Parts of the Food Chain (Producers/Consumers...)

Producers

Plants are called producers. This is because they produce their own food! They do this by using light energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce food - in the form of glucouse/sugar.
The process is called photosynthesis. Click on the image below to learn about photosynthesis.

Consumers

Animals are called consumers. This is because they cannot make their own food, so they need to consume (eat) plants and/or animals.

There are 3 groups of consumers. (Click on any to learn more!)
	Animals that eat only plants.
	Animals that eat only animals.
	Animals that eat both animals AND plants. Humans are also omnivores!
Games on Herbivores, Carnivores & Omnivores!:

Decomposers

Bacteria and fungi are decomposers. They eat decaying matter - dead plants and animals and in the process they break them down and decompose them When that happens, they release nutrients and mineral salts back into the soil - which then will be used by plants! Click on the left-hand image to learn more.