Pyramids of number
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create and interpret pyramids of number to show the size of a population at each trophic level.
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.
Teacher tip
Pupils can be given populations of organisms within a food chain diagram and use the information to draw pyramid of number diagrams for themselves.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
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?
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Pyramids of number, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 science lesson on: Pyramids of number, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Biodiversity unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.