Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-1-the-need-for-food [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Primary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary.md) › [Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science.md) › [Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum.md) › The Need for Food # The Need for Food Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 2.1.1 ## The Food of Animals All animals, including humans, need enough food and water to live. We also all need to eat the right kinds of food to stay healthy. ### Food for animals ![Food for animals](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-01/ea69cab9-b7db-4793-b5a5-741c5a8c3bcb/pizza-fast-food-.jpg) - Animals (including humans) cannot make their own food in the same way plants can. - Animals get their food by eating plants or other animals. ### Diet ![Diet](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/95a68803-387c-4c50-9a0e-89800283fa55/Banquet-Tudor-Food-Feast-Table.jpg) - All the things that an animal eats are called its 'diet'. - A good diet has all the nutrition that is needed to live, grow, move and be healthy. - Nutrition is what animals get from food to make their bodies work properly. - Different types of animals need different diets. ### Vegetarians and vegans ![Vegetarians and vegans](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/57810991-b238-4fff-86ef-7979224df0c2/vegetables-1085063_1920-min.jpg) - Some humans choose to not eat meat. - Humans are still omnivores even though some of us choose not to eat meat. - A person who does not eat anything from an animal (e.g meat, milk, eggs) is a vegan. ### Food for different animals ![Food for different animals](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a6f6a360-2e35-41a6-9bef-99c1f04d8765/chocolate-buttons-.jpg) - Some foods that we eat are not good for your pets or other animals. - Cow’s milk is bad for most other animals. - Chocolate and grapes are poisonous to dogs. - Too much bread is not healthy for ducks and other birds. - Sweets are bad for most animals. ## The Diets of Different Animals All the things that an animal eats are called its 'diet'. A good diet has all the nutrition that is needed to live, grow, move and be healthy. Different types of animals need different diets. ### Carnivores ![Carnivores](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/17112315-22f3-47dc-abca-914628dba306/cat-dream-sleep-rest-lazy-.jpg) - Carnivores are animals that only eat meat. - A cat is an example of a carnivore. ### Herbivores ![Herbivores](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-07/4db974c2-5f7f-49dd-b240-3839b22f73e7/horse-3390256_1920.jpg) - Herbivores are animals that only eat plants. - A horse is an example of a herbivore. ### Omnivores ![Omnivores](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-10/b0ec2320-0873-42ea-b74c-13ad763e1adf/badger-.jpg) - Omnivores are animals that eat plants and animals. - Badgers are omnivores. - Humans are omnivores. ## Test yourself on The Need for Food - Which of these is true about diet? - Which group of animals only eats meat? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/387be3cf-f0c3-401f-9de4-e8658803ed6d/section/6f513bcb-2b1e-4834-bb7b-813472cba817/session) - Previous topic: [1.4.2 Dispersing Seeds](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-4-2-dispersing-seeds.md) - Next topic: [2.1.2 Food Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-2-food-groups.md) ## Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum contents ### 1 Year 3: Plants - 1.1 Types of Plants - [1.1.1 Flowering & Non-flowering Plants](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-1-1-flowering-and-non-flowering-plants.md) - 1.2 Parts of a Plant - [1.2.1 Roots](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-1-roots.md) - [1.2.2 What do Roots do?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-2-what-do-roots-do.md) - [1.2.3 Stem](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-3-stem.md) - [1.2.4 Leaves](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-4-leaves.md) - [1.2.5 How Leaves Make Food](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-5-how-leaves-make-food.md) - [1.2.6 Flowers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-2-6-flowers.md) - 1.3 Pollination - [1.3.1 Pollination](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-3-1-pollination.md) - [1.3.2 Pollination by Insects](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-3-2-pollination-by-insects.md) - [1.3.3 Pollination by the Wind](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-3-3-pollination-by-the-wind.md) - 1.4 Seeds - [1.4.1 Types of Seeds](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-4-1-types-of-seeds.md) - [1.4.2 Dispersing Seeds](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/1-4-2-dispersing-seeds.md) ### 2 Year 3: Animals (Including Humans) - 2.1 Food - [2.1.1 The Need for Food](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-1-the-need-for-food.md) - [2.1.2 Food Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-2-food-groups.md) - [2.1.3 Carbohydrates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-3-carbohydrates.md) - [2.1.4 Proteins](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-4-proteins.md) - [2.1.5 Dairy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-5-dairy.md) - [2.1.6 Fruit & Vegetables](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-6-fruit-and-vegetables.md) - [2.1.7 Fats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-7-fats.md) - [2.1.8 Junk Food](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-1-8-junk-food.md) - 2.2 Skeletons & Muscles - [2.2.1 Skeletons & Muscles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-2-1-skeletons-and-muscles.md) - [2.2.2 Healthy Bones](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/2-2-2-healthy-bones.md) ### 3 Year 3: Rocks - 3.1 Rocks on Earth - [3.1.1 Rocks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/3-1-1-rocks.md) - [3.1.2 Fossils](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/3-1-2-fossils.md) ### 4 Year 3: Light - 4.1 What is Light? - [4.1.1 Light as Energy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/4-1-1-light-as-energy.md) - [4.1.2 Reflections](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/4-1-2-reflections.md) - [4.1.3 Sunlight](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/4-1-3-sunlight.md) - [4.1.4 Shadows](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/4-1-4-shadows.md) ### 5 Year 3: Forces & Magnets - 5.1 Forces - [5.1.1 What is a Force?