Lesson Plan

Grades 6-8, 9-12

Food for Thought

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1 hour (can be abridged or divided over several days)

SUBJECTS: Social Studies

TOPICS: Demographic Transition Model, Economics, Education, Fertility/Mortality, Energy, International Comparisons, Land Use, Public Health, World Population Trends/History, Urbanization, Wealth & Poverty

Resource Overview

Acting as residents of five major world regions, students compare various statistics that affect people’s health and well-being.

Students will be able to:
    • Identify indicators that can determine the relative well-being of a country or region.
    • Determine potential impacts of inequitable resource distribution.
    • Draw connections between population growth rate and several quality of life indicators (including wealth, health, education and energy use).
    • Summarize and communicate their opinions on how to best address global inequality.

Features of This Resource

  • One of Population Education’s most popular lessons
  • Students use ratios and statistics to understand demographic information and environmental impacts
  • Provides students with context for many global issues they learn about in various social studies and science courses
  • Lesson has two versions – one appropriate for middle school and one for high school skill levels

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