Overview

System Requirements:

WebGL

• Window 7/8/8.1 on the following browsers: Chrome and Firefox
• Windows 10 on the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Edge
• OSX on the following browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Safari

iOS

• Minimum
  • iOS version 6.0
  • iPad 2 or iPhone 4
• Recommended
  • iPad Air or iPhone 5 and higher

Android

• Minimum
  • 2.3.1 (API level 10)
• Recommended
  • 5.0 and higher

Start Screen

The Elements has the following main areas to explore:

• Periodic Table
• Atom Builder
• STARS Challenge
• SmashBond

In addition, there is a corresponding website (www.usarmystars.com) which includes teacher resources and an Army STEM page.

Interactive Periodic Table

STARS: Elements provides a fully interactive periodic table listing of all known elements (1 through 118). Initially, only the element’s atomic number and symbol are displayed. However, hovering over an element pops up a field displaying the element's full name, atomic number and properties.

The various Groups (other nonmetals, metalloids, etc.) are color-coded and match a corresponding legend. Other information related to the element is contained within the Element Info view which is opened by selecting the element.

Element Info

The Element Info view includes a variety of facts and attributes of the element along with the element's Bohr model. The electron shells and the nucleus of the model may be selected to highlight additional information. Selecting from the list of electron energy levels (located along the right side of the screen) allows the student to view the specific number of electrons in that energy shell.

Atom Builder

The Atom Builder is a model where the student can create and manipulate atoms within a “3D environment” for purposes of exploration, discovery, and learning. It is intended to reinforce and help visualize the particulate nature of matter. It is accessible directly via the Main Menu or via any Element Info view.

Students are free to add/subtract protons, electrons, and neutrons as desired. As protons are added or removed the element changes as appropriate (i.e. adding a proton to hydrogen changes the display to helium). If an ion or isotope is generated, this is indicated; also, the generated atom is identified as stable or unstable, based on nucleus stability. Any element between hydrogen and ununoctium (element 118) may be generated.

The 3D object may be rotated (holding down the mouse or finger and moving it around the screen) and zoomed (using the mouse wheel or finger pinch). The same electron shell control as in the Element Info view is visible on the right side to hide or show the various electron shells.

SmashBond

The SmashBond game is an interactive game based on the Octet Rule. Students are challenged to combine elements on a grid in such a way that each atom has eight electrons in its valence shell (or in the case of hydrogen, only 2!). It is intended as a spin on the familiar "Match Three" gameplay seen in numerous games, but with a little chemistry instead of color-matching.

The STARS Challenge

The STARS Challenge allows students to test themselves on what they've learned from using the STARS: Elements app. In this collection of challenges, students are presented with 10 exercises/questions on the three categories of knowledge referenced in the app (Periodic Table, Atomic Structure, and Bonding).

Periodic Table

• Other Nonmetals
• Metalloids
• Halogens
• Nobel Gases
• Alkali Metals
• Alkaline Earth Metals
• Lanthanides
• Actinides
• Transition Metals
• Post-transition Metals

The Periodic Table in this application presents a different approach on how the table is displayed and its interactivity. Specifically, the table first appears in a 'low information' state. The student is encouraged with visual cues to explore and discover. This reveals and rewards with more information presented in a visually friendly way.

• Blocks:
  • The Periodic Table blocks are delineated visually and referenced with an overall highlight that encompasses the series within them.
• Periods & Groups:
  • The Periods and Groups are the horizontal and vertical designations for the elements and one of the key representations for trending in the Periodic Table.
• Tiles:
  • These Tiles represent each element and have a base level of simple information. When a student hovers/long holds over an element, the mini-card appears. It contains:
    • Element Name
    • Atomic Number
    • Atomic Radius
    • 1^st Ionization Energy
    • Electron Affinity
    • Electronegativity

Selecting the tile, transitions it to the Element Info view for the particular element.

Element Info View

The Element Info view includes a selection of facts and attributes of that element and its Bohr model. The electron shells and the nucleus of the model may be selected to highlight additional information. A control is located along the right side of the screen as an alternative means of stepping through the electron shells.

A "mini-map" of the Periodic Table is included to inform the student where in the table the current element is located. Within this view, the student may choose to explore the current element in the Atom Builder.

Features

• Periodic Table button, on the top left of the screen, returns the student to the Periodic Table screen.
• Atom Builder button, in the top right of the screen, takes the student to the Atom Builder screen which builds the current element.
• Information panel, located to the left of the Bohr model, provides the student with facts, characteristics, properties, trivia, and common Army uses of the element.
• Centered on the screen, is the Bohr Model and the electron shell menu to the right.

Atom Builder

The Atom Builder allows students and teachers to visualize and build atoms in 3D with interactive tools. This includes:

• Controls for building and modifying a 3D atom.
• Controls for manipulating a 3D atom in space (this has a natural, intuitive manual feel, i.e. clicking and dragging on an atom will rotate it in that direction).

This is a model where the student can create and manipulate atoms within a 3D display for purposes of exploration, discovery, and learning. The model is intended to support and reinforce visualization of this particulate nature of matter. It is accessible directly via the Main Menu or via any Element Info view.

