Science 7
Food Web Project
Name:______________________
Assignment:
Choose your favourite (or least favourite) animal from the list below. How many different “food
chains” can you place your animal in? You may be surprised at how many different inter-linking chains
you will find. These inter-linking food chains are called a “FOOD WEB”: a pictorial representation of the
feeding relationships among organism in an ecosystem. In this project you will identify different “food
chains” and then construct a “FOOD WEB” representing the relationship between non-living and living
components that are directly related to your favourite or (least favourite) animal chosen from the
approved list.
FOOD WEB Part I
1. Choose: on a separate sheet of paper label the animal of your choice
2. Brainstorm: think about all the different animals and plants that exist in the ecosystem of the
animal of choice. Neatly write as many of them as you can down on a sheet of paper. Label this
section “brainstorming.”
3. On a separate area on your sheet of paper divide all of the animals from your “brainstorming”
section into Herbivore, Omnivore, and Carnivore. Make sure the list is under the appropriate
heading and that they are separated. Label this section “feeding roles”.
4. In an additional section develop as many “food chains”, using a minimum of three (3) links
(excluding the sun – do not include in your number of links), as you can use ALL the organisms
listed in your “feeding roles” section. DO NOT link the chains together here; this will be done
when you create your “FOOD WEB”.
FOOD WEB Part II – Design a “FOOD WEB” poster interlinking your “Food Chains”
1. You must include an image of the SUN as the starting point for all FOOD WEBS
2. You must include a minimum of three (3) Producers LINKED to the sun.
3. You must include a minimum of three (3) “Primary Consumers” LINKED to the Producers
4. You must include a minimum of three (3) “Secondary Consumers” LINKED to the Primary
Consumers
5. You must include a minimum of one (1) “Tertiary Consumer” LINKED to the Secondary
Consumers
6. You must include a minimum of one (1) “Decomposer” Linked correctly to the FOOD WEB
7. You must be Creative and Neat
8. A colour coded legend and identification system showing each feeding level. The colour code
must show respective roles (i.e. all producers have a green legend I.D. and a green background)
Types of producers and consumers:
1. Primary producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical
energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are
called autotrophs.
2. Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also
called herbivores (plant-eaters).
3. Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. They are carnivores (meat-eaters)
and omnivores (animals that eat both animals and plants).
4. Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers.
5. Quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers.
6. Food chains "end" with top predators, animals that have little or no natural enemies.
FOOD WEB Part III – Discussion Questions. Answer on a separate sheet of paper using proper
grammar, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation. Make sure you re-write the questions before
you answer them, and make sure that your answers are in COMPLETE SENTENCES. (10 marks)
1. What types of things are commonly found at the start of every food chain? (2 marks)
2. Do any of your food chains have more than three (3) links excluding the sun? Explain one (1)
reason this may be. (2 marks)
3. What would happen to the food chain if:
a. All the producers died? (2 marks)
b. All the herbivores died? (2 marks)
c. All the decomposers vanished? (2 marks)
4. In the form of a ¾ page Opinion Paragraph, respond to this question: How does the sun
power your brain?
The answer you give should include rationale from information gained during the Ecology Unit.
Supporting evidence needs to be provided. Though there are no wrong answers, you will be assessed
on your ability to connect the question to material learned in the Ecology Unit to date. You will also be
assessed on your ability to communicate these ideas using proper grammar, spelling, sentence
structure and punctuation. Be sure to include a topic sentence, 3 supporting points and a concluding
sentence to achieve maximum marks. (See attached rubric for marking scheme).
APPROVED LIST OF ANIMALS:
AFRICAN RAINFOREST
Western Lowland Gorilla
Ornate Nile Monitor
Red River Hog
Slender-tailed Meerkat
Giant Baboon Spider
AMERICAS
American Alligator
Beaver
Boa-Constrictor
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Jaguar
Giant Pacific Octopus
Golden Lion Tamarin
North American River Otter
AUSTRALIA
Western Grey Kangaroo Komodo
Dragon
Kookaburra
INDOMALAYA
Sumatran Orang-utan
Sumatran Tiger
Reticulated Python
CANADIAN
Arctic Wolf
Cougar
Grizzly Bear
Northern Bald Eagle
AFRICAN SAVANNAH
African Elephant
African Lion
Cheetah
Zebra
Giraffe
Caracal Lynx
Olive Baboon
Rhinoceros
Hippopotamus
Warthog
EURASIA
Bactrian Camel
Siberian Tiger
Snow Leopard
Red Panda
Food Web Assignment Rubric:
Criteria
Presentation
of Food Web
Food Web
Components:
Producers
Food Web
Components:
Primary
Consumers
Food Web
Components:
Secondary
Consumers
Food Web
Components:
The Sun,
Tertiary
Consumer and
Decomposer
Connections/
Arrows
1 – Not Yet
Meeting
Expectations
Minimally visually
appealing. No
colours are used to
differentiate
hierarchies.
