Resource Availability & Population Dynamics Interactive Simulation | Life Science | Grades 6–8

This Interactive Simulation has grades 6–8 Middle School Life Science students run a hands-on classroom model of Resource Availability & Population Dynamics.

Driving question: "How do resource availability, habitat carrying capacity, and density-dependent versus density-independent limiting factors regulate population size over multiple generations?" Objective: Students will simulate 5 multi-generation trials of a woodland deer population foraging for limited food, water, and shelter tokens under varying environmental conditions, calculate net population change and carrying capacity, and analyze how biotic and abioti

What's inside: objective and background, a materials list (100 dried pinto beans per group to…; 60 colored plastic resource tokens per…; 1 large foraging tray (30 cm x 40 cm)…; 10 red bead tokens representing…), an 8-step protocol, a data table, 4 analysis questions, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Interactive Simulation (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word lab handout with approximately 1,010 words (~5 pages).

Classroom use: a team investigation in a Middle School Life Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.