Jimi's Phonics Toy

Game Summary: 
This game is a fun way for children to play and build their 
familiarity with the sounds of consonant and consonant-blend 
onsets (such as c, m, and th, coming at the beginnings of words) 
and word rimes (such as -at,-an, and -ear--groups of letters, 
starting with a vowel, that form the word endings). It also helps 
them to understand that words consist of combinations of 
sounds--the concept of phonics--joined together into one unit. In 
it they will form one-syllable words by combining consonants and 
consonant blends with rimes. We suggest that you and your 
youngest children (three- to four-year-olds) start with this 
preliminary toy before they try Dino Beach or Dragon Park.


Let's Play:
The screen is divided into three sections:

* at the top, yellow boxes containing word onsets, consonants 
or consonant blends that will begin the words;

* a middle section with an Earth Words Tally Box, a white, 
center box for word formations, and a Martian Words Tally 
Box; and

* a bottom section with two rows of green boxes, each 
containing a rime.

To begin playing, single-click on an onset box. Mick the Helpbot 
plays the sound of that consonant or blend as the letter(s) appear, 
in red, in the white word-formation box. 

Next, single-click on one of the green rime boxes. The rime you 
have selected appears in the word-formation box, in blue, as you 
hear Mick play the sound of it. If the rime you have chosen, in 
combination with the onset, forms an actual English word, the 
two will gradually come together in the box and turn black, as 
Mick plays the sound. Jimi will congratulate you and the word 
tallying will begin in the Earth Words Tally Box. 

If your child has created a nonsense word, Mick plays the sound 
of the onset and the rime, but they will never join and the word 
tallying will begin in the Martian Words Tally Box. Your child 
may then continue to click on rime and onset buttons as much as 
he or she would like.

NOTE: Children should feel okay about making Martian 
words. They will be learning letter sounds and will find the 
nonsense words that they make fun to say. Anything that entices 
them to use the game should not be discouraged. They will 
eventually master it and create the Earth words consistently.

NOTE: Not all word combinations are represented. Proper 
names, foul language, and words that may confuse (due to 
alternate pronunciations) have been excluded.

To continue on to another set of rimes, single-click on the red 
arrow pointing right. Each click will move the two rows one box 
left. If you would like to return to an earlier set or back to the 
beginning, single-click on the red arrow pointing left.

At any point, you may return to the Main Hub by clicking on 
the spaceship icon. 


Printing Note:  
You can print this file, for your personal use, by loading
HELPH.TXT into your text editor.

Copyright 1993 D.C. True, Ltd.