Kern-Check SISTER CECILIA LOUISE
Notre Dame High School, Chicago, I l l t ~ ~ i a
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S THERE any teacher who does not recognize and a d m t the value of drill? A new game, Ken-Check, has been designed to furnish such drill in certain fundamentals in chemistry. As the name suggests, i t consists of a checkerboard, on which a t various places are printed symbols and formulas. Some of the checkers contain symbols, others formulas, with their corresponding weights. Playing the game supplies drill in learning atomic weights, valences, grouping of elements according to families, combinations of elements in formulas, the displacement order, and chemical reactions. HOW THE CAME IS PLAYED
(a) Each player starts out from his corner with a family of elements. There should he the same number of positive and negative elements used a t each game. If there are two players, one takes a family of positive elements, the other, one of the negative elements. When four play, two choose their families from the positive group, while the other two use the negative elements. Kame there are five families of oositive elements from In the which players may choose. so rhnt by using different families a t different times, chemistry s t u d ~ n t may s become acquainted with a greater nrmher of elcments. There are only two families of negative elements. (6) The players move their elements by turn, one a t a time, along the white lines connecting the white circles. ( 6 ) When a positively charged element meets a negatively charged element, or vice versa, i t may jump the opposite charge and remove it from the hoard. ( d ) On ten white circles scattered over the board are symbols of elements, and around each symbol are four formulas of which that element forms a part. When a disc bearing the symbol of any one of the four combining elements represented in the four formulas reaches the circle, it is removed from the hoard, and the disc bearing the formula of the compound thus formed replaces it. The olaver then moves the comoound toward his eoal. For euornple,~al& Na reaches the I cir& it is rcplarcd b ;. the disc Nal. which thus moves toward the goal. (c) Compounds must avoid circle, bearing elcments which rill bring about their decomposition. If a player places a compound upon an element which can displace either one of the elements in the compound, the element must be removed from the board, and the player loses its value in countine uo his totals. The list of elements in their order of disolacemeit Is minted an the corner of the hoard (Rule (e) is optionnl. I t is intended for chemistry students.) Cf) The game ends whcn any one plnyer has succeded in getting all hiselements. which have not hecn removed by some other players, to the opposite corner. (g) Each player then adds up the atomic weights of those of his elements which have reached their goal, and the atomic weights of the elements of the opposing players which he has removed from the board. and the molecular weiehts .. of the compoltndq that have rcached their goal or hcen cnptwed. ( h ) The player having the highest total wins the game. ~
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The playing board may be made in two Werent ways: a small size, about as large as an ordinary checkerboard, for two, three, or four players; or a large demonstration size for use in the classroom. With the large
form, which may be placed upright against the blackboard in the front of the room, the progress of the players may be followed by the class, or, better still, a system of relays may be used, whereby a greater number of students take part. Kem-Check has won acclamation a t two convepions of science teachers: it received an award among exhibits shown a t the convention of the Junior Academy of Saence of Ohio held a t Cleveland in May, 1941. It was also shown a t the convention of Science and Mathematics Teachers held in November, 1941, in Chicago. Three types of people will find Kem-Check worth while and entertaining: 1. Those who know nothing about the science of chemistry will learn much about i t and will want to increase their knowledge. 2. Students of chemistry will find it an invaluable aid in learning certain fundamentals. 3. To veteran chemists i t will be absorbing entertainment. Detailed directions for making and playing the game may be obtained from Sister Cecilia Louise, Notre Dame High School, Wellington and Mango Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, for fifty cents a copy. The manufacture of the game itself is delayed because of government restrictions regarding materials. Buyers of directions may, however, make as many copies of the game for their own use as they wish from the materials which they may have on hand. Since the game bas been copyrighted it may not be produced for sale.
