Shake It

A community is a group of plants and animals that live together in an area. Some communities, such as the community of organisms in the Gulf of Mexico, are huge. Other communities, such as those found on a pine tree, oak tree, or in a hedge, are composed of fewer organisms and occupy much less space.

Whatever the size and makeup of a community, certain factors are universal. All communities contain plants that make food to support the community. Some of the animals in the community eat the plants. Many communities also contain predatory animals that eat other animals. In addition, most communities contain fungi and microorganisms that decompose the community’s dead organisms and waste products. The decomposers return minerals and nutrients to the environment where they can be reused by plants and animals.

In this outdoor activity that can be combined with a hike, learners try to match a “mystery community” by shaking animals out of different trees and shrubs. Learners get a closeup look at organisms living on a particular tree or shrub, and consider which plants seem to host the most animals and how certain interactions among animals in a community help keep the community going.

Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS) is an outdoor program that offers young people fun and challenging opportunities to investigate ecological relationships in their local environment. OBIS was developed in the 1970s at the Lawrence Hall of Science to help adults (teachers, parents, community leaders) take young people outdoors to experience ecological principles in their local area. We have made several of the original 97 OBIS activities available digitally. These activities, which increase environmental awareness, can be used individually or in combination. These simple experiences then act as a gateway for children and adults to explore and understand their local environment.