BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS USING SANDWICH MAKING COMPUTER SIMULATION GAMES AS A SUPPORTING TEACHING METHOD

Writing and balancing equations of chemical reactions is one of the most difficult elements of chemistry education for students, which is why it was decided to analyse part of the process which is the most difficult. The process itself consists of multiple stages. it is important to highlight that the focus of research was not only on balancing the chemical equations. This stage can be independent of chemical skills and knowledge and is based on combinatorial and mathematical skills. The aim of the research was to examine whether using computer simulations can help younger children to balance chemical equations before they start to learn chemistry by using the psychological theory of transfer. It was decided first to teach children how to “make sandwiches” using a computer simulation game. When they have mastered in this activity, they can balance chemical equations. If the children learned how many pieces of cheese, ham and bread would be necessary to “make sandwiches” they began to learn how to balance chemical equations. The children were acquainted with the elements of chemical knowledge necessary to understand the simulation, and then they worked independently with it. Tests were carried out to check the acquired level of ability to balancing chemical equations. The obtained results proved that the balancing of the simple equation of reaction was mastered by over 50% of the children tested. It seems, therefore, a good solution that elements of reconciliation of chemical reaction equations should be introduced at an earlier stage of education, for example during maths lessons.