Montana State University
Everest Extremes: Biodiversity
How many animals can live in a climate as cold as Mount Everest's? Find out with a science lesson plan all about biodiversity. Activities include research, presentations, group work, coloring maps, and a simulation of a food web.
Scholastic
Minibeasts
Lead young scientists to discover insects outdoors. After investigating, students will record observations, learn about these fascinating creatures, craft, and role play.
National Wildlife Federation
Plants and Animals of the Arctic
The Arctic food web may be more limited than other environments, but it has all the same components. With an interactive activity, pupils assume the roles of the components of an Arctic food chain. They move around and link themselves to...
Curated OER
Everybody Needs a Little Sunshine
Three activities introduce upper elementary ecologists to photosynthesis and food webs. In the first, an experiment is set up to determine how plants respond to different types of light. In the second, they connect organism cards with...
Curated OER
What Effect Does Climate Have on Wildlife?
Students explore the international scope of climate change. They identify variables that cause changes in the climate. Students examine how changes in climate affect the food chain.
Michigan Sea Grant
Food Chains and Webs
Starting with a simple food chain, young scientists interpret the difference and interrelatedness between herbivores, carnivores and producers. They answer questions related to cause and effect of food chain disruptions, including the...
Michigan Sea Grant
Food Web II
A food web consists of complex food chains and the more complex the web, the better likelihood of survival. Learners compare and contrast food webs and food chains and discuss concepts like the predator-prey and consumer-producer...
Curated OER
Food Webs
Students investigate the concept of an ecosystem and how they are interconnected according to a hierarchy. Students are exposed to the "Lion King" as an example of a food chain and this is very relevant. They answer several key...
Curated OER
Food Chains and Food Webs
Students discuss the characteristics of producers, consumers and decomposers. Using a flow chart, they construct a food chain to visually show how organisms with different energy sources depend upon one another. Students explore a...
Curated OER
Food Chains
Fourth graders investigate food chains. They review cycles and discuss ecosystems. They select an environment and create a food chain in small groups. They write their food chain and label it for the class to evaluate. They create...
Curated OER
Food Chains and Webs--- "What's for dinner?"
Students study food chains and how the organisms are linked. In this investigative worksheet students answer food chain questions, and fill out several worksheets.
PBS
All Tangled Up
It is a tangled web the ecosystem weaves. Learners begin an activity on ecosystem interactions by building a food chain and then a food web with yarn as a group. To finish, they research local environmental changes that may impact the...
It's About Time
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Emerging biochemists more fully understand the flow of energy in ecosystems as they explore the laws of thermodynamics and relate them to energy transfer in food chains. They also investigate heat loss from the human body and how...
Biology Junction
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
Every living thing requires a food source, thus the interconnections in ecosystems become complex. Scholars learn about these interconnections in a presentation on energy flow. It starts with the sun and moves through many different...
Curated OER
Food Chain/Food Web
Young scholars explore ecosystems. In this ecology lesson, students read an article explaining ecosystems. Young scholars create a visual organizer with index cards using components of various ecosystems.
Curated OER
The Frog and the Ol' Black Fly
Students explore frogs. In this cross curriculum literacy and frogs instructional activity, students predict the plot and then listen to the book The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner. Students define "predator" and identify...
Curated OER
The Salmon Stream and Vegetation
Students explore the ecosystem and food chain by researching Pacific Salmon. In this fish habitat lesson, students discover the life cycle for salmon, where they spawn and what they eat to survive the harsh elements. Students participate...
Curated OER
Food Chains & Food Webs
Students examine the concepts of food chains and food webs. They trace back common food chains found in nature, demonstrate the interdependence of organisms through a food webbing activity, and analyze the flow of the food chain of a...
Curated OER
Arctic Food Web
Students research animals found in the arctic. They discuss what living things need in order to survive and where they get their food. Students discuss the difference between producers and consumers and create a food web for animals in...
Curated OER
Create a Food Chain
Students explore the food chain and the ways that animals depend on each other and on plants for food. They create a paper chain with different colors relating to carnivores and herbivores. The chains are linked to the sun to create a...
Curated OER
Food Webs
Students research rainforest animals and use that information to make a flow chart to show the order in which energy is transferred through several organisms. They label the producers, consumers, and decomposers in their chart.
Curated OER
Food Webs
Students create a bulletin board display illustrating food chains they make from a list of ocean organisms. Students also play a game showing what happens when one of the organisms is removed from the food chain and how they are all...
Curated OER
Forest Food Web Activity
Students gain knowledge of food webs and ecological interconnections in the forest, and place different life forms in their proper place in a food chain. Students appreciate the balance of nature and how humans are affected by extinct...
