YEARS 7–12 IDEAS
ARTICLES
FOR THE CLASSROOM
Ecological Simulation Game (continued)
The rules of the game and equipment needed (minimal) are
found in the lesson plan below.
Figure 6: Initial Deaths versus those who Survived.
Figure 4: Top of the Lesson plan for the game.
As you discuss this with the class, they will very quickly grasp
that equal numbers of consumers at each level of the food chain
means an unsustainable ecosystem. Have the students suggest
sustainable numbers for each level. Play a second round. Repeat
the whiteboard display. Another round may be needed to perfect
the pyramid shape.
If time permits, play a round where some students’ tag means
death or disease. It is best if other students do not initially know
who the death and disease carriers are.
It is preferable to debrief after each round in a classroom close
to where the game is played. Alternatively, taking a whiteboard
outside to conduct the debrief has also worked well in our
experience.
Figure 5: Some of the rules of the game
The only issue I have had with this game is students asking me to
play it regularly for the rest of the year!
Students catch their “prey” by tagging students who have the
role of a lower order consumer. When a student is tagged they
need to hand over a ribbon which represents a “life”.
In round 1 of the game, students will expect there to be equal
numbers of primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. Students
are assigned a group and the tagging begins.
After about 5 minutes call students together to see who is still
“alive”. See above for the rules about this.
Students can the put a mark or a magnetic strip on a whiteboard
to indicate if they are still alive or have been killed.
Figure 7: Final Survival numbers typical of a sustainable
ecosystem
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 4