Quantum Party! An educational board game built around quantum mechanics observations and experiments

Given the amount of competition students have for their attention (social media, extracurricular activities, jobs, etc), it can be a challenge to get them to fully engage with classroom material while *in* the classroom. There are a variety of approaches to reclaiming some of their attention, such as introducing material so fascinating that they can't help but think about it outside the classroom or gamifying the classroom interactions to the point that they may not even realize they are learning. Since 2018, a small group at Siena has been working on a board game that teaches quantum mechanics at the middle- and high-school level, driven by rules inspired by the science behind 4 classic science experiments/observations: the double slit experiment, blackbody radiation, the photoelectric effect, and the Rutherford scattering experiment. The first version of the game was completed in 2021 and is being manufactured by a small company that specializes in independent board games, now available for purchase by anyone. In addition to the game board and pieces, the game comes with a pamphlet that concisely describes the science behind the game at an introductory level. We present our experience designing the game and feedback from high-school teachers about how it might be used in the classroom.