Adventure Rock's the CBBC!
Thanks to the NAACE newsletter for highlighting a great (and safe) interactive virtual island "Adventure Rock" aimed at 6 - 11 year olds.
The game requires a download, and allows children to explore and discover on a virtual island. There are hints and tips for explorers, and it is easy to use so finding your way around is not a chore, (although there are tricks!).
I've had a quick trip round with my daughter and its pretty fab and fun. For all its critics, I think the BBC are pretty amazing, and underplay just how important they are. The iPlayer, safe search, educational content, offer safe and innovative interaction for children. Amongst the anarchic, lawless and frequently vile aspects of the world wide web, the BBC is a beacon of trusted content.
The Adventure Rock download seems to work pretty well, but I'm not sure how it would function if installed on a school network. Maybe there's a friendly school that might like to try it and let me know how they get on?