U.S. patent application number 10/321825 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for board game for teaching dna concepts.
Invention is credited to Abraham, Donald J., Hardwicke, Susan B., Noah, Michael Allan, Noble-Marx, Brian R., Noble-Marx, Tanya L..
Application Number | 20040113362 10/321825 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32507137 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040113362 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hardwicke, Susan B. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Board game for teaching DNA concepts
Abstract
A board game for teaching pattern recognition. In one
embodiment, the present invention teaches DNA concepts wherein
patterns identified on playing cards represent a sequential biocode
pattern and a plurality of game pieces represent biocodes
differentiated by shape and color. Corresponding biocodes represent
base pairs bound together to form the helix structure of DNA.
Preferably, pattern recognition is taught utilizing a simple story
line such as deep-space travelers having to repair a spaceship, by
having to match a sequential pattern with game pieces (biocodes) to
retrieve a spaceship part, in order to escape a distant planet.
Inventors: |
Hardwicke, Susan B.; (Glen
Allen, VA) ; Noble-Marx, Brian R.; (Richmond, VA)
; Noble-Marx, Tanya L.; (Richmond, VA) ; Noah,
Michael Allan; (Glen Allen, VA) ; Abraham, Donald
J.; (Midlothian, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA, SUITE 5200
600 PEACHTREE STREET , NE
ATLANTA
GA
30308-2216
US
|
Family ID: |
32507137 |
Appl. No.: |
10/321825 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/242 ;
273/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2011/0083 20130101;
A63F 3/0478 20130101; A63F 2003/00018 20130101; A63F 2003/00719
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/242 ;
273/274 |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A board game for teaching pattern recognition, comprising: a
plurality of player identification game pieces; a path depicted
upon a gameboard for movement of said player identification game
pieces, said path comprising a plurality of separate spaces; a
plurality of separate regions designated upon said gameboard along
said path; a plurality of game cards to be associated with each
said region designated upon said gameboard, each said game card for
identifying a pattern; and a plurality of game pieces to be
collected by the players, said game pieces collected by each player
to be arranged with one another to match said pattern on at least
one of said game cards.
2. The board game of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
tokens to also be collected by the players, at least one said token
to be collected by a player when successfully matching at least a
portion of said game pieces with said pattern on one of said game
cards.
3. The board game of claim 1 wherein each said game piece is keyed
to correspond with at least one other said game piece.
4. The board game of claim 1 wherein said path is multi-colored to
separately designate said spaces of said path.
5. The board game of claim 4 wherein each said game piece is keyed
based upon color to correspond with at least one other said game
piece having a different color.
6. The board game of claim 5 wherein at least one said spaces of
said path matches at least one of said keyed game pieces based upon
similar colors.
7. The board game of claim 1 wherein said game pieces are keyed to
correspond to one another based upon color and shape.
8. The board game of claim 1 wherein said plurality of game pieces
are keyed to correspond to one another based upon color, and a
portion of said plurality of keyed game pieces having one color to
correspond with another portion of said plurality of game pieces
having a different color.
9. The board game of claim 1 wherein said plurality of game pieces
are keyed to match one another based upon shapes, and a portion of
said plurality of keyed game pieces having one shape to mate with
another portion of said plurality of game pieces having another
corresponding shape.
10. The board game of claim 1 further comprising a receiver of a
plurality of game pieces wherein each said receiver is configured
to receive and retain said tokens when said tokens are
collected.
11. The board game of claim 1 for teaching DNA concepts wherein
said patterns identified on said playing cards represent a
sequential biocode pattern and said plurality of game pieces
represent biocodes.
12. The board game of claim 11 wherein there are four types of said
biocodes differentiated by shape and color.
13. The board game of claim 12 wherein said biocodes are colored
red, green, blue or yellow, and said red biocodes correspond with
said green biocodes and said blue biocodes correspond with said
yellow biocodes to represent base pairs bound together to form the
helix structure of DNA.
14. The board game of claim 12 wherein angular-shaped end portions
on said biocodes represent receptor sites for representing
chemicals attaching to slots on a surface of a receiving
neuron.
15. A plurality of game pieces to be utilized while playing a board
game wherein each said game piece comprises a shaped end portion to
be mated with a portion, but not all, of said plurality of said
game pieces.
16. The plurality of game pieces of claim 14 wherein each said game
piece is also color coded to correspond with a portion, but not
all, of said plurality of game pieces.
17. A game card depicting a living being on one portion of said
game card and depicting a pattern on another portion of said game
card to be matched by a portion of a plurality of game pieces,
wherein said pattern corresponds with a biological component or
physiological trait of said living being.
