Teachers' notes
Looking at food chains
Aims: Identify and make notes of the main points of text.
Write non-narrative texts using structures of different text-types.
Use layout, format graphics and illustrations for different purposes.
Find out about food chains.
Age group 7–9
- England and Wales
Year 3/Year 4 - Scotland
Year P4/Year P5 - Northern Ireland
Year 4/Year 5
Literacy skills: Identify relevant information and summarise it in a particular number of words.
Demonstrate comprehension by re-presenting information in the form of a diagram.
Curriculum links:
- Science – England and Wales
- The World around us, Science and technology – Northern Ireland
- Sciences – Scotland
Content:
- Whiteboard: Read an explanation of how food chains work and pick out information about a particular food chain. Summarise this in less than 15 words (click to reveal example on screen). Re-present this information in the form of a diagram by clicking on pictures and labels and dragging them to the correct place.
- Activity sheet: Read about a food chain under the sea. Identify key information by underlining in different colours. Put together a diagram to explain the food chain in a different way.
- Extension: Interpret a food chain about pond life. Expand the diagram into an information text, include illustrations and captions. Carry out further research about food chains.
Suggestions for questions:
- Activate prior knowledge: How do animals and plants stay alive? Where do they get their food from?
- Reflect on learning: Can you explain what a food chain is? Can you think of another example of a food chain?
- Stimulate further research: What are the similarities and differences between food chains? Why is this? (think about different habitats and the impact of humans)