Fish Race

This game allows children to learn about how the movement of water affects objects and creatures within it. It consists of a large tray, ideally made of a transparent material, and is filled with water. Squeeze pumps aligned with the paths of a maze (more complex than shown) are used to propel the fish towards a goal.

Children will learn that if they let go too soon, the fish will be sucked back the way it came, so they must develop a good strategy to move the fish. Also, several children can play at once, either working together or towards different goals.

Since the toy sits on a table, it is relatively large, so that would account for the greater part of the cost. Little plastic fish and pumps are probably inexpensive. Again, the fish may prove a choking hazard for children too young, but the concepts of toy are also better understood by slightly older children who have some initial amount of patience.

Toy concept 1 | Toy concept 3

Rosemary Luo
Carnegie Mellon University
January 29,2008