This 4th grade worksheet shows a meadow food chain of grass, grasshopper, frog, snake and hawk. Four scenario boxes ask what happens to the other living things when a disease kills most of the frogs, a drought kills much of the grass, farmers kill the grasshoppers or more hawks move in. Each box has five lines for a prediction and a reason. The answers page gives a model prediction for each scenario.
“Predict how removing or adding one living thing changes the rest of a food chain.”
All four scenario boxes ask what will happen to the other living things.
“Explain a prediction by following the links between predator and prey.”
Each box also asks why.
A five-link chain with arrows from grass to hawk, then two boxes: a disease kills most of the frogs, and a drought kills much of the grass.
Two more boxes, one for farmers spraying the grasshoppers and one for more hawks moving into the meadow. Each asks what will happen to the other living things and why.
A model answer for each scenario that follows the effect up and down the chain, such as more grasshoppers, less grass and fewer snakes when the frogs disappear.
Think, pair, share
Give pairs scenario 1 and ask for the effect on the grass before the effect on the snake. The grass answer is the one that needs the chain traced in both directions.
One scenario per group
Split the class into four groups and give each a scenario. Groups report back and compare their ideas with the key.
Link to weather
Scenario 2 fits a lesson on drought or dry seasons. Ask what a dry summer would do to the meadow.
Get started today
