The document provides information about food chains and feeding levels. It defines producers as organisms like plants that get their energy from the sun. Consumers eat other organisms and are divided into categories based on how many other organisms they eat - 1st order consumers eat producers, 2nd order consumers eat 1st order consumers, etc. With each increasing feeding level there is less available energy. The document also discusses herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. It provides an activity where students build a model food chain and describes how people are omnivores.

3.  Herbivore: General name for an
animal that only eats plants.
Herbivores. Learn more at…
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep9a.htm

4. • Pronghorn antelope, North America’s
fastest land mammal.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

5. • Pronghorn antelope, North America’s
fastest land mammal.
–96 km an hour / (60mph)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

6. • The Pronghorn Antelopes main predator was
a North American Cheetah.
–This cheetah has become extinct.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

7. • The Pronghorn Antelopes main predator was
a North American Cheetah.
–This cheetah has become extinct.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

8.  Consumers: Feed on plants or other
animals
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

9.  Carnivore: An animal that only eats other
animals.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Carnivores. Learn more at…
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep10a.htm

10. • 1st order consumer (plants only)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

11. • 2nd Order Consumer
– Eats an animal that eats plants.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

12. • 3rd order consumer
– Ate an animal that ate an animal that ate
plants.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

13. • 4th Order Consumer:
– Ate an animal, that ate an animal, that ate an
animal that ate plants.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

14. • 5th Order consumer:
– Ate an animal, that ate an animal, that ate an
animal, that ate an animal that ate plants.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

21. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.

22. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

23. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

24. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

25. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

26. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

27. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

28. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

29. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Activity! Food Chain Cup
Stacking.
– Each student gets six Styrofoam
cups.
– Label the top / side of the cup
with a name and draw a sketch.
• First cup Sun
• Second cup Plant
• Third cup consumer
• Fourth cup second order consumer
• Fifth cup third order consumer
• Sixth cup fourth order consumer or
decomposer.

30. Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

31. • Note how each feeding level has less
available energy.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

32. • Lots of available energy.
Producers (Plants)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

33. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

34. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

35. • Only a few herbivores. Less Energy!
Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

36. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

37. • 2nd Order Consumers have even less.
Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

38. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

39. • 3rd Order Consumers are even less.
Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

40. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
3rd Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

41. • 4th Even Less.
Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
3rd Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

42. Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
3rd Order Consumers
4th Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

43. • Very Little available Energy
Producers (Plants)
Energy comes from sun.
Consumers
2nd Order Consumers
3rd Order Consumers
4th Order Consumers
5th Order Consumers
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

44.  Omnivore: An organism that eats both
plants and animals.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

45.  Omnivore: An organism that eats both
plants and animals.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Omnivores. Learn more at…
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep10b.htm

46. • Wasps are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

47. • Pillbugs are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

48. • Ravens and crows are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

49. • Pigs are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

50. • Bears are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

51. • The following concepts are all addressed
in the next activity.

52. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a…

53. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a… Herbivore (eats
plants),

54. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a… Herbivore (eats
plants), Carnivore (eats other animals),

55. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a… Herbivore (eats
plants), Carnivore (eats other animals), or
Omnivore (eats both plants and animals)

56. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a… Herbivore (eats
plants), Carnivore (eats other animals), or
Omnivore (eats both plants and animals)
– Take your best guess.

57. • Activity! Stand up and make the correct
letter if the animal is a… Herbivore (eats
plants), Carnivore (eats other animals), or
Omnivore (eats both plants and animals)
– Take your best guess. (No worries if wrong)

78. • Bonus Question: Who is this Omnivore?

79. • Bonus Question: Who is this Omnivore?

80. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“I LIKE TO
EAT MEAT!”

81. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“NO!”
“I LIKE TO
EAT
VEGGIES!”

82. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“NO!” “I LIKE
TO EAT
MEAT!”

83. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“NO!”
“I LIKE TO
EAT
VEGGIES!”

84. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“Wait a
minute.”

85. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“I’m an
omnivore.”
“I can eat
both of
them.”

86. • People are omnivores.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“I LIKE
MEAT AND
VEGGIES!”

87. • Guess the hidden picture beneath the
boxes.
– Raise your hand when you think you know.
You only get one guess.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

97. • Guess the hidden picture beneath the
boxes.
– Raise your hand when you think you know.
You only get one guess.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

109. “One last
time”
“LOOK
FAMILIAR!”

110. “One last
time”
“LOOK
FAMILIAR!”

