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Connect a habitat

Ages 8–10 · Est. 35–50 minutes · 2–6 players

Triceratops Supply Desk

Supply cards describe a fictional model habitat, and each layer serves a different need. Work together to assemble the model camp shelter.

6 clues, gradual hints and a complete paper finish. Choose a reader, a recorder and a checker, then work through the mission together.

See every player clue ↓

Triceratops Supply Desk: Use only the fictional food-web rules printed here. Start with the food available now. A creature becomes available when its food rule is met. Find which named visitor can live here; a loop cannot create its own first food.

Your mission

Work together to assemble the model camp shelter.

Welcome to the triceratops model camp. Supply cards describe a fictional model habitat, and each layer serves a different need. Your team has the original records on the table. First recover five pieces of information, then use the final plan to assemble the model camp shelter. Keep every result beside its badge so another teammate can check your reasoning.

How your team will think

Use fictional field observations, resource needs and food-web relationships.

Use the game’s printed relationship rules. Keep each clue result with its label, then check how the chosen elements fit together on the final sheet.

Set up in one room

  1. Print the six player sheets and two record sheets for each team. Keep answers and hints with the host.
  2. Lay out Fictional food-web rules, Supply cards, the remaining clue sheets and the final plan. All task records are printed inside the sheets; no extra prop is needed.
  3. After each clue, pass roles one seat clockwise. With two players, combine Reader with Recorder and Checker with Builder. With five or six, add a second checker and a source finder; everyone explains one decision.

Bring to the table

  • One complete player set and record set per team
  • One pencil per child
  • One adult host with the answer and hint pages

Print and sorting checklist · Plan the player roles

Ages and durations are design estimates. Choose the pace and reading support that suit your group.

Look before you print

See all 6 player clues

These are the actual figures and instructions from the player pack. Read the final page’s rule along with the earlier clues.

Clue 1 of 6

Food

Use only the fictional food-web rules printed here. Start with the food available now. A creature becomes available when its food rule is met. Find which named visitor can live here; a loop cannot create its own first food.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Use only the fictional food-web rules printed here. Start with the food available now. A creature becomes available when its food rule is met. Find which named visitor can live here; a loop cannot create its own first food.
Read this clue in text

Fictional food-web rules NIB needs LEAF PEEP needs SEED MOTH needs NIB OR PEEP GLIM needs NIB AND PEEP LOOP needs TWIN TWIN needs LOOP Starting conditions Available now: LEAF. A result becomes available when its needs are met. Which of MOTH, GLIM, LOOP becomes available?

Clue 2 of 6

Kit

Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Pack a kit that supplies all three needs. One card may cover two needs, but its weight is counted once. Choose the lightest complete kit within the carrier limit. Report its card letters alphabetically.
Read this clue in text

Supply cards A: weight 3; gives tie+light B: weight 2; gives mark C: weight 2; gives tie D: weight 4; gives light+mark E: weight 7; gives tie+light+mark Packing order Capacity 7; must cover tie, light, mark. Use the lightest complete kit. Each card once. Write chosen card IDs alphabetically, with hyphens.

Clue 3 of 6

Load

Load desk: Every parcel has the same whole-number weight. Remove loose units, find ONE parcel and check the second rule.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Load desk: Every parcel has the same whole-number weight. Remove loose units, find ONE parcel and check the second rule.
Read this clue in text

2 parcels + 3 loose units = 5 units 2 parcels + 3 loose units = 5 units One parcel = ? units. Whole numbers 1–9. All parcels have equal weight.

Clue 4 of 6

Note

Note desk: Decode all shapes in message order. Repeated shapes repeat their letter. Convert the full word using the table.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Note desk: Decode all shapes in message order. Repeated shapes repeat their letter. Convert the full word using the table.
Read this clue in text

Key: cross means H; hexagon means O; triangle means R; square means N. Message: cross, hexagon, triangle, square. Conversion: HORN means 4; EGGS means 7; BONE means 0.

Clue 5 of 6

Plot

Plot desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Plot desk: Read the letter at each coordinate, in order. Letter = column; number = row. Convert the complete word using the printed table.
Read this clue in text

Columns: A, B, C, D. Rows: 1, 2, 3. 1 G K N R 2 R Q H W 3 S N Y O HORN = 7 EGGS = 0 BONE = 3 READ COORDINATES IN ORDER: C2 > D3 > A2 > B3

Clue 6 of 6

Final

Recover one requirement for each habitat layer from its named result. Choose a matching roof, floor, water source, food and entry. Write the five part IDs in the printed layer order, then point to the evidence supporting each choice.

Triceratops Supply Desk: Recover one requirement for each habitat layer from its named result. Choose a matching roof, floor, water source, food and entry. Write the five part IDs in the printed layer order, then point to the evidence supporting each choice.
Read this clue in text

Habitat construction key Roof (Food): MOTH=shade; GLIM=sun Floor (Kit): A-B-C=dry; A-B=damp Water (Load): 1=still; 2=flow Food (Note): 4=seed; 7=leaf Entry (Plot): 0=narrow; 7=wide Parts (one per layer, top to bottom) Roof: R1=shade; R2=sun Floor: F2=damp; F1=dry Water: W1=still; W2=flow Food: D2=seed; D1=leaf Entry: E1=wide; E2=narrow Build rule Choose each part meeting its recovered requirement. Report five part IDs top to bottom, with hyphens.

Start after: Food, Kit, Load, Note, Plot

A different kind of mystery next

Keep the habit of sharing evidence and try a new reasoning task.