The suggested activity below can be adapted according to each class's specific needs. Prior reading of the book "The Adventures of Great Papu" is recommended. In this activity, the teacher can explore ecological concepts such as the different trophic levels that make up the food chain (autotrophs and heterotrophs; producers and consumers) and their interrelations. As a way to promote reflection on the importance of food webs in maintaining species balance and preserving these polar and marine environments, human interference such as tourism, fishing, and scientific research activities could be considered in terms of their impact on ecosystem balance.
Authors:
Ana Cristina Casagrande Vianna, Flavia Sant'Anna Rios, Márcia Fabiana Luvizotto, Sandra Freiberger Affonso, Sonia Regina Grötzner.
Participants
8 or more
Goal
Understand the basic organization of the Antarctic food web and its fragility when faced with human activities that can generate environmental impacts.
Materials
7 rolls of string or skeins of wool in different colors.
Printed figures representing the characters: plankton, krill, fish, penguin, leopard seal, skua, humpback whale and orca (search for images or use cards from the game “Polar Quartet - Antarctica”).
Printed figures (templates available) of suitcases (representing migration), death symbol (representing dead animals); drawing of a descending curve graph (representing the decrease of an animal population) and of a fishing boat.
terrestrial globe.
lamp or flashlight.
