In this activity students are going to demonstrate their understanding of the transfer of energy between living things by creating different food chains. The arrows in the food chain represent the flow of energy and also the transfer of matter. Remind students that all food chains start with energy from the Sun. In most food chains, this energy is converted to glucose by photosynthesizing green plants.
The instructions provided in the assignment use the first four food chains listed below, and can be edited as needed.
Extend this activity by providing students with a habitat and having them research food chains in these habitats! This is a great way for students to see how animals have adapted to the habitat in which they live. After completing this activity, students can have the opportunity to evaluate their models. Lead students through the strengths and limitations of the models giving them an opportunity to make suggestions for improvements.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Show your understanding of food chains by reordering the following plants and animals into food chains. Remember to use arrows to show the flow of energy.
Get students moving by creating a food chain scavenger hunt around your classroom or schoolyard. Prepare cards or images representing different organisms (like plants, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers). Hide them in various locations and have students find and physically arrange themselves into accurate food chains. This hands-on activity reinforces concepts and energizes learners!
Set clear expectations before starting. Show students how to read clues and arrange the cards in order, always starting with energy from the Sun. Demonstrate by walking through a simple example, so everyone understands how to connect each organism using arrows to represent energy flow.
Break students into small groups for teamwork. Assign roles such as 'card finder,' 'arranger,' and 'recorder' to ensure everyone participates. This encourages collaboration and helps students take ownership of the activity.
Guide students to explain their food chains and the reasoning behind each link. Ask guiding questions like, 'Why does the arrow point this way?' and 'What would happen if one organism disappeared?' This deepens understanding and helps students think critically about energy flow.
Encourage students to connect classroom findings to local habitats or ecosystems. Ask them to research a food chain in your community or region, or to imagine how humans fit into different food webs. This makes learning relevant and helps students see the importance of food chains in the real world.
A food chain is a sequence that shows how energy moves from one living thing to another through eating. It starts with the Sun, then passes to plants, and continues through various animals, with arrows showing the direction of energy flow.
Guide students to reorder plants and animals into logical food chains, starting with the Sun and using arrows to show energy transfer. Encourage them to label each organism and use images for visual support.
Simple examples include: Sun → Grass → Caterpillar → Sparrow → Hawk and Sun → Tree → Squirrel → Fox. These show clear steps and are easy for students to understand and model.
All food chains start with the Sun because it provides the energy that plants use to make food through photosynthesis. This energy then moves through the rest of the food chain.
Strengths: Food chain models help students visualize energy flow and relationships. Limitations: They simplify real ecosystems and may not show all the complex connections found in nature.