Unit 6A: Interdependence and adaptation Section 6: Food chains
Objectives
Children should learn:
that food chains can be used to represent feeding relationships in a habitat
that food chains begin with a plant (the producer)
Activities
Outcomes
Children:
Remind children of earlier work on food chains and present children with information eg from their information cards about the animals and plants in a local habitat, or in another habitat, together with information about what the animals eat. Ask children to construct food chains and to explain to each other what they mean. Elicit children's understanding of the terms 'producer' and 'consumer'.
construct a food chain eg rosebush - greenfly - ladybird and explain it eg this means the greenflies feed on the rosebush and the ladybirds feed on the greenflies
explain why plants are essential to food chains eg plants grow using air and water, they don't eat other things
Points to note
It may be helpful to refer to everyday uses of the words 'producer' and 'consumer' and use these as analogies. Plants 'produce' food for animals which 'consume' etc.
Children may be aware that there are some insect-eating plants. However, few plants feed in this way.
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activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by
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