Search form

 

Home > Site Reviews Center > Archives > By Date > June, 1999

S I T E     R E V I E W
June, 1999
Updated JUNE, 2007


Journey to New Worlds: Exploration of Space and Hawaiian Voyaging
http://library.thinkquest.org/6073
GRADE LEVEL: 3-12

 

CONTENT:
Since the dawn of Earth's civilizations, Polynesian voyagers have navigated the vast Pacific. Today's modern navigators maneuver small ships through the limitless stretches of space. Journey to New Worlds offers a fun, interactive learning tool that teachers can use in the classroom to explore and compare the similarities and differences between these two unique types of navigators.

 

AESTHETICS:
Young people produce the great graphics and quality animations. This is definitely a high-interest site.

 

ORGANIZATION:
This frames-only site is easy to navigate. A good navigational bar is always available at the bottom of the screen, and section guides appear in the left side bar. The site requires the RealPlayer plug-in.

 

REVIEW:
Journey to New Worlds is a platinum award winner in the 1999 ThinkQuest Junior competition. The site offers students a chance to learn about, and compare, what it takes to voyage between islands in the Pacific and between planets in our solar system. Students will enjoy the interactive space SIMs in which the user must research a voyage to one of the planets, then calculate distances and necessary provisions. Be precise, because mistakes can make your trip go blammo! The young authors have also put together a library with Hawaiian legends and a "continuing" space story that users are encouraged to contribute to. Several message boards let users discuss the site and some provocative ideas about the moon and Mars. Great job, kids!