Top 5 Typing Games

Both our daughters are learning to touch type. It's an important skill to learn given that throughout their schooling, assignments are likely to be done on computers rather than pen and paper. Plus next year, in Grade 6, the last year of Junior School here, our eldest daughter will get her own laptop as part of the school programme, and all the children are being advised to learn to touch type now.

A couple of years ago, we discovered a fabulous site for kids learning to type. (the BBC's Dance Mat Typing) Our girls have used this now and again and are becoming quite proficient. Having reached the end of the Dance Mat Typing course they now need something else to practice with. 

There are lots more typing games out there, but a lot of them have adverts flashing up at the beginning which I didn't like. 

Here are the best 5 I found, with no adverts:

Keyboard Ninja - chop fruit that gets thrown up with letters on - but don't chop the bombs!

Snow Typer - type the words as the fall with the snow before they hit the ground

Typing Attack - A simple space invaders type game. Type the words to blast and clear the screen

Super Hyper Spider Typer - help the spider climb up to avoid the oncoming chameleons by typing the words.

Trick or Type  - help the ghosts catch the flying treats in their bags

For each of the games you can choose your level and which of the keyboard letters you want to use for the game, so you don't have to be an expert typist to play!

I tried all these games myself (just to check they were fun!) and have to say my favourite was Keyboard Ninja, just for the sound effects!

Do you know of any other good typing games?

Can your kids type?

Have fun!

Minecraft - providing geometry practice for Naplan?

Last week our daughters asked to download the game Minecraft onto their tablets to play.

It's an interesting game where you get to use your imagination to build whatever you want mostly using cubes.

There doesn't seem to be a particular goal to reach to end the game - a bit of survival, some adventure and lots and lots of creativity.

One thing that did strike me when I was looking at this game - was the fact that you build things using cubes - and get to see those buildings in 3D.  This reminded me of some of the numeracy questions on Naplan tests for both Grade 3 and Grade 5:

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Playing Minecraft and building 3D shapes using cubes will give kids at least an awareness of these structures and because in the game, then can walk around them and see them from different sides - this should help them with the above type of question as it will give them an experience of their own to relat the question to.

My girls will be pleased to know that they are practising for their Naplan tests whilst playing this new game!!

Do you or your kids play Minecraft?