Pyramids of number
I can create and interpret pyramids of number to show the size of a population at each trophic level.
Pyramids of number
I can create and interpret pyramids of number to show the size of a population at each trophic level.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Food chains show the feeding relationships between organisms and the flow of energy through a habitat.
- The number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain can be used to create a pyramid of number.
- Pyramids of number use scaled bars to represent the number of organisms.
- Pyramids of number have the producer at the bottom.
Keywords
Trophic level - A trophic level is the position of an organism in a food chain diagram.
Pyramid of number - A pyramid of number is a diagram which shows the total number of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain diagram.
Herbivore - An animal that only eats plants (producers) is called a herbivore.
Carnivore - An animal that eats other animals (consumers) is called a carnivore.
Omnivore - An animal that eats both plants (producers) and other animals (consumers) is called an omnivore.
Common misconception
Pupils often think that the size of organisms has to increase at each trophic level within a food chain diagram.
The lesson addresses the misconception through exemplification. There is coverage of inverted pyramid of number to show that some producers are larger organisms that are eaten by smaller organisms.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which organism is the producer in this food chain?
Q2.Where do producers get their energy from?
Q3.Match the word to its description.
organisms who only eat plant material
organisms that consume other animals
organisms that eat both plant and animal material
Q4.Match the word to its description.
animals that hunt and eat what they catch
animals that are hunted and eaten
Q5.How many prey are there in this food chain?
Q6.How many predators are there in this food chain?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does a food chain show?
Q2.What is each level in a food chain called?
Q3.Match the organism to its description.
shark
phytoplankton
zooplankton
squid
shrimp
Q4.Which organism is the producer in this pyramid of number?
Q5.Who is right?
Q6.How many grass plants are there in this pyramid of number?
