Instructions:
1. Laminate your game tags so they can be reused many times. Animal tags can be laminated and taped on or put in convention tag holders for protection and easy use (available at office supply stores).
2. Assign each of your students an animal from the list in the game to learn about. They can draw them and find out what they eat.
3. Take the kids out to the school sports field or gym. Each child takes on an animal identity when they put on their tag. They can stand in a circle and each tell who they are and what they eat. The “what do I eat?” list below can help you there. Plant tags are for teachers and volunteers to wear so they can supervise and still take part in the game (and be eaten).
4. Explain that they can chase their prey and tag them, saying I EAT YOU! Emphasize here that they are not to hit, bite or push. Just tag.
5. When they are all ready, say: GO EAT! After about 10 – 15 minutes they can report how many prey they “caught.”
6. Then they should switch tags with another student. If they were a predator, they should play a prey to see how it feels to be the other side of the hunt.
This activity is meant to familiarize kids with what animals eat and how they are interdependent in a food web. It has the added benefit of getting the kids outside and moving.
What Do I Eat?
mouse — grass, plants, mushrooms, berries
deer — grass, plants, mushrooms, berries
grasshopper — grass, plants, berries
rabbit — grass, plants, mushrooms, berries, tree buds
chipmunk — grass, plants, mushrooms, berries, nuts and cones
squirrel — grass, plants, mushrooms, berries, nuts and cones
snake — mouse, grasshopper
crow — mushrooms, grasshopper, berries, nuts and cones
raccoon — mushrooms, fish, mouse, bird eggs, berries, nuts and cones
weasel — mouse, grasshopper, rabbit, chipmunk. squirrel
bear — mushrooms, fish, berries, nuts, mouse, grasshopper, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel
fox — bird eggs, berries, nuts, mouse, grasshopper, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel
eagle — mouse, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel, snake, small raccoon, baby weasel
hawk — mouse, rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel, snake, small raccoon, baby weasel
falcon — crow (small birds), mice, grasshopper