18. A method of playing a game, comprising the steps of: collecting
a plurality of game pieces; arranging at least a portion of the
collected game pieces to correspond with one another; and
determining whether at least a portion of the collected game pieces
which correspond with one another match a selected pattern.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of
collecting one of a set of differently shaped tokens if said
collected game pieces arranged to correspond with one another match
said selected pattern.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of
concluding said game upon collecting said set of differently shaped
tokens.
21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of selecting
a different pattern before attempting to determine if any game
pieces match.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein said arranging step comprises
arranging one game piece having one color with another game piece
having a different color.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein said arranging step comprises
arranging one game piece to at least partially correspond with
another game piece based upon shape.
24. The method of claim 18 wherein said arranging step comprises
arranging said game pieces to correspond with one another based
upon color and shape.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This utility application is related to U.S. design
application also entitled "Board Game for Teaching DNA Concepts"
which is incorporated herein by reference, and having been filed
concurrently with the present utility application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to science-oriented board
games and, more particularly, relates to utilizing pattern
recognition to understand life sciences such as genetics and
biochemistry without children being consciously aware of the
science content.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Science is sometimes difficult for children to learn because
they become frustrated with difficult subject matter. Life sciences
such as genetics and biochemistry are especially difficult for some
children to learn. This is often because the children are
consciously aware of the science content. However, if children were
able to develop the higher-level cognitive skills necessary for
learning the difficult subject matter, the children would more
easily learn the difficult subject matter when consciously aware of
it.
[0004] By playing games, children strengthen or develop new
neuronal pathways that will enable the recognition of rules,
patterns and sequences inherent in reading and writing and the
comprehension of complex science and mathematics. Therefore, what
is needed is a board game that facilitates the learning of the
higher-level cognitive skills necessary for learning the difficult
subject matter where the children playing the games would not be
consciously aware of any underlying content. For example, a board
game following a simple story line could teach pattern recognition
to facilitate the learning of DNA concepts. An overview of DNA
concepts is provided below.
[0005] All living things are comprised of cells. Each cell holds
all the genetic information needed to create a living thing. The
cells are constantly active because the metabolic processes needed
to maintain their lives are occurring all the time. These processes
involve hundreds of chemical reactions, each of which is controlled
by a specific kind of protein or enzyme and dependent upon the
release of cellular energy.
[0006] Because enzymes control the metabolic processes, cells must
possess information for producing specialized proteins. Such
information is held in DNA, which is found in the nucleus or center
of each cell. DNA is a ladder-like molecule that stores genetic
information. Its chemical components form chromosomes. A piece of a
chromosome that dictates a particular trait is called a gene, which
is made up of DNA molecules. DNA molecules, in the form of genetic
code, instruct cells how to create, synthesize and build specific
proteins. RNA is a substance that reads the genetic information
carried by DNA.
[0007] DNA proteins consist of twenty different amino acids joined
in particular sequences. The genetic code provides information on
how to position these amino acids correctly in what is called a
polypeptide chain. Each of the twenty amino acids is represented in
a DNA molecule by a particular sequence of three nucleotides, each
of which consists of a sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate
group. The organic base of a DNA nucleotide can be one of four
chemicals: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and thymine (T).
Thus, there are only four types of nucleotides: adenine
nucleotides, guanine nucleotide, cytosine nucleotide, and thymine
nucleotide. RNA is similar to DNA except that it contains the sugar
ribose instead of deoxyribose.
[0008] Structurally, DNA is a double helix: two strands of genetic
material spiraled around each other. Each strand of DNA consists of
a chain of nucleotides arranged in a particular sequence. For
example, the sequence of T, T, A represents one type of amino acid
while the sequence G, G, A represents another.
[0009] The two strands of DNA forming the double helix are
connected at each base. Each base will only bond with one other
base, as follows: adenine (A) will only bond with thymine (T), and
guanine (G) will only bond with cytosine (C). For illustrative
purposes, adenine (A) is often colored red and thymine (T) is
colored green. Guanine (G) is often colored yellow and cytosine (C)
is colored blue. Thus, red will only bond with green and yellow
will only bond with blue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a board game for teaching
pattern recognition to facilitate learning of difficult subject
matter such as the life sciences and mathematics without the
players becoming aware of any underlying content.
