Introduction
All living things depend upon other living things in order to stay alive. Animals and plants use energy from the things they eat in order to carry out daily activities. All living things are connected by a chain linking them to the food they eat and the things that eat them. This webquest will teach you more about food chain and the specific names, characteristics, and features of different parts of the food chain.
Task
You are a new living thing. You don't know what to eat or how you get your energy and you don't know what eats you! You need to know your role and place on the food chain if you want to survive. In this webquest you will learn about the different parts of food chains and how they are linked to one another. In the end, you will pick an animal or plant and help it survive by describing it's place and role on it's food chain using a poster or prezi and presenting it to the class.
The final project should contain details and pictures of the living thing and labels about what level it is on the food chain. It should illustrate the relationship between it and the levels above and below it including examples of both its' prey and predator. It should also categorize the living thing according to what types of food it eats.
Process
1.What is a food chain? Today you will learn about the basic structure of a food chain. Use the resources under Day 1 to fill out the food chain structure worksheet! Begin thinking about what animal or plant you want to choose for the final project.
2. Today you will learn more specifically about producers and consumers. Read the articles and watch the videos under Day 2 to learn more about the role of producers and consumers in the food chain. As you work, use the information to fill in the venn-diagram. Test your knowledge at the end by playing the producer, consumer, decomposer game. Remember to write down what living thing you will research for the final project and write down what it is on the top of your venn- diagram when you hand it in.
3. Decomposers, Predators, and Prey- Today you will learn how decomposers contribute to the food chain. You will also learn about predators and prey. When you finish reading the articles and watching the films under Day 3, begin doing you research and filling in the worksheet on your living thing for you final project.
4. Herbivore, Carnivore, and Omnivore are different ways of categorizing animals. Today you will learn the last way we characterize animals on a food chain. Use the resources under Day 4 to learn what these terms mean and examples of the different types. When you finish think about what category your living thing fits under. Continue to research and add information to your food chain final project.
Evaluation
| # | Needs Improvement 2 | Meets Expectations 6 | Exceeds Expectations 10 | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relationships on the food chain | Does not show the relationship between the living thing and its' prey or predators. Does not label or use arrows to describe the relationships. | Shows the relationship between the living thing and its' prey and predators. Gives an example of each species below and above it. Uses labels and arrows to illustrate its' food chain. Use the terms producer, consumer, decomposer, prey, and predator. | Shows the relationship between the living thing and its' prey and predators. Gives multiple examples of each species below and above it. Uses labels and arrows to illustrate its' food chain. Use the terms producer, consumer, decomposer, prey, and predator. | ||
| Omnivore, Carnivore, Herbivore | Does not categorize animals according to what they eat | Use the terms omnivore, carnivore, and herbivore appropriately | Use the terms omnivore, carnivore, and herbivore appropriately and gives explanations showing they understand what the terms mean | ||
| Visual Appeal | Looks messy and unorganized, Does not contain labels, arrows, or pictures | Neat, organized, contains labels or arrows and some pictures | Neat, organized, contains labels, arrows, and multiple pictures |
Conclusion
Congratulations you have helped your animal or plant survive. It now knows what it eats to get its energy and how to avoid its predators!
Teacher Page
This WebQuest is designed to help students learn about food chains which coincides with the Virginia SOL 3.5
3.5 The student will
investigate and understand relationships among organisms in aquatic and
terrestrial food chains.
Key concepts include:
a)
producer, consumer, decomposer
b)
herbivore, carnivore, omnivore
c)
predator and prey.