Animals eat plants or other animals. The way this happens is shown in a food chain.

An animal is a living thing which moves and eats other animals or plants.

A plant is a living thing that often has roots, stem and leaves.

We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.

Comparing food chains

Science

In this Introduction to food chains unit, pupils learnt to use the idea of a simple food chain. In the More about food chains unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey

In the naming and grouping animals and Identifying plants and their basic parts units, pupils learnt to identify and name a variety of common plants and animals. In this Introduction to food chains unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to identify and name plants and animals as sources of food in a food chain

This unit covers how animals obtain food from plants and other animals using simple food chains. It includes identifying and naming different food sources, asking questions, classifying, and gathering and recording data to answer questions about animal diets and food chains.

Introduction to food chains

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Activity that requires collection of items from an area (room, building).

True or false. Animals and plants can only appear in one food chain.

The order that living things depend on each other for food.

The order that living things depend on each other for shelter.

What is the smallest? What is the biggest?

Which questions do scientists ask when they compare?

In this food chain which living thing will be changed if the rabbit is food for a weasel?

When we look at what is the same and what is different in food chains we are...

The ladybird and the spider are the same. The plant is different.

The plant and the ladybird are the same. The spider is different.

The plant is the same. The ladybird and the spider are different.

Alex's food chain shows that a plant is food for a ladybird and a ladybird is food for a spider. He compares it to the food chain that Jacob has made. What is the same? What is different?

What is the role of the lion in this food chain?

Jun wants to make a food chain. He starts with sunflower seeds and then a mouse. What could be next in the food chain?

Sam has made this food chain. Match each living thing to its role.

how animals depend on plants and animals for the food they need to stay alive.

Aisha uses the internet to find out what sharks eat. This is called... 

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Exploration of objects

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Comparing food chains

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.