One clear day, the sun shined big and bright all the way up in the sky. It produces a LOT of energy. Energy is needed for plants, animals, humans, and all other life to do work or daily activities. Energy from the sun is given to plants, and they pass it to the animals that eat them. When an animal eats another animal for energy, that energy comes all the way from the sun!

That same day, there was a beautiful honeysuckle plant soaking up some sun. Plants are called producers, because they make their own food. The plant stood proudly as it grew and grew, filling the air with its sweet smell. Until.....

SLURP

SLURP

SLURP

A hungry moth slurped on the honeysuckle’s tasty nectar. The moth is a consumer, because he eats plants for energy. He grew stronger as he ate, and boldly said, “oh my, what a meal! I’m a pretty big deal. There’s so much energy to gain, because I’M the top of the food chain.” But then........

Think about it!

Why did the moth grow "stronger as he ate?"

CHOOOOOOMMMMMMP!

A hungry frog snatched the moth right out of the air. Because the frog eats other animals for energy, she is also a consumer. The frog licked her lips and declared, “oh my, what a meal! I’m a pretty big deal. There’s so much energy to gain, because I’M the top of the food chain.” But of course...she was wrong. Suddenly...

S N A P

A hungry snake gulped down the frog. Because the snake eats other animals for energy, he is also a consumer. Now strong from his snack, the snake slithered on and hissed, “oh my, what a meal! I’m a pretty big deal. There’s so much energy to gain, because I’M the top of the food chain.” Before the words had left his forked tongue, a shadow passed overhead. A piercing sound came from above.

Think about it!

Why did the frog make the snake "strong?"

SCREEEEEEECH!

A hungry hawk grabbed the snake right from the ground and kept flying. Because the hawk eats other animals for energy, he is also a consumer. He finished his meal safely from a tree, then felt ready to fly hard and fast. Just as he pushed off from his perch, the hawk cried out, “oh my, what a meal! I’m a pretty big deal. There’s so much energy to gain, because I’M the top of the food chain.”

Think about it!

What made the hawk ready to "fly hard and fast?"

One day, a terrible drought struck the land. All of the plants died, the ponds dried up, and it did not rain for a very long time.

Since there were no more plants, the moths had nothing to eat. Eventually, all the moths disappeared.

And since there were no more moths to eat or ponds to live in.....

the frogs disappeared too.