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Science Launch G5 / Week 07 / Launch Lab
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Week 07 · Sunlight in Your Food

Launch Lab

Launch Lab: Sunshine detectives
// Food energy was once sunlight
⏱ about 15 min

Launch Lab: Sunshine detectives

At dinner, Raven passes out sticky notes. "Tonight we are sunshine detectives," she says.

"Pick one food on your plate and trace it back to the Sun," she explains. "Out loud."

Rocket holds up a green bean. "Too easy," he says. "Bean plant, then the Sun. Done!"

Nova hovers by the bowl of potatoes. "Try a harder one," she suggests. "Who can trace the longest chain?"

  1. The energy in food was once energy from the Sun.
  2. Plants are producers. They capture sunlight to make food.
  3. Animals are consumers. They get energy and materials from food.
  4. Food chain arrows point from the food to the eater.
◇ TRACE YOUR DINNER
Each person picks one food at a family meal.
Take turns tracing it back to the Sun out loud.
Write each chain on a sticky note with arrows.
Line up the notes and find the longest chain.
For a grown-up
Ask: what did you notice? What would you change?
Help with foods that have many ingredients by picking just one ingredient to trace.
WEEK CHECK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Where does the energy in a potato come from?
What does food give an animal?
Food gives animals materials and ____.
Food chain arrows point from the food to the ____.
Is grass a producer or a consumer? Type one word.
WHY THIS EXERCISEGrass makes its own food from sunlight.

Next week we follow matter as it moves among plants, animals and the tiny recyclers in the soil.

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