Targeted age group: Grades K-5

This activity is designed to teach students about food chains and food webs. Students will learn basic information on up to 30 different organisms living in an African grassland savanna, and how these plant and animal species are connected to one another through energy transfer pathways. By the end of the exercise, students will have produced a large food web suitable for display on a classroom bulletin board.

To get started, print the double-sided plant and animal cards and punch holes in the top and bottom of each card. Work with your students to learn about each plant and animal – the notes on the back of each card should help get you started! Then use long pieces of yarn to connect different cards based on what each animal eats. You’ll find that some animals eat a lot of different food items (for example, lion) while others have just a few choices (for example, wildebeest). We suggest selecting just a few plant and animal cards to get your students started… more can always be added later on!

Materials needed:
Plant and animal cards (be sure to print double sided)
Handheld hole punch
Yarn
~100 small key rings (1o mm; optional)

Contributors:
Layne Mapes, Catherine Markham

Sample animal card with photo and fact