"Prairie Buffet"
by Emma Broussard, emma.broussard@cpsb.org

Content Area(s)
Science

Grade Level(s)
5, 

Overview
In this lesson students will understand and demonstrate their knowledge of the food chain/web.

Software
PiCoMap; Memos; PrintBoy

Technology
Palm Handheld; Printer; Desktop computer; Inspiration

Objectives
Life Science GLEs 23-25; 28
TLW construct food chains that could be found in
meadows/prairies; describe the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in a food chain; compare food chains and food webs; and explain and give examples of predator/prey relationships.

Procedures
To introduce this leseson I will show the students a United Streaming video - "Earth's Major Life Zones". Students will be in groups of four. While watching the video, two students from each group would record names of animals they see in the video as predator and the other two students would record names of animals that are prey. They will use Memo on the handheld to record their data. This will lead into a discussion about food chains and food webs. Each group will be given a card with names of plants and animals from the prairie. Each group of four will divide into pairs and make their food chains with prairie animal/plant cards. Once they decide on their food chain, the students will us PiCoMap to make their food chain. Each group will decide how their food chains can overlap to forma food web. They will then sync their chains to a desktop and use Inspiration to make their food web. They can print their chains and webs to turn in to the teacher. As a closing activity students will draw and label animal/plant cards (on construction paper, tagboard, cardstock) and model their food chain/web for the class. The rest of the class will discuss/critique the food chains/webs. The teacher can include her/himself in a group's food chain or web but put her/himself in the wrong place to encourage students to problem solve and discuss how to fix the food chain. Students will brainstorm and discuss how a food chain differs from a food web and why food chains are not the best representation of an ecosystem.

Other Supporting Material

Submitted on: 8/26/2006 2:18:37 PM