Natural Resource Manager

Click for salary, education, & more: Natural Resource Manager (gerente de recursos naturales)

Natural Resource Managers understand how connected everything truly is on planet earth. A simple but fun game you can play to  illustrate the concept of feedback loops and interconnected Earth systems is called “Earth’s Domino Effect.” Act as a Natural Resource Manager to see how all the pieces are connected! You’ll need a set of dominoes, or any small objects like building blocks. Here’s how to play:

STEP 1: Begin by setting up a row of dominoes on the table or floor. Place each domino side by side to create a continuous line.

STEP 2: Decide on a ‘key’ for each domino color. You will need one color for each of Earth’s systems: atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Write down your key so you don’t forget (ex: orange = atmosphere, etc.).

STEP 3: Now make a change to one of the dominoes (ex: tap the atmosphere domino gently). Come up with an idea of what this change represents related to natural resources (ex: deforestation, a species going extinct, etc.).

STEP 4: Observe the Domino Effect! As the dominoes fall one by one, try to explain how the initial change you made (ex: tapping the atmosphere domino) can trigger a chain reaction, affecting other Earth systems.

STEP 5: Discuss how the falling dominoes represent feedback loops and interconnectedness between systems. After all the dominoes have fallen, discuss the consequences of the initial change. How did it impact the other Earth systems?

STEP 6: Reset the dominoes and experiment with different changes and scenarios. Before you start, predict how each change will affect the Earth’s systems, just like Natural Resource Managers do!

Optional: Share a video of your Domino Effect in action. Also include an explanation in terms of natural resources and feedback loops in the Student Showcase to build your resume as a Natural Resource Manager!