Here's a predator-prey simulation game that I got from Queen's University (Canada) Science Teacher Resources page and modified.
Simulations are always tricky, and depend on students following some rather complex and precise rules, having the patience and focus to go through multiple generations of a process, keeping meticulous records along the way, engaging in the spirit of the exercise rather than looking for loopholes to get it over with, and being willing to start over when they realize they've made a big mistake - that's a lot of conditions for a group of 9th/10th grade kids to adhere to.
To make matters worse, there are two simulations that follow similar patterns, but are just different enough that I can't combine them, so the kids have to endure two tedious simulations during the year. One is this predator-prey game, the other is the natural selection game, which of course involves a predator-prey relationship, but examines changes in the frequency of a particular characteristic - visual acuity or camouflage - in the two populations. I'll write about that one later. Here's my version of the predator-prey simulation. I bought some "poker chips" to use for the rabbits, because the paper was just such a mess.
Predator-Prey Population Dynamics Lab
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