Task 2: Build a Food Chain
For Task 2, you will learn how living things are connected by what they eat and what eats them. First, you will research and learn about food chains, then you will build your own food chain and explain how the living things are connected.
Understanding Food Chains: Part 1
A food chain shows how food and energy passes from one living thing to another in a habitat.
There are many different food chains.
Go to the following website and read about Food Chains. Click the arrow on the bottom and continue to read. Be sure to take notes in your science notebook and write down vocabulary words.
Answer the following questions in your science notebook:
There are many different food chains.
Go to the following website and read about Food Chains. Click the arrow on the bottom and continue to read. Be sure to take notes in your science notebook and write down vocabulary words.
Answer the following questions in your science notebook:
- Why are green plants called producers?
- Why are animals considered consumers?
- What is an herbivore? carnivore? omnivore?
Understanding Food Chains: Part 2
Watch the Brain Pop video: Brain Pop Video: Food Chains (Ask your teacher for the school Log In)
Answer these questions in your science notebook:
Answer these questions in your science notebook:
- Are plants always at the bottom of the food chain?
- You learned that plants are considered producers in a food chain and animals are considered consumers. What is the difference between these roles?
- How do plants grow? How do animals grow?
- What is the source of energy for plants?
- What are the sources of energy and thus growth for animals?
- Complete the following sentence: Food chains always start with ___________________________________ .
- What do the arrows in a food chain show?
- What is the importance of a food chain?
Build Your Own Food Chain
Check out some different food chains by clicking on the links below:
Fun with Food Webs
Food Chain Game
When you are finished, open up the following worksheet: PDF file Food Chain Cards
Fun with Food Webs
Food Chain Game
When you are finished, open up the following worksheet: PDF file Food Chain Cards
- Cut apart the cards.
- Create as many food chains as you can.
- Select one food chain and paste the cards in your notebook. Remember to use arrows and to show the direction of the energy. Remember to draw in the energy that plants need to make food (the sun!).
- Label the diagram with the following vocabulary words: producer, consumer, prey, predator, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore
- Describe how your food chain works.