Mountain goats are fascinating animals perfectly adapted to life in rugged terrain. Found primarily in North America's steep, rocky regions, they inhabit areas from Alaska down through Canada to the northern United States, including the Rocky Mountains and parts of the Sierra Nevada. They are known for their exceptional climbing abilities because they have specialized hooves that provide remarkable traction on rocky surfaces. Some parts are hard to provide protection from the brutal, jagged surfaces, while other parts are softer, resembling something like a climbing shoe. Mountain goats can easily scale nearly vertical cliffs, often reaching elevations of over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). Their thick fur and a dense undercoat help them survive harsh, cold environments, while their strong, muscular bodies enable them to navigate challenging landscapes in search of food, such as grasses, shrubs, and mosses. The mountain goat's agility, sure-footedness, and ability to navigate the steepest slopes make them a true symbol of survival in some of the world's most unforgiving environments.

Interestingly, the name mountain goat is a bit of a misnomer because mountain goats are not actually goats. They are more closely related to antelope. This becomes more believable when you watch them traverse a mountainside because they often use a bounding motion that looks very much like an antelope on the grassy plains, except the mountain goats are on rock.

This game is like a mix of Pac-Man tag and the famous board game "Chutes and Ladders." Your students will love mimicking mountain goat movements as they evade predator players! This lesson goes well with biome studies or food webs.

Materials:

• A gym with various sports lines marked on the court

• As many hula hoops as you can get (upwards of 20 if possible)

• Jersey or pinny to highlight the predator player

• A stopwatch or clock

• Minimum Number of Students Needed: While this game could be played with as few as two players, it would be incredibly exhausting after a while. This game works better with an entire class.

• Prior Knowledge: The students should be studying mountain biomes