Why Animals Need to Eat

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 7-8

Name ______________________ Date ____________

A rabbit and an oak tree both need energy. The oak never eats anything. Why does the rabbit have to eat?
- The rabbit does not need energy
- The oak does not need energy
- Oak makes food, rabbit eats
Which of these names one of the seven main nutrients in food?
- Meat
- Proteins
- Apple
Animals can make their own food, just like plants.
Circle one: True False
Tom never drinks milk or eats cheese, so he does not get enough calcium. What could happen to him?
- He could grow extra teeth
- His hair could turn a new color
- His bones could grow weak
A bowl of pasta gives your body quick energy. Which main nutrient is pasta mostly giving you?
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Vitamins
Eating too much of one nutrient is always fine, as long as you eat something.
Circle one: True False
Zara says, 'Plants and animals both eat food to get their energy.' What is wrong with what Zara said?
- Animals do not need energy
- Plants make food, not eat it
- Plants do not need energy at all
Sam's chart counts toast as carbohydrates, egg as protein, and orange juice as vitamins. Sam eats toast, egg, and orange juice. How many different nutrients on the chart did Sam eat at breakfast?
Answer: ______________

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Oak makes food, rabbit eats · The oak makes its own food, so it never needs to eat. The rabbit cannot do that, so it eats plants to get the energy it needs.
Proteins · Proteins are one of the main nutrients in food. Meat and apple are foods, not nutrient names.
False · Animals cannot make their own food. They must eat plants or other animals to get the energy they need.
His bones could grow weak · Calcium, a mineral, helps build strong bones and teeth. Without enough, bones can grow weak.
Carbohydrates · Pasta is mostly carbohydrates, which give your body energy.
False · Too much or too little of one nutrient can cause problems, like weak bones from too little calcium.
Plants make food, not eat it · Plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and air. Only animals eat food to get energy.
3 · On the chart, toast counts as carbohydrates, egg counts as protein, and orange juice counts as vitamins: three different nutrients.