Layout is
disorganized. No
legend included.
2 – Minimally
Meeting
Expectations
Somewhat visually
appealing. Some
colours are used to
show the different
organisms. Layout
is not very neat
and lacks
organization. No
legend included.
2 linked producers
are included
3 – Meeting
Expectations
Visually appealing.
Some colours are
used to
differentiate
between types of
organisms. Layout
is mostly neat and
organised. Legend
is included.
3 linked producers
are included
The connections
between the parts
of the Food Web
model are filled
with inaccuracies.
There are minimal
amounts of arrows
connection the
various parts of
the Food Web.
The connections
between parts of
the Food We are
somewhat
accurate. There
are an inadequate
amount of arrows
connecting various
parts of the Food
Web.
The connections
between the parts
of the Food Web
are accurate.
There are some
inconsistences in
the amount of
arrows connecting
various parts of
the Food Web.
4 – Exceeding
Expectations
Very visually
appealing. Colors
are used to
differentiate types
of organisms.
Layout of food
web is neat and
organized. Legend
is included.
1 linked producer
More than 3 linked
is included
producers are
included
1 linked primary
2 linked primary
3 linked primary
More than 3 linked
consumer is
consumers are
consumers are
primary
included
included
included
consumers are
included
1 linked secondary 2 linked secondary 3 linked secondary More than 3 linked
consumer is
consumers are
consumers are
secondary
included
included
included
consumers are
included
The Food Web is
1 component is
2 components are All 3 components
missing all 3
included
included
are included
components
Total:
The connections
between the parts
of the Food Web
are very accurate.
There are a proper
amount of arrows
connecting various
parts of the Food
Web. Arrows are
accurately used.
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Writing Assignment Rubric
1. In the form of a ¾ page Opinion Paragraph, respond to this question: How does the sun
power your brain?
The answer you give should include rationale from information gained during the Ecology Unit.
Supporting evidence needs to be provided. Though there are no wrong answers, you will be assessed
on your ability to connect the question to material learned in the Ecology Unit to date. You will also be
assessed on your ability to communicate these ideas using proper grammar, spelling, sentence
structure and punctuation. Be sure to include a topic sentence, 3 supporting points and a concluding
sentence to achieve maximum marks. (See attached rubric for marking scheme).
Criteria
1 – Not Yet
Meeting
Expectations
Does not contain a
topic or
concluding
sentence
2 – Minimally
Meeting
Expectations
Topic and
concluding
sentences
attempted, but not
fully developed
Explains the
context
- shows limited
understanding of
the context
Identifies and
includes
supporting details
- provides limited
supporting details
Accurately
describes point of
view
- provides limited - provides some
- provides a
- provides a
description of
description of
description of
thorough
their point of view their point of view their point of view description of
their point of view
Writing
coherence: clear
expression and
organization.
- this piece of
writing has
expression that is
full of errors
making
understanding
difficult; lacks
organization
Topic Sentence/
Concluding
Sentence
3 – Meeting
Expectations
4 – Exceeding
Expectations
Topic and
concluding
sentences simply
developed
Excellent topic
and concluding
sentences fully
developed,
provides
argument
- shows some
understanding of
the context
- understands the
context
- thorough
understanding of
the context
- provides some
supporting details
- provides
supporting details
- thoroughly
provides
supporting details
- this piece of
writing has
limited expression
and errors may
distract and
impede meaning;
organization is
attempted
- this piece of
writing has
generally fluent
expression with
few flaws in
communication
and is generally
organized in a
purposeful
manner
Total:
- this piece of
writing has clear
expression with
few flaws in
communication
and is organized
in a purposeful
and effective
manner
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