Earth
to Shiloh: Ozark Ecosystems Then and Now
GRADES
3 - 8
Activities
- Play the “Web
of Life” game.
- Assign a plant
or animal to each student using this list or
by creating your own list.
- Have students
research the habitat of their assigned plant or animal. Have them
find out what animals eat the plant and research predator/prey
relationships.
- Ask students
to give an oral presentation to the class telling about their plant
or animal. After each presentation, have the class discuss ways
their assigned plant or animal may be connected to the one being
reported. Do they live in the same kind of habitat? Does that plant
provide food or shelter to your animal? Is the animal a food source?
Participating in the discussion and considering these relationships
will make the game easier to play.
- Have the students
make a “name tag” to wear with the name of their assigned
plant or animal.
- Tell students
they will be asked to wear their “name tags” as they
sit in a circle facing each other. Using a roll of twine or string,
they will play the game by picking another student and telling
how their plant or animal is connected to the one picked. Tell
them to hold on to the end of the string and pass the rest of the
roll to the student chosen. (This works best if they choose students
across the circle from them rather than next to them.) Each student
then takes a turn picking another plant or animal, telling the
relationship, and passing the string. Explain that it is important
that no one drops the string.
- Designate a
student to start the “Web of Life” game. If a student
is having difficulty seeing the relationship to others in the circle,
remind them we are all connected by being on the earth, or needing
air, or the warmth of the sun, or a water source (depending on
the plants and animals chosen). Green plants are connected to everyone
by creating oxygen.
- After everyone
in the circle has had a turn and is holding on to the string, compare
the string to a spider’s web with all of the pieces connected.
Discuss what would happen if one piece of the web were to be cut
out. Have the students try to lift the web of string over their
heads. Then have them try to stand keeping the web intact. They
will have to work together to keep the web intact.
- Use this exercise
as a lesson on interdependence. Follow up the exercise with a discussion
on ways people impact plants or animals.
- More
fossil lessons and activities
- More
food chain activities
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and Strategies
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