Biology
Confusing Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
Students label any organism that gets energy from nature as a producer, or call any organism that eats dead matter a consumer.
Quick check
Why students make it
The word producer sounds like it means any organism that helps the ecosystem, and consumer sounds like any organism that takes in food. Students also mix up decomposers with scavengers because both deal with dead organisms.
The rule done right
Producers make their own food, usually by photosynthesis. Consumers eat other organisms, and decomposers break down dead organisms or wastes into simpler nutrients.
Related resources
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Food Chains & Energy Pyramids Infographic -
Food Chains, Food Webs, and Energy Pyramids Infographic -
Biology, Decomposers and Nutrient Recycling Infographic -
Ecosystems and Biomes Infographic -
How Compost Turns Waste Into Soil Infographic - Food Chains & Food Webs Cheat Sheet
- Trophic Levels and Energy Pyramids Cheat Sheet
- Biogeochemical Cycles Reference Cheat Sheet
- Ecology & Population Dynamics Cheat Sheet
- Biology, Ecosystems, Producers, Consumers, Decomposers Worksheet
- Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems Worksheet
- Food Chains & Ecosystems Worksheet
- Science, Ecology and Biodiversity Worksheet
- Biology, Ecology Worksheet
- Food Chain & Food Web Builder Tool
- Trophic Transfer Explorer Tool
- Ecosystem Matter Cycle Explorer Tool
- Photosynthesis Explorer Tool
- Food Web Energy Pyramid Lab Lab
- Energy Dynamics & Food Web Lab Lab
- Photosynthesis Lab Lab