Provided by Catlilli Games
Catlilli Games (www.catlilli.com) proudly announces the launch of new tabletop games designed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Co-founded by a scientist and engineer who transitioned to careers in education, Catlilli Games believes in the power of learning through play. It started when neurobiologist Catherine Croft Swanwick and civil engineer Jon Nardolilli discovered a shared love for game design. As STEM educators, they enjoyed tinkering with new game ideas to express complex topics. They each witnessed the ability of young children to absorb complex STEM concepts when presented in game format. “I was thrilled to see young children gain a deep understanding of atoms or biological cycles by interacting with the material in an exciting, competitive way,” said Swanwick.
When their game ideas began to be noticed by organizations such as the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences and the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, they started to think that perhaps they were on to something. PWL According to Nardolilli, “I knew the games we had were fun to design. I was honestly shocked that so many others enjoyed them as much as they did.” Together, they decided to form Catlilli Games so that gamification could help instill a love of learning in children of all ages.
Their current STEM education games include
- Atomic Adventures: Designed to introduce elementary students to the periodic table, this memory game seeks to educate children about the smallest particles in the universe: atoms. Kids learn about different kinds of atoms as they match them up with corresponding materials/applications. Targeted for grades PK-5.
- Cycles: Featured at the Koshland Science Museum, this biology-based card game allows children to explore biological cycles. Players build sets of 13 cycles from themes including life cycles, nature cycles, and genetic engineering. Two levels of rules exist for younger vs. older players. Targeted for grades PK-12.
- Crazy Cats:Genetics dice game which combines STEM with art. Players roll dice to determine the types of genes of their cats inherit and then draw corresponding physical features (body, head, whiskers, superpowers, etc.). Targeted for grades PK-8.
- Will it [Blank]?: An engineering party game of material science, deception, and trading. Players collect household items and test them for material properties (magnetic, waterproof, conductive, etc.). Targeted for grades 1-12.
Catlillii Games hope to attract both teachers and families, as they strongly support the theory that education starts at home. Their goal is to design fun, educational games that even adults will enjoy playing.
For more information, please contact: Catherine Croft Swanwick, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Catlilli Games, atcatherine@catlilli.com, 540-905-4629.
