[Board Game]
A game that teaches the structures of atoms on the periodic table, molecules and ions. Teaches the concepts of ions, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction and the fundamentals of organic chemistry. The game includes a board having atoms, molecules and ions on the perimeter. In the center of the board are the periodic table, electronegativity table, a buzzer experiment representing an electrochemical cell, and table of organic nomenclature. Players are required to identify the entity on the perimeter randomly by the roll of dice and to answer questions from two levels of playing cards representing fundamental and advance.
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1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to games and amusement devices and more specifically to a board game, which provides educational features relating to chemistry, as well as providing for entertainment.
Across the nation, schools are going through a major reform in their math and science curriculum to bring education standards up to par. The facts show that there is an achievement gap between blacks and whites in mathematics and science. In 1999, when the latest National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test was administered, large differences remained between average scores for blacks and Hispanics on the one hand, versus whites and Asians on the other. Nationally, the achievement gap did not narrow at all during the 1990s. In reading and math, gaps separating poor and minority students from others actually widened at most grade levels and remained the same or dropped only slightly at others (The Education Trust). By the end of grade 4, African American, Latino and poor students of all races are already about two years behind other students. By the time they reach grade 8, they are about three years behind. By the time they reach grade 12, if they do so at all, minority students are about four years behind other young people. The mathematics and science skills of 17-year-old African American and Latino students are similar to those of 13-year-old white students. African Americans and Latinos obtain college degrees at only half the rate of white students. The partnerships between government agency, industry, academia and private organizations are trying to address these issues along with many others. This invention teaches the most important concepts needed to understand and excel in chemistry.
2) Prior Art
The prior art is abundant with all types of educational board games; none of which posses the unique and innovative character of the game of the present invention. Many board games require a player to travel around a peripheral path or track. The games vary with respect to their manner of play and requirement for winning. Some of these games are designed to provide entertainment for those who participate in the game. Others games are designed to provide entertainment as well as educate the player about a particular subject. Games of this type are won by the player who is able to master the subject matter that the game is intended to teach. None of the prior art board games allow for the players to move their pieces along a one directional playing track consisting of art representing atoms on the periodic table, molecules and ions. The game of the present invention, as distinguished from the prior art, include playing cards bearing questions about atoms, ions, acids and bases, oxidation and reduction, organic chemistry, electronegativity, electrochemistry (referred as the buzzer experiment) and important chemistry concepts.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention is designed to teach the important concepts of chemistry. It is designed to provide entertainment as well as educate the players about the subject of chemistry.
One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a board game, which includes a playing path containing the atoms of the periodic table and key molecules and ions.
Another objective is to provide a board game, which includes a periodic table, electronegativity table, a buzzer experiment representing an electrochemical cell, and table of organic nomenclature, all upon which questions are based.
Another objective is to provide a board game, which requires the identification of entities on the perimeter randomly by the roll of dice and to answer questions from two levels of playing cards representing fundamental and advance.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a board game, which requires a player to obtain a set amount of game money by a combination of answering questions, picking a bonus card, and randomly landing on a bonus spot on the game path. By obtaining a set amount of game money a player can win the game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention relates to a board game that is designed to enhance a player's knowledge of chemistry.
Referring to
The playing pieces could take any suitable form such as a pawn and could be made from any suitable material. The form and material of the pieces are not material to the invention.
The track is made up of thirty-three spaces, which contain atoms from the periodic table, molecules, ions, bonus spaces and a start space.
A player that lands on one of the atoms, molecules or ion spaces must identify what they landed on. If they identify what they landed on they will be given the opportunity to win money by answering a question from one of two sets of cards, fundamental and advance. If they cannot identify what they landed on they loose the opportunity to answer a question and win money. A player can also land on one of four bonus spaces. The player will then collect the money stated on the bonus space and also gets the opportunity to win money by answering a question. Landing on a bonus space will also allow a player to move to the advance level referred to as the buzzer if they have obtained the required set dollar amount.
There are two sets of playing cards, fundamental and advance. Players that are just learning how to play the game or who have a limited knowledge of chemistry are advised to start playing at the fundamental level and cards. Players who have gained a significant knowledge of chemistry either by playing the game or having obtained the knowledge from other sources are advise to move up to the advance level and cards. Obtaining a set dollar amount while playing the game is an indicator that the player is ready to move to the advance level.
The playing cards are divided into the two groups, fundamental and advance, based on the definition of the six levels of learning as defined in the Bloom's Taxonomy. The six levels of learning are defined as 1) learning facts, 2) understanding concepts, 3) performing procedural task, 4) analysis, 5) synthesis and 6) evaluation. The fundamental cards are base on the first two levels, learning facts and understanding concepts. The advance cards are based on the remaining four levels, performing procedural tasks, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. There are approximately 200 playing cards, with questions focused on the different sections of the game board. The questions are presented on one side of the card. The corresponding answer are provided in a question and answer booklet. The opposite side of the card are label fundamental or advance. The cards could be color coded for each level and be made from any suitable material and sized for easy handling by each of the players.
