Science

Energy for organisms

Standards of Focus

4.9A  investigate that most producers need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make their own food, while consumers are dependent on other organisms for food.

4.9B describe the flow of energy through food webs, beginning with the Sun, and predict how changes in the ecosystem affect the food web.

Students will know:

• Producers are organisms that have specific structures and functions to support the process of photosynthesis.

• photosynthesis is the process by which most producers make their own food using the sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

• consumers are organisms that rely on other organisms in order to have food.

• an omnivore is a consumer that gains energy by eating either a producer or consumer.

• a herbivore is a consumer that gains energy by only eating producers.

• a carnivore is a consumer that gains energy by only eating other consumers.

• the sun is the main energy source that flows energy in the food web.

• describe the flow of energy within a food web, which starts with the Sun.