Antonio JoaquÃn Franco-Mariscal
University of Malaga, Spain
Title: Game-based materials to teaching and learning the periodic table
Biography
Biography: Antonio JoaquÃn Franco-Mariscal
Abstract
Periodic Table is a cornerstone of the Chemistry that should be learnt by all the students in the school. However, it is a boring and tedious task because pupils do not find a connection between the chemical elements and their daily life. The use of educational games can make the learning process of this topic more creative and enjoyable for students. Motivation, emotion, attention, concentration, implication or co-operation are the main keys of the games that can contribute to learning. Different game-based materials that can help students learning the names and symbols of the elements, their uses and properties or understanding the Periodic Table are presented in this communication. Playing forming words with chemical symbols can become more familiar the names and chemical symbols. Drawing everyday life contexts as objects of a house, a class or a car is other alternative to learn the uses of the chemical elements. Playing with the chemical elements in a card game can help pupils learn the different families of elements and their properties. Playing with the pieces of a puzzle can help them understand how the different elements can combine forming chemical compounds. Finally, designing a chemical soccer team with the symbols of the elements and competing with them in the stages of the Soccer World Cup can help students understand the Periodic Table.
