This interactive exercise employs yarn to visually represent the intricate relationships within an ecosystem. Participants embody different organisms plants, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers and connect to one another with strands of yarn, forming a physical food web. For example, a student representing a grasshopper holds the yarn and passes it to a student representing a frog, signifying the flow of energy from the grasshopper to the frog. Additional connections illustrate more complex trophic interactions.
The activity fosters a deeper understanding of ecological interconnectedness and the consequences of disruptions within a system. Removing a single organism (e.g., cutting a strand of yarn) demonstrates how the entire web can be affected, highlighting the vulnerability of ecosystems and the importance of biodiversity. Its origins can be traced back to environmental education initiatives aimed at making complex ecological concepts accessible and engaging for learners of all ages. It serves as a memorable, tactile learning experience.
