Recommended Website:
National Park Service: Battle for the Dunes
Age Range: 6-14 (approximately – younger children and non-readers
will need parental assistance)
Prepare for the Battle of the Dunes! This National Park Service
website offers an interactive game that teaches kids about the
history, environment, and habitat of the sand dunes in Golden Gate
National Park in San Francisco, California.
When you get to the site, you’ll see a “Battle for the Dunes” icon
with a menu above it, and a green arrow below it. DOUBLE CLICK on the green arrow to follow the introduction that explains what kinds of plants once thrived on the dunes, what kinds of animals lived in this vegetation, how non-native plants invaded the habitat, and what can be done to restore the dunes.
Then, read the “Field Guide” to learn the rules for how to play, “Battle of the Dunes” along with tips on how to navigate this site. (Note: At the end of the Field Guide it says to click on the NPS “arrowhead” icon on the menu bar to return to the NPS Park Labs website. That icon leads to a dead link – which is insignificant to playing “Battle of the Dunes.”)
To get the MOST from this site, click on the magnifying glass icons on the menu to learn about sand dune native plants, as well as the three “community” areas of sand dunes. That information will prepare you to play “Battle of the Dunes” and have a better chance of winning.
When you are ready to play the game, click on the “hand” icon. A new window opens, and the game begins. Good luck!
