Consumers and producers – food chains
Teaching notes:
Before you start:
Copy and laminate the food chain cards so that there is one for every member of
the class. Make sure that there are at least 5 ‘grasses’ to every ‘rabbit’ but that
there is just one ‘fox’. Use PE bibs to distinguish between them. It would be helpful
to have a stopwatch or timer.
The game:
The game should be played in an open space such as a playground or hall. The
‘Grasses’ should spread out whereas the rabbits and the fox should begin on
opposite sides.
The fox and rabbits need to look at their cards to find out how frequently they need
to eat. The fox and the rabbits should run about, eating (taking the cards) as often
as is specified on the card. The grasses should remain still! Rabbits and grasses
which have been ‘eaten’ by a consumer should sit down. If the consumer does not
eat within the time specified on their card, he or she is ‘dead’ and should sit down.
Give the children a two minute timeframe in which to play. Let them know each
time 30 seconds has passed to help them time their ‘feeds’.
After two minutes, shout ‘freeze!”. Count up the number of grasses and rabbits still
‘alive’ and see whether the fox has survived too!
Play again, altering the numbers of grasses, rabbits and foxes to see what effect it
has.
What do children notice?
Different living things depend on each other for survival. Foxes get their energy by
eating rabbits and rabbits get their energy by eating grass. If there are too many or
too few of any part of the food chain, it has an effect on the rest. Too many rabbits
mean the foxes eat well, but there is too little grass; so the rabbits die out and so do
the foxes. Too few foxes and there are too many rabbits and not enough grass,
leading to rabbits dying out and therefore the foxes.
© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2015
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Consumers and producers – food chains
You must eat at least every
two minutes.
You must eat at least every
30 seconds.
You must eat at least every
30 seconds.
You must eat at least every
30 seconds.
You must eat at least every
30 seconds.
You must eat at least every
30 seconds.
© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2015
18975
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Consumers and producers – food chains
© www.teachitprimary.co.uk 2015
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