Mattie's Math Games V3.1 - User Guide and FAQ

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Mattie's Lazy Cat Catch Game



The first level of number recognition, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are available in the evaluation version of Matties Math Games. The other levels of this activity are available only in the ordered version of the game. Play Mattie's Lazy Cat Catch Game by clicking on the cat on the bookshelf. In this activity your child learns to count and find the fish with the correct number.

Play starts with the cat on a skateboard in the lower right-most area of the waterfall. From this position, no fish can be caught. Mattie says, "Catch the correct number." To play the game, the child counts the small fish on the right part of the screen below Mattie (in the number recognition levels), or, solves the mathematical equation (in the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division levels), and moves the mouse back and forth, thereby moving the cat. The cat is positioned under the correctly numbered fish. Notice that the small fish are organized to allow the child to begin learning to count by fives.

If an incorrectly numbered fish was chosen, Mattie responds humorously by raising her umbrella and bouncing the fish from the screen. If your child often seems to choose the incorrect number, don't worry! Especially in this game, incorrect responses are so much fun that the child will want to bounce as many fish from the screen as possible. If he or she does nothing more than bounce fish from the screen, with an occasional catch, you know they know the correct number - they're learning! After a correct response, the fish is caught, Mattie says the number and encourages the child further.

Mattie's Moon Guess Game



Play "Mattie's Moon Guess Game" by clicking on the moon on the bookshelf. The goal of this game is to guess, which number Mattie is thinking of (in the number recognition levels), or the solution of the mathematical equation (in the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division levels) and click on the correct number. This game encourages problem solving, analytical thinking, number order, and the concepts of lower and higher, less and more. Hints can be turned on or off at any time during game play.

Mattie will ask your child to "Try to guess the number." When the mouse is over any number, the cursor will change to a pointing hand. To play the game, click on a number. Mattie will float to that number. If the number was not the correct one, Mattie will say either, "Try higher" or "Try lower." If the number was the correct one, she will give you a piece of the puzzle, and tell you "Now find the next puzzle piece." When all of the puzzle pieces are collected, Mattie will say, "Now put the puzzle together." Now the mouse cursor will show the pointing hand only over the puzzle pieces. There are a different number of puzzle pieces depending on the level.

Moving the puzzle pieces around is very easy. Click on any piece and it will now have a brighter blue border around it to show that it has been selected. Click on the same puzzle piece and it will be de-selected. Click on two puzzle pieces and they will be swapped. The child will enjoy not only putting the puzzle together but also the multimedia show waiting for him or her.

Dimmed Numbers

Notice that when in some levels, some of the numbers are dimmed and unavailable for play. This shows the child that only some numbers can be chosen.

Hints

Hints are always set off at the beginning of each journey into the Moon Guess Game. When hints are on, only the numbers, which can be selected, are shown in bright colors, the other numbers are dimmed. With hints on, only those numbers, which have not been eliminated, are bright. When the child selects, say, 10, and the correct guess number is 5, Mattie will say, "Try lower," and the numbers above and including 10 will now be dimmed, showing the child that the correct number is less than 10. To turn hints on, click on the 'Hints Off' button. This button will change to 'Hints On' and blink a few times. To turn hints off, click on the 'Hints On' button.

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