What is a Food Chain?

This lesson includes key question prompt sheets for class discussion, an activity involving student movement, followed by food chain cards for students to create their own food chains. This lesson is easy to follow and includes printable materials. The students draw their own pictures in the cards.

Weblink address (URL):

What is a Food Chain?

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

Learning Intention:

Understand that plants and animals in a habitat are dependent on each other

Essential and guiding questions:

Questions:

What is a food chain?
Which plants/ animals do we eat?
Which animals are at the top/ bottom of the food chain? Why?
What would happen if our food chain was damaged?
Are all animals in the food chain?
What does a consumer do?
What would happen if there were more animals at the top?
What does a producer do?
What would happen if predators died out?
Which part of the food chain is the most important?
Which part of the food chain wold you like to be in? Why?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials:

Post-its
1 labelled sun
10 Labelled plant (include berries and nuts etc.)
8 labelled insect/caterpillar
2 labelled Blue Tit (eats insects, caterpillars and seeds)
2 labelled Robin (eats insects and seeds)
2 labelled mouse (eats plants)
1 labelled Fox (eats mice)
1 labelled Sparrowhawk (eats mice and small birds)
(Add a few more if you need to - more at the bottom end of the food chain- plants and insects)
Key Question sheet
Blank activity food chain sheet
“Is eaten by” arrow cards

References

Contributors:

Originator:

Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation

eduToolbox® is a resource-sharing portal developed by the Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation with collaborative support and funding from the Tennessee Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education's Math & Science Partnership program.