Kitchen

Educational Objectives

Observe, explore and build vocabulary by pointing to and naming objects that can be found in the kitchen.

Learn grouping and categorizing using familiar objects (edible versus non-edible).

Description- Your child will be introduced to common items that could be found in the kitchen. Safety rules are included and your child will be asked to identify non-edible items. This app builds upon VINCI’s What is This? by adding another dimension to categorizing.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Point to the object and name the object for your child: “This is a refrigerator.”

2. Ask your child to show a specific item: “Where is the refrigerator?”

3. Ask your child to recall and name the object while pointing to the item: “What is this called?”

4. When your child is capable of understanding, ask for example: “What is the refrigerator?” and explain the answer.

5. Explain categories to your child. Use examples, such as things we eat and things we do not eat.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. You can point and name the object for your child in your kitchen or another place that you visit.

2. Gradually build more descriptive sentences, following the example in this app. For example, from “this is the sink”, to “the sink is shiny”, and then to “this sink has hot and cold water coming out of the tap.” Adding a safety rule, “be careful the water may be hot.”

3. Discuss subjects with your child by leveraging this app: tell your child how the refrigerator is different from the stove; the refrigerator keeps food cold, while a stove/oven warms things up.

4. You can play the “edible and non-edible game” with your child. Choose three items - two items that are edible and one that is not. Ask your child to “touch the item we should not eat”.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child speak and see if she uses newly learned vocabulary or expands her sentence building skills.

2. Point to various items found in the kitchen to see if your child can recall what has been learned.

3. Observe to see if your child stops putting random objects in her mouth.

4. Once the notion of category is seeded, your child will be able to easily understand more categories as well as subcategories in later learning.

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.

Farm

Educational Objectives

Observe, compare, contrast, reason, decide, solve problems and create order.

Introduction to healthy foods that are grown on the farm, focusing on the concept. Learning to eat well is learning to live well.

Introduction to qualitative reasoning.

Description- Your child will be introduced to the animals, farm equipment and food items that are grown on a farm. Qualitative math is introduced; the difference between one item and many items. This app builds upon VINCI’s Kitchen by adding another dimension to categorizing/sorting.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Your child will be asked to fill their “basket” with food that is found on the farm. Point to the food item and name the object for your child: “This is 1 apple.” Then, point to a group of apples: “Look! MANY apples.”

2. Ask your child to show a specific item. “Where are the apples?”

3. Ask your child to recall and name the object while pointing to the item. “What are these called?”

4. When your child is capable of understanding, ask for example, “Where do apples grow?” and explain the answer.

5. Once your child’s “basket” is filled with food, they will be asked to sort the items into a farm stand. Point to the picture found on the stand. “The apples go in this container.”

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. You can point to and name objects for your child when visiting a farm.

2. Gradually build more descriptive sentences, following the example of this app. For example, from “this is a tractor”, to “this tractor is red”, and then to “this tractor is a machine that the farmer uses to plow the field.”

3. Discuss subjects with your child by leveraging this app: explain to your child how apples and carrots are different; one grows on a tree, while the other grows in the ground.

4. You can play a sorting game with your child. Choose several different types of fruits and vegetables. Label containers appropriately. Ask your child to place the items into the appropriate container.

Observation Points

1. Point to a variety of farm animals, equipment, and food items found on a farm to see if your child can recall what has been learned.

2. Observe your child sorting food into containers to see if she understands the concept. In addition try to see if your child developed a mathematical understanding of quantity sense.

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.

Land & Sea

Educational Objectives

To initiate an understanding of emotions: sad (when the baby is away from its mother), then happy (once the baby animal finds its mother).

To learn about animals and their habitats; similarities and differences; and grouping.

Sea Animals
Observe; match the provided samples; and develop hand-eye coordination.

Description of Land Animals- Your child will be introduced to land animals and their homes. They will be asked to help baby animals find their mothers. Your child will look at the similar physical characteristics of the animals to determine the correct match. The animal will display happy emotions once the mother has been found. The game offers opportunities for conversation (e.g. discussing how the animal must feel without its mother). In addition, animal habitats can be explored.

Description of Sea Animals- Your child will be introduced to sea animals in their environment. A sample will be provided and your child will be asked to match the animal to the sample as it swims across the screen, which will allow your child to develop hand-eye coordination.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Point to the polar bear: “This is a baby polar bear and it is white”; “We need to help it find its mother”; “Which animal looks the same?”
2. Point to the adult polar bear and say: “This is a white bear and it looks like the baby.” Once the mother has been located discuss how happy the polar bear must feel.
3. When your child is capable of understanding the above premise, point to the habitat and say: “A polar bear needs land and water. Land to live on and water to swim in.”
4. When your child enters the Sea Creature Exhibit point to the highlighted animal (sample). “This is a sea turtle. Let’s find another sea turtle that looks the same.” Your child will locate and match the sea turtle while it swims across the screen, working on their hand-eye coordination.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. You can point to and name animals when visiting a zoo or an aquarium.

