Lesson Plan 5:
Web of Life

Lesson Activities

1) Divide students into groups of 5-8. If possible, the students in a group should be about the same general size.

2) Provide one set of nametags and one ball of string to each group.

3) Have each student put on a nametag.

4) Have the students of each group form a circle, using outstretched arms and touching fingertips to create even space between themselves.

5) Toss the ball of string to any student in the group and have him/her hold the loose end. Repeat this process for each group.

6) The student with the string then tosses the ball to any other student and makes a statement about a relationship between what s/he represents (i.e. what the nametag reads) and what the receiving student represents. (e.g., a toss from Livestock to Fish could be represented by the statement, "Fish depend on proper grazing management for healthy habitat.") The first student needs to maintain hold of the end of the string.

7) The receiving student keeps ahold of the string, tosses the ball of string to any other student, and makes a new relationship statement.

8) This process continues until all possible relationships have been formed (i.e. when the string has webbed its way between each combination of students).

9) Have the students loop the strings in their hand around one or two fingers so they are not holding the string tightly.

10) Have the students lean slightly backward, putting tension on the web of string. Caution them to not lean too far backwards or the whole web will be lost. They need only lean far enough to tighten the strings.

11) The teacher then reaches into the web and cuts one link of the string.

12) Theoretically, all of the students should fall slightly backward representing how the entire system is affected when one relationship is out of balance.

13) When one link of string from each group has been cut, have the students re-group as a class for a discussion of what is represented by the webs they formed, the cut string, and the effects of the cut string. Various issues relevant to the interactions of wildlife, people, and the ecosystem could be covered in this discussion.