We Are Aliens!

– Class room activity 2 (Chemistry)

Build a Molecule Game
This game can work very well when run as a competition. It is aimed at year 10 students who are
learning about formulae though it can also be used with able year 9 students or as reinforcement for
year 11 students. It’s very good for helping students to understand formulae, they love building the
models and they also gain an appreciation of molecular shapes without that idea being introduced
explicitly. Each of the molecules built in this activity is extra-terrestrial in that they have been found
elsewhere in the solar system or even in interstellar dust and is important for the evolution of life.

Equipment per pair of students (triplets can work too)

1 set of molecule cards – held by the teacher
Sufficient paper (scrap paper is fine)
1 set of molecular model components each containing
 2 carbon atoms (black, 4 hole)
 2 oxygen atoms (red, 2 hole)
 1 nitrogen atom (blue, 4 hole)
 6 hydrogen atoms (white, 1 hole)
 8 single bonds
 4 flexible (double) bonds

Molymod models are particularly recommended but other molecular model kits are available.
Excellent service and competitive prices for components can be obtained by contacting the
manufactures directly via this link

Preparation
Talk through the contents of the molecular model kit and discuss what each piece represents. If
students have not used them before, they will probably need showing how the double bonds work.
There is a PowerPoint containing this information which it can be useful to display throughout the
game.

To play the game

Lay the molecule cards out at the front of the room (face down). Each pile should all contain the
same number, ie all the water molecules are together, then all the carbon dioxide etc.

Students decide who is A and who is B and they then sit back to back
Give each A a molecular model kit. Student B cannot see what A will build.
Each B gets a sheet with the first molecule on. Student A cannot see this sheet.

When the game starts, B describes to A what to build.

When A has completed the molecule, they write down the formula, and bring both to the teacher. If
they are correct, they are given the next sheet. If they are wrong they are sent back to try again.
A now describes the next molecule for B to build and so on until all 10 molecules have been correctly
built and their formulae written correctly.

As an alternative, with younger students, they can say the formula instead of writing it down.