Elicit non-trivial dialogue from students. Guide students to reflection and analysis of the experience. Encourage students to share their perceptions and beliefs. Summarize and review similarities and differences.

Analyze Graphs

Objective: Students will make meaning of the simulation.
Activity: Teacher will prepare graphs ahead of time with the data that was recorded from each round of the simulation. Two graphs should be prepared. The first graph should show the decrease in the number of snails, the decrease in the number of birds, and the decrease in the number of seals. The second graph should show the increase in the number of people, an increase in the number of rats, an increase in the number of cannibal snails and an increase in the number of fishing nets. Show the graphs to the students. Break the students up into small groups. Each small group will analyze and interpret the meaning of the graphs. Students discuss and record their ideas on chart paper.
If students have a difficult time, here are some helpful questions:
1. Which animals were native?
2. Which animals were introduced to the native environment?
3. Make this simulation relevant to a live situation. Why did one group of animals keep decreasing while the other group kept increasing?
4. What is the relationship between native and alien species?
Assessment: Students are able to make connections to real life situations?