The Great Ecosystem Challenge

Game Overview:
Students are transported into a living ecosystem where the floor transforms into different biomes (forest, ocean, grasslands, desert, etc.), and the walls display changing weather, food sources, and population levels. Their goal is to work together to sustain the ecosystem while adapting to environmental changes and human impact.

Game Mechanics:
Phase 1: Build Your Ecosystem (Coordination & Communication)
📍 Objective: Establish a healthy ecosystem by placing species in the right environment and ensuring they have what they need to survive.
The floor shows different biome zones, and students must place themselves correctly based on the organism they’re assigned (predators, prey, plants, decomposers, etc.).
The walls display real-time updates on population levels, food sources, and environmental conditions.
Each student (or small group) is responsible for:
Producers (plants, algae) must find a place with enough sunlight and water.
Herbivores must locate and “consume” food by stepping on the correct resources.
Carnivores must balance hunting to avoid over-consuming prey.
Decomposers must clean up waste and recycle nutrients.
🔴 If the ecosystem is unbalanced (too many predators, not enough plants, etc.), species start to die out.
🟢 If balanced, the ecosystem thrives, and students move to the next challenge with an advantage.
🎯 Lesson Learned: The importance of food chains, biodiversity, and ecological balance.

Phase 2: Survive the Changes! (Problem-Solving & Adaptation)
📍 Objective: React to natural disasters, climate change, and human activity while keeping the ecosystem stable.
The walls show random environmental events such as:


🌀 Hurricane (destroys plant life, forces animals to migrate).
🔥 Wildfire (resets parts of the ecosystem, requires regrowth).
🏗️ Deforestation (removes habitat, students must rebuild).
🌡️ Climate Change (alters temperature and water levels).
Students must:


Work together to find solutions (e.g., migrating to new areas, adjusting food sources, rebuilding the environment).
Predict long-term effects (if certain species disappear, how does it impact the food web?).
Decide how to use conservation efforts (e.g., planting trees, protecting endangered species).
💥 If they fail to adapt, species go extinct, and the ecosystem collapses.
✅ If they succeed, they move to the final phase with a resilient ecosystem.
🎯 Lesson Learned: How ecosystems respond to change and human impact on the environment.

Phase 3: The Future of Your Ecosystem (Decision-Making & Strategy)
📍 Objective: Make long-term decisions to ensure the survival of the ecosystem for future generations.
The walls display future scenarios (e.g., population growth, renewable energy, pollution control).
Students must make big environmental decisions, such as:
Introducing or removing species.
Protecting endangered organisms.
Implementing conservation policies.
Their choices affect how the ecosystem evolves, with immediate visual changes on the walls and floor.
🌍 If successful, they create a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
🚨 If they fail, their ecosystem declines, leading to reflection and problem-solving.
🎯 Lesson Learned: The importance of sustainability, conservation, and responsible decision-making.

Victory & Reflection:
At the end, students receive a "Biodiversity Score" based on:
✅ Ecosystem balance.
✅ Adaptation to changes.
✅ Long-term survival strategy.
A scientist or environmentalist (displayed on the walls) gives a final verdict:
"Your ecosystem is thriving! Well done, future environmentalists!" (if successful).
"Your ecosystem struggled. Let’s analyze why and learn from it!" (if they failed).
They reflect on the role of every organism in an ecosystem and the impact of human actions on nature.