Ecosystems: How Everything Connects Together
Exploring nature's amazing connections Year 4 Science Understanding how living things depend on each other
What Do You Think?
Look around our classroom What living and non-living things can you see? How might they be connected?
What is an Ecosystem?
A community of living things All the non-living things around them How they all work together Like a big natural family!
Parts of an Ecosystem
Producers: The Food Makers
Plants are producers They make their own food using sunlight They don't need to eat other living things All life depends on them!
Primary Consumers: The Plant Eaters
Animals that only eat plants They are herbivores Examples: rabbits, deer, caterpillars They get energy from plants
Secondary Consumers: The Meat Eaters
Animals that eat other animals They are carnivores Examples: foxes, birds of prey, spiders They get energy from eating other animals
A Simple Food Chain
Build Your Own Food Web!
Work in groups of 4 Choose cards showing different plants and animals Use string to connect who eats whom See how everything is connected!
How Humans Affect Ecosystems
{"left":"Building houses and roads\nFarming and growing crops\nCreating parks and gardens","right":"Recycling and reducing waste\nProtecting wildlife areas\nPlanting new trees and flowers"}
What Happens When We Change Things?
If we remove all the foxes from a woodland... What do you think would happen to the rabbits? What about the plants they eat? How might this affect the whole ecosystem?
Keeping Ecosystems Healthy
Protect natural habitats Don't litter or pollute Plant native flowers and trees Create wildlife-friendly gardens Learn about local animals and plants