Summer Vacation at Grandparents' Cottage

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Questions and Answers

What was Theo doing when he complained about being bored at his grandparents' cottage?

Helping with household chores

Playing video games (correct)

Exploring the nearby woods

Fishing on the lake

What did Theo's grandpa suggest bringing along on their fishing trip?

A basket of snacks

A portable video game console

The old instant camera (correct)

A book to read

Why was Grandpa Joe digging in the soil?

To dig for earthworms (correct)

To build a small pond

To bury treasure

To plant a garden

What do fish eat, according to Grandpa Joe?

Worms Signup and view all the answers

What do worms eat, according to Grandpa Joe?

Decaying plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of worms in the ecosystem, according to Grandpa Joe?

They help to break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil Signup and view all the answers

What is Theo's initial reaction to learning about what worms eat?

He is disgusted Signup and view all the answers

What was the time of day when Theo woke up to go fishing with his grandpa?

Early morning Signup and view all the answers

What was Grandpa Joe's suggestion after not getting any bites?

To move to a different part of the lake Signup and view all the answers

What type of creatures live in a lake, according to Grandpa Joe?

All sorts of different plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo see sitting on a lily pad?

A frog Signup and view all the answers

What did the frog catch with its tongue?

A dragonfly Signup and view all the answers

What was in Theo's sandwich?

Turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mustard Signup and view all the answers

What was the beaver doing in the water?

Swimming with a small tree limb in its mouth Signup and view all the answers

What do beavers primarily eat?

Plant materials like bark and leaves Signup and view all the answers

Why did Grandpa Joe want to move again?

Because they still weren't getting any bites Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of the murky water in the lake?

Tiny plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of energy for algae?

From the sun Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary food source for small fish in the lake?

Algae Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of plankton in the lake's ecosystem?

As an important part of the food chain Signup and view all the answers

What do loons primarily eat in the lake?

Small fish and shrimp Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the green stuff floating on top of the water?

Algae Signup and view all the answers

Who eats insect larvae in the lake?

Many small fish and tadpoles Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the bird that Theo saw in the lake?

It can eat small fish and other animals Signup and view all the answers

What was Theo's reaction when he saw the heron catch a fish?

He was excited Signup and view all the answers

Why did Grandpa Joe start the boat's motor?

To go back to the other side of the lake Signup and view all the answers

What was Grandpa Joe's 'extra-special spot'?

A spot where he always catches a fish Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo and the deer have in common?

They both were vegetarians Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo realize about the lake?

It had more plants and animals than he thought Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo catch in the lake?

A large walleye Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo and Grandpa Joe plan to do with the caught fish?

Have it for dinner Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo realize about his role in the lake's ecosystem?

He was a part of the food web Signup and view all the answers

What is at the base of a lake's food web?

Producers like grasses and algae Signup and view all the answers

What do animals have to do to get energy?

Eat plants or other animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of decomposers in a lake's food web?

To return nutrients to the soil and lake Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a consumer that eats producers?

A deer Signup and view all the answers

What is special about Theo's eating habits?

He eats both plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What did Grandma Mae suggest using to connect the plants and animals in the food web?

Yarn from her craft cupboard Signup and view all the answers

What did Theo want to do the next day?

Go kayaking to find more plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the plants and animals in a lake's food web?

They are all connected Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lake Ecosystem

Theo goes on a fishing trip with his grandpa to a lake and learns about the ecosystem
The lake has a food web consisting of producers, consumers, and decomposers

Producers

Producers at the base of the lake food web include:
- Grasses
- Lily pads
- Algae
- Some kinds of plankton
Producers get their energy from the sun

Consumers

Consumers eat producers or other animals
Examples of consumers:
- Deer (eat only plants)
- Beavers (eat only plants)
- Herons (eat fish)
- Fish (eat plankton, algae, or other fish)
- Humans (eat plants and animals)

Decomposers

Decomposers return nutrients to the soil and lake that plants and other organisms can use
Examples of decomposers:
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Worms (eat decaying plants and animals, return nutrients to the soil)

Food Web Connections

All plants and animals in a food web are connected
Theo uses yarn to illustrate the connections between the plants and animals in the lake ecosystem

Additional Facts

Loons eat fish, frogs, crayfish, and shrimp
Beavers are vegetarians and eat plant materials like bark, stems, leaves, and roots of trees, shrubs, and aquatic plants
Herons eat fish
Fishing line and bait can be used to catch fish

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Description

Theo is unhappy about spending two weeks at his grandparents' cottage. He finds it boring and complains about the lack of excitement. But, Grandpa Joe has something to say.