A Guide to Using Math La bTM Dear Parent: You know how important learning is to your child's future. No matter what path your child chooses in life, learning fundamental skills provides the building blocks for future success. A solid foundation is absolutely essential. That is why VTech® designed the FUNdamentals of LearningTM system. This integrated line of learning products focus on one of three key subject areas - Reading, Math or Language. VTech®'s multi-sensory approach to diverse learning styles (incorporating auditory, visual and tactile stimulation) reinforces and complements the subject matter your child is learning, or will learn, in school. The FUNdamentals of LearningTM system provides your child with interactive toys that stimulate, engage, and reward your child in productive play. Above all, VTech® puts FUN into fundamentals! Children think they're playing, but they're actually learning. So their confidence grows, their self-esteem grows and their appetite for learning grows, too. As a parent, you take the most critical role in establishing an active learning environment. We encourage you to participate in the FUNdamentals of LearningTM system together with your child. You'll see first hand the progress your child is making. Have fun! For 25 years, millions of parents, just like you, have trusted VTech® with the most important job in the world, helping their children learn and grow. As your child grows, count on VTech® to be there with fun, innovative, learning toys to help your child do his or her best every step of the way. We thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility of helping prepare your child for his or her future successes. We look forward to developing your child's fundamental skills further while encouraging a lifelong love of learning. Sincerely, Your Friends at VTech® To learn more about the FUNdamentals of LearningTM system and other VTech® toys, visit www.vtechkids.com. 1 Math La bTM LCD SCREEN TIMER BUTTON ON/OFF BUTTON TURN KNOB ADDITION SIGN ACTIVITY SELECTOR PUSH KNOB SUBTRACTION SIGN PULL KNOB 4 FRACTION BUTTONS ERASE BUTTON NUMBER BUTTON MULTIPLICATION BUTTON ENTER BUTTON TO BEGIN PLAY 1. To begin play, press the ON/OFF button to turn the unit on. You will hear a short tune followed by "Gear up!" "Gear up!" 2. Slide the activity selector left or right to select one of the ten activities. A friendly voice will guide you through each of the following activities: 1. Counting 2. Number Patterns 3. Addition 4. Subtraction 5. Multiplication 6. Missing Sign 7. Target Number 8. Fractions 9. Time 10. Memory Challenge 2 "Bye - bye." 3. To turn the unit OFF, press the ON/OFF button again. You will hear a short tune followed by "Bye-bye." 4. Use the ERASE button to delete any answers inputted before the ENTER button has been pressed. Use the ENTER button to confirm all answers. 5. In each activity, you will be asked to pick a level. You can enter the numbers 1, 2 or 3 to choose the level. You can also use the twisting knob. Once the level you want is highlighted, press the ENTER button to select it. 6. The unit will automatically go into Normal Mode. In this mode, once you have successfully answered 10 questions in a round, you will advance to the next level. 7. If you wish to enter the Timer Mode, press the TIMER button at any time. While in the Timer Mode, you will hear "4,3,2,1, Ready, go!" There are 3 different grades in the TIMER mode and you will advance to the next grade after you complete a round. Each round consists of 10 questions. Your time to complete each round will be recorded and displayed. If a round is completed faster than the previous one, you have made a new record and this time will be displayed. You will advance to the next grade once you answer all the questions in the round correctly. The higher the grade and the faster you complete a round, the shorter your time will be to complete the next round. Once you have completed the third grade, you may choose to play again. While in TIMER Mode, you may choose to play different activities but in order to return into Normal Mode, you must press the TIMER button. 8. Each of the knobs located on the right-hand side of the unit perform a specific mathematical function. The count knob represents "counting", the push knob represents "addition (+)", the pull knob represents "subtraction (-)" and the push button represents "multiplication (x)." "Pick a level!" 3 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 1 - COUNTING This activity develops your child's understanding of numbers, and by adding more objects, these numbers represent the concept of counting. Your child will be asked to count the number of objects he or she sees on the LCD screen. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Counting helps to show your child the basic concept of adding one by one in order to find the total number in a collection. This foundation allows children to begin the basic understanding of number usage in addition and subtraction. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Slide the activity selector to "Counting." You will hear a short tune and a friendly voice will say "Pick a level." 2. After selecting a level, you will hear the level repeated followed by "Count the dots." In this activity, all answers need to be inputted from left to right. 3. In Level 1, the square animations on the LCD screen will flash and the unit will repeat the number of squares displayed. You will hear "Input your answer." If you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. You have three chances to answer each question, but if you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear an incorrect sound effect and the answer will be shown. 4. In Level 2, count and enter the number of dots arranged in a shape shown on the LCD screen. 5. In Level 3, count and enter the number of dots arranged as an object shown on the LCD screen. 6. If you answer correctly in Levels 2 and 3, you will hear "You've got it!" If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again" and you will be able to answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear an incorrect sound effect and the unit will count the dots. You will hear "This is the answer" and the answer will be shown on the LCD screen. 