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Database Provider

Author

Smithsonian Science Education Center

Grades

3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Subjects

Science, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Resource Types

  • Interactive Media
  • Games

Regional Focus

Global

Habitat Game

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Synopsis
  • In this interactive game, students drag and drop animals into their correct ecological habitats. 
  • Students will discover the animals that live in deserts, coral reefs, jungles, and marshes. 
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • Game-based learning has been proven to be a powerful supplement to more traditional styles of instruction and this engaging game would be a great addition to lessons. 
  • This game gives students multiple opportunities to try again with written prompts if they are incorrect the first time. 

Additional Prerequisites

  • There is a brief paragraph about habitats before students play the game, but students should be introduced to the animals and habitats in the game before playing. 
  • Reviewing the directions to this game with students might support some learners, since there is no audio.
  • Students can play this game on a desktop or laptop computer and need to be proficient with drag-and-drop. 

Differentiation

  • Consider facilitating a discussion after students have played the game including questions like "What features of the habitats helped you determine which animals might be able to survive there?" 
  • Students receive immediate feedback after an incorrect answer along with information about the animal that might help them make a better selection, which will be helpful for strong readers, but younger students may need additional guidance.
  • Allowing students to play in pairs may increase engagement and help develop oral discussion skills. 
  • Pair this lesson with other resources on related concepts such as this video that introduces the basics of habitats, this video about the impact of climate change on wildlife and their habitats, this lesson plan about terrestrial biomes around the world, and this activity where students research three biomes. 
Scientist Notes
From this interactive game, students can learn how to cross-match different kinds of animals to their specific ecological habitats. This is recommended.
Standards

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

  • Science
    • LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
      • K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
    • LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
      • MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
    • LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
      • 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
      • 3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
  • English Language Arts
    • Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
      • RI.TS.2.4 Describe the overall structure of a text and effectively use various text features (e.g., graphs, charts, images, captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information.
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