Deer Me: A Predator/Prey Simulation
Source Institutions
-
Minnesota Zoo
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In this activity, learners will simulate the interactions between a predator population of gray wolves and a prey population of deer in a forest. After collecting the data, the learners plot the data and then extend the graph to predict the populations for several more generations.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 1 to 2 hours
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Game, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- About 250 Deer Cards – you may want to have extras on hand (p.5 of PDF)
- About 50 Wolf Cards (p.6 of PDF)
- Student worksheets (p.4 of PDF)
- Defined “forest” (Using a table works well but the space can be defined using masking tape, if necessary. You may also make “forests” using 2 sheets of 11x17 construction paper taped together.)
- Directions for simulation for each group (p.3 of PDF)
Subjects
- Life Sciences
- Diversity of Life
- Animals
- Ecology
- Ecosystems
- Populations
- Diversity of Life
Informal Categories
- Animals
- Games
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- read
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, Minnesota Zoo & Eduweb, ©2012
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0610427
- Best Buy Children's Foundation
- The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
- The ADC Foundation