Students are free to add/subtract protons, electrons, and neutrons as desired. As protons are added or subtracted, the element changes as appropriate (i.e. adding a proton to hydrogen changes the display to helium). If an ion or isotope is generated, this is indicated and identified as stable or unstable. Any element between hydrogen and ununoctium (element 118) may be generated. The 3D object may be rotated and zoomed. The same electron shell control as in the Element Info view is visible on the right side to hide or show the various electron shells. Features include:

• Basic Visual Components of the atom i.e. electrons, neutrons, protons.
• Basic Element Information i.e. element name, atomic number, molar mass, nucleus stability etc.
• Building Tools for adding and subtracting electrons, neutrons, and protons.
• Manipulation Controls - Spin/Rotate: Zoom In/Out.

SmashBond

SmashBond is a match-3 game that teaches the basic concepts behind molecular bonding. Its purpose is to enhance teaching the fundamental concept of the Octet Rule within the framework of a fun, challenging game. While it can be played solo by a student once they understand the basic concepts of how to play and win the experience, the game is best suited initially for interaction between a teacher and student. The image above is a typical example of the opening screen when the student starts Smashbond with screen components identified.

How to Play SmashBond

SmashBond is a grid of tiles that each represent an element symbol and the number of electrons in their valence shell in the Lewis Dot Structure style. The player is given a set number of ‘moves’ (actions) to earn at least a minimum score that allows them to go on to the next level.

To play the game, just tap/click and drag a tile over top of another adjacent tile and then release. The two tiles will swap and if a proper compound match results, they will disappear, score, and new tiles will ‘fall down’ from the top to replace them. Incidental matches are possible!

A few notes on gameplay:

• The tile set consists of 22 atoms (from the first 4 periods minus the Transition Metals and Noble Gases).
• Currently 2, 3, and even 4 atom chemical compounds are possible.
• Each level has a scoring objective to pass the level. If it is reached before all the moves are used, the level will end, with additional scoring given for each remaining move left.
• Matches that are made are recorded in a list onscreen and when selected, bring up an overlay with additional data (compound name, Lewis Dot structure and type of bond (ex. covalent or ionic bond)).

SmashBond Objectives

SmashBond was designed to present information in an entertaining way for students to learn, progress through the game and materials, and accomplish goals. The game adds an interesting new approach for educators to teach the basic concepts behind the Octet rule and molecular bonding. As with any game, it is important that players have goals to accomplish and have a sense of progression.

In the game,‘bonus objectives’ are essentially blueprints for other compounds. Each time a bonus objective is generated, the player receives extra points. Bonus objectives have several purposes:

• Provide the students with some molecular combinations they may not have known about.
• Provide the student with a challenge as a meta-goal in addition to passing the level.
• Incentivize the player through goals and progression and an element of ‘deeper strategy’.
• Provide an opportunity for a teacher to expound on what uses those newly made compounds have in relatable, daily life.

STARS Challenge

The goal of the STARS Challenge is to receive 5 stars by successfully answering 10 challenge questions. Each question correctly answered is worth a half star. Scores are persistent on a per-session basis. There are 4 types of questions presented with each tailored to the individual challenge. The master challenge consists of 20 questions from each of the three topics: Elements, Bonding and Atomic.

Multiple Choice

Multiple-choice questions are best used for checking whether students have learned facts and routine procedures that have one, clearly correct answer.

Students are presented with a question and must select the correct answer from 4 options.

Matching

Matching a statement to an answer is great for sorting information, especially information that is visual in nature or process-oriented.

This type of question allows students to interact with objects on the screen and match the drag items with the drop targets.

Identify Element Symbol

This question type presents two lists of related words, phrases, pictures, or symbols. Each item in one list is paired with at least one item in the other list.

Students are presented with an element’s name and a grid of element symbols. They are to select the correct symbol that matches the name.

Select the Correct Bond

Similar to matching, students are presented with the Lewis Dot structure of an atom and they must select from a group of atoms to determine which one would correctly bond.

Meet the Characters

Actinide

The actinide or actinoid series encompasses 15 consecutive radioactive chemical elements in the periodic table from actinium to lawrencium and gets its name from the first element in the series.

Alkali Metals

Alkali metals are any of the metals found in Group 1 of the periodic table. They are very reactive, electropositive, monovalent, and do not occur freely in nature.

Alkali metals are malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Alkaline Earth Metals

The alkaline earth elements are metallic elements found in the second group of the periodic table.

All alkaline earth elements have an oxidation number of +2, making them very reactive.

Halogens

The halogens are five non-metallic elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table. Halogen means “salt-former” and compounds containing halogens are called “salts”.

All halogens have 7 electrons in their outer shells.

Lanthanide

The lanthanide or lanthanoid series of chemical elements comprises the 15 consecutive metallic elements from lanthanum to lutetium in the periodic table.

Their atoms have similar configurations and similar physical and chemical behavior.

Noble Gases

The gaseous elements occupying Group18 of the periodic table. Their outer shell of valence electrons is considered to be full.

Other Nonmetals

Other Nonmetals are the elements in Groups 14-16 of the periodic table. Other Nonmetals are not able to conduct electricity or heat very well.

Post-Transition Metals

Post-transition metals are the metallic elements in the periodic table located between the transition metals and the metalloids.

Post-transition metals have lower melting and boiling points with higher electronegativity and are generally softer than transition metals.

Transition Metals

Transition metals are any of the set of metallic elements occupying a central block in the periodic table. They show variable valence and a strong tendency to form coordination compounds. Many of their compounds are colored.

Metalloids

Metalloids are the elements found along the stair-step line that distinguishes metals from non-metals. They are electrical semiconductors.