Download Game Guide / Chronopticon

Game Guide / Chronopticon
GA M E D ESC R I PT ION
Chronopticon is a time travel game in which players guide Tim
and Moby from the 19th century back to the present day. Along
the way, players will gain an increasingly complex picture of the
earth-moon-sun system and the celestial sphere, as well as how
their motions relate to the passage of time. Key learning objectives
include using models to understand: (1) that the earth’s rotation
causes passage of hours and creates the day/night cycle; (2) basic
motions and positioning of the earth-sun-moon system in relation
to lunar cycles; (3) basic configurations, motions, and positioning of
the zodiac constellations; and (4) how one’s reference point in the
northern or southern hemisphere affects the motion, appearance,
and positioning of celestial bodies.
WAYS TO U S E C HRONOPTICON IN THE CLASSROOM
As an in-class group activity Project the game onto a white
screen or use an interactive whiteboard. Students take turns
solving challenges and offer one another strategy suggestions.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT CHRONO PT I CO N
• Students “manipulate time” by
changing the positions of celestial
bodies.
• Levels support learning across
multiple standards in Grade 3–6
science and math.
• Each level can be accessed directly
and played within 10–15 minutes.
• A web browser with the Adobe Flash
plug-in and an Internet connection
are required; connection to a
networked printer is recommended
so students may print achievement
certificates presented at the end of
each level.
• Headphones are suggested, as
the introductory and interstitial
animations have dialogue, and the
game contains sound effects.
In partnerships Have students collaborate and share strategies
for tackling challenges and advancing through levels. Pair students
with different learning strengths to complement one another and
encourage peer coaching.
As homework Assign a level or several levels to supplement
formal instruction and reinforce concepts. Ask students to print
their achievement certificates and present them in class the
following day.
H OW TO P L AY
In each level, players are challenged to navigate a time machine
to a specific time or date. A moving model of the earth, moon, sun,
and stars provides clues about the current time. Players use a dial
and lever system to set the number of hours, days, and/or months
(depending on the level) they wish to move forward.
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
1
Game Guide / Chronopticon / Level 1 — Solar
L E A R N I N G O B J ECTIVE
Use models to understand that
the rotation of the earth causes the
passage of hours and the day/night
cycle.
GAME PLAY
1 Identify the target time.
K EY CO N C E PTS
• The earth rotates/spins on its axis,
an imaginary line running through
the poles
• The earth spins eastward, making one
complete turn every 24 hours
• To an observer on earth, the earth’s
eastward spin causes the sun to
appear to move westward
• Half of the earth is always illuminated
by the sun; this half is constantly in
flux as the earth spins
• To an observer standing on the
earth’s (temporarily) illuminated
half, it is day; to an observer on the
(temporarily) unilluminated half, it
is night
• You can calculate elapsed time
(hours) based on the apparent
movement of the sun through the sky
2 Determine the current position of the sun in the celestial and terrestrial
viewers, which represent the same time from different perspectives.
3 Add the number of hours needed to advance the rotation of the
earth to match the target time, then click the lever.
4 Players are given feedback on the number of times they attempt to
successfully complete each of four challenges within each level.
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
2
Game Guide / Chronopticon / Level 2 — Lunar
L E A R N I N G O B J ECTIVE
Use models to understand the basic
motions and positioning of the earthmoon-sun system.
GAME PLAY
1 Identify the target time and moon phase.
K EY CO N C E PTS
• The earth revolves around the sun
once every 365 days
• The four seasons correspond to the
earth’s location in its orbit around
the sun
• The moon revolves around the earth
about once every 28 days [it’s
actually 27.3 days, but in our model,
we had to pick a round number]
• Like the earth, half of the moon is
always lit by the sun
• The phases of the moon are caused
by our angle of perception on
the moon’s lit half; this angle is a
function of where the moon is in its
orbit around the earth
• The phases of the moon can be used
as a rough calendar
• You can calculate elapsed time (days)
based on the moon’s phase
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
2 Determine the current position of the sun and moon in the celestial
and terrestrial viewers.
