The Butterfly Life Cycle
K-2
1
Food Chains: Energy Flows One Way
Lesson Details
Grade Level
3-5
Duration (minutes)
2
Summary
A Grade 3-5 science lesson explaining how energy flows through a food chain — starting with the sun, moving to producers like grass through photosynthesis, then to primary consumers (herbivores) and secondary consumers (carnivores), with decomposers returning nutrients to the soil — using the sun-grass-rabbit-fox chain as the worked example.
Student Worksheet: Food Chains: Energy Flows One Way
Teacher Note: Students can watch the video lesson above and answer the questions. Click the “Teacher Answer Key” dropdown below when you are ready to review the solutions!
Key Concepts:
• Energy Flow: In a food chain, energy starts with the sun and flows in one direction from one living thing to another.
• Producers: A producer, like grass, makes its own food using sunlight, water, and air through a process called photosynthesis.
• Consumers: Consumers cannot make their own food. A primary consumer (like a rabbit) eats producers; a secondary consumer (like a fox) eats other consumers.
• Decomposers: Decomposers, like mushrooms and bacteria, break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil.
Instructions: Read each question carefully and write your answer in the space provided.
- Question 1: In the food chain from the video, where does the energy begin?
- Question 2: Why is grass called a producer? What process does it use to make its food?
- Question 3: Why is the rabbit called a primary consumer, and why is it also called a herbivore?
- Question 4: Why is the fox called a secondary consumer, and why is it also called a carnivore?
- Question 5: What do decomposers do, and name two examples from the video.
Click to reveal Teacher Answer Key
1. The energy begins with the sun.
2. Grass is a producer because it makes its own food using sunlight, water, and air. This process is called photosynthesis.
3. The rabbit is a primary consumer because it eats the producer (grass). It is a herbivore because it eats plants.
4. The fox is a secondary consumer because it eats the primary consumer (the rabbit). It is a carnivore because it eats animals.
5. Decomposers break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil so new plants can grow. Examples: mushrooms and bacteria.
Disclaimer: This worksheet was generated with AI assistance based on original video content. It is intended for educational reference only. Teachers are encouraged to review and adjust questions to fit their curriculum standards before classroom use.
🎯 Extension Activity: Draw your own food chain with four links, starting with the sun. Label each living thing as a producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer, and draw arrows showing which way the energy flows.