The Rare Earth Chemical Element Card Game

With the Rare Earth Chemical Element Card Game, learning about Chemistry is simultaneously kinetic, visual and verbal. The game’s rules are analogous to Chemistry, so questions about game play are invariably questions about the science of Chemistry. The Rare Earth Game covers the majority of the expectations for the Chemistry units in 9th Grade Science in Ontario.
How the Game is Played:
Each card in the Rare Earth Game represents a chemical element in the periodic table. The atomic numbers are the “hit points” of the game. Players capture protons by matching cards to make compounds. Since the forming of a compound produces energy, the player gets an Energy Card, and with that card the player can “melt” together Metal and Metalloid cards to mix alloys with higher proton counts. A player can then use a new compound or alloy (with a higher proton count) to “nab” a compound or alloy from another player’s “Lab”. The player who captures the most protons by the end of the game, wins.
Teacher Developed - The Rare Earth Game was co-invented by Rick Gowan, the head of the science department at a high school in New Brunswick, Canada.
Classroom Tested – developed over many hours of real world classroom experience.
Student Approved - students often self-select to play the game during free time. Because the character cards remind students of popular collectible card games and because "nab from your opponent’s lab" is active and fun, students play enthusiastically while simultaneously learning about Chemistry.