- Want a knew way to remember the periodic table?
I have been following a mom named Aurora who is in love with science. She has a fun website and I get some great ideas from her. Today she sent an email about all the time kids spend playing mindless video games. So she decided to see if there wasn’t a way to make it more useful time and help kids really learn something interesting.
Now I am not an advocate of video games. I am an advocate of things kids create that appeal to other kids and that get children and parents together, and if there are games that help kids learn science and get parents involved then wouldn’t that be great? So I was really interested in her email. I have posted a portion of it below and the links to the fun science websites. I think you will find it interesting too.
- Connors Kits for Kids
First, remember my friend Connor, the fourth grader who created a website (Tips for raising creative children) to sell science kits that he created for kids? Well, the fifth grader Aurora talks about below is one of those science kids that help other kids love science, just like Connor.
I went to the website to see for myself. Hmmmm, even I might like to play this and I have NEVER played any type of video game. I know, I am as old as dirt! Anyway, I was so intrigued by the first couple of paragraphs by the creator of the game. He is now in 11th grade. Here is what he had to say – “Creating a company has been on my mind for a long time, but it was only at the end of my 4th grade summer when the idea of a chemistry based card game struck me.” Boy, was he getting a late start! : ) But imagine a fourth grader inventing a game to learn the periodic table of elements; something that would make science fun for kids. So if your not totally opposed to video games then check out this fun science game and may the best strategist win!
Here is Aurora’s letter, with the Elementeo game review_
“So, I started wondering – at the end of the video game, what have kids really picked up that they can use next week, next year… in their lives? The game is over, but have they spent their time in a way that really serves them?
How do Pokemon cards really help my kids learn about real life?
If my kids can memorize every little detail about some mindless game, why not direct them toward something with a bit more educational value to it?
One of the main reasons (I think) is that the “educational” type of games are usually flat-boring. Just mentioning “educational” next to
- Chemistry can be fun
the word “game” will have some kids rolling their eyes!
But I’m a firm believer that there’s always a way to figure something out.
So I did an internet search for educational games that my kids would have a fun time learning, keep them engaged, and serve them in the long-term. I came up with only a handful of decent ones, and yes, I did buy them all.
When they arrived, I opened up all the boxes and we spent the next four weeks test-driving all the educational games I could find. I not only played them with my kids but as many adults as I could wrangle into our living room. We had professors, engineers, computer geeks, astronomers, math gurus, outdoor field guides… and we all played for hundreds of hours and ate pounds of popcorn.
Curious about which one came out on top?
Before I tell you this, I want you to know that this is the first-ever email that I have ever written (or intend to write) that recommends a product. The only recommendations ever I write are for free materials.
- A game about the elements
But this game was created by a 5th grader, and it was the best one out of the group.
The game is called Elementeo, and it was a clear winner out of the pack. The game contains playing cards, a board, and six different ways you can play it. The best part is, when kids memorize the deck, they’ve just learned the periodic table.
The basic idea is this: you have a set of cards. Each card is an element, like copper, iron, oxygen, etc. Your goal is to make your opponent lose all his electrons. Each element has a certain power and ability to move (like Magic and Pokemon), which is actually based on the element’s state of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and also its ability to accept electrons (valence shells).
This is not a mindless game made up by a marketing team. This is a real challenge dreamed up by a very inventive student who wanted to share his passion for science with others.
The best part is – you don’t have to know anything about chemistry in order to play it!
It’s a strategy game that has a lot of variation in it, because how you play really changes depending on what cards you have. You can combine elements into compounds for a harder game, or even try the fusion levels.
The other best part? My kids are absorbing the stuff they need to understand the science world around them. That makes me happy
- Learn how elements affect each other
beyond words. Every day for the first month (no exaggeration), my nine year old pulled this out and begged to play it with me. And yes, he usually wins the game (although I do give him a good run).
Check out the website. And order it from Amazon (with free shipping) here.
Have fun, and let me know how it goes!
Aurora
P.S. No, these are not affiliate links. I do not get paid if you purchase Elementeo. I just really wanted to share an incredible resource with you: http://www.elementeo.com/
P.P.S. I am currently building the game list on the website here:
http://www.sciencelearningspace.com/2011/01/educational-games-that-teach-2/
Mary Ann says, “I always suggest that each parent check things like this out on their own to make sure that they are in line with your core family values”.
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- 5 Ways to Help Your Child Think Like a Scientist
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