Lesson Title: Food Chains

Application Notes:

This range of activities is a useful support task that

pupils can complete during their work on the QCA
SOW on Interdependence and adaptation (6a).

The application consists of an information panel to

explain the terms used in, and concepts behind, food
chains. There are then three different habitats where
food chains are constructed from a few of the
organisms found there.

Pupils get a confirmation panel on correctly placing

the organism in its correct position in the chain.

Class: Subject: Science

Pupils use a living organisms picture bank to consolidate scientific vocabulary and key concepts.
Supports work in Year 6.
Why ICT is appropriate: Allows open exploration and supports pupils to work more independently.

Resources Required: Plant part files and Multimedia PC

Pre-requisite knowledge/skills/understanding: Basic mouse control skills, word recognition skills and
understanding of vocabulary used.

Learning Objectives taken from the QCA Science SOW

Unit 6a Interdependence and adaptation.

 that animals and plants in a local habitat are interdependent
 that food chains can be used to represent feeding relationships in a habitat
 that food chains begin with a plant (the producer)
 to construct food chains in a particular habitat

Teaching Activities Teaching notes / Learning Outcomes

Introduction: Show the children how the food chain
application works. Discuss the concept behind food
chains and that the arrow shows energy transfer
along the chain.
 construct a food chain eg rosebush  greenfly 
ladybird and explain it eg  this means the greenflies
feed on the rosebush and the ladybirds feed on the
greenflies
 explain why plants are essential to food chains
eg  plants grow using air and water, they don’t eat
other things

Independent Work:  Ask children to construct food chains and to explain

Ask children to work through the activities in the
program.
Plenary: Share the findings made by the pupils. Work
through a food chain example.
to each other what they mean. Elicit children’s
understanding of the terms ‘producer’ and
‘consumer’.
sequence food chains within a habitat including a plant
as a producer and using the arrow convention
correctly

Assessment Strategy:

Mainly through observation and questioning – if printouts are needed use the screen capture capabilities of
your PC (Prt Sc and then paste into Word etc.)