Why do animals and plants need each other?

1. Exploration What can you see in this picture that is living? What do all living things do? What do all living things need? Why do they need these things? Where do plants get these things from? Where do animals get these things from? How do animals and plants depend on each other?

2. Make a woodland food chain What sort of event could affect your food chain? Would it affect both directions of the food chain? How? How does this help you think of new ideas about how animals and plants depend on each other? What do you agree about in your group? What do you disagree about?

3. A disaster in Japan Which way is the energy flowing in this food chain? Why do you think so many people died or became ill? Which part of their bodies do you think the mercury affected the most? How does this help you understand how plants and animals depend on each other?

4. The mouse and the plant What will happen to the plant on its own? What about the mouse on its own? What about when they are both together? How do your ideas relate to what you think about how animals and plants depend on each other?

The sun’s energy is in all of us. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? What evidence can you think of to support your argument? What arguments might there be against yours? How can you explain to the other group why you agree or disagree with their ideas?

6. Back to the start and future learning How have your ideas changed today? What progress have you made with your understanding of why animals and plants need each other? What arguments have you used to explain your point of view or idea? What other evidence would help you understand better?