3 Add the number of days and hours needed to advance the rotation
of the earth and the position of the moon to match the target time
and lunar calendar date. Then click the lever.
3
Game Guide / Chronopticon / Level 3 — Stellar
L E A R N I N G O B J ECTIVE
Use models to understand the basic
motions and positioning of the zodiac
constellations.
GAME PLAY
1 Identify the target time range and constellation.
K EY CO N C E PTS
• Like the sun, the stars at night
seem to move because the earth is
spinning
• The direction (east) of the earth’s
spin affects the apparent direction
of the stars’ apparent motion across
the sky
• There are 12 zodiac constellations,
representing mythological people,
animals, and objects
• Like the sun, any given star or
constellation seems to move in an arc
across the sky over the course of hours
• Different constellations are visible
during different times of year (or
different seasons)
• You can calculate elapsed time
(hours) based on the apparent motion
of constellations during one night
• You can calculate elapsed time
(days, months) based on the visible
constellations
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
2 Determine the current time of day and orbital position of the earth.
3 Add the number of months and hours needed to match the target
time and constellation. Then click the lever.
4
Game Guide / Chronopticon / Level 4 — Hemispheres
L E A R N I N G O B J ECTIVE
Use models to understand the
basic motions and positioning of the
lunar phases in relation to zodiac
constellations.
GAME PLAY
1 Identify the target moon phase and constellation.
K EY CO N C E PTS
• The phases of the moon can be used
as a rough calendar
• You can calculate elapsed time (days)
based on the moon’s phase
• There are 12 zodiac constellations,
representing mythological people,
animals, and objects
• Like the sun, any given star or
constellation seems to move in an
arc across the sky over the course
of hours
• Different constellations are visible
during different times of year (or
different seasons)
• You can calculate elapsed time
(hours) based on the apparent motion
of constellations during one night
• You can calculate elapsed time
(days, months) based on the visible
constellations
• Celestial objects have different
motions and appearances in the
southern hemisphere
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
2 Determine the current moon phase and orbital position of the earth.
3 Add the number of days and hours needed to match the target lunar
calendar date and constellation. Then click the lever.
5
Game Guide / Chronopticon / Level 5 — Dead Reckoning
L E A R N I N G O B J ECTIVE
Identify specific constellations
and use models to understand the
basic motions and positioning of
the lunar phases in relation to
zodiac constellations
GAME PLAY
1 Identify the target moon phase and constellation.
K EY CO N C E PTS
• The phases of the moon can be used
as a rough calendar
• You can calculate elapsed time (days)
based on the moon’s phase
• There are 12 zodiac constellations,
representing mythological people,
animals, and objects
• Like the sun, any given star or
constellation seems to move in an arc
across the sky over the course of hours
• Different constellations are visible
during different times of year (or
different seasons)
• You can calculate elapsed time
(hours) based on the apparent motion
of constellations during one night
• You can calculate elapsed time
(days, months) based on the visible
constellations
• Celestial objects have different
motions and appearances in the
southern hemisphere
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
2 The celestial viewer is broken! Estimate the earth’s current
orbital position by identifying constellations in the expanded
terrestrial viewer.
3 Add the number of days and hours needed to match the target lunar
calendar date and constellation. Then click the lever.
6
Game Guide / Chronopticon
Q U EST I O N S/S U G GESTIONS
Please share your feedback. We’d love to hear how you’re using
Chronopticon in your classroom.
You can contact us at [email protected].
© 1999–2011 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.
HELPFUL HINTS
• All levels begin with the sun in the
“high noon” position.
• Before moving on to the next
challenge within a level, players need
to remember the time and moon
phase or constellation location. The
next challenge will start from this
time and location.
• Players may only add hours, days,
and months to advance time — they
cannot subtract.
• Lines and marks in the celestial and
terrestrial viewers are calibrated to
indicate hours, days, and months,
depending on the level and the
challenge.
7