Games and Exercises

The Atom Game

Stand in a circle with a group of up to 20 people. The game is played by one person at a time clapping to another person in the circle and saying one of the game's words. Then that person claps and says a word to another person, and so on. Each word has a specific set of rules about to whom it can be said. If someone breaks the rules (by saying a word in such a way that it violates one of the rules), that person is out and the last person to clap starts the process again.

Start the game with just Proton and Neutron. Once the group has mastered these, add in the next words one at a time. Feel free to add your own.

PROTON
A proton is a subatomic particle with a positive charge. It is found at the center (or nucleus) of the atom, along with the neutron. The number of protons in an atom is what defines the atom’s element.
“Proton” can only be said to the next person around the circle, in the same direction that the game is already going. It is always the first word to start a new round.

NEUTRON
A neutron is a subatomic particle with no charge. It is also found at the nucleus of the atom. The number of neutrons in an atom determines the atom’s isotope.
“Neutron” can only be said to the previous person; it reverses the direction that the game is going. If Person A says “Proton” to Person B on their right, Person B can say “Neutron” back to Person A. Then Person A would say “Proton” to the person on their left.

ELECTRON
An electron is a subatomic particle with a negative charge. Electrons orbit around the nucleus of the atom in what is called the electron cloud. Electrons have some strange properties, including the ability to jump from one atomic orbit to another without passing through the space in between. They behave as both waves and particles, depending on how they are measured.
“Electron” can only be said to the next person around the circle, in the same direction that the game is already going. However, the game then passes over that person and continues with the next person around the circle. For example, if A, B, C, D, and E are in order around the circle, and A says “proton” to B, B could say “electron” to C. Then C would say nothing, and it would be D’s turn to say “proton” to E.

QUANTUM THEORY
Quantum Theory, or Quantum Mechanics, is the branch of science that studies the very strange behavior of subatomic particles. This includes the wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle; ideas that would be impossible for full-size objects but are part of the nature of the universe at the smallest scales.
“Quantum Theory” is said to anyone in the circle – it can jump across the middle. The person to whom “quantum theory” is said then must say “proton” to the person on either side.

SINGULARITY
A Singularity is a point at which the curvature of spacetime caused by gravity becomes infinite and the normal laws of physics break down. This includes black holes and the universe at the time of the big bang.
“Singularity” is said to anyone in the circle. The person to whom it is said immediately yells “BANG!”, and everyone in the circle moves around to a new place in the circle. Everyone who is “out” can rejoin the game. As soon as the circle has been re-formed, the person to whom “singularity” was said then starts the game going again by saying “proton” to the person on either side.

Science Is All About You

Stand in a circle with a group of up to 20 people. One person stands in the middle. The person in the middle points to anyone in the circle and calls out one of the words or phrases. Each word or phrase requires a specific response from the person in the circle. If the person fails to give the correct response, that person moves to the center of the circle and person in the center takes their place. Some of the words or phrases require the participation of the people on either side of the person pointed to as well.
Start the game with just the first rule or two, then add in the others one by one. Feel free to add your own.

SCIENCE IS ALL ABOUT YOU
That’s the theme of this whole project, and it’s the main phrase of this game. The person to whom “Science is all about you” is said must say the word “you” before the person in the middle completes the phrase.

YOU
No response – if the person to whom “you” is said responds in any way, they become the person in the middle.

MAGNETISM 1 2 3
Stand up straight with arms at sides. The people immediately adjacent also stand up straight with arms at sides and squish right up next to the person to whom “magnetism” was said. All three people must be standing up straight with arms at sides and squished together by the time the person in the middle gets to “3”.

AUSTRALOPITHECENE 1 2 3
Turn to the right or left and stand hunched over like a caveman. The people on either side then take on the postures of a modern human (the person in front) and a chimpanzee (the person behind).

RADIOACTIVITY 1 2 3
Make radioactive hand motions, and the people on either side take a big step away.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD 1 2 3 4
On “one”, act out Observation: point a finger at something and say “Huh?”. On “two”, act out Hypothesis: scratch your chin and say “Hmmmm.” On “three”, act out Test Your Hypothesis: pretend to peel a banana and hum a little song. On “four,” act out Theory: point a finger upwards and say “bing!”

Make up your own phrases and actions!

Evolution

Play with as large a group as you like. Everyone moves randomly around the space, acting as one of the creatures listed below (everyone begins as an amoeba). When two people who are being the same creature encounter each other, they play a quick game of rock-paper-scissors. The winner moves up one notch on the evolutionary ladder, and the loser – no matter what creature they have been – becomes an amoeba. Ties can either play again or just continue on as the same creature. Play for a while, then stop and see how far everyone made it up the ladder.
Amoeba – wave your arms slowly up and down and make “bloop bloop” noises.
Fish – use your hands to make gills on either side of your face and make “glug glug” noises.
Reptile – put your thumb on your nose and wiggle your fingers, sticking your tongue out and making hissing noises.
Monkey – crouch low and bang your hands on your chest making monkey sounds.
Human – walk upright with great posture and say “Hello.”