Living Organisms: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers Educational Resources K12 Learning, Life Science, Science Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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Look at the different organisms in the pictures below.

How does each of these organisms get its food?
What types of foods do each of these organisms eat?

Find out!

It probably does not surprise you that all the organisms pictured eat different food.

Why do they eat different food, and how do they get it?

All living organisms can be divided into producers, consumers, and decomposers. These terms describe what types of food the organism consumes and help us know how they secure their food source.

Producers are living organisms that can make their food through a process called photosynthesis.

Plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food. This process occurs inside the plant, so they do not have to relocate to find their food source.

Look around you.

Do you see any examples of producers near you?
If not, what are some examples of producers?

Consumers are living organisms that are not capable of creating their food.

Consumers are broken down into three categories: primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Copy the chart below onto a sheet of paper. As you re-write the information from the chart, think about the definition of each type of consumer.

When you have finished creating your chart, complete the third column by providing at least two examples of each type of consumer.

Type of Consumer		Definition		Examples
	primary		Primary consumers are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants.
	secondary		Secondary consumers are carnivores, meaning they eat meat. Secondary consumers eat the primary consumers. In other words, they eat animals that only consume plants. Some secondary consumers are omnivores who eat plants and animals.
	tertiary		Tertiary consumers are also carnivores. Tertiary consumers eat the secondary consumers. This means that they eat other carnivores. Some tertiary consumers are also omnivores.

When you are finished, review your chart.

Can you think of more examples for each type of consumer?

As you watch the video below to learn more about producers and consumers, continue adding examples of consumers to your chart.

Did you add yourself to the chart?
What type of consumers are humans?

Now, move on to the last group.

Decomposers break down materials by consuming dead plants and animals. Some people call them nature's cleaners because they clean up the dead remains that no other organisms want.

As you watch the video below, list all the decomposers you see or hear about in the clip.

Look out the window or briefly walk with someone.