ask your child to prepare the toppings on his/her own hot dog. By doing this, he or she will be squeezing the bottles, which in turn will strengthen his/her hands for writing, as well as give him or her the confidence to become more independent since he/she will be assigned a task that he/she will succeed in.
3. Dance with your child. He/she can try out the Break Dancer’s moves to music that you play in your home.
4. While taking an elevator, ask your child to push the correct number button to take you to the appropriate floor. By saying the number verbally, your child will listen and identify the correct symbol found on the button.
5. Set up a recycling area in your home (if you don’t have one already). Ask your child to place the items in the appropriate bins.
6. Read books with your child or use the Internet to learn more about the American Northeast.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child speak to see if he/she has gained knowledge about the American Northeast.
2. Observe your child to see if he/she understands the relationship between symbol and quantity.
3. Observe your child recycling to see if he/ she is capable of sorting and placing the items into appropriate bins.
4. Observe your child with simple tasks such as placing toppings on his/her own hot dog to identify if he/she is becoming more independent.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

This is Absurd!

Educational Objectives

Build on a solid base of general knowledge

Help children learn deductive reasoning and logical thinking

Description - The ability to recall previous information is a skill that is important to your child's success. Something strange is happening in the African Savannah. There are dinosaurs and astronauts, tomato plants and igloos. Through this app your child will observe the African Savannah and identify which items do not belong. This app coincides with The Savannah from VINCI Curriculum: Level 2, where your child has previously learned about the African habitat, its animals and natural surroundings. He/she will need to recall the information that he/she has gained and search for (5) items that you would not see when visiting Africa. In addition, your child will have the opportunity to help a Safari Researcher identify (5) animals that are drawn correctly.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Your child will need to use prior knowledge to determine which items are not traditionally found in the African Savannah. He or she will drag his/her finger across the screen to observe and identify items that do not belong. Once the item has been identified, touch the item and it will disappear if your child's choice is correct. If an error has occurred, your child will be told that that item does belong and to continue looking for other items. The goal is to find (5) items that are absurd and do not belong (e.g., an igloo, a dolphin, a dinosaur, an astronaut, and a tomato plant).
2. A Safari Researcher needs your child's help. He will draw two animals and your child will need to compare and identify which animal is drawn correctly. He or she will need to touch the animal that is not absurd. The goal is to identify (5) animals that are drawn correctly.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Play "What Item Does Not Belong" with your child. A variety of items can be used - three things that are from the same category (e.g., clothing) and one that does not belong (e.g., an apple). Ask your child to identify the item that does not belong.
2. Use modeling clay or play dough. Create an animal that is absurd (e.g., a dog with a chicken's head). Ask your child to identify the characteristic that is absurd.
3. Draw a scene from a familiar place (e.g., your child's bedroom). Make several items absurd (e.g., bed on the ceiling, framed picture upside down, person sleeping on the dresser). Ask your child to identify the absurd items.
4. Stage an absurd picture and photograph using the VINCI tablet. Ask your child to identify what is absurd in the photograph.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if she is capable of using prior knowledge to identify when things are incorrect or absurd.
2. Listen to your child speak to see if she is able to explain what makes the item absurd.
3. Listen to your child speak to see if she understands what the word "absurd" means.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Bugs!

Educational Objectives

By studying about the busy lives of bugs, your child will learn scientific skills such as planning, investigating, and experimenting.

Description - Through this app your child will be able to explore different bugs in their natural habitats. As they roam through the forest, items will gently vibrate, letting your child know that something is hiding within. Your child can touch the item and a bug will slowly appear. Touch the bug again, and an interesting fact will be shared about the bug. There are two interactive scientific activities for your child to participate in: entering an ant home to help Billy Ant guide an apple to his family, and to help bee collect nectar to make honey.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Free Exploration - Your child can drag their finger across the screen to observe and explore different types of bugs in their natural habitats. The bugs are hiding within the forest. Items will gently vibrate to let your child know that something is found within. Touch the vibrating item to expose a bug. Touch the bug again and learn interesting facts about each creature.
2. Planning, Investigating & Experimenting Using Interactive Games

   Helping Billy Ant - Ants are very caring creatures. They care for their families by bringing food home to them. Billy is trying to take an apple to the other side of the cave where his family is located. He needs your child's help. Through careful strategic planning and experimentation skills, your child will assist Billy Ant by moving rocks that are blocking the passage in the cave to allow the apple to pass freely. Using careful planning and hand-eye coordination skills, your child will need to determine a new location for each rock, and move the rock to allow the apple to pass. If the apple is able to pass, your child will move up a level. Each level becomes more difficult, containing more rocks and a more complicated passage. Once all of the passages have become clear, Billy Ant will reach his family.