111. • A summary… and the bogus statement is…
A) The ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems is
for it to be lost as heat.
B) Decomposers remove the last energy from the
remains of organisms.
C) Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.
D) Energy is destroyed as animals are consumed
through the feeding levels.
E) The ultimate source of energy (for most
ecosystems) is the sun.
F) Energy and nutrients are passed from
organism to organism through the food chain
as one organism eats another.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

112. • A summary… and the bogus statement is…
A) The ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems is
for it to be lost as heat.
B) Decomposers remove the last energy from the
remains of organisms.
C) Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.
D) Energy is destroyed as animals are consumed
through the feeding levels.
E) The ultimate source of energy (for most
ecosystems) is the sun.
F) Energy and nutrients are passed from
organism to organism through the food chain
as one organism eats another.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

113. • A summary… and the bogus statement is…
A) The ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems is
for it to be lost as heat.
B) Decomposers remove the last energy from the
remains of organisms.
C) Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.
D) Energy is destroyed as animals are consumed
through the feeding levels.
E) The ultimate source of energy (for most
ecosystems) is the sun.
F) Energy and nutrients are passed from
organism to organism through the food chain as
one organism eats another.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

114. • A summary… and the bogus statement is…
A) The ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems is
for it to be lost as heat.
B) Decomposers remove the last energy from the
remains of organisms.
C) Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.
D) Energy is lost as animals are consumed
through the feeding levels.
E) The ultimate source of energy (for most
ecosystems) is the sun.
F) Energy and nutrients are passed from
organism to organism through the food chain
as one organism eats another.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“Remember” “Energy cannot be
created or destroyed but
transferred between systems and
surroundings.”

115. • Guess the hidden picture beneath the
boxes.
– Raise your hand when you think you know.
You only get one guess.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

127. • You should be on page 5 of your bundled
homework package.

128. • “AYE” Advance Your Exploration ELA and
Literacy Opportunity Worksheet
– Visit some of the many provided links or..
– Articles can be found at (w/ membership to
NABT and NSTA)
• http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=
1
• http://learningcenter.nsta.org/browse_journals.aspx?j
ournal=tst
Please visit at least one of the
“learn more” educational links
provided in this unit and
complete this worksheet

129. • “AYE” Advance Your Exploration ELA and
Literacy Opportunity Worksheet
– Visit some of the many provided links or..
– Articles can be found at (w/ membership to NABT
and NSTA)
• http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/index.php?p=1
• http://learningcenter.nsta.org/browse_journals.aspx?jo
urnal=tst

131. • This PowerPoint is just one part of my Feeding
Levels Unit.
• A two part 1200 Slide PowerPoint Presentation.
• A bundled homework package, modified version,
unit notes, PowerPoint Review Game, video
links, rubrics, and much more that
chronologically follow the unit slideshow.
• http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Feeding_
Levels_Unit.htm

133. Areas of Focus within The Feeding Levels Unit:
What is Ecology, Concepts in Ecology, Concept-There is no such thing
as a free lunch, Energy Comes From the Sun, Food Chains, Trophic
Feeding Levels, Producers, Consumers, Decomposers, Aquatic Food
Chains, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Bioaccumulation,
Biomagnification, Animal Dentition and Skull Features, Carnivores,
Herbivores, Pyramid of Biomass, Pyramid of Numbers.
The full unit can be found at…
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Feeding_Levels_Unit.htm

136. • Please visit the links below to learn more
about each of the units in this curriculum
– These units take me about four years to complete
with my students in grades 5-10.
Earth Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Geology Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Geology_Unit.html
Astronomy Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Astronomy_Unit.html
Weather and Climate Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Weather_Climate_Unit.html
Soil Science, Weathering, More http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Soil_and_Glaciers_Unit.html
Water Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Water_Molecule_Unit.html
Rivers Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/River_and_Water_Quality_Unit.html
= Easier = More Difficult = Most Difficult
5th – 7th grade 6th – 8th grade 8th – 10th grade

137. Physical Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Science Skills Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Science_Introduction_Lab_Safety_Metric_Methods.
html
Motion and Machines Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Newtons_Laws_Motion_Machines_Unit.html
Matter, Energy, Envs. Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Energy_Topics_Unit.html
Atoms and Periodic Table Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Atoms_Periodic_Table_of_Elements_Unit.html
Life Science Units Extended Tour Link and Curriculum Guide
Human Body / Health Topics
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Human_Body_Systems_and_Health_Topics_Unit.html
DNA and Genetics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/DNA_Genetics_Unit.html
Cell Biology Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Cellular_Biology_Unit.html
Infectious Diseases Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Infectious_Diseases_Unit.html
Taxonomy and Classification Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Taxonomy_Classification_Unit.html
Evolution / Natural Selection Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Evolution_Natural_Selection_Unit.html
Botany Topics Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Plant_Botany_Unit.html
Ecology Feeding Levels Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Feeding_Levels_Unit.htm
Ecology Interactions Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Interactions_Unit.html
Ecology Abiotic Factors Unit http://sciencepowerpoint.com/Ecology_Abiotic_Factors_Unit.html

138. • Thank you for your time and interest in this
curriculum tour. Please visit the welcome / guide on
how a unit works and link to the many unit previews
to see the PowerPoint slideshows, bundled
homework, review games, unit notes, and much
more. Thank you for your interest and please feel
free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Best wishes.
• Sincerely,
• Ryan Murphy M.Ed
• ryemurf@gmail.com

139. • The entire four year curriculum can be found at...
http://sciencepowerpoint.com/ Please feel free to
contact me with any questions you may have.
Thank you for your interest in this curriculum.
Sincerely,
Ryan Murphy M.Ed
www.sciencepowerpoint@gmail.com