A food chain shows how living things depend on each other for food.

The population is the total number of something living in a particular area in a particular period of time.

The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.

Animals or plants that have died out completely are extinct.

An endangered plant or animal is one that is at risk of becoming extinct.

Changes in food chains (non-statutory)

Science

In this More about food chains unit, pupils learn to identify producers, predator and prey in a food chain. In the Why we group and classify living things unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn that living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences

In the Introduction to food chains unit, pupils learnt to use the idea of a simple food chain to identify and name different sources of food. In this More about food chains unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to construct and interpret a variety of food chains

This unit involves constructing and interpreting food chains and identifying producers, predators, and prey. It focuses on asking questions, gathering and presenting data, recording findings with diagrams and charts, and using scientific evidence to answer questions and support findings.

More about food chains

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

True or false? This food chain means that one cabbage is food for one greenfly, which is food for one ladybird.

A change to one living thing can affect other living things in a food chain.

A change to one living thing doesn't affect other living things in a food chain.

A change to one living thing only affects the producer in a food chain.

A change to one living thing only affects the consumers in a food chain.

True or false? A dramatic decrease in the population of a plant or animal can have a negative effect on the food chain.

True or false? A dramatic increase in the population of a plant or animal can have a negative effect on the food chain.

The population size of orangutans is becoming very small. How would we describe this population?

Changes in food chains may lead to animals and plants dying out completely and becoming {{}}.

A caterpillar eating a plant is an example of ...

A blue tit eating a caterpillar is an example of ...

Which living thing in this food chain is both a predator and prey?

The surroundings that an animal or plant lives in.

The place where a plant or animal lives is called its {{}}.

What does it mean if a plant or animal has become extinct?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

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

Changes in food chains (non-statutory)

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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