Exploring EcosystemsGrades 3-5

We have already learned about ecosystems this year. This is a review and extension of what we learned this year.

Start by telling someone in your house what you remember about ecosystems, animals and what they eat, and anything else you remember. You can also write down things you remember if you want.

Review what you know

Things in Ecosystems● Living things-anything

that eats, breathes, grows. Examples: Animals and plants.

● Non-living things-things in the ecosystem that do not eat, breathe, or grow. Examples: water, the sun, dirt, rocks.

What are some things around you that are living and non-living?

PlantsPlants are producers, they make their own food. They are the start to many food webs.

Animals

Animals are consumers. Animals are sorted by what they eat.

Types of Animals

HerbivoreCarnivoreOmnivore

The tiger is a ________________ because _________________________________________.

The plant is a _______________ because _________________________________________.

Think of animals and decide what they are based on what they eat. For example: A shark is a carnivore because it eats only meat.

Explore!

Use the Columbus Zoo website https://columbuszoo.org/guide/index.html and explore animals. If you click around, you can see what the animals eat, the part of the world they are from, and so much more.

Explore the animals and use the graphic organizer on the next page to organize the animals you learn about. You can copy it onto another piece of paper if you want.

With the animals you have learned about, create a food chain. There is an example below and a graphic organizer on the next page you can use.