How does a population's habitat determine the size of that population? Teach learners about carrying capacity and limiting factors with an engaging roleplay activity. Class members pose as a colony of penguins who must gather food amidst limited supply, physical limitations, and peer competition.

Concepts

carrying capacity, limiting factors, penguins

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Additional Tags

carrying capacity, limiting factors, penguins, math

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Classroom Considerations

• Prior knowledge of penguin behavior is helpful 
• Requires a large amount of space and some prep work
• Comprehension questions are available in the attached student version; answer key is available in the main lesson plan
• Be sure that roleplay of injured penguins does not mock people with special needs