Named one of the best educational sites on the web by Homeschool.com, Starfall.com offers free games and activities that help children learn to read. The phonics-based games provide children with a fun way to learn the basics of reading. Starfall has games for everyone, from children learning their ABCs to children who have mastered the basics of reading and are beginning to read fluently.
Make a Word
Make a Word gives children the last two letters of a word and asks them to choose the correct first letter to make a word to match the picture shown. The words all belong to the same word family. After five words, the game gives them a gold star and repeats the words along with the pictures.
Make a Match
Make a Match offers children a memory match game that asks them to match a word with its picture. Children click on cards to turn them over. If the word and the picture match, the computer reads the word out loud while showing the picture. After six matches, the child moves to the next level. The game has three levels.
Picture Hunt
Picture Hunt asks children to read directions to click on something in the black and white pictures. If a child cant read, the computer will read the directions when the child clicks on them. Once the child clicks on the correct object in the picture, that object changes to color and the computer reads the word that corresponds to the object. Once the child has completed all the directions, the picture switches completely to color and becomes animated.
Word Sort
In Word Sort, children sort words according to certain characteristics. For example, one version of the game might ask children to sort the words based on the vowel sound in the word. Once the word has been correctly sorted, the a picture of the word appears in the scene. After sorting six words, the scene becomes animated.
Ten Little Snowmen
In Ten Little Snowmen, children read directions that ask them to build a snowman. Each page asks the child to choose a different feature for the snowman from scarves to eyes. When the child finishes the snowman, the computer sings the child a song about 10 little snowmen.
Gingerbread Man
Much like Ten Little Snowmen, Gingerbread Man asks the child to create his own gingerbread man cookie by choosing the eyes, nose and buttons. The game teaches shapes and colors and requires the child to follow the written directions. Once the child finishes the gingerbread man, the gingerbread man jumps up and runs away while the computer reads a short poem about the gingerbread man running away.
