Special Feature Lesson:

Escape The Aliens!

Overview:
Children play a board game that reinforces what they have learned about alien species and their negative impacts on native plants and animals.

Curriculum Focus:
N/A

Materials:
Escape The Aliens Game page

Activity:
Make enough copies of the Escape The Aliens Game page for all pairs of children who will be playing the game. Review Special Feature, and discuss why each species highlighted poses problems for wetland natives. Tell children they can play a game based on what they have read about in Special Feature. Divide children into pairs. Pass out copies of the Escape The Aliens Game page. Explain the objective of the game, and share the rules for play, which are as follows:

The objective of this game is to be the first player to move your duck from one side of the board to the other, landing in the"Winner" circle. To do so, you will try to move your duck using only the "Happy Duck" squares. Avoid landing on an alien animal square, or you will have to skip a turn.

1. Cut out the game pieces along the side of the game page. Player 1 places his or her duck on the "Start" circle at the top left corner of the board. Player 2 places his or her duck on the "Start" circle at the bottom left corner of the board.

2. Players take turns tossing a penny to move across the board: Heads = move 1 square, Tails = move 2 squares Each player's turn is limited to one penny toss, unless he or she lands on a "Take Another Turn" square. Also, the ALIEN-FREE ZONE square allows a player to switch places with the other player if desired.

3. Players can move left, right, up, down and diagonally. (NOTE: To make the level of play more difficult, do not allow diagonal moves.) Only one player can land on a square at one time.

4. Players try to move from one "Happy Duck" square to another, avoiding squares that show faces of alien animals. If a player is forced to land on an alien animal square, he or she must skip a turn.

5. To win, a playerÍs move must land his or her duck on the "Winner" circle.

Extension Idea: Have a group of children form a line. Ask them to hold hands while remaining in line. Tell them they represent a family of ducks. Blindfold a single child and explain that he or she represents an alien animal (such as a mute swan). Tell the "ducks" they must make quacking noises for the alien animal to hear. They must keep holding hands while trying to avoid being tagged by the alien. When the alien tags a duck, the two children switch places and play begins again. (NOTE: You may wish to play this game on grass or another soft surface, in case of falls.)