[0011] Generally described, the present invention includes a path
depicted on a gameboard for movement of game pieces representing
each of the players. Along the path are designated regions to which
the players attempt to gain access. A deck of game cards,
associated with each of these regions, identifies a pattern which a
player must match in order to gain access to the region. Game
pieces, collected by the players while following along the path,
must be arranged with one another to match the pattern displayed on
the game card in order to gain access. Once a player gains access
to a particular region by arranging game pieces in the appropriate
manner, a token is collected by the player. The game may be
concluded when any one of the players collects a token from each of
the regions.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the patterns
identified on the playing cards represent a sequential biocode
pattern and the game pieces represent biocodes differentiated by
shape and color. For example, the game pieces are colored red,
green, blue or yellow as biocodes are often depicted in life
sciences literature. The red biocodes correspond with the green
biocodes and the blue biocodes correspond with the yellow biocodes
to represent base pairs bound together to form the helix structure
of DNA. Therefore, pieces of the game and the associated rules
mimic the molecular structure of DNA and its sequential chain of
nucleotides.
[0013] The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more
pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These
should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more
prominent features and applications of the invention. Other
beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed
information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed
embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive
understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the
detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the
scope of the invention defined by the claims.
BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a
gameboard of the present invention having a path to be followed by
the players as they play the board game.
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 3 each illustrate a top view of a pair of game
pieces arranged to correspond with one another.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a game card having a
pattern to be matched by a plurality of the game pieces of FIGS. 2
and 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a carrier, in one
embodiment of a spaceship, for receiving and retaining tokens
collected by a player.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals
indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings
illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment, a board game 10 is designed
around the structure and functions of DNA and RNA. DNA is the basic
building block of all living organisms and RNA which is the genetic
encoder of DNA. The players are not consciously aware that the game
pieces and rules mimic the molecular structure of DNA and its
sequential chain of nucleotides. The board game 10 may utilize a
simple story line to teach the above-described DNA concepts.
Preferably, pattern recognition is taught utilizing a simple story
line such as deep-space travelers having to repair a spaceship, by
having to match sequential patterns with game pieces representing
biocodes to retrieve spaceship parts represented by tokens, in
order to escape a distant planet.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates the board game 10 including a gameboard
12 with a path 14 depicted thereon. The path 14 is partitioned into
a plurality of spaces. In one embodiment, each space is preferably
one of four colors. However, a few of the spaces may instead
include any combination of colors as explained below. The board
game 10 further includes a plurality of player identification game
pieces 18 for representing each of the players who are playing the
game. Player identification game pieces 18 may be configured in the
form of an inanimate object or depict figures or icons such as
fictitious characters, so long as each player identification game
piece 18 is distinguishable from the other.
[0021] Each of the players roll die (not shown) to determine the
number of spaces to be moved along the path 14. Once the player has
moved the player identification game piece 18 the proper amount of
spaces, the player receives a game piece 22, 24, 26 or 28 which
matches the color of the space the player landed on last. However,
if the space includes a combination of colors, the player may
select from any of the game pieces 22, 24, 26 or 28 based upon any
one of the colors in the space.
[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, if a player
lands on a space having a "?" as shown in FIG. 1, the player draws
from a deck of cards 30 to provide additional instructions to the
player regarding his turn. For example, the player may be obligated
to roll the die again or turn over one or more game pieces to
another player designated as the banker tasked with managing the
game pieces to be collected by the players. After each player has
had a few turns and collects a number of game pieces, each player
can attempt to arrange each pair of corresponding game pieces in a
particular sequential pattern as best described below.
[0023] Each of the game pieces 22, 24, 26 or 28 is preferably
colored in a particular manner based upon a color key. For example,
as biocodes are often depicted in life sciences literature, the
game pieces 22 are yellow, the game pieces 24 are blue, the game
pieces 26 are red and the game pieces 28 are green. The red
biocodes correspond with the green biocodes and the blue biocodes
correspond with the yellow biocodes to represent base pairs bound
together to form the helix structure of DNA.
[0024] Also, the game pieces 22, 24, 26 or 28 are configured to
mate with one another based on shape as best shown in FIGS. 2 and
3. Therefore, the game pieces 22, 24, 26 or 28 are preferably
double keyed in that a group of game pieces having one color and
configuration correspond with another group of game pieces of a
different color and configuration. In other words, corresponding or
complementary game pieces are differentiated from one another based
upon shape and color.
[0025] Each of the game pieces 22, 24, 26 or 28 has a shaped end
portion to mate with a shaped end portion of a corresponding or
complementary game piece. In FIGS. 2 and 3, V-shaped joint 32 is
formed between corresponding game pieces 22 and 24 and W-shaped
joint 34 is formed between corresponding game pieces 26 and 28.
