LESSON PLANS—HONORS
Food Chains and Food Webs
Objective: ACOS
13 Trace the energy flow as it decrease through the trophic levels from
producers to the quarternary level in food chains, food webs, and energy
pyramids.
13b Contrasting autotrophs/heterotroph
13c
Describing the niche of decomposers
ACT QUALITY CORE: Explain how energy flows through ecosystems in one
direction, from photosynthetic organisms to herbivores to carnivores and
decomposers
Diagram flow of energy using food webs, food chains, and pyramids (e.g.
pyramid of energy, pyramid of biomass, pyramid of numbers)
ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the amount of energy that flows through
an ecosystem relate to the trophic levels?
LEARNING TARGET: I can identify and relate ecological terminology to food chains in an
ecosystem.
BEFORE: (Strategy: Flash Cards)
A. Define/Create a concept for the following terms on notecards (definition on back at the
bottom of card with a concept example.
1. Ecology
11. Carnivore
2. Population
12. Omnivore
3. Community
13. Detritivore
4. Ecosystem
14. Decomposer
5. Biome
15. Trophic level
6. Biosphere
16. Food chain
7. Species
17. Food web
8. Autotroph
18. Energy pyramid
9. Heterotroph
10. Herbivore
B. Graphic Organizer
ECOLOGY
PRODUCERS
CONSUMERS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
CELLULAR RESPIRATION
PHOTOAUTOTROPHS
GREEN PLANTS
HETEROTROPHS
CHEMOSYNTHESIS
CHEMOAUTOTROPHS
FOOD WEB
DECOMPOSERS
FOOD CHAINS
BACTERIA
HERBIVORES
CARNIVORES
OMNIVORE
PLANT EATER
MEAT EATER
EAT BOTH
EQ: Trophic levels represent feeding levels with energy being passed from
producers to consumers. Energy from each food level is used for metabolic
processes so that only 10% of the energy in the food level is available for the
next level.
DURING: (STRATEGY: QUICK WRITE)
C.Using the aquatic food web, figure 3-8, choose one of the food chains and write a
paragraph describing the feeding relationships among the organisms in the food chain. Use
the terms producers, consumers, and decomposition in your description.
1. CRITICAL THINKING: Draw an energy pyramid for a five-step food chain.
2. If 100% of the energy is available at the first trophic level, what percentage of the total
energy is available at the highest trophic level?
LEARNING TARGET: I can create food chains and food webs showing the
niches of the given organisms.
AFTER
D. Food Web/Food Chains (STRATEGY: COOPERATIVE GROUPS)
1. Food Web Activity
2. Students will complete the food web activity.
a. Using the cards, the students will create 5 food chains.
b. Using the arrows, show the pathway of food chains that will create a food web to interlock
the food chains.
3. Complete the activity protocol sheet of analysis questions.
E. Discussion
1. What powers the energy flow through an ecosystem? (Sun)
2. Which trophic level organisms can only occupy one niche? (producers and herbivores
primary consumers)
3. How many trophic levels are usually found in a food chain? (4)
HOMEWORK
Pre-read notes, Chapter 3, Section 3
F.
Carbon Cycle: As you read, complete the graphic organizer on the carbon cycle identifying
the processes as where carbon is incorporated and where carbon is released.
1. Identify each process as bio, geo, chemical, or mix of processes.
2. Sequence the events of the carbon cycle on land and in the ocean.
G.
Print Carbon Passport Procedure and Student Data Sheet