JumpStart Explorers

JumpStart Explorers is a game released by Knowledge Adventure in 2001. It focuses on history concepts for ages 5-8.

In this game, CJ's six nieces and nephews have used his time machine to play hide-and-seek in time. Now CJ and Edison must search through several points in history to find them.

The player can earn points in each location to trade in for stickers. There are forty stickers to collect. The player can also earn rainy day crafts that can be printed out.

Characters

 * CJ
 * Edison
 * CJ's Nieces and Nephews
 * Pinca
 * Francis
 * Mary Brewster
 * Elizabeth Hopkins
 * Gilbert
 * King Tut
 * Marco Polo
 * Roald Amundsen

Locations in Time

 * Egypt (1359 B.C.)


 * China (1280)


 * South America (1532)


 * North America - Plymouth Colony (1621)


 * Antarctica (1911)

Egypt

 * Coddle the Cat - Use the various items to play with the royal pet cat. This activity awards 10 points.


 * Sphinx High Jinks - Create your own sphinx. Choose a head, and then click and drag facial features and decorations onto it. This activity awards 10 points.


 * Tadole Glyphs - Decode the hieroglyph message. Look at the key to figure which letter each picture stands for. Then type the letters using your keyboard. This activity awards 5 points for decoding 3 messages.


 * Wrap CJ - Wrap CJ up in bandages and put him the sarcophagus. This activity awards 10 points.

China

 * Paper Lanterns - Make your own lantern. Pick a lantern shape, and then click and drag artwork onto it. This activity awards 10 points for each lantern you create.

South America

 * Feed and Comb the Llama - Click and drag grass to the llama's mouth to feed her. Click and drag the comb over the llama's fur to comb her. This activity awards 5 points.


 * Load the Llama - Pinca will give you a clue about which items should be loaded into the llama's pack saddle. This activity awards 5 points.

Plymouth Colony

 * Planting Corn - Follow the steps to plant corn. Click and drag the gardening hoe to a hole. Then click on a fish and drag it to the hole. Click and drag a corn kernel into the hole. Click on the hoe again and drag it over the hole to fill it with dirt. Then click on the gourd move it over the hole to water the ground. This activity awards 5 points.


 * Husking Corn - Click on the left or right side of the corn to grab a bit of the husk. Drag the mouse to pull down the corn husk until it is completely off the screen. Then release the mouse button to drop it. Do the same for the other side. Then click and drag the corn into the basket. Try to husk as many ears of corn as you can in thirty seconds. This activity awards 1 point for each ear of corn you husk.


 * Feed the Chickens - Click on the cornmeal in Mary Brewster's bowl, and drag it over the yard. Release the mouse button to drop the corn and feed the chickens. This activity awards 5 points.


 * Preparing the Feast - Follow Elizabeth Hopkins' instructions to help prepare for the Harvest Feast. This activity awards 10 points.


 * Archery - Click and drag an arrow to the bow. Move the cursor over a target to aim the arrow, and then click to release the arrow. Questions will appear at the top of the screen, and answers will appear on the targets. There are three questions each time you play. This activity awards 10 points for each correct answer.

Antarctica

 * Layer Up! - Click on the buttons to add clothes to CJ and Edison, starting with the first layer and ending with the last. Click on the done button when you are finished. This activity awards 20 points.


 * Message in a Cairn - Click on each stone to look for a message underneath. This activity awards 5 points.


 * Dog Sled Dash - Use the arrow keys to move the dogsled up, down, left, or right. CJ will tell you something about Antarctica. Move the dogsled over a green dog biscuit if CJ's statement is true. Move the dogsled over a red dog biscuit if the statement if false. This activity awards 5 points.

Other

 * Time Cards - CJ's Time Machine needs Time Cards to power it up. Look at all the cards, and find the ones that relate to the location you are traveling to. Click and drag the cards into the slot on the Time Machine's dashboard. When the Time Machine is fully powered up, click on the launch lever and pull it back. This activity awards 5 points.


 * The Mapping Game - Look at the set of directions in the bottom right corner of the screen. You will be asked to move a certain number of spaces north, south, east, or west. Follow the set of directions to make it to the location. This activity awards 10 points.


 * Mazes - Move CJ and Edison through the maze by using the arrow keys. You need to make it to the end before the timer runs out, otherwise you'll be sent back to the beginning. Collect items on your way for points. There is one maze in each of the five location. This activity awards 10 points for completion and 1 point for each item collected.


 * Tadpole Search Screens - Move the mouse around the screen to search for the tadpoles. The cursor turns into a hand when it finds a hiding place. There are several hiding places. When you find a tadpole, click on them. You can find a tadpole in each of the five locations. This activity awards 25 points.

Songs
For a list of songs, see JumpStart Explorers/Songs

Educational Concepts

 * History
 * Geography
 * Cultures
 * Problem-solving