The Secret of Life on Earth

Producers, Consumers, and the Food Web

a Web Quest by

Andrew S. Basler

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Introduction  |  Task  |  Process  |  Evaluation  |  Conclusion  |  Teachers  |  Credits

Introduction

   All of life on earth is in a delicate balance.  Each species and organism has a role in the complex food webs that make up different habitats.  Because all species depend on one another, when one link is removed, the entire system suffers.

Task

    In this Web Quest, you will watch a movie about relationships in a habitat.  You will then use the internet to research a specific biome and create a food web based on your research.  Finally, you will present your food web to the class, identifying the producers and consumers. Skip below to the Evaluation Rubric to see what your grade will be based on.

 Process

    1.  First, you will watch the IMAX dvd "The Secret of Life on Earth."  This movie will give you background knowledge on the interactions between plants and animals.

    2.  After the movie, you will be divided into groups of no more than six.  Each group will take a turn and choose one of the following biomes to research:

• Tundra

• Boreal Forest

• Tropical Rain Forest

• Temperate Forest

• Savanna and Grasslands

• Desert

• Aquatic

    3.  Once you have chosen your working biome, you will use the internet to research the habitat and the animals that live in it.  The provided web sites will give you a good start, but you will also need to complete your own searches using the Google search engine.  For example, you might search for "Savanna food web", or "Desert Animals"  as keywords to supplement the provided web sites.

        Major Biomes of the World

         Blue Planet Biomes

         Food Webs and Chains

   4.  Remember what your ultimate goal is, to construct your own food web for your biome based on research.  Here are the following requirements for the food web that will help guide your research:

•    Your food web must have at least 10 different species from your biome

•    The species must include 2 producers, 2 top-level consumers and 1 decomposer

•    Use arrows to connect different animals, as illustrated below

•    In addition, as illustrated below, distinguish between producers (green), and the top level predators (blue)

   5.  Draw your food web on a poster board.

   6.  Present your food web to the class, explaining the different levels, and your biome.

   7.  Every member of the group must participate in the research, production and presentation of the food web.

Evaluation:

   You will be evaluated based on the following rubric:

Note that the majority of your grade is on the completion of the food web, and the presentation.  Also, 20 points total depend on presentation skills, and group co-operation.  Ask your teacher for clarification if you have any questions.

Conclusion:

  Every ecosystem, habitat and biome is in a delicate balance.  Each species within a biome relies on other species for survival, just as others rely on it.  Understanding the relationships that naturally exist help us to better understand all living things.  In recent years, an increased knowledge of plants and animals has led to discoveries of new medicines, often derived naturally.  In this Web Quest, you researched a biome, and created a food web based on your research.  This shows that you, in turn, have learned about these important relationships.

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Teachers:

Grade Band: 5 - 8

Tennessee Curriculum Standards:

    5th grade:  2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem

    8th grade:  2.3 Identify the major biomes of the world

                     8.2.tpi.3 illustrate or construct a biome for specific plant and animal species consistent with their survival needs

Technology Standards: 6-8

        5.0 The student will use technology as a tool to conduct and evaluate research and to communicate effectively information and ideas

Preceding and Ensuing Events of Instruction:

    Prior to beginning this Web Quest, the teacher should show the IMAX dvd The Secret of Life on Earth (45 mins), available at www.amazon.com . After showing the movie, the teacher should break the students up into groups of no more than six, and assign each group a specific biome to study. Help the students do their online research, and assist in brain-storming for other things to present besides the given process. The teacher should feel free to alter this webquest in any way necessary to best help the student learn.

Purpose of Web Quest

    To enhance the student's understanding of biomes, to explore unique regions of the world, to demonstrate unique food webs that exist in each biome, to promote internet research skills, to promote group communication skills, to promote oral presentation skills, to promote critical thinking by allowing the student to make choices about what topics to include in oral presentation.

Credits:

Blue Planet Biomes (2000).  Introduction.  Retrieved April 26, 2004 from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/

Google (2004).  Search Engine.  Retrieved April 26, 2004 from http://www.google.com

Physical Geography (1999).  Trophic Pyramids and Food Webs.  Retrieved April 26, 2004 from http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9o.html

Radford University (1997).  Major Biomes of the World.  Retrieved April 26, 2004 from http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/main.html

Warner Brothers. (1993).  The Secret of Life on Earth [dvd].  Toronto, Canada: IMAX.

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