Lesson Plan Overview
Pyramids of numbers and biomass are also used to study food chains in more detail. Biomass is the amount of living material at each trophic level. You would expect that to reduce at each stage as energy is lost between each stage. You would expect the bars of a pyramid of biomass to get narrower at each stage. The bars on a pyramid of number may not get narrower at each stage, as the bars are representing the number of organisms at each stage. A tree, for example, is very big and has a large biomass, but it is only a single living organism.
Using charts to describe food chains can have many benefits in understanding the transfers in energy between each trophic level. In this activity, have your students draw a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass for different food chains.
This activity looks at the general trends in the pyramids shapes and is not designed to get students drawing the graphs accurately. Have students find data online and draw the charts out more accurately using graph paper.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard to show how we can represent certain food chains with charts. The two charts we are going to use are called a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass.
- Look at the food chains in the first column. They are Oak → Aphid → Ladybug → Sparrow and Grass → Caterpillar → Bluebird.
- Use this information to create a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass. You should do this by using rectangles.
- You don’t need to make the bands of the pyramid exactly the right size.
- To make this easier, turn on "grid lines" by clicking advanced options at the bottom of the page.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 16 Points | Beginning 0 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyramids of Numbers | Both the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. They are both labeled. | One of the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. One is labeled. | Neither of the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. Neither of them is labeled. |
| Pyramids of Biomass | Both the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. They are both labeled. | One of the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. One is labeled. | Neither of the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. Neither of them is labeled. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
Lesson Plan Overview
Pyramids of numbers and biomass are also used to study food chains in more detail. Biomass is the amount of living material at each trophic level. You would expect that to reduce at each stage as energy is lost between each stage. You would expect the bars of a pyramid of biomass to get narrower at each stage. The bars on a pyramid of number may not get narrower at each stage, as the bars are representing the number of organisms at each stage. A tree, for example, is very big and has a large biomass, but it is only a single living organism.
Using charts to describe food chains can have many benefits in understanding the transfers in energy between each trophic level. In this activity, have your students draw a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass for different food chains.
This activity looks at the general trends in the pyramids shapes and is not designed to get students drawing the graphs accurately. Have students find data online and draw the charts out more accurately using graph paper.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard to show how we can represent certain food chains with charts. The two charts we are going to use are called a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass.
- Look at the food chains in the first column. They are Oak → Aphid → Ladybug → Sparrow and Grass → Caterpillar → Bluebird.
- Use this information to create a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass. You should do this by using rectangles.
- You don’t need to make the bands of the pyramid exactly the right size.
- To make this easier, turn on "grid lines" by clicking advanced options at the bottom of the page.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 16 Points | Beginning 0 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyramids of Numbers | Both the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. They are both labeled. | One of the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. One is labeled. | Neither of the pyramids of numbers are drawn correctly and to scale. Neither of them is labeled. |
| Pyramids of Biomass | Both the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. They are both labeled. | One of the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. One is labeled. | Neither of the pyramids of biomass are drawn correctly and to scale. Neither of them is labeled. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
How Tos about Pyramid of Numbers and Pyramid of Biomass
How to help students interpret pyramids of numbers and biomass critically
Guide students to analyze what each level of the pyramid represents and how it relates to energy flow in the ecosystem. Encourage them to consider why certain levels might look unusual (like a large producer or many small consumers) and discuss real-world examples to deepen understanding.
Encourage students to ask ‘why’ about pyramid shapes
Prompt students to question why some pyramids are not perfectly shaped. Discuss factors such as organism size, reproductive rates, and energy loss that affect the pyramid structure.
Use food web examples to extend learning
Present a simple food web and have students predict how adding or removing an organism would change the pyramid. This helps reinforce how interconnected ecosystems are and the impact on energy flow.
Foster collaborative analysis through group discussion
Organize small groups to compare their pyramids and reasoning. Encourage students to explain their thinking and respectfully challenge one another’s interpretations for deeper insight.
Connect pyramid concepts to local environments
Ask students to research or observe a food chain in your schoolyard or community. Have them create a pyramid of numbers and biomass based on real observations, making the lesson more relevant and memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pyramid of Numbers and Pyramid of Biomass
What is the difference between a pyramid of numbers and a pyramid of biomass?
A pyramid of numbers shows the count of organisms at each trophic level, while a pyramid of biomass displays the total mass of living organisms at each level. Biomass pyramids typically narrow at higher levels, reflecting energy loss, while number pyramids may not always have this shape due to varying organism sizes.
How do you draw a pyramid of numbers for a food chain?
To draw a pyramid of numbers, list each organism in the food chain as a level and use rectangles to represent their population size. The base is the producer, and each step up represents the next consumer. The rectangle width reflects the number of organisms at that level.
Why do pyramids of biomass usually get narrower at each stage?
Pyramids of biomass get narrower because energy is lost at every trophic level through respiration, movement, and waste. As a result, less living material is available to support the next level up.
Can you give an example of a food chain and its pyramid of numbers?
For the food chain Oak → Aphid → Ladybug → Sparrow, the pyramid of numbers might show one oak tree at the base, many aphids feeding on it, fewer ladybugs eating the aphids, and even fewer sparrows preying on the ladybugs.
What are the benefits of using pyramids to study food chains in class?
Pyramids help students visually understand energy flow and population structure in ecosystems. They make it easier to see how energy and biomass decrease at each trophic level and identify trends in food chains.
More Storyboard That Activities
Food Chains
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