4 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 2 - NUMBER PATTERNS This activity develops your child's number patterning skills. It will present your child with number patterns and ask your child to find the next number within the pattern presented. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Number Patterns helps to show your child that numbers follow a certain pattern. It allows him or her to identify and work with patterns in the number system. Number patterns serve as the basis for multiplication and division. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Slide the activity selector to "Number Patterns." You will hear a short tune and a friendly voice will say "Pick a level." In this activity, all answers need to be inputted from left to right. 2. You will be shown a set of numbers and you must figure out what the number pattern is between the three numbers. 3. You will need to input the missing number from the pattern. Your answer will be repeated and if you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again" and you will be able to enter your answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear an incorrect sound effect followed by "This is the answer." The answer will be shown on the LCD screen and it will also be repeated. 5 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 3 - ADDITION This activity will allow your child to demonstrate his or her knowledge of addition skills. Your child will have a chance to add objects together through the display of square animations and to add by viewing a numeric equation. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Addition helps your child understand the concept of adding numbers to obtain a sum, or the whole amount. By understanding this concept, your child will begin to apply his or her knowledge by solving problems. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Slide the activity selector to "Addition." You will hear a short tune and a friendly voice will say "Pick a level." In this activity, all answers need to be inputted from right to left. 2. In Level 1, the LCD screen will display square animations to represent an equation. 3. Next, a numeric equation that represents the squares previously shown will be displayed. The unit will say "Input your answer." 4. If you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again!" The square animations will be shown on the LCD screen and you will be able to enter your answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear an incorrect sound effect followed by "This is the answer." The answer will also be repeated. 5. In Levels 2 and 3, you will not be given the square animations, only the numeric equations to solve. 6 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 4 - SUBTRACTION This activity will allow your child to demonstrate his or her knowledge of subtraction skills. Your child will have a chance to subtract objects from a total through the display of square animations and to subtract by viewing a numeric equation. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Subtraction helps your child understand that to take away a number or deduct, he or she is subtracting. By understanding this concept, your child will begin to apply his or her knowledge by solving problems. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Slide the activity selector to "Subtraction." You will hear a short tune and a friendly voice will say "Pick a level." In this activity, all answers need to be inputted from right to left. 2. In Level 1, the LCD screen will display square animations to represent a numeric equation. The squares that are not completely filled in are what are being taken away. The solid squares are what you have remaining. 3. Next, a numeric equation that represents the squares previously shown will be displayed. The unit will say "Input your answer." 4. If you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again!" The image will be shown on the LCD screen and you will be able to enter your answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear an incorrect sound effect followed by "This is the answer." The correct answer will then be shown on the LCD screen. 5. In Levels 2 and 3, you will not be given the square animations, only the numeric equations to solve. 7 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 5 - MULTIPLICATION This activity asks your child to solve a variety of multiplication questions by entering answers using the number buttons. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Multiplication allows your child to begin understanding a short way of finding out what would be the result of adding a figure the numbers of times indicated by another figure. It provides an opportunity for your child to solve problems and advance their math knowledge. ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Slide the activity selector to "Multiplication." You will hear a short tune and a friendly voice will say "Pick a level." In this activity, all answers need to be inputted from left to right. 2. In Level 1, the LCD screen will display square animations to represent an equation. 3. Next, a numeric equation that represents the squares previously shown will be displayed. The unit will say "Input your answer." 4. If you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again!" and you will be able to enter your answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear "This is the answer" and the answer will be repeated. 5. In Level 2, you will be given a series of numeric equations to solve. 6. In Level 3, you will be given a numeric equation with a denominator missing. You must determine and enter what the missing number is so it equals the answer given. 7. If you answer correctly, you will hear "You've got it!" You will then advance to the next question. If you answer incorrectly, you will hear "Oops, try again!" and you will be able to enter your answer again. If you answer incorrectly on your third try, you will hear "This is the answer" and the answer will be repeated. 8 MATH LABTM ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY 6 - MISSING SIGN This activity asks your child to solve various numeric equations by selecting the correct operation sign. Your child will be asked to find the missing sign to make the equation correct. Learning Benefits for Your Child - Missing Sign allows your child to connect the symbols of + (plus), - (minus) and x (times) with the operations of addition, subtraction and multiplica ...