By: Riley Camp (rac133@zips.uakron.edu) & Madison Vannatta (mrv30@zips.uakron.edu)

The standards addressed in this curriculum kit include connections to both Ohio’s Science Learning Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Ohio’s Learning Standards:

5.LS.1: Organisms perform a variety of roles in an ecosystem.

5.LS.2: All of the processes that take place within organisms require energy

7.LS.1: Energy flows and matter is transferred continuously from one organism to another and between organisms and their physical environments.

Next Generation Science Standards:

5-PS3-1 Energy: Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.

5-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.

MS-LS2-3 Ecosystems: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Within each food chain there are different Trophic levels. Trophic levels are the different stages or levels of organisms within a food chain or web (Rutledge, 2011). The five trophic levels are producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and quaternary consumers. Producers are typically plants, which receive their energy from the sun through a process called photosynthesis. Consumers are organisms in the food chain that consume other organisms. As mentioned above, this group can be broken up into four different categories; Primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and quaternary consumers(Rutledge, 2011). Primary consumers are the animals and insects that only eat producers. These organisms can also be called herbivores. Secondary consumers can consume both primary consumers and producers. If these organisms eat both producers and primary consumers, they are omnivores, if they only eat primary consumers, they are carnivores. The third category of consumers is tertiary consumers. These organisms are carnivores and primarily eat secondary consumers. The final category of consumers are quaternary consumers or apex predators. These consumers are at the top of the food chain, which means that nothing eats them. Humans would be an example of quaternary consumers. Decomposers can also be considered part of the food chain. Decomposers are bacteria of fungi that eat dead plants and animals, which causes them to break down and decompose (Rutledge, 2011). Decomposers also release nutrients back into that soil, which can be used by the plants.

• The learners can learn about food chains in-depth through the development of a Food Chain Mobile. This activity can be completed many different ways, all of which are presented below by picture illustrations and described on the website links included. By designing a food chain mobile, this activity will help students to see how producers and consumers are connected.

• Have the students design a Food Chain Circle Book. First pair the students into groups of four and then provide each student with one circle. Each student will choose a different ecosystem to develop a food chain for. On each circle, the students will write the type of ecosystem in the middle and draw each organism in the food chain on the outside halves of the circle. The students will place the organisms in order based on trophic levels and be asked to write underneath the organism which trophic level they classify as. Then fold each circle in half back to back and glue them together to form an ecosystem circle book.

• A food web shows the many different pathways producers and consumers transfer energy. Therefore, a food web represents the interrelated food chains in an ecosystem. Have the students design a food web model by including multiple consumers at each trophic level.

Formative assessment will be conducted during the activity as the instructor walks around the room to observe each group and listens to their reasoning and problem-solving skills they use in collaborative discussion. The instructor will also receive feedback through the whole group review at the end of the activity. Additionally, this type of assessment is included in the wrap up portion, as the learners will engage in answering discussion questions revolving around the trophic levels. The instructor will actively listen and reflect on the students' response to gauge understanding.

As a formative assessment at the end of the entire lesson the learners will engage in using a game-based technology platform, called Kahoot, to answer questions over the concepts and key ideas learned throughout this lesson. The game has learners compete against each other in answering multiple-choice questions and points are awarded by answering questions correctly and time efficiently The Kahoot address where this game can be found is attached below. If the learners are able to accurately answer the questions, the instructor will know the learners have mastered the topic and the lesson was a success.

https://create.kahoot.it/details/food-chains/b1222c4f-5ddd-4ab9-9617-389e5dfcda75

Energy Pyramid. (2017, January).https://biologydictionary.net/energy-pyramid/

Rutledge, K., (2011, January 21). Food Chain. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/food-chain/

This link: https://www.nature-watch.com/nesting-tubes-set-of-5-p-1714.html?cPath=142_143 is the location where you can purchase a set of nesting tubes for 0.99 a peice.

This link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Food-Chains-and-Food-Webs-Bundle-Activities-Word-Wall-Cards-Matching-Game-4190800 provides a food chain and food web bundle that includes: a word wall, building kit, illustrated definition cards, and an I Have, Who Has game.

This link: https://pbskids.org/plumlanding/games/ecosystem/feed_the_dingo.html directs you to an interactive game the learners can engage in to build and fuel their own food chain.

This link: https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/food-chains/ provides educators or environmental instructors with the infomation and worksheet needed to complete a food pyramid mini project.

This link: https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/swamp-food-chain/ supplies educators and environmental instructors with a swamp food chain worksheet.

This link: https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/food-chain-game/ equips educators with a hands-on learning food chain game.

This link: https://www.education.com/worksheet/article/food-chain-pyramid/ supplies instructors with a food chain pyramid they can either provide each learner of the learner or hang up in their classroom.