Playing with Chemistry: Developing Observation and Classification through Daily Mix-Up

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Game-based learning provides a creative pathway to engage students in scientific inquiry by transforming abstract concepts into tangible experiences. This study presents Daily Mix-Up, a board game developed to enhance vocational students’ understanding of observation and classification─two fundamental scientific process skills in chemistry. The game situates chemical substances within familiar daily contexts, prompting learners to compare, group, and reason through visual and property-based clues. Integrated into the “Explore” and “Elaborate” phases of the 5E instructional model, Daily Mix-Up combines play, discussion, and evidence-based reasoning to connect theory with practice. Classroom implementation with vocational chemistry students demonstrated that the game effectively promoted active participation, collaborative learning, and deeper conceptual engagement. The findings highlight the potential of structured, context-rich games like Daily Mix-Up to bridge the gap between chemical theory and real-world application, supporting both cognitive and motivational dimensions of chemistry learning.