Ocean Acidification - A Card Game Simulation - Climate Change

Instructions for Teachers
The pages are set so that, when printed double sided, they have a back and front,
enabling for easy sorting.
Before you print the whole deck, test your settings by printing the first two pages of
cards, to check alignment. If it doesn’t match, then its likely to do with how the
printer flips the page (either long end or short end), so make sure it is on the
flipped on the long end. If you don’t want backs, then print every second page. There
are two sizes of cards, mini and large, so have a look at both before you print.
Contents: 8x Hydrogen Cards, 8x Hydrogen Carbonate Cards, 19x Calcium Cards, 19x
Carbonate Cards, 1x Information Card
This card game works in 4 rounds. This works best in groups of 4, but can work with
less or if necessary, up to 5 players per deck. Each player is role playing as a crab.
Round one: The game starts by placing all of the Calcium and Carbonate Ion Cards face
down on the table, as well as two hydrogen and two hydrogen carbonate cards. Each
person picks up 4 positive ion cards and 4 negative ion cards. The goal is to match
Calcium with Carbonate. If you have 4 pairs, your shell grows. 3 pairs means enough
minerals have been gathered to repair their shell. 2 pairs means damage cannot be
repaired, but doesn’t worsen and 1 pair means the shell gets further damage and
cannot be repaired. Record the scores on a tally card.
Round two-four: At the end of the first round and each round after, all the cards are
returned to the table, face down and an additional two hydrogen and two hydrogen
carbonate cards are added, symbolising the acidification of the ocean through the
dissolving of more CO2. Same rules for shell repair apply.
Person with the most points at the end wins (pairs). Enjoy.
The Efficient Science Teacher

If you liked this game, don’t forget to check out my other games:

• The Biology Bandit - A Biology Escape Room Revision Activity
  - Human Impact - A Biological Card Game - Ecology, Climate Change + Sustainability

or if you need some practicals, check out my Bundle of practicals focusing on the History of STEM:
Bundle - History of STEM Practicals - Science, Mathematics and History