Alerts Sign-up
Students in Mr. Leve’s fifth-grade science class have recently engaged in a study of food chains and food webs, exploring how energy travels through various organisms in an ecosystem. The concept of a food chain was introduced as a model illustrating energy transfer, exemplified by the sequence of grass being consumed by mice, which are then eaten by snakes, and ultimately by eagles.
Further, students were taught about the complexity of food webs, which consist of interconnected food chains demonstrating various feeding relationships. In a meadow ecosystem, for instance, multiple species such as rabbits, grasshoppers, foxes, and owls interact. Grass, the primary producer, is consumed by rabbits and mice, which are in turn preyed upon by snakes. Eagles, known to eat rabbits and other small animals, and owls, which share a broader diet, highlight the overlapping nature of food chains within the web.
To deepen their understanding, the students participated in hands-on learning by dissecting owl pellets. This allowed them to identify the remains of what the owls had eaten. Each bone found in the pellets was drawn and labeled with the help of a reference poster. Post-dissection activities included researching various species consumed within these ecosystems and diagramming energy flow from the sun to plants, then animals, and finally to the owl.
The project enabled students to learn about the intricate movement of energy within an ecosystem in an engaging and practical manner, enhancing their interest and comprehension of ecological relationships.