   Helping a Bee Make Honey - This game begins by showing your child a plan that needs to be executed in order to make honey. It is explained that bees collect nectar from flowers and use it to make honey. Your child is asked to help Bee by filling the honey comb with nectar. He/she is told that nectar is only ready to be transformed into honey when three neighbor honey combs contain cells that have the same color. The honey comb will be displayed, showing which color nectar is needed. Your child will need to make a plan, remembering the color and number of honey combs that need to be filled. By touching the flower button, the collecting adventure will begin. Using hand-eye coordination and investigation skills, your child will guide a bee to the sparkling flowers that are needed to complete the three cell color match. He/she will need to remember the plan of which color is needed and collect enough nectar to fulfill the task. When enough nectar has been collected, touch the Bee Hive Button to return to the hive, found on the lower right hand corner of the screen. Once back in the hive, your child will be asked to help transform nectar into honey by organizing three neighbor honey comb cells that are the same color. He/she will need to determine the location and drag the correct color, found on the left portion of the screen, to the comb. Once the match in the comb is complete, your child will be congratulated and the process of turning nectar into honey has occurred.

   Note: There are many levels in this game. As the levels increase, collection of different colors and amounts increase, requiring your child to use careful planning and memory skills.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Go for a walk with your child and observe different bugs that you see. Bring a magnifying glass to get a closer look. Use the VINCI tablet to take photographs of your findings.
2. Research bugs and their homes using books and the Internet.
3. Collect bugs and observe them for a brief period before releasing them back to nature.
4. Draw a picture of different types of bugs that you have observed.

Note: Nature is full of beautiful insects, however some do not like to be disturbed. Teach your child about staying safe and avoiding the bugs that sting or bite.

Observation Points

1. Discuss different types of bugs with your child. Listen to him/her speak to see if he/she is able to describe the different characteristics of different types of bugs.
2. Listen to your child speak to see if he/she is able to recall facts about different bugs.
3. Observe your child to see if he/she is capable of recalling the names of the different types of bugs that they have studied.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

American Southeast

Educational Objectives

Children are introduced to American history and culture while building spatial detail and sequencing skills.

