Best when done in a large, open space. Divide the group in half. Have them stand in a line-up (like football) facing each other on opposite sides of the room/field. One group is the bears and the other is the three needs - food, shelter and water. You will need to make up a motion that represents each need. The bear will be looking to find food shelter and water and the needs group may or may not provide it for them. Have them turn around with their backs to each other. Individually they will decide as bears if they want food, shelter or water and the needs group will individually decide what they will be providing. THIS IS NOT A GROUP DECISION!! On the count of three the two groups turn around and everyone makes their sign. The bear then runs to someone on the other side who is making the motion - food, shelter, water - and tags them. If they tag them first, the person becomes a bear because they have helped the species survive, if someone got there first the bear dies and reenters the life cycle as a basic need -- food, shelter or water, and joins that side. It is possible that when the bears turn around there may be no needs met for them and they all die. (Start again if this happens, maybe even send some bear over to be ?needs?). It is also possible that there will be only one water and five bears who are looking for water. Continue in this manner and take note of how the balance changes. At some point you may want to add hunters or developers or disease into the equation. Have them stand in the middle between the two groups. They must keep one foot planted when "chasing" the bear as they make their way across. Sometimes you can let them run.

You can use this exercise to demonstrate the strain on survival and the ways in which we as humans alter the environment for species thereby contributing to diminishment of certain plant and animals.