Predators and prey in a food chain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and name predators and prey in food chains.
Key learning points
- An animal that eats mostly meat or the flesh of other animals is a carnivore.
- A predator is an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals.
- Some animals do not have any predators of their own. These animals are at the top of a food chain.
- An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal is called prey.
- Many animals are both predator and prey.
Keywords
Food chain - A food chain shows how living things depend on each other for food.
Consumer - A consumer in a food chain is an animal which eats other animals or plants.
Carnivore - A carnivore is an animal that eats meat or the flesh of animals.
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.
Common misconception
Pupils often think that all animals in a food chain are predators, or that all carnivores are predators.
Some animals can be carnivores but not predators. These animals are scavengers because they eat meat from animals they have found or that have been killed by other animals.
Teacher tip
Pupils often do not know what plant or animal is food for another animal. It will be useful to have books / access to the internet so that pupils may carry out simple research to extend the food chains provided in the examples.
Equipment
Pupils may wish to draw their food chains so will need access to pens, pencils, rulers and paper.
Content guidance
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.Which of these shows a food chain?
Q2.What is wrong with this food chain?
Q3.Which living thing is the producer in this food chain?
Q4.Which living thing could be next in this food chain?
Q5.What is a consumer in a food chain?
Q6.Which living things are consumers in this food chain?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A __________ is an animal that only eats meat or the flesh of other animals.
Q2.A is the name for an animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals.
Q3.Which of these animals do not have any predators of their own?
Q4.What do we call the end of the food chain furthest away from the producer?
Q5.What is the name for an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal?
Q6.Which living thing in this food chain is a predator and prey?
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Predators and prey in a food chain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Predators and prey in a food chain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the More about food chains unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.