1. Draw an illustration with captions to explain how plants make their own food through Photosynthesis. Vocabulary to include: carbon dioxide (CO₂) chlorophyll leaves oxygen sunlight sugar water (H₂O)
Click on the hyperlink: Photosynthesis to see an animation of interdependence at work . Click on launch interactive and the open The Cycle.
Evaluation: You can have students follow the slide directions to draw an illustration or have them do the Photosynthesis Recipe Card activity that is presented on the next two slides.

2. Food Chain instructions
You may either draw it or make a 3-D model as shown in the last slide.
Drawings: Everything must be hand drawn
3-D: You may print the pictures. Make sure you attach each item starting with the sun and going down based on what eats what (ex. An alligator eats a deer, so after deer you should put an alligator)
For Both:
You must have the sun, 1 plant, 5 animals, and a decomposer
name the organisms in your food chain
explain each organism’s role (producer, consumer (and which kind), or decomposer
explain how energy is transferred from the Sun through your food chain (on the paper (drawing) or an index card (3-D)
All plants and animals in this food chain must be native to Florida!!!

3. Create a Food Chain Using Organisms Common to Florida
Materials: small paper plate
yarn
tape
scissors
Florida animal and plant pictures
crayons, markers
Be ready to
name the organisms in your food chain
explain each organism’s role
explain how energy is transferred
from the Sun through your food chain
Explore and Explain:
Optional hyperlink: Click on the hyperlink Create a Food Chain to watch a scholastic Study Jam on Food Chains.
Do show next hyperlink: Using Organisms Common to Florida to show the video,Everglades Ecosystem: The Diversity of Organisms Living in the Everglades which shows students organisms common to Florida.
Explain and Evaluate: Pass out materials to each group to create their own food chain using organisms common to Florida. Each group will present and include :
the organisms in their food chain ‘s names
explanation of each organism’s role
explanation of how energy is transferred
from the Sun through your food chain