Ecosystems, Food Chains + Food Webs

Vocabulary Activities

©2012 Three Dog Graphx Designs

 Ecosystems, Food Chains + Food Webs

Vocabulary Activities
by Tom Wier

This three page set of vocabulary worksheets includes a crossword

puzzle, a wordsearch puzzle, and a “Crack the Code” brain teaser.
Each of the worksheets is based on the key terminology for the life
science food chain and food web unit that is a part of many state
standards.

Each worksheet reinforces the following sixteen terms:

pollution scavenger carnivore

non-living things ecosystem herbivore
consumer food web population
habitat prey producers
decomposer omnivore photosynthesis
food chain predator

Each worksheets includes kid-friendly graphics to make it more

appealing. I also have an Ecosystem Bingo activity that is based on
many of the same words and concepts.

http://bit.ly/hVGM0Q

Thank you!
Tom Wier
“Teacher Tom” on TPT

©2012 Three Dog Graphx Designs

Name:

Ecosystems, Food Chains, + Food Webs

Solve the puzzle below by using the science words in the box below.
Count the squares if needed. Leave a the box blank if there is a space
between two words (Example: food chain).

1 2 3

7 8

10 11

12 13

14

15

ACROSS
4. A place where living things and non-living things interact
6. An animal that only eats other animals
9. An animal that only eats producers (plants)
12. Any organism that is capable of growth and reproduction
13. Shows the flow of energy from the sun, to a producer, to
consumers
14. An organism that breaks down dead plant and animal
material
15. Any animal that will eat animals that it did not kill
DOWN
1. A living thing uses sunlight to make sugar (plants)
2. Anything that is not alive and never was alive
3. The number of specific organisms found in an ecosystem or
community
5. The process plants use to make food (sugar) by using light,
water, and carbon dioxide
7. Any organism that needs to find food in order to survive
8. Shows the flow of energy through all living things in an
ecosystem
9. An animal's natural home
10. Substances found in the air, water, or soil which are harmful
to living things
11. An animal that eats both producers and other consumers

carnivore food chain living things pollution

consumer food web non-living things population
decomposer habitat omnivore producers
ecosystem herbivore photosynthesis scavenger
Name:

Ecosystems, Food Chains, + Food Webs

Solve the puzzle below by using the science words in the box below.
Count the squares if needed. Leave a the box blank if there is a space
between two words (Example: food chain).

1 2 3
p n p
4
r o e c o s y s t e m
o n p
5
d - u p
u l l h
6
c a r n i v o r e a o
7 8
e v t c f t
9
r i h e r b i v o r e o o
10 11
p s o n a o n o s
o m g b n s d y
12 13
l i v i n g t h i n g s u f o o d c h a i n
l i t t m w t
14
u v h a d e c o m p o s e r h
t o i t r b e
i r n s
o e g i
15
n s c a v e n g e r s
ACROSS DOWN
4. A place where living things and non-living things interact 1. A living thing uses sunlight to make sugar (plants)
6. An animal that only eats other animals 2. Anything that is not alive and never was alive
9. An animal that only eats producers (plants) 3. The number of specific organisms found in an ecosystem or
12. Any organism that is capable of growth and reproduction community
13. Shows the flow of energy from the sun, to a producer, to 5. The process plants use to make food (sugar) by using light,
consumers water, and carbon dioxide
14. An organism that breaks down dead plant and animal 7. Any organism that needs to find food in order to survive
material 8. Shows the flow of energy through all living things in an
15. Any animal that will eat animals that it did not kill ecosystem
9. An animal's natural home
10. Substances found in the air, water, or soil which are harmful
to living things
11. An animal that eats both producers and other consumers

carnivore food chain living things pollution

consumer food web non-living things population
decomposer habitat omnivore producers
ecosystem herbivore photosynthesis scavenger
Name:

Find words relating to ecosystems below. They may be hidden

vertically or horizontally.

