Identify a Producer, Consumer, or Decomposer with This Activity!

What are producers, consumers, and decomposers? These are words to describe different types of living things that are found within an ecosystem. Producers are organisms that make their own food by absorbing sunlight and using this energy to thrive. Consumers are animals that eat living things as a means of energy. Decomposers break down dead plants and animals.

With this cut and paste worksheet, students will cut out 24 living things and sort them according to whether they are producers, consumers, or decomposers. Students will then glue each piece in its corresponding column. This resource can also be completed digitally by downloading the interactive version of this sorting activity.

An answer key is included with your download to make grading fast and easy!  

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

In addition to independent student work time, use this worksheet as an activity for:

• Guided science groups
• Lesson warm-up
• Lesson wrap-up
• Fast finishers 
• Homework assignment

For students who need a bit of a challenge, encourage them to create 3 different food chains or 1 food web using the pictures they sorted. 

If there are students who need additional support, invite them to reference previous assignments, posters, or anchor charts. Additionally, you can use the editable version to limit the number of items to sort or reduce the number of categories.

🖨️ Easily Download & Print

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF, editable Google Slides, or interactive Google Slides version of this resource. If using the digital version, remember that it should be completed in “Edit Mode” rather than “Slideshow Mode.” 

Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete. 

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks.

Get more worksheets to have handy!

This resource was created by Madison Evans, a teacher in North Carolina and Teach Starter Collaborator.