In this lesson, students will recognize the interdependence of animal and man in their search for the proper arrangement of food, water, shelter and space in the same region.

Teaching Level: 2-5

Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Geography, Kinesthetic Movement

4 "Explain how humans and the physical environment impact and influence each other."

Standard 8 The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

Labels for students - Food, water, shelter and space. Also write plant, animal or human on each one.

1. Have the student’s number off from one to four. Clear a space in the center of the floor or go outside to a clear, grassy area.
2. Assign each group a part and pass out labels to students: food, water, shelter and space.
3. Form a circle, facing in, explaining that they are a chain of plants, animals and humans. Have students turn to their right, taking one step toward the center of the circle. They should be standing close together, with each student looking at the back of the head of the student in front of him/her.
4. Instruct students to place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them and slowly sit down as they count to three. They should sit on the knee of the person behind them, keeping their own knee together to support the person in front of them.
5. Explain that food, water, shelter and space in the proper arrangement are what is needed to have a good habitat.
6. Have students sit town. Discuss the necessary components of a suitable habitat.
7. Have students lap sit again. This time pose problems in different areas of the habitat:

1. It is a drought year. The water supply is reduced by the drought. Waters remove themselves from the circle.
2. Humans have cleared land to make way for their cities. Shelters of wild animals and plants remove themselves.
3. Wild animals have been cornered in too little space and begin to attack joggers. Space removes them.
4. A flood has made finding food almost impossibility for all organisms. Food removes them.

8. Ask the students to talk about what this activity means to them. Ask them to summarize the main ideas: food, water, shelter and space in their appropriate arrangement can be called a habitat
9. Humans and other animals and plant life depend upon habitat
10. Loss of any of these elements of habitat will have impact on the living organisms there; the components of habitat must be in suitable arrangement for the populations of plants and animals to survive.