Producers,

Consumers,
Decomposers

Its all about what you eat!

An organism is …..
 Any independent
living thing
 Can be as small as a
single celled bacteria

 Or as large as a
whale!
The three categories of the food
chain are…..
1) Producers
2) Consumers
3) Decomposers

They all depend on each other.

Producers
 Producers get their
food and energy
from the sun.
(PLANTS)

 They make their food

through a process called
photosynthesis.
Consumers
 Consumers need to
eat their food to get
energy. (ANIMALS
AND HUMANS)
Types of consumers are
 There are FOUR types
of Consumers
 Carnivores
 Herbivores
 Omnivores
 Scavengers.
 Its still all about what
you eat!
Carnivores only eat meat (other
animals)
Herbivores eat only plants.
Omnivores eat both meat
(animals) and plants.
Scavenger
Feeds on the
bodies of
dead animals.
Weird Science
 Having survived for 300 million years, the common
cockroach may be the most successful and well-
adapted scavenger of all time. Cockroaches
scavenged dinosaur leftovers long before they
survived on the crumbs and kitchen scraps of
humans. Dead skin and fingernails are a real treat
for them; leftover food is a delicacy. If these tasty
morsels aren’t available, cockroaches can survive
on such unlikely food sources as shoe polish, paint,
and soap.
Stop…Review…Check…
Turn to your partner and tell them the meaning of each
word. Also give two examples of each.
 Carnivore:

 Herbivore:

 Omnivore:

 Scavenger:
Decomposers
 Decomposers eat
dead things and turn
them back into dirt,
or soil.
 Examples:
 Mushrooms
 Worms
 Bugs
What would the world look like
without decomposers? (bacteria
and fungi)
How they relate

.
Ex. Of producer, consumer,
decomposer, and scavenger
Stop…Review…Check…
Turn to your partner and tell them the meaning of each
word. Also give two example of each.

 Producers:

 Consumers:

 Decomposers:
On a sheet of note book paper describe the following animals as either
a producer, consumer or decomposer. For the consumers, make sure
to include if they are a carnivore, herbivore or omnivore. Please use
complete sentences! (Ex: A _____ is a ______.)

1. Bear 8. Panther
2. Shark 9. Giraffe
3. Rabbit 10. Worm
4. Cherry tree
5. Mushroom
6. Human
7. Tulip (flower)
 Mini Poster: Draw a forest and
include the following:
1. Draw 2 producers and label them
2. Draw 2 herbivores and label them
3. Draw 1 Carnivore and label it
4. Draw 1 Omnivore and label it
5. Draw 2 Scavengers and label them
6. Draw 1 Decomposer and label it