2. Gradually build more descriptive sentences discussing grouping animals that look the same even if they differ in size.

3. Expand your child’s vocabulary by leveraging this app: discuss with your child where an animal’s natural habitat is located; what continent it comes from; and what food they eat to survive.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child looking at books to see is she uses newly learned vocabulary or if she is aware of emotions that the character is feeling.

2. Observe your child playing a matching animal card game to see if she understands the concept.

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 Body

Educational Objectives

To introduce the different parts of the body.

To learn how our bodies work.

Description - Your child will have the option to explore the different parts of the body on their own or play a game that will teach the names of the body parts and how they work. They will be asked to find the different body parts by touching Baby Haha.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. To begin push the “Explore” button. Ask your child to touch Baby Haha’s head. Repeat until all the body parts have been introduced.
2. Press the “Teach” button to begin the game.
3. Follow the command that is given by touching Baby Haha’s body part when asked.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes with your child.
2. Play Simon Says with your child.
3. Once your child is capable of understanding basic commands, ask your child to: “Clap your hands”; “Blink with your eyes”; “Stomp your feet”. Sing If You’re Happy and You Know It together.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child recall and identify the different body parts and how they work.
2. Point to your child’s body to see if they are capable of naming the body parts.

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.

Hatch n’ Match

Educational Objectives

To discover the hidden rules by observation and thinking.

To become familiar with the names and physical characteristics of different dinosaurs.

Description - Your child will be introduced to different dinosaurs. They will need to crack an egg and find the correct match. Once the egg is cracked, the name of the dinosaur will be stated. If a match is not made, the baby dinosaurs will shake their heads and the egg will reappear, granting your child another chance to make the match.

There are different ways to find a match. Your child may tap on any egg and try to get a match by coincidence, or your child can reflect and find the rule that one of the top row eggs always matches with one of the bottom row eggs.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Touch an egg to crack it. Listen for the name of the dinosaur and observe its physical characteristics.
2. Let your child touch any egg, but state the positions of the 2 matching eggs when you child finds them coincidentally. Do not tell your child to find the match on the other row. Be patient and let your child determine the rule on her own.
3. Count the number of taps to determine your child’s progress in cracking eggs strategically.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

Observation and strategy are the key ingredients for your child’s success. Start early to help build critical thinking skills. One simple game is to hide a candy in your hand, exchange it from one hand to another slowly, close the hand, and ask your child to guess which hand has the candy. Speed the game up when your child’s ability to concentrate is strengthened and they become a “careful” observer. You can also implement strategy during play. For example hold the candy in one hand first, place into the other hand, and alternate hands. Ask your child to think and observe if she can anticipate which hand will have the candy next.

Observation Points

1. Observe your child to see if she slows down to take the time to think and analyze before acting.
2. Observe your child to see if she can find hidden rules.

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 Savannah

Educational Objectives

By exploring the African Savannah children learn about different animals, their habitats, and how to categorize and sort.

Description - Your child will be able to explore the African Savannah. They will learn about the different animals that live there, what they eat, and several interesting facts about each animal.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Touch an animal.  The animal will be named and you will be asked to identify what the animal likes to eat. Touch an item (meat, plants, or bugs) and drag it to the animal. If the item is correct, the animal will eat the item. If an error has occurred, the animal will not eat and your child will be able to make another choice.
2. Notice the reaction of the animal when it is fed something that is incorrect. You can reinforce the animal’s feeling without being negative about your child’s decision by saying: “Oh, that animal does not seem to be happy. It may not like the food you gave to it.”
3. After the animal is fed, touch the animal to learn more interesting facts about the animal.
4. You can add descriptions of the animals by pointing out the particularity of each animal. For example: “A giraffe is very tall, taller than any other animal” ; “A cheetah has spots on its fur” ; “An elephant uses its trunk to drink water.”

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Visit a zoo or an animal park and explore different animals and their habitats.
2. Read books with your child about the African Savannah and discuss the animals that live there.
3. Once your child is capable of understanding the points above, ask your child to categorize and sort the animals accroding to which ones eat plants, meat, and bugs.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child identify the animals that live in the African Savannah and recall the facts that they have learned while exploring this app.
2. Observe your child categorizing and sorting in accordance with like-qualities of the different animals that live in the African Savannah.

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 Jungle

Educational Objectives

By exploring the African Jungle children learn about different animals, their habitats, how to categorize and sort.

