Meal Deal - Teacher's Guide

aquatic

Living or growing in the water

bottom-dwelling

Animals or plants that live in or on the bottom of a body of water

consumer

A living thing that cannot produce its own food; it gets its energy by eating, or consuming, other animals or plants

crustaceans

Animals such as crabs and lobsters that have a hard outer shell and jointed legs

detritus

Particles from dead and decaying plants and animals

juvenile

The stage of life between hatching and being an adult

marsh

A type of wetland, covered with grasses and low-lying shrubs

migrate

To move to another location, usually according to season

mollusks

Animals whose soft bodies are protected by a hard outer shell

nutrients

The essential chemicals plants and animals need to grow and survive

predator

An animal that kills and eats other animals or plants (called their prey)

predatory

Living by eating other animals

prey

Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals (called predators)

producer

A green plant that is able to make its own food

scavengers

Animals that eat dead plants and animals

shellfish

Animals such as crabs, oysters, or shrimp that have hard, protective skeletons on the outside of their bodies

waterfowl

Birds that live near lakes, rivers, bays, or other bodies of water