Where DOES my Energy Come From? Web Activity

Purpose: To understand that the Sun is the source of all energy

Materials

• internet access
• word processing program
• printer
• web site: http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/food.htm

Procedure

1. Visit http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/food.htm to learn about food chains and food webs.
2. Discuss with your partner how food webs transfer energy from one organism to another.
3. In your science journal, write a short explanation of a food web. Describe the source of all energy.
4. With your partner, design a food web using as many different types of organisms as possible.
5. Search the web sites listed below for images of the organisms you have chosen.
6. Copy and paste the images into a word processing document. Don’t forget to add the Sun.
   For pictures of the Sun:
   http://www.arcomnet.net.au/~vincent/5aHad.htm
   http://www.hao.ucar.edu/public/slides/slide6.html
   http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/sol.html
   For pictures of various organisms:
   http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/bentgrasses.html
   http://www.gomaywood.org/maywood/summer.htm
   http://www-aes.tamu.edu/mary/Wdid.htm
   http://environment.about.com/cs/naturephotography/
   http://www.northlandimages.com/home2.html
7. If possible, use the draw feature of a word processing program to place arrows in the correct places or draw them in by hand once the document is printed.
8. Print your document and share your food web with the class, explaining how the Sun’s energy is transferred through the Web.

Conclusion

1. What is the source of all energy in the food web?
2. How does energy move through a food web?
3. Explain how energy gets to your body.