Oh, Deer!

The 6th and 7th grade science students simulated the relationship between a population of deer and the resources of their forest ecosystem by playing a game which spanned a pretend decade.  It imitated the recycling of matter through the environment. By collecting data throughout the simulation, students were able to graph the relationship. This graph showed them what the carrying capacity of the forest would be, and the importance of balance in the environment.  They then discussed the implications of this information concerning the human population, and came up with ideas on how to change the equation; such as better food production capabilities, population management techniques, and perhaps self-sustaining colonies of humans in space.