FREE PRIMARY SCIENCE · Years 5–6 (challenge)
Challenge: Food web detectives
If one living thing changes, how far can the ripples spread through a food web?
An iPad-only extension topic. Builds on: Survival in habitats (Years 5–6) and Food chains and decomposers (Year 4). Lesson 1 investigates the real cane toad invasion and predicts two-step ripple effects in a food web. Lesson 2 is a data detective task: why are there so few top predators? It introduces energy flow and matter cycling. Lesson 3 has students build and test their own classification key for Australian animals. These preview Year 7 food webs (AC9S7U02) and classification (AC9S7U01).
3 free lessons · Australian Curriculum v9
Lessons in this topic
Each lesson includes a teacher plan and activities. Check its materials label before teaching.
The cane toad mystery
How can one new animal change a whole food web?
Open free interactive lesson →Why are there so few eagles?
What happens to energy and matter as they move through a food web?
Open free interactive lesson →Key to the creatures
How can a set of yes-or-no questions identify any animal?
Open free interactive lesson →
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