Food Web Lab Station Activity

In this food web activity, students will move around the classroom reading cards about different organisms that inhabit the salt marsh ecosystem. Students will jot down notes on how each organism obtains energy from reading the cards. QR codes are incorporated into some of the stations to allow students to easily access videos onto their personal devices to see examples of how some of the organism obtain energy. Links to all sources are included, in addition to the QR codes, for students who choose to work on a laptop. Students will use their research notes to create a food web for the salt marsh ecosystem. They will then use their food web to answer five analysis questions. This is a great activity to use after teaching your students about ways organisms obtain energy, food webs, and trophic pyramids, or before starting a unit on photosynthesis or cellular respiration so that students have a big picture for how energy flows on the ecosystem level, prior to seeing how it flows on a biochemical level.

*NOTE* Do not purchase if you have already purchased my Energy Flow Unit or my Biology Complete Curriculum Bundle because you already have this product!

How can I use this?

      • Real world application to reinforce concepts of food webs and trophic levels

      • Big picture introductory activity prior to teaching photosynthesis and cellular respiration so students have context from an ecosystem perspective on energy flow

      • Engaging and meaningful sub plan

Why should I use this product in my classroom?

I love lab stations as a way to get students out of their seats and working autonomously in the classroom. I love these lab stations especially because I wrote them about the salt marsh ecosystem that I live in and the trophic interactions of the organisms that inhabit it. My students love how the creation of the food web is almost like a logic puzzle to figure out!

What is included?

      • 2 pages of teacher implementation notes (PDF)

      • 3 pages of student handouts (PDF)

      • 2 page answer key (PDF)

      • 15 organism lab stations (PDF)

How much class time will this take?

This activity takes two 50-minute class periods or one 90-minute class period.

What if I want more related to this?

This product is part of my Energy Flow Unit which is the third unit in my Biology Curriculum Full Year Bundle.

What if I have a question?

Email me at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com I’d love to answer any questions you have!

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*TERMS OF USE*

You may...

      • Use this item for your own classroom, students, or for your own personal use.

      • Buy additional licenses for others to use this product at a discount by visiting your TpT “My Purchases” page.

      • Review this product to recommend others buy it in blog posts, at professional development workshops, or other venues as long as credit is given to my store with a direct link to my store/product.

You may not...

      • Upload this product to any unsecured website or server that other teachers can access for free.

      • Give this product to others without the purchase of an additional license for them (this includes emailing, printing copies, or sharing through a website, cloud or other network.)

      • Copy or modify any part of this document to offer others for free or for sale.