Spaceship Sorry
The Chemical Dominoes project was designed in a way that allowed us to creatively incorporate information we have learned over the past few months and share it in a fun interactive game. We were instructed to create a board game that had to include various types of chemical reactions as it was played. This includes single and double replacement reactions, production of gas, lighting of an LED, and well as chemical and physical changes of energy.
Our board game centered around a cosmic theme, and from there we developed our ideas in to a game called Spaceship Sorry. Our group wanted to stress the importance of creating a game that truly taught some chemistry knowledge to its players instead of just having reactions without any explanation or background. We accomplished this by making sure components like chemical formulas were divisive to playing the game. At the same time we wanted Spaceship Sorry to still retain one of a kind elements that kept the game fun and enjoyable.
Our board game centered around a cosmic theme, and from there we developed our ideas in to a game called Spaceship Sorry. Our group wanted to stress the importance of creating a game that truly taught some chemistry knowledge to its players instead of just having reactions without any explanation or background. We accomplished this by making sure components like chemical formulas were divisive to playing the game. At the same time we wanted Spaceship Sorry to still retain one of a kind elements that kept the game fun and enjoyable.
Spaceship Sorry Instructions/ Chemical Background Information
Key Concepts
Single Displacement Reaction
Double Displacement Reaction
In a double displacement reaction, two compounds react, and the positive ions (cation) and the negative ions (anion) of the two reactants switch places, forming two new compounds
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Example from our project: sodium hydroxide reacts with magnesium chloride to form sodium chloride and magnesium hydroxide
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reactivity series
Reflection
This project came with its own struggles and triumphs as all do. For a while we had a issues incorporating all of the chemistry concepts while still keeping our game fun and interactive. We also had to figure out how to integrate educational elements into our very specific alien, cosmic theme. Though, after lots of brainstorming, research, trial and error, and maybe a bit of luck we got all of the parts working smoothly together.
On a personal level, there were some frustrating stages of this project, especially as I created the centerpiece of our board game. This was quite the large undertaking, as it took me a while to bring my ideas to fruition in a way that made all of them cohesive together. I had to redesign the center piece a few times in order to make the breadboard and electronic components, rotating chemical carousel, and light all fit together in a single, sturdy structure. During this process I became better acquainted with new equipment such as a soldering iron, and was pleased that I could use knowledge of my freshman year stem electronic unit to wire a lighting system correctly. In the end, I was pleased with the function and aesthetic of the finished product.
If I could redo this project, I would divide the workload differently, making sure each group member had tasks that matched their personal skill set. Unfortunately, some of us had to pick up the slack last minute which added stress on the presentation night that could have been avoided. I also wish I had asked more questions about what to expect on the presentation night, so our group could have prepared more. Otherwise I believe our game served its purpose of teaching chemistry, but our little touched kept the concepts interesting. I was delighted to watch players’ eyes light up as the noticed various elements of our game, and am proud of the effort my group and I put in to make all of them.
On a personal level, there were some frustrating stages of this project, especially as I created the centerpiece of our board game. This was quite the large undertaking, as it took me a while to bring my ideas to fruition in a way that made all of them cohesive together. I had to redesign the center piece a few times in order to make the breadboard and electronic components, rotating chemical carousel, and light all fit together in a single, sturdy structure. During this process I became better acquainted with new equipment such as a soldering iron, and was pleased that I could use knowledge of my freshman year stem electronic unit to wire a lighting system correctly. In the end, I was pleased with the function and aesthetic of the finished product.
If I could redo this project, I would divide the workload differently, making sure each group member had tasks that matched their personal skill set. Unfortunately, some of us had to pick up the slack last minute which added stress on the presentation night that could have been avoided. I also wish I had asked more questions about what to expect on the presentation night, so our group could have prepared more. Otherwise I believe our game served its purpose of teaching chemistry, but our little touched kept the concepts interesting. I was delighted to watch players’ eyes light up as the noticed various elements of our game, and am proud of the effort my group and I put in to make all of them.