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for making the Nitrogen Fate and Transformations Game (NFTG) game board


To make a small game board:

  • Download the ~ 8" x 11" NFTG game board image using a color printer
  • Cut out cardboard pieces to match the size of the game board image

    (use discarded cardboard boxes from local stores and businesses or perhaps at your school.)

  • Glue or laminate one game board image onto one cut -to-fit cardboard piece

    ( printing shops and some packaging service stores offer lamination services, but check with them to ascertain whether they carry laminate materials that will fit the dimensions of your game board image.)

  • Make a spinner that has 8 sections, numbered 1 through 8, and a base the spinner can spin on. (Use cardboard, paper, colored pencils or markers, glue or laminate material.)
  • Select game pieces to be used by players

    Ideas: The game board base is divided into 25 squares, and each square measures approximately one inch. Ask students to bring a small item from home that will fit on one of the game board squares such as a small bottle cap, a round or square magnet, a thimble, etc. Teachers could instead use different color gum drops to represent the different colors of organic N the players will be representing (green for legume N, yellow for crop residue N, black or another color for manure N), so long as the players don't eat them until after the game is finished!

    *To limit costs and the number of game boards to be made, this game could be played by groups of 6, with 2 students representing one game board token/piece each


To make one large classroom NFTG game board:

  • The Nitrogen Fate Transformation Game (NFTG) large game board is made of Advertex Super 14 ounce vinyl banner material and measures 1.8 m x 2.1 m or 6 ft. x 7 ft. (Snyder Manufacturing Co., Dover,OH)
  • Banner lettering is made of RTA premium vinyl material (Universal Co., Goddard, KS)
  • The game board base is divided into 25 squares, and each measure 0.3m or 1 ft. square.
  • "Groundwater", "Surface Water", and "Air" zone strips are made of banner lettering material and are attached to the game board base, 1.5 m x 1.5 m or 5 ft. x 5 ft. square, using Velcro strips
  • Make a spinner that has 8 sections, numbered 1 through 8, and a base the spinner can spin on. (Use cardboard, paper, colored pencils or markers, glue or laminate material.)
    *Sign companies could make the large game board, as was done in one situation for approximately $300.

Back to NFTG Introduction Page


Information derived from: "The Nitrogen Fate and Transformations Game", designed and written by Jessica G. Davis, Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, Vol. 26, no. 2, p.135-138, 1997.

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Last Updated:September 25, 2001
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