The Rescue Mission
Developed for The Science Club
The challenge
In The Science Club, children in 4 – 6 grade can practice science and become “mini-researchers” after school. In the same way that they might join a soccer team or the scouts – just with science instead. One of the newer courses at The Science Club is all about computer science and mathematics, and they wanted to make games a part of it. The aim was to make mathematics playful and experimental.
The solution
The solution became the semi-digital game ‘The Rescue Mission’, where the Earth is threatened by a black hole that causes earthquakes, floods, and other catastrophes. The mini-researchers’ act as the international rescue team and solve different assignments. For example, do they have to find the quickest way through a city affected by earthquakes with civilians in tow, they also have to understand the refraction of light in order to create a measuring instrument to examine the black hole and much more.
By solving the assignments, they get access to cards and dice that they can use at the end of each round to see how well they managed the mission. This happens at a large, physical board game, where every team member collectively roll dice, play cards, and get closer to closing the black hole.
The digital part of the game sets the stage and presents the story of the day. However, it also saves the game progress from each session, so the entire course is collected into one big narrative.
The result
The Science Club’s course about mathematics and computer science started in the autumn of 2021 in elected Danish municipalities. This was the first time the mini-researchers tried their hands at the Rescue Mission.
