If you are bored of today’s computer games, check out this nostalgic list of old educational computer games. Some will bring you back!
Do you have fond memories of playing Oregon Trail during your elementary school days?
If so, you’re certainly not alone. There were plenty of old educational computer games that many of us loved to play as children. However, chances are, you’ve probably forgotten about some of the best ones.
If you’re looking to take a trip down memory lane, read on to discover the best old educational computer games that made learning fun.
- Oregon Trail
Since we already talked about it in the intro, we might as well kick the list off with this beloved computer game.
This was the game that taught us what dysentery was (gross but educational), and how to help oxen cross a river without drowning (okay maybe not in real life, but still). Plus, it somehow made learning about pilgrims fun and exciting.
Oregon Trail was originally launched in 1974, and it’s still enjoyed today. In fact, since its initial release, over 20 versions of the game have been launched.
While it taught us about the woes of pioneer life, the game also taught us about geography, pollution, and ecosystems. Also, we can’t forget that the game also taught us the invaluable lesson of dealing with frustration.
This game also teaches children collaboration, teamwork, spatial understanding, and imagination. If you’re looking for a current game that can help teach children similar skills, you may want to consider Fortnite. You can check out this guide to learn how to play Fortnite on Mac.
- Reader Rabbit
Reader Rabbit was revolutionary in that it was the first to prove that computer games can be an effective tool for teaching children how to read and write.
The Learning Company first released Reader Rabbit in 1985. The initial game was aimed at helping children from infancy to age nine. In addition to helping with reading and writing, the game also aimed at helping children improve their math skills.
While many people have fond memories of playing Reader Rabbit as a child, what most people don’t know is that the game was actually created by a nun.
Ann McCormick served as a nun for Saint Joseph of Peace for 6 years. After, she left the convent to teach fifth grade in Buffalo, New York, where she developed the first inklings of her true calling.
During her initial years of teaching. McCormick was shocked to discover that a handful of her students could barely read or write a full sentence. Determined to help fix the system that let these kids down, McCormick returned to the West Coast to earn her doctorate in education.
Her dissertation on dialect is still referenced by linguists to this day. After working in low-income schools for five years, McCormick started to develop an interest in personal computing.
In 1979, she won a grant from Apple to develop a computer program that would teach preschoolers the foundational skills for reading and writing.
A couple of years later, she earned grants from both the National Insitute of Education and the National Science Foundation to develop programs in logic and geometry for second and third graders.
After gaining a name for herself in the education and personal computing industry, McCormick eventually partnered with Leslie Grimm to develop what would become Reader Rabbit.
- Munchers
Munchers was another educational computer program that was wildly popular with children in the 90s.
The series was created by the Minnesota Educational Computer Consortium, better known as the MECC. Chances are, you have memories of those four brightly colored letters flashing across your computer screen as you eagerly waited to begin your gameplay.
While the Munchers games reached their peak of popularity in the mid-90s, the company behind Munchers actually dates back all the way to 1973. MECC was also behind popular educational computer games like Lemonade Stand and Storybook Weaver.
The goal of the Munchers series was to teach elementary-aged children the basic fundamentals of reading and math. After the success of the original Munchers game, Number Munchers was launched.
Kids gravitated toward Munchers because it sort of mimicked Pacman. That is, the object of the game was to “eat” all of the words and numbers that corresponded with a set of instructions on the screen.
For example, the game might instruct you to “eat” all of the numbers that are multiples of three or “eat” all of the words that begin with vowels.
Of course, while attempting to eat all of the numbers and letters, you had to avoid getting caught by a Troggle.
- The Carmen San Diego Series
One cannot make a list of educational computer programs without mentioning the Carmen San Diego Series.
Something about this mysterious, trench-coated lady drew kids in like nothing else- so much so that there were four hugely successful series created in the span of four years- Where in the World, Where in Europe, Where in the USA, and Where in Time.
While children believed they were solving crimes and uncovering secret codes, what they were really doing was learning about geography, diversity, and confidence skills.
The game has resonated through generations, and your children can still enjoy playing the series on Android and iOS devices.
Old Educational Computer Games: Which Was Your Favorite?
We hope this list of old educational computer games helped to spark some nostalgia in you.
Are there any computer games that we missed that you have fond memories of? If so, comment below. Also, be sure to check back in with our blog for more nostalgia-inducing articles like this one.