g e c o s y s t e m y t u q y o i s c p
h u i j c a r n i v o r e h o i u n z h
c y i n c s c a v e n g e r d q l o k o
h k p f w y d e c o m p o s e r i n k t
w c t n p h a e e m p r r e u g v l a o
p r e y o e o m e k r o r i m h i i p s
h a q r p r m j v d e d n c f a n v o y
p l r s u b n n v m d u r v p b g i l n
h y b y l i i e s s a c i i s i t n l t
s t h n a v v h f n t e h c q t h g u h
v p m t t o o s o e o r k e g a i t t e
w z m k i r r p k q r s e x v t n h i s
l k k g o e e u w r s y c h h h g i o i
c e y k n f o o d c h a i n r f s n n s
z c o a j x c o n s u m e r j z p g y f
t s r a p o f o o d w e b e v m f s p n

carnivore habitat pollution

consumer herbivore population
decomposer living things predator
ecosystem non-living things prey
food chain omnivore producers
food web photosynthesis scavenger
Name:

Find words relating to ecosystems below. They may be hidden

vertically or horizontally.

g e c o s y s t e m y t u q y o i s c p
h u i j c a r n i v o r e h o i u n z h
c y i n c s c a v e n g e r d q l o k o
h k p f w y d e c o m p o s e r i n k t
w c t n p h a e e m p r r e u g v l a o
p r e y o e o m e k r o r i m h i i p s
h a q r p r m j v d e d n c f a n v o y
p l r s u b n n v m d u r v p b g i l n
h y b y l i i e s s a c i i s i t n l t
s t h n a v v h f n t e h c q t h g u h
v p m t t o o s o e o r k e g a i t t e
w z m k i r r p k q r s e x v t n h i s
l k k g o e e u w r s y c h h h g i o i
c e y k n f o o d c h a i n r f s n n s
z c o a j x c o n s u m e r j z p g y f
t s r a p o f o o d w e b e v m f s p n

carnivore habitat pollution

consumer herbivore population
decomposer living things predator
ecosystem non-living things prey
food chain omnivore producers
food web photosynthesis scavenger
Name:

Crack the Code -

Ecosystems, Food Chains, + Food Webs
The words below have been written in code. Use the hints in the decoder at the top of the page to help
break the code (the letters on top are the correct answers, the letters on the bottom are the code).
Write the correct word on the line provided beside each code word. You may need to add spaces to
separate the words.

P V N M C
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1. azwkpqmz 10. nmmkvwi

2. kwymramhwz 11. wymhjhqwr

3. mrlcfmzw 12. amttdqcml

4. amadtpqcml 13. aemqmhjlqewhch

5. ypzlcfmzw 14. ewzicfmzw

6. azmkdywzh 15. ymlhdrwz

7. tcfcluqecluh 16. epicqpq

8. lmltcfcluqecluh 17. azwj

9. hypfwluwz 18. nmmkyepcl

pollution scavenger carnivore non-living things

ecosystem herbivore consumer food web
population habitat prey producers
living things decomposer omnivore photosynthesis
food chain predator

copyright 2012 Three Dog Graphx Designs

Name:

Crack the Code -

Ecosystems, Food Chains, + Food Webs
The words below have been written in code. Use the hints in the decoder at the top of the page to help
break the code (the letters on top are the correct answers, the letters on the bottom are the code).
Write the correct word on the line provided beside each code word. You may need to add spaces to
separate the words.

P K I U H V Q S B Y D N O F Z A T M X L G W E J C R
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1. azwkpqmz predator 10. nmmkvwi food web

2. kwymramhwz decomposer 11. wymhjhqwr ecosystem

3. mrlcfmzw omnivore 12. amttdqcml pollution

4. amadtpqcml population 13. aemqmhjlqewhch photosynthesis

5. ypzlcfmzw carnivore 14. ewzicfmzw herbivore

6. azmkdywzh producers 15. ymlhdrwz consumer

7. tcfcluqecluh living things 16. epicqpq habitat

8. lmltcfcluqecluh non-living things 17. azwj prey

9. hypfwluwz scavenger 18. nmmkyepcl food chain

pollution scavenger carnivore non-living things

ecosystem herbivore consumer food web
population habitat prey producers
living things decomposer omnivore photosynthesis
food chain predator

copyright 2012 Three Dog Graphx Designs

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