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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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.
To help you plan your year 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 year 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Biodiversity unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
organisms who only eat plant material
organisms that consume other animals
organisms that eat both plant and animal material
animals that hunt and eat what they catch
animals that are hunted and eaten
Exit quiz
6 Questions
shark
phytoplankton
zooplankton
squid
shrimp
