Predators, Prey and Food Chains
KS 1, 2, First, Second, Stage.
Ages 5 - 11
DURATION: 45 mins - 55 mins
OVERVIEW: Food chains are a very delicate balance - each species is dependent on the others around it. If the balance becomes upset, drastic things can happen!
This workshop looks at feeding connections (what-eats-what) in an ecological community. We examine herbivores, carnivores and omnivores and learn how to classify non-living and living things. Pupils discover where energy comes from and how the consumer resource system can cause the disruption of a foodweb.
Learning Outcomes
All children will understand key words, such as ‘predator’, ' prey ', ‘carnivores’, ‘herbivores’ and ‘omnivores.’
Most children will be able to explain that energy is passed up a food chain.
Some children will understand the interdependence between animals in a food web and how humans can affect it.
You'll get to meet some of these animals:
All workshops include:
Free pre-lesson resources and teaching packs!
“Joey was fun, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The children responded to him very well, and he was very flexible towards the different year groups' needs. He was especially sensitive to the two SEN sessions we requested. The teachers mentioned how approachable and calm he was, with the children responding really well, even those who do not normally respond. Parents have also given feedback on how excited and passionate their children were when they returned home.”
Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard
What is a food chain?
A food chain shows the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem as a food source for energy!
All food chains start with a producer - a producer is an organism that makes its own food, i.e plants (they get their energy from the sun). A living thing that eats a producer or another living thing is called a consumer.
A food chain shows how organisms are related to each other by the food they eat. Predators eat multiple different types of prey - this results in multiple food chains joining together to create a food web.
Changes in an ecosystem can disrupt a food chain; adjustments to one population will have a knock-on effect along the entire chain. This can be caused by climate change, natural disasters, human interference and disease.
Curriculum Outcomes England & Wales
Curriculum Outcomes Scotland