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/5-1-1-what-is-a-force.md) - [5.1.2 Contact & Non-Contact Forces](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/5-1-2-contact-and-non-contact-forces.md) - [5.1.3 Testing Magnetic Materials](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/5-1-3-testing-magnetic-materials.md) - [5.1.4 Attracting & Repelling Magnets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/5-1-4-attracting-and-repelling-magnets.md) - [5.1.5 Uses of Magnets](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/5-1-5-uses-of-magnets.md) ### 6 Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats - 6.1 Grouping Animals - [6.1.1 Biodiversity & Classification](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-1-1-biodiversity-and-classification.md) - [6.1.2 Grouping Animals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-1-2-grouping-animals.md) - 6.2 Vertebrates - [6.2.1 Vertebrates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-1-vertebrates.md) - [6.2.2 Mammals](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-2-mammals.md) - [6.2.3 Reptiles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-3-reptiles.md) - [6.2.4 Fish](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-4-fish.md) - [6.2.5 Amphibians](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-5-amphibians.md) - [6.2.6 Birds](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-2-6-birds.md) - 6.3 Invertebrates - [6.3.1 Invertebrates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-3-1-invertebrates.md) - [6.3.2 Insects](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-3-2-insects.md) - [6.3.3 Spiders](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-3-3-spiders.md) - [6.3.4 Slugs & Snails](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-3-4-slugs-and-snails.md) - [6.3.5 Worms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-3-5-worms.md) - 6.4 Grouping Plants - [6.4.1 Grouping Plants](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-4-1-grouping-plants.md) - [6.4.2 Flowering Plants](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-4-2-flowering-plants.md) - [6.4.3 Non-Flowering Plants](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-4-3-non-flowering-plants.md) - 6.5 Classification Keys - [6.5.1 Classification Keys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-5-1-classification-keys.md) - 6.6 Environmental Change - [6.6.1 Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-6-1-positive-impact-of-humans-on-the-environment.md) - [6.6.2 Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-6-2-negative-impact-of-humans-deforestation.md) - [6.6.3 Negative Impact of Humans: Litter](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-6-3-negative-impact-of-humans-litter.md) - [6.6.4 Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/6-6-4-negative-impact-of-humans-overpopulation.md) ### 7 Year 4: Animals, Including Humans - 7.1 Teeth - [7.1.1 Why Do We Need Teeth?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-1-why-do-we-need-teeth.md) - [7.1.2 'Baby' Teeth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-2-baby-teeth.md) - [7.1.3 Adult Teeth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-3-adult-teeth.md) - [7.1.4 Incisors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-4-incisors.md) - [7.1.5 Canines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-5-canines.md) - [7.1.6 Premolars](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-6-premolars.md) - [7.1.7 Molars](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-1-7-molars.md) - 7.2 Digestion - [7.2.1 What is Digestion?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-2-1-what-is-digestion.md) - [7.2.2 The Digestive System - The Mouth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-2-2-the-digestive-system-the-mouth.md) - [7.2.3 The Digestive System - The Stomach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-2-3-the-digestive-system-the-stomach.md) - [7.2.4 The Digestive System - The Small Intestines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-2-4-the-digestive-system-the-small-intestines.md) - [7.2.5 The Digestive System - The Large Intestines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-2-5-the-digestive-system-the-large-intestines.md) - 7.3 Food Chains - [7.3.1 What are Food Chains?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-3-1-what-are-food-chains.md) - [7.3.2 Producers, Predators & Prey](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-3-2-producers-predators-and-prey.md) - [7.3.3 Herbivores & Carnivores](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/7-3-3-herbivores-and-carnivores.md) ### 8 Year 4: States of Matter - 8.1 The 3 States of Matter - [8.1.1 States of Matter](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/8-1-1-states-of-matter.md) - [8.1.2 Changes of State](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/8-1-2-changes-of-state.md) - 8.2 The Water Cycle - [8.2.1 The Water Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/8-2-1-the-water-cycle.md) - [8.2.2 Evaporation at Different Temperatures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/8-2-2-evaporation-at-different-temperatures.md) ### 9 Year 4: Sound - 9.1 How Do I Hear? - [9.1.1 What is Sound?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/9-1-1-what-is-sound.md) - [9.1.2 Sound Travels to Your Ear](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/9-1-2-sound-travels-to-your-ear.md) - 9.2 Pitch - [9.2.1 Pitch](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/9-2-1-pitch.md) - 9.3 Volume - [9.3.1 Volume](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/9-3-1-volume.md) - [9.3.2 How Distance Affect Volume](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/9-3-2-how-distance-affect-volume.md) ### 10 Year 4: Electricity - 10.1 Uses of Electricity - [10.1.1 What Uses Electricity?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-1-1-what-uses-electricity.md) - 10.2 Conductors & Insulators - [10.2.1 Electrical Conductors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-2-1-electrical-conductors.md) - [10.2.2 Electrical Insulators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-2-2-electrical-insulators.md) - 10.3 Making Circuits - [10.3.1 What is a Circuit?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-3-1-what-is-a-circuit.md) - [10.3.2 Complete Circuits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-3-2-complete-circuits.md) - [10.3.3 Electrical Safety](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/science/science-year-3-and-4-national-curriculum/10-3-3-electrical-safety.md)