How to play
Escape with your Elements

What age and skill level works best with Escape with your Elements?

The latest version of Escpae with your Elements is a puzzle and a board game. Escape with your Elements was designed for a wide range of ages and skill levels. There are many levels at which this game can be appreciated. At an eight years and above level, the basic terminology of atom, element, proton and electron are introduced. By the end of play, atoms can be thought of as having an equal number of protons in the center and electrons around the outside. The number of protons and electrons tells you what element it is. There is a lot more to the symbolism, explained in more detail in the manual and the more advanced games. Neutrons are dealt with in the game "You Bet Your Isotope", a different game in the series.

The symbolic atoms on the puzzle are all size relative in the same way atoms of elements compare in size. The protons fit in the nucleus portion of the atom and have plus signs "+" on them. The electrons are represented as arrows and fit around the outside of the atom in their orbital homes. As players construct the puzzle, they win atom cards when they capture an atom. An instructional video will appear shortly. This is a brand new game! Prototype versions are $40.00 plus shipping. email julieATnewdoll.com for details.

A video and craft project on the basics

This page contains a video on the basics of an atom, as well as a craft project, where you use the pieces like those in the game to make your own hydrogen atom.

A video introducing the atom and its fundamental parts - electrons, protons and neutrons

  

Make a hydrogen atom!

What you will need:

• Small spherical objects to use as protons. We used small bells. Caution - small objects are choking hazards for children, especially 4 and under.
• Arrow shapes for the electrons. These can be cut out of paper and will be attached later with velcro dots or pieces of tape. OR, you can use decorative stickers to represent electrons.
• Cotton balls or pillow stuffing.
• Velcro dots to stick your electrons to your electron cloud, or a circle of tape, double stick tape, or just use stickers.
  

1. Place a small bead of glue in the center of the electron cloud, a piece of the pillow stuffing or cotton ball

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2. Place your "proton" in the center of the cloud. This can be a small ball o fdough, a bead or other small round object. Please avoid giving small choking hazard objects to children.

3. Cover up the proton with the electron cloud so it is in the center, then apply two velcro dots, two double stick pieces of tape or tape rolled into a circle. You can also use a decorative sticker for an electron. Each cloud only holds up to two electrons and no more!

4. Put the other half of the velcro dot on an electron arrow, made of paper. Now you can attach your arrow to its electron cloud home! If you are using stickers, just attach one sticker for your hydrogen atom model.

5. Now you have one model of an atom of hydrogen, with one proton in the nucleus and one electron somewhere in the electron cloud around the outside!