Lab Notes

Lab Notes is a fun, simple roll-and-write game where you can build actual compounds from nature. Of course, you’re also allowed to build things that could never happen in the real world, so long as the covalent bonds make sense! Talk about a fun learning opportunity to teach about edge cases and why certain things can’t exist!

Lab Notes comes with:

• Little number two pencils to write wit
• A pad of sheets for building elements
• Element dice
• Cards for tools and compounds
• And a pencil sharpener to mark the lead scientist 

The real rules of chemistry are followed to play Lab Notes, making it the perfect classroom activity to really learn how chemicals are formed! Roll dice with elements on them (and potential lab fires) to build compounds as you play the game. Certain element atoms can only be connected a certain number of times, forming covalent bonds. 

The elements on the dice are Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Carbon, and Oxygen. There are different layouts depending on the white or the yellow dice, but all that matters to you is getting the elements you want. While you can connect any legal (read: actual possible covalent bond), there are also cards to guide you! These cards offer bonus points at the end, but can be much trickier to obtain!

The lead scientist (notated with a pencil sharpener for convenience!) for the turn rolls the dice and selects the first element. Going around the table, everyone selects their other elements, which just might mean that you’re stuck with a Lab Fire! If you don’t have any way to put it out, this permanently “burns” one of your slots. But! These can be mitigated if you’ve made a Fire Suppressant with your tool cards.