Food Chains and Webs

Unit 1: Food Chains & Webs

In our first unit we will be learning about food chains and webs, taking care of our class lizards, and going on a field trip to Blackwater Refuge.

Food  Chain

 A food chain shows how each living organism gets its food.  It shows who is eating who.  A food chain only follows one path as animals find food.  Remember that a food chain also includes the sun.

Food      Webs

 A food web is made of several food chains connected together.  A food web shows the many different paths plants and animals are connected. 

Additional Vocabulary to Know

Adaptation	Special body feature or behavior that helps an organism stay alive.
Bacteria	Single-celled living organisms found almost everywhere on Earth.
Camouflage	Coloring or covering that makes animals, people, and objects look like their surroundings.
Carnivore	Consumer that eats only animals.  Carnivores only eat meat.
Chlorophyll	The green substance in plants that uses light to make food from carbon dioxide and water.
Conclusion	To make a decision or realize an idea based on the facts that you have.
Consumer	Organism that eats other organisms in a food chain.
Control group	In an experiment, this is the group that is not tested.
Decay	The breaking down of plant or animal matter by natural causes.
Decompose	To rot or break down.
Decomposer	Organism that feeds on and breaks down dead organisms.
Dissect	To cut apart an animal or a human body so as to examine it.
Diversity	The number of different species in an area.
Ecosystem	All the interacting living and nonliving things in one area.
Endangered	In danger of becoming extinct.
Experiment	A scientific test to try out a theory or to see the effect of something.
Experimental Group	In an experiment, this is the group that is tested.
Extinct	Species that has disappeared from Earth.
Fungi	A plantlike organism that has no leaves, flowers, roots, or chlorophyll.  For example, a mushroom.
Green anole	A small lizard with the ability to change color.
Habitat	The area in which an organism lives.
Herbivore	Consumer that eats only plants.
Nutrients	Things in food that organisms need to live.
Omnivore	Consumer that eats either plants or animals.
Organism	A living thing.
Pellet	A hard, small ball.  In an owl the pellet is what the owl coughs up that it can’t digest.
Population	All the members of a species living in one area.
Predator	Animal that kills and eats other animals.
Prey	Animal that is killed and eaten by other animals.
Primary Consumers	Animals that only eat plant matter.  They are herbivores.  Examples: rabbits, caterpillars, cows, sheep, and deer.
Producers	Organism that makes its own food and serves as a source of food for other organisms.  Usually a green plant that produces its own food through photosynthesis.
Scavenger	Consumer that eats dead plants or animals.
Secondary Consumers	Animals that eat primary consumers (herbivores).  Examples: fox, owl, and snake.
Species	Group of organisms that are the same.
Terrarium	A glass or plastic container for growing small plants or raising small land animals.
Variable	In an experiment, what is changed.

Examples of Herbivores

Examples of Carnivores

Examples of Omnivores

Examples of Scavengers

Examples of Decomposers

 Our class will be taking care of a type of lizard called a green anole.  We will maintain a terrarium and learn how green anoles fit into a food chain.  To learn more about green anoles go to "Green Anoles" below.  Check your knowledge of green anoles by printing out and completing the "Green Anole Crossword" below.

 Click on Blackwater Refuge to learn about the refuge before our field trip.  You can also become a Junior Refuge Manager!  Print out the "Blackwater Junior Refuge Manager" paper below.  Answer the questions and bring in your project to school.

 To watch a video about Food Chains.

 To create a Food Chain.

 To practice Food Webs.

 To watch a video about decompers.

 To learn more about Food Chains.

 To play a game to test your knowledge of what living organisms need.

 To read an online book about the forest habitat.

 To read an online book about the rainforest habitat.

 To read an online book about the desert habitat.

 To read an online book about animals.

 To read an online book about why animals live in nests.

 To read an online book about why animals live in caves.

 To read an online book about why animals live in burrows.

Food Chains and Webs Unit Student Packet (docx file)

Food Chains and Webs Reading (docx file)

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