Animal Food - Lesson Plan

This lesson plan from The Primary Science Advisory Service Ltd is tailored for Year 2 pupils, aiming to enhance their understanding of how animals obtain their food through simple food chains. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum, focusing on the identification of different animal diets and the classification of animals as carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Pupils will also learn to construct basic food chains. The lesson builds on previous knowledge from early years and Year 1, where pupils may already recognise that lions eat zebras and that cows and sheep consume grass. It sets the stage for more advanced topics in Years 3 and 4, such as the types and amounts of nutrition animals require and the construction and interpretation of more complex food chains.

The lesson involves a variety of activities, including sorting animals into categories based on their diets and exploring predator-prey relationships through the creation of bar charts. Pupils will engage with cross-curricular links by drawing animals and bar charts, making connections with art and maths, and exploring geographical aspects by investigating where different animals live. The lesson addresses common misconceptions, such as the idea that prey cannot be predators and that all plants are herbivores. It also provides fascinating facts about animal diets, such as the enormous amount of food consumed by blue whales and elephants. Key vocabulary terms like 'Food Chain', 'Predator', 'Prey', and 'Apex' are highlighted to enrich pupils' scientific lexicon. Additionally, the lesson pays homage to influential scientists in the field and ensures that health and safety considerations are noted, particularly the careful use of scissors.