Part 1

In this game, some of you will be burrowing owls (species at risk in Canada) some of you will be grasshoppers….

• All grasshoppers need to go out and eat as much grass as they can when I say go, this means grasshoppers must get as much grass (popsicle sticks) as they can. Grasshoppers will get a head start on the owls.
  
  
• RELEASE THE OWLS! Owls (usually adults) get to tag grasshoppers. You can have grasshoppers give up one popsicle stick after being tagged. 
  
  
• If grasshoppers have no more popsicle sticks then they sit out.

Part 2

• Add a bunch of red (poisonous) popsicle sticks into the game. 
  
  
• Once grasshoppers and owls have picked up some red popsicle sticks, yell FREEZE. 
  
  
• Have grasshoppers check if they have a poisonous piece of grass. If yes, they act out a dramatic death. Those with the red sticks are immediately OUT because the red popsicle sticks are grass sprayed with pesticides
  
  
• How would that affect our burrowing owls?
  
  
• What is happening to our burrowing owls in Alberta? They are a species at risk… at risk of disappearing!  What happens if they eat grasshoppers that have eaten pesticides? 
  
  
• Burrowing owls will also be poisoned!
  
  
• Burrowing owls: Check if they have a poisonous piece of grass. If yes, they act out a dramatic death

These are just some examples of how everything is connected, and if creatures are unable to meet their basic 4 needs, then we lose them from the ecosystem and the food chain that they are a part of becomes unbalanced.

Part 3

• How can we get burrowing owls back in the game?
  
  
• What is one action we can take to bring back the owls? 
  • Example answers
    •  Don’t use as many pesticides. What can we use instead?
    • How can we protect the burrowing owls’ homes?
    • How else can we help our burrowing owls?
      
      
• Replay one last round after bringing back the owls… end on a positive note!