Little Alchemy

Little Alchemy
In a word, addictive. My family loves this app. The basic premise is that you begin with four elements and combine them to make other things. The app which provides water, fire, earth, and air is pretty much a blank canvas. In the corner there is a number, 470. That is the number of possible combinations that can be made in the game, otherwise there is just the impetus to create. Mad scientists are awakened, and no one blows anything up, a win-win situation from a teacher, and mom, perspective. For the moment our family has created 35 new elements, or combinations, in the game. We have also had to impose limits on ourselves.
(Update: we have now reached 470. As I said, addictive.)
While the implications for use of this game are far greater for younger students, I did begin to think of ways to incorporate the app into a high school English setting. From a grammar standpoint the game would be a wonderful way to visually introduce and explore conjunctions, especially if it could be utilized on a smartboard. Every item in the game is made of a combination or series of other things. As the students combine and create they could write down their combinations, giving me a chance to explain conjunctions in a unique and visual way and providing the students with a fun way to engage with grammar. I am all for injecting fun into the study of English grammar!

In a word, addictive. My family loves this app. The basic premise is that you begin with four elements and combine them to make other things. The app which provides water, fire, earth, and air is pretty much a blank canvas. In the corner there is a number, 470. That is the number of possible combinations that can be made in the game, otherwise there is just the impetus to create. Mad scientists are awakened, and no one blows anything up, a win-win situation from a teacher, and mom, perspective. For the moment our family has created 35 new elements, or combinations, in the game. We have also had to impose limits on ourselves.

(Update: we have now reached 470. As I said, addictive.)

While the implications for use of this game are far greater for younger students, I did begin to think of ways to incorporate the app into a high school English setting. From a grammar standpoint the game would be a wonderful way to visually introduce and explore conjunctions, especially if it could be utilized on a smartboard. Every item in the game is made of a combination or series of other things. As the students combine and create they could write down their combinations, giving me a chance to explain conjunctions in a unique and visual way and providing the students with a fun way to engage with grammar. I am all for injecting fun into the study of English grammar!