Description - Through this app your child will have several lessons in Cultural Studies while exploring the American Southeast. Before starting, he/she will be informed that the American Southeast is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America. Florida has almost 20 million people living there. Your child will be working on hand-eye coordination, sequencing, spatial detail, auditory discrimination, memory, and observation skills through this app.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Travel Through the Everglades Swamp to Collect Flags - Hand-eye coordination and counting skills will be attained while your child drags the boat from left to right to collect flags. As the levels increase, the speed of the boat and the amount of flags increase.
2. Learn About the American Alligators - Touch the American Alligators to observe the natural movements and gain knowledge about the species.
3. Help the Fisherman Catch the Fish - Your child needs to help the fisherman catch three catfish. Be careful, there are several obstacles that your child will face: tin cans, alligators and rubber boots. Through careful observation and hand-eye coordination, your child will find success. There is an auditory warning (i.e., the peaceful music becomes threatening) that signals the alligator is about to cross the screen. Your child will need to lower the worm into the water to catch the fish as they swim by.
4. Call the Wild Turkeys - Fine motor skills are strengthened when operating a Wild Turkey calling device. In order to learn interesting facts about Wild Turkeys, your child will need to call them closer. Once all three turkeys are within a certain range, your child can touch the turkeys and learn information about them.
5. Help the Country Musician Play Her Instruments - Through free exploration, your child will develop the ability to recognize and name three different musical instruments. He/she will learn about musical instruments and his/her auditory sense will be refined through this app. To begin, your child will be asked to choose an instrument for the musician to play (i.e., guitar, banjo, or fiddle). Auditory discrimination skills will occur, as your child hears the different musical notes that each instrument makes. Hand-eye coordination skills will be attained as your child matches musical notes, from the right portion of the screen, to the scrolling pattern that the musician wants to play. Your child will drag the yellow notes and place them on the matching pink notes. If he/she is successful, the musician will play a beautiful song. If an error occurs, the song will sound unpleasant, and your child will hear what the error would sound like if it was played.
6. Daytona Beach Car Racing - Through careful observation skills, your child will need to watch and determine which car comes in first, second, and third, in the Daytona Car Race. Be careful, things can change quickly during a race. Memory skills and hand-eye coordination are needed to be successful in this game. Once the race is over, your child will need to remember which car came in which place. They will need to identify the winners and drag them to the corresponding winner locations.
7. Help the Mechanic - Cars that race go through a lot of tires. Your child will be asked to help identify the tire that will roll. Your child is asked to select from four choices: a triangle; circle; square; and star shaped tire. Drag the tire to the car and see if your selection is correct.
8. Counting Backwards to Help the Space Shuttle Take Off - Counting backwards can be difficult for children. Your child will be asked to identify the appropriate symbol to count backwards from 5 to 1. As your child touches the appropriate number, listen to the countdown, and observe the Space Shuttle heading into space.
9. Observe Recreational Activities that Occur at the Beach - There are many fun activities that can occur when spending time at the beach. Your child can help a surfer catch a wave, observe a game of Beach Volleyball, and a game of Frisbee.
10. Help the Lifeguard Rescue the Swimmer - Oh no! A swimmer is having difficulty in the water. Help the life guard get to the swimmer. Through hand-eye coordination and careful observation skills, your child will help the life guard make it through an obstacle of beach balls. Touch the life guard to make him jump over the balls. Proper timing and action need to coincide to make the life guard jump at the correct time. Once all of the beach balls have been cleared, the life guard will throw a life saving device to the swimmer, and the swimmer will be saved.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Research the American Southeast with your child using books and the Internet. Compare your finding to the information on this app.
2. Listen to Country Music with your child and discuss the instruments that your hear.
3. Count backwards with your child.
4. Play Frisbee and Volleyball with your child to help build hand-eye coordination skills.
5. Make an obstacle course for your child to help with planning and timing skills.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child speak to see if he/she has gained knowledge about the American Southeast.
2. Listen to your child count backwards to see if he/she has the understanding that linear counting can increase as well as decrease.
3. Observe your child listening to Country Music to see if they have gained the necessary auditory discrimination skills - to identify different instruments by the sounds that they make.
4. Observe your child making his/her way through an obstacle course. See if he/she has the ability to plan and execute the plan and to successfully make it through the course.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.

Block Design

Educational Objectives

Blocks are known to help children learn spatial orientation, mental rotation, puzzling, and creative thinking.

Description - Creative thinking is an important skill for your child to attain. Paying attention to detail will help your child become more aware and successful in life. Through this app your child will recreate block designs through careful observation, spatial orientation, hand-eye coordination, mental rotation, and matching skills. He/she will observe a design (pattern) on the left portion of the screen and will be asked to replicate the pattern on the right. Not only will like patterns (blocks) need to be placed in the correct order, they may also need to be rotated in order to recreate the pattern correctly. The pattern choices that are provided contain a variety of levels of difficulty, including 10 different patterns that consist of shapes and smaller patterns within, and 4 patterns that make up a picture of an item (these pictures are similar to those that are created using Tangrams). Your child will also have the opportunity to create a pattern on their own, using a variety of colors and shapes.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. To begin, your child will need to choose a block design that he/she would like to replicate on the start page, by touching the pattern on the screen.
2. Carefully observe the pattern on the left, paying attention to directionality as well as order. Begin recreating the pattern on the right, using the left as a guide.
3. To rotate a block, touch and hold until the desired direction appears.
4. To switch blocks, quickly touch the two blocks that you would like to change, and their locations will switch.
5. If you would like the order of the complete pattern to change and rotate, push the golden button in the lower right hand corner of the screen.
6. Once your pattern is complete, you may choose another pattern provided or create one on your own.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Create a design using wooden blocks or Tangrams. Ask your child to replicate your pattern.
2. Draw a picture with your child. Cut the picture into several pieces and shuffle - mixing up both the order and directionality of the pieces. Ask your child to rebuild the picture.
3. Ask your child to build a pattern on the VINCI tablet. Replicate their pattern.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if he/she is capable of recreating patterns that have been provided. Notice if he/she is able to place blocks in the correct order and directionality, using spatial orientation and mental rotation skills.
2. Listen to your child speak to see if they understand patterns and how they work.
3. Ask your child questions about replicating patterns to see if he/she is capable of explaining; have she/he gained creative thinking skills; and does she/he have the ability to see the relationship between the obvious and the incomplete pattern.

Multilanguage Support: This app supports English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Press the Option button to select your language preference at the start of the app.