Free 'Imagine Your World' Program Includes Creative Problem Solving Activities for Students and Classroom Calendar for Teachers

CRANBURY, N.J., Sept. 16, 2008 -- This school year, PLAYMOBIL is encouraging imagination in first through third grade classrooms nationwide. Grade-school teachers can now access the free "Imagine Your World" curriculum that, created along with Scholastic, meets national standards in language arts and social studies at http://www.scholastic.com/playmobil. Designed to help encourage students to use their creativity, this program includes classroom lessons, free printables and activities for the students, interactive quizzes and free PLAYMOBIL calendars for teachers.

"Encouraging kids to use their imaginations is our classroom mission, and in the current environment of ever-tightening school budgets, we're proud to provide this program free to teachers and primary grade students," said Michelle Winfrey, marketing and public relations manager for PLAYMOBIL USA. "The 'Imagine Your World' curriculum really uses PLAYMOBIL's philosophy of imaginative play to help children learn important lessons at school, with toys and materials they can also easily play with at home."

The "Imagine Your World" lessons facilitate cognitive skill building through creative play to develop hand-eye coordination skills and teach kids how to follow written and verbal directions in a fun way. Lessons include "People in Your Neighborhood," a lesson to teach children about the careers of different people in the community; "At the Airport," designed to discuss sequences using a trip on an airplane; and "Looking for Dinosaurs," which allows students to dig into paleontology and geology.

PLAYMOBIL activity sets that complement the lessons in this curriculum include a new Dino line which features a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Pteranodon and Triceratops and fits well with the "Looking for Dinosaurs" lesson. The "At the Airport" lesson can be acted out with the PLAYMOBIL Jet Plane, Airline Terminal and Airport Tower sets, and the "People in My Neighborhood" lesson is complemented well by PLAYMOBIL's Hospital, Ladder Truck, Recycling Truck and Police Car.

Each lesson includes a printable writing activity to complement students' play, including reading comprehension questions and writing assignments. The "Imagine Your World" lessons are designed to help children develop reading, writing, visual, comprehension and assessment skills as well as learn about sequences of events in a fun, imaginative way.

Activities included with each lesson allow teachers to utilize the "Imagine Your World" program in the classroom or as a home assignment. Each lesson has an accompanying printable activity that encourages students to work with groups. Teachers can also sign up to receive a free 2008-2009 school-year classroom calendar at http://www.scholastic.com/playmobil. The colorful calendar features playful images and exciting monthly activities to liven up the classroom.

WHAT MAKES PLAYMOBIL TOYS UNIQUE

A multi-year winner of accolades such as FamilyFun's "Toy of the Year," the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, the TODAY Show's Toy Awards and Parents "Best Toy of the Year" award, the cornerstone of all PLAYMOBIL activities is the two and three quarter inch figure which can bend, sit, stand, turn its head and move its arms. The hands, which can grasp, rotate and carry accessories, are what make realistic play possible. The figures also have a smiley face that suits just about any play situation. All PLAYMOBIL men, women, children and animals are compatible with all other PLAYMOBIL vehicles, accessories and environments. The bright colors and rounded edges are appealing to children. And the unique construction features locking-grid building pieces that allow children to change their play worlds by creating new buildings. With numerous themes to choose from in a variety of age-appropriate settings, PLAYMOBIL is dedicated to enriching the lives of children by encouraging them to use their imaginations.

ABOUT PLAYMOBIL INC.

PLAYMOBIL, Germany's largest toy manufacturer, is headquartered in Zirndorf, Germany and has been producing and distributing toys for more than 30 years. The company distributes its toys in more than 60 countries and employs more than 2,500 people and has subsidiaries in the United States, France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Spain, Canada and the Czech Republic. PLAYMOBIL USA toys are distributed in more than 2,200 stores nationwide including the FunPark play centers in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the FunStore in Woodbridge, N.J. For more information, please visit http://www.playmobil.com.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC

Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and children's media. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company's Internet Site, http://www.scholastic.com.