Comparing different food chains
I can create my own food chains and use scientific language to compare them with others.
- Year 4
Comparing different food chains
I can create my own food chains and use scientific language to compare them with others.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A food chain includes a producer and consumers, including predators and prey.
- Food chains can be compared by looking at what is similar and what is different.
- A plant or animal can be part of many different food chains.
- People who work with and study animals can be used as secondary sources of information about what animals eat.
Keywords
Food chain - A food chain shows how living things depend on each other for food.
Predator - A predator is an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals.
Prey - An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal is called prey.
Compare - We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.
Secondary source - Secondary sources are texts, images or objects created using information gathered by others.
Common misconception
Children may think that a plant or animal can only be part of one food chain.
This lesson shows a number of examples of how plants and animals can be part of many different food chains. Children are encouraged to research and create different food chains for the same plant or animal.
Equipment
Access to secondary sources such as books and the internet. An opportunity to video call someone who works with animals, or arrange a visit or visitor in school would enrich this lesson further.
Content guidance
- Exploration of objects
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do we do when we compare objects?
Q2.What does it mean to look for similarities between objects?
Q3.What does it mean to carry out research?
Q4.True or false? The plants in a food chain are producers.
Q5.True or false? Some producers in a food chain can also be predators.
Q6.Which statement about predators and prey is correct?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.We can food chains by looking at what is similar and what is different.
Q2.Compare these food chains. What is the same about them?
Q3.Compare these food chains. What is different about them?
