A printable Africa ecosystems board game and mini-unit where students become wildlife guardians, scientists, and strategists.
Students move animal teams across a painterly Africa map, read real-world wildlife data, and use claim–evidence–reasoning to outsmart hazards and protect endangered species.
Designed for Grades 4–7 and built for Black and Brown students who deserve to see themselves as heroes—not sidekicks.
See NATURA in Action
Watch Riley Walker walk you through how NATURA works in a real classroom—what’s in the download, how to set it up, and how it feels when students are at the board, arguing with evidence instead of staring at another worksheet.
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gH5DFgkgpc
What Is NATURA: Africa Wildlife Challenge?
NATURA is a story-rich classroom board game and mini-unit where students become wildlife guardians crossing Africa. Using real animal data—lifespan, speed, height/length, weight, habitat, prey type, trophic level, and conservation status—teams move animal pawns across a painterly Africa map, dodge hazards and poachers, and race to become the Top Scientists in the class.
Instead of another packet or online program, NATURA invites students into a living world:
- Four animal teams (elephant, honey badger, eagle owl, pouched mouse)
- A map of Africa with hazards, endangered zones, and a risky Migration Route shortcut
- Challenge cards that require real reasoning using the animal data
The game is designed for Grades 4–7, especially for Black and Brown students who deserve to see themselves as scientists, strategists, and protectors—not side characters or problems to be fixed.
What’s Included
When you download NATURA: Africa Wildlife Challenge, you get a full printable game system plus teacher supports:
Core Game Components
- 18″ x 24″ Africa Game Board with outer path, Migration Route, hazard, endangered, and poacher spaces
- Challenge Chart Board for comparing lifespan, speed, height/length, and weight
- Master Reference Board with habitats, prey icons, trophic levels, and color-coded conservation status
- Animal Data Cards (160 total in four decks) with art + data bar
- Hazard & Endangered Cards to simulate drought, habitat loss, human impact, and conservation challenges
- Region Mission Cards tied to specific African regions and land/water/vegetation zones
- Team Pawns & Poacher Pawn (printable tokens for each animal team plus an imposing poacher)
Teacher-Facing PDFs
- 37-page Game Rules & Teacher Guide (core game + advanced rules, sample turn sequences, differentiation tips)
- Teacher Notes & Tips one-pager for quick start
- Printing & Assembly Guide to make prep as simple as possible
- Terms of Use / Licensing Page
Bonus Mini-Game: HIPPO ALERT!
- A fast-play card game using the same animal cards
- 5–15 minute rounds where students race to “Hit the Hippo Alert” card when their animal matches a challenge, then explain their thinking using Claim–Evidence–Reasoning (CER)
- Scoring sheet and prompts that make CER practice quick, playful, and repeatable
(You can link “Printing & Assembly Guide” to that PDF later if you like.)
How NATURA Supports Reading, Science, and Identity
Reading & Writing (Science of Reading–aligned)
- Close reading of animal cards and mission prompts
- Built-in vocabulary for ecosystems, conservation, and data
- Frequent CER practice in both speech and writing
- Fluency support through repeated reading of high-interest text
Science & NGSS Life Science
- Ecosystems and food webs (producers, consumers, decomposers)
- Biodiversity and interdependence
- Human impacts: poaching, habitat loss, conservation choices
- Data reasoning: comparing lifespan, speed, size, and weight to make predictions
SEL, Identity & Agency
Connects naturally to your conversations about leadership, community, and care for the environment
Positions Black and Brown students as protectors and problem-solvers
Builds teamwork, strategic thinking, and empathy for living systems
Ways to Use NATURA in Your Context
NATURA is flexible. Teachers and schools are using it as:
- A 3–5 day mini-unit during a science or literacy block
- A recurring center / station in a reading, science, or STEM rotation
- An enrichment or intervention block for students who need a different way into reading and reasoning
- Family game night or after-school club, especially when paired with the novel Unleashing Greatness: The Kingdom of Shadows
You can start small—one class, one board, one table group—and build from there.
Free Mini-Game: Hippo Alert – CER Toolkit
Want to try a piece of NATURA before diving into the full game?
Hippo Alert – CER Toolkit is a free mini-pack that uses the same animal cards to help students practice Claim–Evidence–Reasoning in short, high-energy bursts. It’s perfect for:
- Warm-ups
- Exit tickets
- Literacy and science centers
- Quick review before state testing
👉 [Download the Free Hippo Alert – CER Toolkit] https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/NATURA-Hippo-Alert-CER-Toolkit-FREE-Ecosystems-Mini-Game-Grades-47-15040728
For Schools & Pilot Programs
NATURA is part of the larger Unleashing Greatness curriculum ecosystem, which includes:
- A culturally anchored fantasy novel for Grades 4–7
- Student workbooks and teacher’s guides
- Visual storytelling posters and NAEP-style reading tasks
- Parent Playbook and home reading tools
If you’re a principal, coach, or district leader interested in a 6–8 week literacy + science pilot that includes the novel, workbooks, NATURA, Hippo Alert, and implementation support, you can reach out here:
📩 [Contact / info@unleashinggreatnessedu.org