Plants harness energy from the sun through photosynthesis and are called producers. Many animals eat plants as vegetarians and are primary consumers. Carnivores and omnivores that eat these primary consumers are secondary consumers. A basic food chain has producers (plants), primary consumers (herbivores that eat plants), and secondary consumers (carnivores that eat primary consumers).

1. Food ChainsFood Chains

2. All energy comes from the sunAll energy comes from the sun
Plants harness the sun’s
energy in which process?

3. Plants need light forPlants need light for
photosynthesis, what else do theyphotosynthesis, what else do they
need?need?
We call plants producers
because they produce
energy from the sun

4. Many animals eat only plants-theyMany animals eat only plants-they
are vegetarians. We call animalsare vegetarians. We call animals
that eat plants primary (first)that eat plants primary (first)
consumersconsumers

5. The next group, called theThe next group, called the
secondarysecondary consumersconsumers areare
carnivores or omnivores. They eatcarnivores or omnivores. They eat
the primary consumers.the primary consumers.

6. A Basic Food ChainA Basic Food Chain
Plants absorb light from the
sun, which is turned into
energy to grow. We call
these producers.
The vegetarian animals eat
the plants, they are called
primary consumers.
Secondary consumers
prey on primary
consumers.

7. Sort these animals into a foodSort these animals into a food
chain..chain..
Can you
think of a
food
chain of
your
own?