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The theory of keystone species in an ecosystem was first established in 1969 by Robert T. Paine. Pupils open the final lesson in a five-part series with a game guessing which member of the alpine ecosystem they are based on clues. After everyone knows their identities, participants enjoy a game making a yarn web based on the food web. Finally, it adds a few complications, such as a border between countries and an invasive species.
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CCSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- All activities can be adapted to any ecosystem, so apply it to a local one
Classroom Considerations
- Prepare the "Who am I?" cards ahead of time as they require laminating and attaching yarn to each
- Assumes prior knowledge of a food web, specifically the alpine plants and animals in the lesson
Pros
- Utilizes cross-curricular connections to life science, social science, and economics
- Exciting and entertaining games enchant scholars
Cons
- Link to "Who am I?" cards does not work