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.

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

The part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.

To research something is to find out about it, or investigate it carefully.

Roles within 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

Use of equipment that may require supervision for safety, e.g. scissors in KS1, needles, paint, knives, cooking.

Food chains are made up of plants and ...

Izzy is making a food chain and wants to research what lions eat. What could she use to help her?

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

the order of the strength of living things.

A role means the order of plants and animals in a food chain.

A role means the size of the animals in the food chain.

A role means the part that the plant or animal plays in the food chain.

Plants and animals play in an important role in food chains. What is a role?

Some of the greenfly would die and some of the ladybirds would die.

Some of the greenfly would die but all of the ladybirds would survive.

All of the greenfly and the ladybirds would survive.

Look at this food chain. What could happen if there were not enough cabbages for the greenfly to eat?

Manatees eat plants on the seabed around them. This is known as ...

True or false. Animals can survive without food.

In this food chain the greenfly is food for the ...

Put this food chain in the correct order.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

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

Roles within food chains

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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