Lesson Plan

Grades 6-8

Double Feature

This lesson plan must be purchased as part of a lesson packet or as part of a full curriculum that is available in our store.

See Purchase Options

15 minutes (Part 1); 30 minutes (Part 2); 30 minutes (Part 3)

SUBJECTS: Math, Science, Social Studies

TOPICS: Doubling Time, Fertility/Mortality, Population Biology

Resource Overview

Students use mathematical formulas to calculate growth rates and doubling times, and to determine the difference between arithmetic and geometric growth.

Students will be able to:
  • Calculate the doubling of an amount and understand how small amounts build quickly with multiple doublings.
  • Explain how birth and death rates affect population change.
  • Explain the difference between arithmetic (linear) and geometric (or exponential) growth.
  • Calculate the rate of natural increase for several countries, as well as their corresponding population doubling or halving times.
  • Analyze countries’ projected population doubling times to project future challenges of demographic changes.
Stacks of coins from small amount to large amount

Features of This Resource

  • Students use ratios to investigate demographic statistics and their meanings
  • Real-world country data included
  • Includes equations for RNI and doubling time

How Do I Get This Lesson Plan?

This lesson plan must be purchased as part of a lesson packet or as part of a full curriculum that is available in our store.

Other Resources You Might Like:

Demonstration using bowls of water and measuring cups shows population growth when the birth rate exceeds the death rate
Grades ,
Stork and the Grim Reaper

In a short demonstration using water and measuring cups, students observe how populations grow when the birth rate exceeds the... Read more »

Students measure the length of their steps and calculate where they'd end up after one million steps
Grades
Measuring a Million

Through riddles and cooperative learning math activities, students work through problems to calculate and visualize millions and billions of things... Read more »

Beans used for modeling population growth
Grades
All in the Family

Students use beans to model population growth in several mystery countries while varying four key demographic factors. Students will be... Read more »