WHO EATS WHO - EXPLORING FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS BIOLOGY STAGE 4

Introduction

LIVING WORLD

Every living things on Earth depends upon other living things in order to stay alive. Living things also depends on the sun for the energy to stay alive.  Scientists have studied different habitats- places of a similar climate, vegetation, and animal life- and found how the animals and plants are linked in a "chain" of life.  You are one of those scientists' students.  You and the scientists have signed up to learn about the food chains and food webs that exists in an Australian ecosystem. Your job is to learn where the animals and plants fit in this habitat. Who Eats Whom? Explore the food chains and foodwebs that exist on this ecosystem.

 

Task

Your task on this expedition will be to learn all you can about food chains, the plants and animals that are native to this island so that you and the scientists can determine the various food chains that exist here.  Your job will be to work with your group to research and write information in a word doc. Also create food chains and food webs using a number of websites given.

REMEMBER!

 At the end of the lesson you will take up group quizzes! 

Process

  Now you and your group will begin to research your chosen habitat's food chains and webs.  From your research you will write a report of information using a word processing program that answers the following questions:

  

  1. Choose roles for the members of your group.  Roles include:

 

RESEARCHERS

Use Internet web sites to find information related to your team's food chain and read the information to the team.

RECORDERS

Record important information found to answer your team's questions.

INFORMATION PROCESSORS

Enter information in to a word doc.

EDITORS

Edit and revise food chain reports and projects.

ILLUSTRATORS

Create food chains and food webs

PRESENTERS

Share your group's findings with the other groups.

 

2. Now you and your group will begin to research your chosen habitat's food chains and webs.  From your research you will write a report of information using a word processing program that answers the following questions:

Questions

Resources

A.  What is a food chain?

http://education.nationalgeographic.com.au/encyclopedia/food-web/  

http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm

This site will explain the basic facts about food chains.

 

B.  Definitions

Find the definitions for the following words and terms:  energy, producer, consumer, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, predator, food web, prey, decomposers, habitat, community.  Use the following sites for definitions:

http://planetpals.com/foodchain.html 

http://thefreedictionary.com/food+chain 

http://www.slideshare.net/sth215/food-chains-and-food-webs-259481 

 

 

 3. Now that you have researched about food chains,and food webs it's time to see if you can make some food chains and food webs. Click on the following sites and do the activities! 

ACTIVITY 1

Create your own food web! 

 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/line_experiment14.swf



ACTIVITY 2

Build food chains
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/science/hamshall/food_chains/   

REMINDER

RESEARCHED INFO GOES TO THE WORD DOC! 

Evaluation

 

 Group Check List

* Did the group work as a cooperative unit, sharing the responsibilities of the mission?

* Did the group use all of the suggested Web site resources?

 *As a group did you do the listed activities?

 *Did your group research all the animals and plants that live in the chosen habitat so that you  could create possible food chains/web?

 *Did you use a word processing application to write, edit, and revise your  research?

MARKING RUBRIC

 

1

2

3

4

Works cooperatively with others in a group.

Rarely provides useful ideas when participating in the group.  May refuse to participate.

Sometimes provides useful ideas when participating in the group.  Provides work that occasionally needs to be checked/redone by other group members to ensure quality.

Focuses on the task and what needs to be done most of the time. Usually listens to, shares with, and supports others in the group.

Actively suggests solutions to problems.

provides useful ideas and high quality work when participating in group projects

Uses Internet web sites to locate information about food chains and habitats.

Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested Internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.

Occasionally able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Usually able to use suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.

Successfully uses suggested Internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance

Plans a possible food chain/web for your chosen habitat

Includes a description of the habitat, the native animals and plants.  Cannot make a simple food chain.

Includes a description of the habitat, native plants and animals, a simple description of a food chain based on limited research.

 

Includes a  detailed description of the habitat, many animals and plant life that can be found, creates a good  food chain from more extensive research.

Includes a more advanced and  detailed description of the habitat, gives an annotated description of the food chain as well as pictures, all based on extensive research.
Conclusion