1. Year 9 Ecosystems: Producers, consumers & decomposers
What’s eating you video
Different animal types video (first 2 mins)
What is a consumer? Worksheet Achieve p22-23

2. Producers
Producers are types of organisms that make (or produce) their own food products from inorganic (non-living) ingredients.
They usually produce their own food through photosynthesis.
This is why we call them autotrophs, which means “self-feeder”.
What is a producer? Worksheet Achieve p20-21

3. Consumers
Consumers are types of organisms that eat or use food products made by producers, or that eat other consumers.
They are not able to produce their own food through photosynthesis.
This is why we call them heterotrophs, which means “other-feeder”.
What is a consumer? Worksheet Achieve p22-23

4. Herbivores
Herbivores are organisms that eat plants, algae, or other producers (autotrophs).
They could be domesticated animals such as cows, sheep & horses.
They could be wild animals like kangaroos, giraffes & zebras.
They are found on land and in the water.
Are first order consumers.
Are heterotrophs.
What is a consumer? Worksheet Achieve p22-23

5. Carnivores Carnivores are animals that eat other animals (or meat).
They can be predators that catch and kill live animals e.g. great white shark.
They can be scavengers that consume animals that are already dead e.g. Tasmanian devil.
They are found on land, in the water and in the sky.
Are second, third or fourth order consumers.
Are heterotrophs.
What is a consumer? Worksheet Achieve p22-23

6. Omnivores
Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and other animals (or meat).
They are found on land, in the water and in the sky.
Are second, third or fourth order consumers.
Are heterotrophs.
What is a consumer? Worksheet Achieve p22-23

7. Decomposers
Break down dead plants & animals (organic matter) into inorganic compounds containing N, P & C.
This process is essential to return nutrients to the soil in order for plants to grow.
Occur at all trophic levels.
Most decomposers are bacteria or fungi.
Decomposing rabbit video
Decomposing Fruit Video
What is a decomposer? Worksheet Achieve p24-25

8. Producers, consumers & decomposers are all important elements of a sustainable ecosystem

9. Producers, consumers & decomposers game
Just like rock, paper scissors….. But sillier….
Students are divided into two equal teams and line up on opposite sides of the room.
One student from each team comes up to the front of the room.
Teacher will say “ready, set, go” and students will choose either:
Producer (student stands like a tree)
Consumer (student snarls and shows claws like a predator)
Decomposer (student will mimic being decomposed)
Consumer beats producer, decomposer beats consumer, producer beats decomposer.
Tally scores on the board. Play until one team is victorious or continue until only one student is left standing.

10. Summary Producers, consumers and decomposers worksheet Achieve p18-19
Let’s try the producers, consumers and decomposers set on Quizlet!