Critical Zone Game

With this game, learn the components of the Earth's Critical Zone!

Learning Outcome: Label the five elements of the Critical Zone defined by the CZO U.S. National Program.

Learning Environment: 2D matching game, illustration of a simplified cross-section of the Earth’s Critical Zone.

Scenario: An instruction appears (i.e. Find Soil). The learner drags and drops the Player onto the soil layer on the Critical Zone illustration. A correct selection allows the player to continue the game with a subsequent instruction to label another element of the Critical Zone. Successful completion of the game, involves properly labeling the five components of the Critical Zone (soil, water, rock, organisms, and air), indicating knowledge of the components of the Earth’s Critical Zone and their general location along the profile.

Find out locations near you where scientists are studying the Critical Zone in the USA and internationally.

Game created by KC (Kathryn) Clark.

The base image used in this game is from a modified illustration from Chorover, J., R. Kretzschmar, F. Garcia-Pichel, and D. L. Sparks. 2007. Soil biogeochemical processes in the critical zone. Elements 3, 321-326. (artwork by R. Kindlimann). Image Request., CC BY-SA 4.0