Chemistry Taboo: An Active Learning Game for the General Chemistry Classroom

Using games in the chemistry classroom can provide engaging and alternative methods of instruction, promoting active learning that enlivens lectures and recitations. This paper presents an effective and entertaining way to teach and reinforce central chemistry concepts, by adapting the board game Taboo with chemical terms for the keywords. Students take turns playing the role of the giver, who describes chemical terms for teammates to guess, although the giver must do this without using the term itself or additional words listed on the card as "taboo" or forbidden words. The object of the game is for givers to have their teammates guess as many keywords as possible in the allotted time without accruing penalties for using the three or four taboo words listed on each card. The details of the game are outlined and example Chemistry Taboo cards are provided. This game could be integrated at any point in the curriculum, and is an effective and entertaining way to teach and reinforce central chemistry concepts and to review for exams.