Activity 1 – exploring food chains

If you are able, use the QR code to watch the video Food Chains & Food Webs.

Complete the following questions.

1. Use these words to complete the sentences.

plants omnivores carnivores animals eat

a. Animals can be grouped according to what they e______.

b. Humans usually eat both meat and plants, so we are in the group of animals called
o__________________.

c. Omnivores eat a__________ and p_____________.

d. C__________________ eat other animals or meat.

e. Herbivores only eat p_______________.

2. Write a definition for each of these terms and list some examples.

Term Definition Examples

carnivore
herbivore
omnivore
detritivore
decomposer
ecosystem

3. Plants make their own food so they are called producers. All food chains start with a
producer. Arrows in food chains show what ‘is eaten by’ something else. Here is
an example of a food chain:

a. Re-write the food chain using words.

© NSW Department of Education, Sep-21 5

 _____________ _____________ ______________

b. Complete the sentence below which describes the food chain as a sentence.
The grass is eaten by the c______ which is e______ by the h_________.

4. Now think of your own example of a food chain that you would find:

a. on land

b. in a creek, river or ocean

3. Make a list of factors that might change or disrupt the natural balance of food chain.
_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

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Check your understanding
1. Choose the best description of what is meant by the arrow in a food chain.

a. eats

b. is eaten by

c. uses the energy of

2. All food chains start with this kind of organism

6 Stage 4 Science – Food chains and food web student workbook