Food chains shows how energy is transferred as one organism eats another. They form a linear sequence from producers, to consumers (herbivores, omnivores and carnivores) to decomposers. Arrows indicate the direction that energy flows. Food webs provide a more realistic illustration of the complex network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

This resource is a PowerPoint presentation lesson which includes everything you need to teach children in KS2 about food chains and food webs. It is complete with:

√ Learning objective
√ Success criteria
√ Starter and plenary activities
√ Review of relevant prior learning
√ Teaching input/ information slides
√ Differentiated consolidation tasks (3 levels)
√ Extension & application tasks
√ All answer slides

Learning Objective:
LO: To explain how food webs show the transfer of energy

Success Criteria:
I can distinguish between producers and consumers.
I can distinguish between predators and prey.
I can distinguish between herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.
I can identify the source of energy in a food chain.
I can explain how energy is transferred through a food chain.
I can create food chains and food webs.

Vocabulary: producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, quinary consumer, decomposer, photosynthesis, energy, source, carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, predator, prey, apex predator, food chain, food web, ecosystem

Consolidation & extension tasks: match ups, draw on the arrows, sorting tasks, labelling tasks, correct the mistake tasks, complete the food chain tasks, question & answer tasks, fill in the blanks, identification tasks, create your own food chain tasks

This lesson is also suitable for being delivered remotely through online learning with some slight adaptations. It could combine very well with platforms such as Pear Deck and Nearpod.