Referring to
The bottom bar shows the number of electrons that are in the outermost orbit for each column. The first column atoms will have one electron in the outermost S orbit. The atoms in the second column will have two electrons in an outermost S orbit. The atoms in the third column will have one electron in the outermost P orbit. The atoms in the fourth column will have two electrons in the outermost P orbit. The atoms in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth columns will have 3, 4, 5, and 6 electrons in the outermost P orbit, respectively. There are two sets of P orbits, the 2P orbits and the 3P orbits in the first twenty atoms of the periodic table. Boron to Magnesium has the 2P orbits. Aluminum to Calcium has the 2P and the 3P orbits. If we look at Calcium we can see all four S orbits and the two sets of P orbits. Each orbit has two electrons.
You can identify an atom by the number of S orbits and the number of electrons that are in the outermost orbit. There is one exception and that is Helium. Helium is located in the eighth column but does not have any P orbits. It has two electrons in an outermost S orbit like those atoms in column two. Otherwise all atoms that are in the same column will look very similar in the outermost orbit. This is an interesting observation because it is this similarity that causes atoms in the same column to have similar physical and chemical properties also. The bottom bar makes this very clear to the players and helps them understand the structure of the atoms.
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Electrons will orbit around the nucleus of the atom in either an S orbit or a P orbit. Even though S and P orbits look different, they are very much alike. Orbits are capable of having a maximum of two electrons. Sometimes an orbit will only have one electron in it. But we can think of this electron as being lonely. It will want to have another electron in the same orbit. And if another electron comes along and makes a pair of electrons in one orbit, then we can consider the electrons to be happy.
Referring to
You can distinguish atoms from molecules in the game by looking at the S orbits. If all the S orbits are in concentric circles then you have an atom. If the S orbits are not concentric and you see an S orbit that lies outside another S orbit, then you have a molecule.
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Claims
1. A question and answer board game which can be competitively and simultaneously played by players of different skill and age levels comprising a game board with a one directional playing track along which each player moves their pieces based upon a randomly selected value, said track is made up of a playing path containing the atoms of the periodic table, molecules and ions; several sets of multi-level cards bearing questions to which each player must reply with a correct answer to progress towards winning the game.
2. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein a player that lands on a space on the playing track must identify the atom, molecule or ion that he or she landed on in order to gain the privilege of picking a game card and answering the question on that card.
3. A question and answer board game according to claim 2 wherein a player that has gained the privilege of picking a game card will win money by correctly answering the question on the card.
4. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein said randomly selected value to move each said players pieces is determined by the value of the roll of a dice by each player during that players sequential turn.
5. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein said track is made up of thirty-three spaces containing atoms, molecules, ions and bonus spaces.
6. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein the questions are presented on one side of the question cards with the corresponding answer provided in a question and answer booklet.
7. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein the first player to reach a set dollar amount is the winner of the game.
8. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein said one directional playing track includes four bonus spaces that allows a player to win extra money and to advance to the next level if the requirements are met.
9. A question and answer board game according to claim 1 wherein said cards are divided into two groups, fundamental and advance, based on the definition of the six levels of learning as defined in the Bloom's taxonomy.
10. A question and answer board game according to claim 9 wherein said fundamental cards are based on learning factual data and conceptual data.
11. A question and answer board game according to claim 9 wherein said advance cards are based on performing procedural tasks, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
12. A question and answer board game containing a periodic table provided with a side bar and a bottom bar that helps explain the structure of each atom.
13. A question and answer board game according to claim 12 wherein said side bar shows concentric circles (or spheres) representing the number of S orbits that exist in atoms of a row on the periodic table.
14. A question and answer board game according to claim 12 wherein said bottom bar shows the number of electrons that is in the outermost orbit for each column.
15. A question and answer board game according to claim 12 wherein said periodic table with side bar and bottom bar teaches players how to identify atoms by the number of S orbits and the number of electrons that are in the outermost orbit.
16. A question and answer board game containing a periodic table showing the S orbit, P orbits and the number of electrons in each orbit for the first twenty atoms of the periodic table.
17. A question and answer board game containing a table showing molecules and ions with their S orbits, P orbits and sharing of electrons.
18. A question and answer board game containing a buzzer experiment section that teaches electrochemistry.
19. A question and answer board game containing an electronegativity table section that teaches electronegativity, the strength of an atom to take an electron away from another atom.
20. A question and answer board game containing a carbon table section that teaches organic nomenclature.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 3, 2003
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Applicant: (Willingboro, NJ)
Inventor: Gerald Bauldock (Willingboro, NJ)
Application Number: 10/605,876