Description - Your child will be able to explore the African jungle. They will learn about the different animals that live there, what they eat, as well as several interesting facts about each one.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Touch an animal.  The animal will be named and you will be asked to identify what the animal likes to eat. Touch an item (meat, plants, bugs, or fruit) and drag it to the animal. If the item is correct, the animal will eat the item. If an error occurs, the animal will not eat and your child will be able to make another choice. Some of the animals eat multiple items, which is different from the animals in “The Savannah” app.
2. Notice the reaction of the animal when it is fed something that is incorrect. You can reinforce the animal’s feeling without being negative about your child’s decision by saying: “Oh, that animal does not seem to be happy. It may not like the food you gave to it.”
3. After the animal is fed, touch the animal to learn more interesting facts about the animal.
4. You can describe animals by pointing out the particularity of each animal. For example: “A crocodile can see under water and in the dark.” ; “A hippopotamus is always hungry. It can eat up to 100-150 pounds of grass in a night.” ; “A gorilla is the largest primate and is closely related to humans.” In addition, several facts are included within the app about the baby animals in the jungle.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Visit the zoo or animal parks and explore different animals and their habitats.
2. Read books with your child about the African jungle, discuss the animals that live there.
3. Once your child is capable of understanding the points above, ask your child to categorize and sort the animals that eat plants, meat, fruits and bugs.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child identify the animals that live in the African Jungle as well as recall the facts that they have learned while exploring this app.
2. Observe your child categorizing and sorting according to like-qualities of the different animals that live in the African Jungle.

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.

Animal Race

Educational Objectives

To learn about comparatives such as faster and slower, both in terms of language and science, and gain an initial understanding of time.

Description - Your child will learn the names of different animals. They will be asked to choose two animals that will race. Through prediction and observation, your child will be asked to identify the winning animal. The concept of speed will be discussed (“faster”/”slower” speed and the amount of time will be determined at the end of each race. In addition, which animal took more time to finish the race will become evident).

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. Choose two animals that will race. The animals will be named and you will be asked to predict which animal will win the race.
2. Once the animals are ready, push the button with the flags to start the race. Observe the animals running.
3. You will be asked, “Which animal is the winner?” Touch the animal that won the race. If the animal is the winner, you will be told, “Yes, the _______ won the race. The _______ was faster.”
4. You will then be asked, “Which animal took more time to finish the race?” Touch the animal that took the longest amount of time.

If the wrong animal was identified as the winner, your child will be told, “No, that animal was not the winner. That animal was slower.” Children will have another opportunity to identify the winner.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Visit a zoo and observe different animals moving. Discuss the speed at which the animals move. Make comparisons between different animals. Which animal moves faster and which animal moves slower.
2. Run with your child. Take turns winning the race.
3. Once your child is capable of understanding the points above, ask your child to perform simple commands, such as “run faster”, “run slower”, “clap faster”, “clap slower”.

Observation Points

1. Listen to your child discuss the concept of faster and slower.
2. Observe your child doing simple commands to see if they understand the difference between faster and slower. Ask them to determine which action took more time to complete.

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.

Day & Night

Educational Objectives

Learn about time from the motion of the sun. Apply newly acquired knowledge to daily activities.

The concept of sequencing will be introduced.

To learn the importance of reflection after a choice is made; to pause and reflect to see if a choice makes sense; and to question if the choice is a logical one.

Description - Your child will be invited to visit Hohoha Monkey. They will choose the time of day that they would like to visit: in the morning; at noon; in the evening; or at night. A picture will be displayed that shows the location of the sun at the chosen time. Your child will choose the time by touching the screen that displays the appropriate picture. Once they have chosen the time of day, they will be asked to organize Hohoha’s activities. They will drag icons to create Hohoha’s activity plan for the day. Your child will be introduced to sequencing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) and will be able to watch their plan once it has been created.

How to Maximize the Learning Experience

During Play

1. You will be asked to choose the time of day that you would like to visit Hohoha. Touch the picture that displays the time of day; morning; noon; evening; or night. Once touched, the time of day will be revealed and the location of the sun will be discussed.
2. You will be asked to help Hohoha organize his activities for the specific time of the day. You will drag to create his activity plan. You will decide what Hohoha should do 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
3. Once the activity plan has been created, you can then watch the plan in action. Ask your child to pause and determine if their choices make sense. For example you could say, “Is that what we normally do, eat a snack first and then have dinner?” Once the activity plan has been complete, you will be invited to visit Hohoha again.

Everyday Learning Guided by VINCI Curriculum

1. Observe the location of the sun with your child. Discuss the correlation between the time of day and the sun’s location.
2. Ask your child to help create an activity plan for each time of day (e.g. morning activities, afternoon activities, evening activities, and nighttime activities). Discuss which activity should happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. This can be done verbally or a chart can be created.

Observation Points

1. Determine if your child is capable of pausing and putting “real life” activities in sequential order. Making children reflect is the main goal here - regardless of differences in habits acquired from different families/cultures.
2. Listen to your child create an activity plan. Observe to see if they understand sequencing and where the sun would be located during the specific time of day.

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.

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.

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.