Food Chains: Simple or Complex?

Students model the food chain. In this lesson, students play a game resembling checkers that simulates the food chain within the ocean. Students make changes to the game to better represent how the food chain operates.

What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective after...

Jump into an exploration of marine ecosystems with the first lesson in this four-part series. After first learning about crustaceans, mollusks, and other forms of sea life, young marine biologists view a PowerPoint presentation that...

Students examine a diagram on a complex food web.  In this food chain lesson students answer questions on the flow of energy in an ecosystem. 

It's a jungle out there! Young biologists journey to Darien, Panama to examine the intricate relationships between the organisms that inhabit the jungle. Groups begin by demonstrating an understanding of energy flow in ecosystems, then...

Young scientists explore the interdependence of organisms with this simple life science activity. Using the provided template, students create and label tiered pyramids that model the hierarchy of trophic levels in ecosystems.

McDonald's is my favorite food chain. The ninth installment of 20 introduces classes to food chains. Learners explore simple food chains, identifying organisms at each level, and learn the words producer and consumer. 

When a minnow eats a piece of plastic, that garbage often tracks through multiple animals, causing harm to each as it passes through the food chain. Scholars learn about food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids with a presentation. It...

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...

Students explain the main concepts of food webs and food chains. They describe the role of animals, plants, and other organisms in cycling energy and matter through a food web by creating mobiles. Lesson contains adaptations for all levels.