Headlands Institute
Grade:All ages (A simpler version for younger players is explained under the extensions section.)
Subject:Ocean food chains; predators and prey; producers, consumers, decomposers
Skills:Running, acting, tagging, group decision-making, chasing, quick reactions
Duration:10 + minutes
Group Size: 10 + players
Setting:Large, flat playing area
Key Vocabulary: food chain, predator, prey, producer, consumer, decomposer, algae
Title: Fish, Sharks, Algae!
Goals & Objectives: To have fun! The hierarchy of who wins each round of this game is based on food chain / predator-prey relationships therefore this game could be used to introduce and exemplify such concepts.
Materials: No materials needed. Game could be enhanced by showing or drawing examples of the food chain and/or fish, sharks, and algae. If playing the younger version listed under extensions a Frisbee is needed- glue a picture of a shark to one side and picture of an orca to the other.
Getting Ready: Split group into two teams. Have teams line up side by side facing the other team on opposite sides of playing area. Create boundaries that mark their ‘home base line’ where their team is lined up on either side of the playing area and mark a center line where the two teams will meet during the game.
Procedure:
Each team will huddle behind their own home base line (opposite ends of the playing area, designated by a line or some boundary). In the huddle, the teams will agree on a character to portray during the acting phase either a shark, fish or algae. The teams will now face each other at the center line of the playing area. On the signal, teams will act out the character their team chose. The winning team will chase and attempt to tag the players from the losing team. The losing team will attempt to make it back home to their home base line without getting tagged. Players, who get tagged, must join the other team. After the chase, the process starts again with each team meeting to decide on the next character to portray. Remember all players from the team must portray the same character. Following are which characters win against other characters:
Sharks eat fish
Fish eat algae
Algae hide the shark’s prey
To portray each of these characters here are some suggested actions:
Sharks: Hands on top of head palm to palm to mimic a shark’s dorsal fin
Fish: Fish faces and hands held near either side of the face waving as fins
Algae: Arms up reaching toward to sun
Discussion:This game is based on predator-prey relationship within an example food chain. Any number of discussions can be had about ocean food chains; predator- prey relationships; producers, consumer, decomposers; and cycles within the marine ecosystem. There is a very particular debrief involving Biomagnification and we will go over this together.
Safety: This is a great game for the beach where the sand makes for soft landings. If playing in other areas (raven field, cypress field, Battery Alexander parking lot) be aware of uneven ground and obstacles- remove rocks and sticks before playing.
When students line up at the center line make sure they are an arms length away from their neighbors so they have plenty of room when they turn and run; this prevents them from crashing into their teammates when they freak and flee from the taggers!
Extensions:
Orcas and Sharks!
This is a simpler version for younger players.
Set up the teams as explained above but to begin have both teams approach the middle line. Designate one team ‘Orca’ and the other team ‘White Shark’. Start the game by flipping an object such as a Frisbee in the air, where the students can see it. On one side of the Frisbee should be a picture of an Orca on the other a picture of a shark. If the Frisbee lands Orca side up, the Orca team will try to tag the Shark team before the Shark team can run back to their line. Any players tagged must join the other team. Once all players are tagged or make it to the safety area, they will line up and prepare for the next flip. Play continues until all the players are on one team.