---
title: "Energy from Food & the Sun"
description: "Use models to describe that energy in animals' food was once energy from the sun, transferred through plants or other organisms"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/energy-from-food-and-the-sun-mt_PYPs2yD2sn
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/energy-from-food-and-the-sun-mt_PYPs2yD2sn.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Energy from Food & the Sun

Use models to describe that energy in animals' food was once energy from the sun, transferred through plants or other organisms

Subject: Science · Area: Organisms & Life Processes · Ages 10 to 11
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/energy-from-food-and-the-sun-mt_PYPs2yD2sn

## Ready when they can

- Explain that plants capture energy from sunlight to make food (photosynthesis)
- Trace an energy pathway: sun → plant → animal → another animal
- Explain that animals use food energy for body repair, growth, movement, and warmth

## Lesson: Energy from Food & the Sun

You have learned that plants use air and water to grow. Green plants also use light energy to make food. Animals such as rabbits and people get food energy by eating plants or other animals. In the feeding paths here, that energy can be traced back to sunlight.

*(drawing: Read left to right: grass captures light energy, a rabbit eats grass, and a fox eats the rabbit.)*

Photosynthesis uses light energy to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water. These sugars store energy the plant can use. Soil provides minerals, but these do not replace light as the energy source for photosynthesis. Plants, algae and some bacteria can photosynthesize.

**Example.** Wheat stores food in its seeds. Cereal made from those seeds supplies food energy when you eat it. A farmer helps the wheat grow by caring for the crop. The wheat plant captures sunlight energy through photosynthesis; the farmer does not create the energy stored in its food.

Your body uses energy stored in food for growth, repair, movement and keeping warm. Running and healing a scrape both need energy. Food also supplies materials for building and repairing your body. Water and vitamins help your body work, but they do not supply food energy.

A green plant in complete darkness cannot photosynthesize. Water and soil cannot replace light. The plant may keep living for a while by using food it stored earlier. If it stays without light long enough, those stores run low and the plant weakens.

**Recap.** In these feeding paths, plants store sunlight energy in food. Animals obtain food energy by eating and use it for growth, repair, movement and warmth.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Plants Grow from Air & Water](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/plants-grow-from-air-and-water-mt_3-ii06P4YS)
- [Animal Nutrition](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/animal-nutrition-mt_E1wR8IfCV6)

## Opens up

- [Matter Cycling in Ecosystems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/matter-cycling-in-ecosystems-mt_0ajzcoKAKw)