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B2: Explain the difference between producers (e.g., green plants), consumers (e.g., those that eat green plants), and decomposers (e.g., bacteria that break down the "consumers" when they die), and identify examples of each.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	Which organisms in this food web are producers? Which organisms in this food web are consumers? Which organisms in this food web are decomposers? What types of organisms are producers? What types of organisms are consumers? What types of organisms are decomposers? What would happen to the organisms in this food web if all the decomposers were taken away? What would happen to the organisms in this food web if all of the producers were removed?
Elaboration	One of the most general distinctions among organisms is between plants, which use sunlight to make their own food, and animals, which consume energy-rich foods. Students should explore how various organisms satisfy their needs in the environments in which they are typically found. Food webs illustrate the roles that organisms play. SFAA p.60
Specific Ideas	Almost all kinds of animals' food can be traced back to plants. Benchmarks 5E1 Producers capture energy from sunlight. Green plants are producers. NSES C4b and c (gr 6-8) Consumers eat other organisms to obtain their energy. Animals are consumers.NSES C4b (gr 6-8) Decomposers break down plants and animal bodies after they die. Decomposers are bacteria and mushrooms and some insects. NSES C4b (gr 6-8) Decomposers allow material to be "recycled". Matter from the dead organisms is converted into other materials in the environment. Benchmarks p. 343
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Benchmarks suggests that biological transfer of energy is too complicated at this level. They suggest not labeling the steps in a food chain as energy transfer, and instead concentrating on transfer of matter. Benchmarks p.119 Most students see food webs and cycles as the creation and destruction of matter, rather than the breakdown and assembly of invisible units. Before they have an understanding of atoms, the notion of reusable building blocks common to plants and animals is quite mysterious and probably will not be clearly understood until later on. The term "food" is problematic, as common usage and scientific usage of the term differs. Benchmarks p. 120
Examples

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