SCIENCE: Lifecycles - I have... Who has...? Card Game for up to 20 players

Lifecycle card game: I have... Who has?

This is an ideal game to play to enable students to remember and embed the stages in the life cycles of 8 taxonomic groups (mammals, insects, arachnids, reptiles, birds, fish, crustaceans and amphibians)

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To learn the following stages, in correct sequence for the animal groups listed above.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Print, cut and laminate the 20 playing cards to extend the life of the resource and ensure it can be played repeatedly without wearing out.
2. Each player to receive one card (or more cards depending on ability, challenge, age and stage of learning – as well as the number of players). All cards must be used for the game to be playable and successful.
3. The player who has received the start card must start by reading the red box on their card.
4. Player one must read out the red box to start the game. Once read, the other players should look at their cards and think about whether the answer in the first box on their card could follow on from the “egg”. There are 7 possible answers at this point. The player who reads out their statement next continues the game and takes the game in that direction.
5. The next players follow the stages of the lifecycles, reading out the next two stages on their cards.
6. The game continues until all 8 taxonomic groups have been covered or the play returns to player number 1.

ALTERNATIVES TO THE GAME

Once the game has been played and the students are more confident with the rules and the stages within each of the lifecycles, there are a number of changes which can be made to the game.

1. Change cards between players and repeat the game again.
2. Sequence the cards – like dominoes. How fast can the students lay the cards out in sequence to match all lifecycles together?
3. “Shout Out the next stage” – teacher (or student) to read a card at random. Who can be the first to shout out the next stages? Who can complete the lifecycles?
4. Time the game – how fast can the game be completed with all 8 group life cycles completed?
5. Display cards – sequence and display the 8 life cycles on a learning board
6. Science Centre activity for one or more students to review their learning
7. Home learning family game – send home for students to teach their families the game at home!

We are sure you can probably be even more creative with these cards! Thank you for purchasing this resource and we hope that your students enjoy them, and learn the stages of the lifecycles in the way our students did.

Best wishes to you

INSPIReducation