'Respect Our Earth' Software Gets Respect in Schools

Elementary school students in Livermore, Castro Valley and Pleasanton "grow" their ecology-knowledge through educational software.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2007 -- Kids in Livermore, Castro Valley and Dublin are more interested in recycling than ever before thanks in part to award-winning ecology software distributed to elementary schools in the three cities free.

The Altamont Education Advisory Board awarded a grant to Sound Advice, makers of "Respect Our Earth" software, to supply elementary schools in Livermore, Castro Valley and Dublin with copies of the fun-to-play, ecology software.

Sound Advice, makers of the NoteNiks product line, created the software for kids ages 5 - 10, to teach them about environmental issues using 8 interactive games. Children learn about various forms of clean energy, recycling, composting, habitats and endangered animals, and where and how fuel alternatives such as wind and solar energy are used. The software recently won a Dr. Toy 100 Best Products award for 2007.

"This is the first software we've seen talking about environmental issues," said Principal Stephan Bering of Arroyo Seco Elementary School in Livermore. "Our students are already excited about recycling; this will help them with concepts around energy conservation and reusables. And when the kids take this information home, they get parents excited about it, too." The students at Arroyo Seco play the "Respect Our Earth" games during the school's lunchtime open computer lab.

The twenty-five elementary schools were surprised and delighted to receive the complimentary software on behalf of the Altamont Education Advisory Board, especially since many schools are consciously promoting environmental messages.

"Our school is committed to recycling. The ecology messages in 'Respect Our Earth' reinforce what we want to pass on to our students," said Rick Boster, Principal, Murray Elementary School, Dublin, CA.

Not only does "Respect Our Earth" contain games with eco-friendly messages, it also provides teachers with age-appropriate curriculum and activity pages that can supplement existing lesson plans. Additionally, the software contains a built-in browser with current ecology news headlines, and printable award certificates for kids who thoroughly understand the environmental concepts.

Said Mindy Myers, founder and CEO of Sound Advice and creator of the software, "We found that many schools have adopted 'green' policies regarding recycling and reuse. Our software shows a child how he can keep up recycling habits at a park, the beach, in town and at home. Recycling habits should not stop at school."

Among the many activities "Respect Our Earth" offers are directions on building a classroom compost and ways to reuse common items like jars, newspapers and old clothing. The software also introduces kids to harder concepts including various clean energy sources like wind, solar and hydroelectric energy.

Principal Keith Nomura of John Green Elementary in Dublin thinks the software is a great educational and environmental resource: "We're always looking for new ways to be a 'greener' school. We want our students to be environmentally savvy."

The "Respect Our Earth" software is both PC and Mac compatible and available for purchase at www.noteniks.com. The cost is $19.95.

Other NoteNiks software titles include: "NoteNiks Healthy Eating & Exercise," interactive games that teach 3 - 8 year olds about choosing a healthy diet that includes fruit, vegetables and exercise, and "NoteNiks Monthly and Weekly Menu Templates," a year's worth of monthly and weekly menu grids that can be customized for school and hospital food service directors. NoteNiks products have won awards from such reputable organizations as Dr. Toy, iParenting, Creative Child Magazine and more.

For more information, call: 510-547-0125 or visit www.noteniks.com.

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