Web of Life – Terrestrial (1 hour)

Learn about the interactions of the forest ecosystem. Students will learn about producers, consumers and decomposers through the use of mounted and live animals. A hands-on food web activity will “wrap-up” the program.

The forest ecosystem is the focus of this program. Students seated in chairs arranged in a half circle will learn about the energy flow and food chains associated with an ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on the role producers, (green plants), consumers (animals), and decomposers (bacteria and fungi) play in the ecosystem. Mounted mammals and birds live reptiles and amphibians will illustrate the unique adaptations that each animal group possesses and how these qualities enhance their own individual survival within their trophic level. A fun interactive food web activity with each student playing a different role, (acorn, squirrel, hawk, fox, etc.) in their own “classroom” forest ecosystem will help the students understand the intricacies of energy flow and the interdependencies within the food web and the underlying ecosystem. An open classroom area, large enough for all the students to stand in a circle is required for the food web activity.