Food Chain Diagram
Free printable food chain diagram — a labeled illustration showing how energy flows from the sun to producers and consumers. Download a high-resolution PDF or PNG for Letter paper.
The links in a food chain
A food chain shows how energy passes from one living thing to the next, starting with the sun. Here is what happens at each labeled part of the diagram:
| Link | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sun | The original source of energy for almost every food chain. |
| Producer | A plant, such as grass, that makes its own food from sunlight. |
| Primary consumer | An animal that eats producers — usually a plant-eater (herbivore). |
| Secondary consumer | An animal that eats the primary consumer. |
| Tertiary consumer | An animal that eats the secondary consumer. |
| Apex predator | A top predator at the end of the chain that nothing else hunts. |
Companion worksheet
A free fill-in worksheet with an answer key, built from the labels above — students match each link to its description, then answer a couple of short questions. Great for a quick check after using the diagram.
How to print
Choose Download PDF for a ready-to-print file that fits US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape, or Download PNG for the high-resolution image.
Frequently asked questions
What is a food chain?
A food chain is a diagram that shows the order in which living things depend on each other for food, tracing how energy flows from the sun to plants and then through a series of animals.
What is the difference between a producer and a consumer?
A producer (a plant) makes its own food from sunlight. A consumer is an animal that gets its energy by eating producers or other consumers.
What paper size should I print this on?
The diagram is sized for standard US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape orientation. Use "Download PDF" for a print-ready file that fits the page automatically.