Angular-shaped end portions on biocodes represent receptor sites
for representing chemicals attaching to slots on a surface of a
receiving neuron. However, other types of joints are also within
the scope of the invention so long as one portion of game pieces
may be differentiated from another portion of game pieces based
upon shape.
[0026] Designated along the path 14 of the gameboard 12 is a
plurality of separate regions 40. In many story lines, the regions
40 may be referred to as cities surrounded by an impenetrable wall.
Preferably, a region 40 is designated on three of the four corners
of the gameboard with a single space along the path 14 leading to a
gate for each of the three separate regions 40. As shown in the
upper right hand corner of the gameboard 12 of FIG. 1, the player
18 is on a space, of the path 14, which leads to the upper right
hand corner region 40. The fourth corner should be designated as a
starting area 42 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0027] A plurality of game cards 50, commonly referred to as gate
cards, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, is associated with each
separate region 40. A single deck of game cards 50 may be utilized
by all the players by drawing from the top of the deck 50 when one
of them lands directly upon a space leading to one of the separate
regions 40. Alternatively, a separate deck of cards 50 may be
associated with each separate region 40. In such case, when a
player lands on a space leading to one of the regions 40, the
player draws a card from the deck of cards 50 associated with that
particular region as shown in FIG. 1.
[0028] As best shown in FIG. 4, the game cards 50 identify a
sequential pattern 60 with a fictitious character 62. In the
preferred embodiment, each pattern 60 includes four pairs of
biocodes arranged in a particular sequence. Any number of different
characters or other creatures may be used on the game cards 50. The
sequential pattern 60 provided on each game card 50 corresponds
with a biological component or physiological trait of the character
62 on the same game card 50. The actual biological component or
physiological trait being matched may be identified or highlighted
in any suitable manner which allows children to understand which
particular component or trait is being matched. Therefore, the
players group the game pieces according to function as well as to
shape and color as described above.
[0029] The sequential pattern 60 on the card 50 drawn by the player
must be matched with the player's corresponding pairs of game
pieces 22, 24, 26 and 28 in order to enter one of the regions 40.
Therefore, each player must collect and stock varied game pieces in
anticipation of changing patterns on the gate cards 50. Upon
entering one of the regions 40, the player is permitted to obtain a
token 54 needed in order to win the board game 10. There is one
token 54 for each player in each region 40. Preferably, each of the
player's tokens 54 represent fuel, oxygen and a computer. However,
the tokens 54 of the present invention may represent other items
suitable for facilitating the desired story line.
[0030] Each player may place collected tokens 54 in a carrier
configured for receiving and retaining the tokens. FIG. 5
illustrates one embodiment of a carrier for tokens 54 in the form
of a spaceship 80 with slots 82. The spaceship 80 may also include
an additional slot 82 for receiving and retaining the player's
identification game piece 18. Preferably, each slot 82 is sized to
permit the base of each token 54 or player identification game
piece 18 to be placed within the spaceship 80 as shown in FIG.
5.
[0031] Depending on the storyline, the board game 10 may be
concluded upon any one of the players collecting all of his tokens
54 in the spaceship 80 so that the spaceship 80 may be launched.
Alternatively, the board game 10 may continue until each player has
collected all of his tokens 54 and launches a spaceship 80 in order
to determine the order in which all the players finish the board
game 10.
[0032] The use of the board game 10 as described above constitutes
an inventive method of the present invention in addition to the
board game 10 itself. In practicing the method of playing the board
game 10, the steps include collecting a plurality of game pieces
22, 24, 26 and 28 as described above. The method then includes
arranging at least a portion of the collected game pieces 22, 24,
26 and 28 to correspond with one another. Next, the method of
playing the board game 10 includes the step of determining whether
at least a portion of the collected game pieces 22, 24, 26 and 28
which correspond with one another match a selected pattern as
described above.
[0033] The method of playing the board game 10 may further include
the step of collecting a token 54 for correctly matching
corresponding game pieces 22, 24, 26 and 28 with a selected pattern
as described above. The step of arranging the game pieces 22, 24,
26 and 28 to correspond with one another based upon different
shapes and different color as described above may also be included
in the method of playing the board game 10. Each player may select
a different pattern before attempting to determine if any game
pieces match as described above. The method may also include the
step of concluding the game upon collecting all of the tokens 54 as
described above.
[0034] The present invention has been illustrated in relation to
particular embodiments which are intended in all respects to be
illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that the present invention is capable of many
modifications and variations without departing from the scope of
the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is
described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the
foregoing.
* * * * *