American Heritage Dictionary defines “trivia” as “insignificant or inessential matters; trifles.” On the Web, however, the word “trivia” covers all sorts of quizzes and challenges. Sometimes the subject matter is trivial (“Who owns the world’s largest gum wrapper collection?”) but …[Continue]

Some things are improved with technology, while others are better the old-fashioned way. I think interactive crossword puzzles beat their paper-and-pencil counterparts hands down. I like being able to change letters and I like being able to check my work …[Continue]

Scrabble started as a game called Lexico invented during the depression by an unemployed architect. But the game we know today was born in 1948 when the original rules were refined, and the name was changed to Scrabble. Now, half …[Continue]

It’s true! Study after study has proven that chess playing improves critical thinking skills and academic achievement. In fact, chess is a required part of elementary curriculum in thirty countries. Former U.S. Secretary of Education Terrence Bell, known for rallying …[Continue]

“Let me try!” “I wanna play!” There is something very engaging about these online jigsaw puzzles. Try playing one, and see what happens when a family member walks by and sees what’s on the screen. The puzzles vary from easy …[Continue]

Did you know that geography has its own week? To focus on the importance of geography in education, the National Geography Society has named November 14 through 20 National Geography Awareness week. And what better way to use the Internet, …[Continue]

It used to be that only the newspaper was daily, but on the Internet there are lots of sites that publish every day. The following fun sites are all very different from each other. The first is a comic strip, …[Continue]

I remember dressing paper dolls with tabbed paper clothes and I remember spending hours changing Barbie from one outfit to another. Based on my own childhood memories, I thought today’s youngsters would find these interactive dress-up games appealing. All of …[Continue]

Despite the wise adage to “write what you know,” this week I’m tackling Pokémon – the Japanese video game/television show/card game that is currently riding a tsunami of popularity with American kids (mine included.) As many of the following fan …[Continue]