Forest Food Web

Learners will consider the various roles of living things in an ecosystem, then create a food web.
Grades: 1-4
Seasons: All
Time: 60 minutes
Supplies: Large piece of paper, pencil.
Resources: Forest Food Web Backgrounder Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan PDF

Introduction:

A forest is an example of an ecosystem, which consists of living and non-living things interacting in an area. A food web follows the pathway of energy and minerals through an ecosystem. Read the Food Web Backgrounder to learn about the roles of producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem. Then make your own food web that shows some of the interactions happening around you.

Directions:

1. Visit a forest, or even just one special tree for inspiration.

2. Generate a list of living things that live in this ecosystem (think about teeny tiny bacteria, little insects and other invertebrates, plants, animals, and fungi).

3. Group the living things on your list into producers, consumers and decomposers.

4. Get a large piece of paper. Write or draw all the species you listed on your paper in an order to show how the sun’s energy is transferred.

5. Draw arrows to show the flow of energy.

Extension:

Research one animal from your food web that interests you and create a poster including what they eat, where they live, and any other interesting facts.

Resources:

Simple Food Web Video


Featured Education Resources

FutureMakers

Grades: 4-7
A set of flexible classroom resources that inspires students as they learn & design for a hope-filled future Read More 

Stories in the Wild: Animal Tracks & Signs

Grades: K-4   |  All Seasons
Bring wildlife tracks to life for your students Read More 
See All Resources