Do you like games that are engaging, unpredictable and teach you something new??
The Endangered Species Game is a fan favorite when the weather is dreary and you can't go outside. The setup is quick; the process is easy and can be repeated many times with a different outcome each game played! You can even invent your own scenarios for different endangered species when you get the hang of it. You and the kiddos are bound to have a fun adventure with the Endangered Species Game.
Background:
The Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) was a bird that once flourished beside the dodo bird. Although the dodo bird did not last long ofter colonization of the islands, the Mauritius kestrel survived and remained in good numbers until the 1960's. Due to DDT, a pesticide that created fragile eggshells after being ingested by the females, and invasive species, the kestrel population dropped drastically. By 1974, only 4 birds remained. The Mauritius kestrel was considered the rarest bird in the world.
Unfortunately previous hatching attempts were not successful due to infertility and equipment malfunction. In 1974, two conservationists (Gerald Durrell and Carl Jones) established a wildlife sanctuary on the the island to help the birds. Jones would take the first egg the parents laid and offer extra food to the pair; as a result, the parents would double clutch and incubate the second egg themselves. Carl would also incubate the eggs he collected and raised the chicks with a puppet that looked like a kestrel mother. Then, through a process called hacking, he was able to release the chicks into the wild once they were old enough.
Fortunately for the kestrel, the hard work of these conservationists paid off and there are now a healthy population on the island.
Supplies:
Scenario list (provided below)
Small pieces of paper numbered 1-20 ( Repeat numbers if needed so that every student gets a numbered piece of paper)
White board
Marker
Directions:
- Cut up pieces of paper and number 1-13. Cut and number more if needed so that every student has a piece. (**Hint: Laminate pieces to reuse at a later time**)
- Place pieces of paper in bowl and mix. Allow each student to pick from the bowl.
- Determine an order for each student to call out their number. This can be by seat order or name roster. The goal is to have variety in number order.
- Begin with your population number of 2.2.0 (males.females.offspring) on the white board.
- One at a time, allow each student to call out his/her number. Match the number to the scenario list and read the scenario. Each scenario will say if your population increased, decreased, or stayed the same. For instance: Congradulations! Two chicks hatched. +1.1 . . . .This means you will add one male and one female to your population. The current population of 2.2.0, now becomes 3.3.0
- If this is too confusing, write MALE and FEMALE, or BOY and GIRL, and place tally marks underneath to represent animals. Add more class participation by having students be in charge of the tallying as well.
- Continue until every student has said their number and see if you species survives.
- Note: If you attempt this and your population does not last, you may want to start with a larger beginning population, like 10.10 or 10 males and 10 females.
***NOTE- This an also be played with you and your little nature lover. Place all numbered pieces in a bowl and take turns pulling out a number. Have them do the tallying and adding while you read the scenario***
Goal:
The Mauritius Kestrel made a phenomenal comeback, but with only a few surviving individuals, the outcome isn't always so successful. Many factors come into play, some good and some bad, when trying to save a species. Sometimes a breeding season is successful and doubles its population due to good nesting conditions and plenty of food. Other years are not so successful when a storm passes through and knocks down nests or a female is killed by an invasive species.
Will your species make a comeback?
Scenario List
1. Female double clutched. Add 2 males and 2 females to your population (+2.2)
2. Found another pair of kestrels. Add 1 male and 1 female to your population (+1.1)
3. Mongoose found the nest before the conservationist did and ate a female - Minus one female from the population (-0.1)
4. Cyclone hit the island and now you can't find a female. Minus one female from the population (-0.1)
5. Great season! 5 eggs that you collected hatched in the incubator. Add 2 males and 3 females to the population. (+2.3)
6. One female became too old to breed. No more babies. Minus one female from the population. (-0.1)
7. Disease breaks out in gecko population (a main food source). Minus one-half of population.
8. Successfully hacked another 20 chicks! Add 11 males and 9 females to the population. (+11.9)
9. Egg eating macaque (an invasive species) destroys all eggs this season. No population increase next turn.
10. Reintroduction program was a success! Young kestrels are nesting! Double population increase next turn.
11. Drought causes massive tree death. Only 1 pair was able to nest on the rock face. Add 1 male and 1 female to the population (+1.1)
12. Ex situ program (breeding program outside natural habitat) in US was a success!! They sent you 13 chicks to return back to the wild. Add 7 males and 6 females to population. (+7.6)
13. Wildfire burns precious habitat. Minus 1 male and 1 female from population and no increase on next turn. (-1.1)
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I hope you have as much fun playing the ENDANGERED SPECIES GAME as I did making it.
Please comment below to let me know if this was a fun game with your kids. As always, I welcome insight and recommendations for future posts. If you have a lesson you would like a fun activity to pair with it, just message below or email MsMalloryAdventures@gmail.com and I will reply ASAP.
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"Some of the greatest conservationists are sitting right in front of you. . .waiting to be inspired."
Happy inspiring,
Ms. Mallory
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