Fourth grade students will begin the school year learning that each living organism is dependent upon another living organism. During this unit, fourth grade students will participate in a mystery dissection to learn more about food chains and webs. Students will investigate how changes to food webs impact different ecosystems. Organisms are constantly evolving and adapting to survive in their environments. Some of these adaptations include camouflage, mimicry, migration, and hibernation. Our young ecologists will study bird beak structures to determine which beaks are best adapted for different environments.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
1. Take a walk with your child to a nearby park. Bring a journal and have your child record all the living things, plants and animals, that are found in the park. Ask your child to create a food web based on his/her observations. If your child is not sure if the animal is a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, or decomposer, use the internet to conduct a little research and learn more about the animal's choices of food in their habitat.
2. Observe different animals of the same species, for example dogs or cats. Ask your child to explain why dogs or cats look different. Have your child explain why different animals have different adaptations.
Websites
Parts of the Food Chain
Visit this website to learn all about the parts of a food chain. Look for the Food Chain Game on this site to create your own food chain.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/producersconsumers.htm
Photosynthesis
Take a look at the diagram that shows the process of photosynthesis.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/photosynthesis.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Food Webs
This video demonstrates the delicate relationship among organisms in a food web.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-webs.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Changes in Ecosystems
Learn how nature and humans make changes to ecosystems.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/changes-ecosystems.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Animal Adaptations
This video explains how different animals change or adapt to their environments in order to survive.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/animals/animal-adaptations.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Plant Adaptations
This video explains how plants have adapted to their environments in order to survive.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-adaptations.htm
Suggested Reading
What are Food Chains and Food Webs? by Bobbie Kalman - The author uses photographs, illustrations, and charts to define food chains and food webs.
How do Animals Adapt? by Bobbie Kalman - This book examines ways that animals' bodies and/or behavior help them survive in particular habitats.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.
What You Can Do at Home
Activities
1. Take a walk with your child to a nearby park. Bring a journal and have your child record all the living things, plants and animals, that are found in the park. Ask your child to create a food web based on his/her observations. If your child is not sure if the animal is a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, or decomposer, use the internet to conduct a little research and learn more about the animal's choices of food in their habitat.
2. Observe different animals of the same species, for example dogs or cats. Ask your child to explain why dogs or cats look different. Have your child explain why different animals have different adaptations.
Websites
Parts of the Food Chain
Visit this website to learn all about the parts of a food chain. Look for the Food Chain Game on this site to create your own food chain.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/producersconsumers.htm
Photosynthesis
Take a look at the diagram that shows the process of photosynthesis.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/photosynthesis.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Food Webs
This video demonstrates the delicate relationship among organisms in a food web.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/food-webs.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Changes in Ecosystems
Learn how nature and humans make changes to ecosystems.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/ecosystems/changes-ecosystems.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Animal Adaptations
This video explains how different animals change or adapt to their environments in order to survive.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/animals/animal-adaptations.htm
Scholastic Studyjams: Plant Adaptations
This video explains how plants have adapted to their environments in order to survive.
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-adaptations.htm
Suggested Reading
What are Food Chains and Food Webs? by Bobbie Kalman - The author uses photographs, illustrations, and charts to define food chains and food webs.
How do Animals Adapt? by Bobbie Kalman - This book examines ways that animals' bodies and/or behavior help them survive in particular habitats.
For a list of science nonfiction books, please click on the link titled Favorite Links and Books to Read. Click on the sublink Grades 3-5 Science Nonfiction Books, where you will find a detailed list of books related to many different topics in science.