Lesson Plan

Grades 3-5, 6-8

Stork and the Grim Reaper

Download Now

10 minutes (Part 1); 20 minutes (Part 2)

SUBJECTS: Math, Science, Social Studies

TOPICS: Fertility/Mortality, International Comparisons

Resource Overview

In a short demonstration using water and measuring cups, students observe how populations grow when the birth rate exceeds the death rate and then model birth and death rates for various countries around the world.

Students will be able to:
  • Define birth rate and death rate.
  • Describe how the birth and death rates affect population growth.
  • Explain why death rates have dropped in recent history.
  • Compare birth and death rates, and the resulting population change, for six countries.

Features of This Resource

  • Visual representation of math equation
  • Opportunity for authentic learning with real-world data
  • Lesson provides the definition of birth rate and death rate
  • Two versions available – one for upper elementary grades (free version here) and one for middle level grades

How Do I Get This Lesson Plan?

The resource is free. Click the green button for immediate download.

Download Now

Other Resources You Might Like:

Flowers growing in a flower pot.
Grades
Crowding Can Be Seedy

A simulation and gardening lab that gives students hands-on experience with the effects of increasing population density. Students will be... Read more »

Apple slices represent different areas of the Earth: water, inhospitable land, used arable land, and arable land for farming
Grades
Earth: The Apple of Our Eye (elementary)

An apple is sliced into pieces to model the amount of agricultural land being used on Earth while students track... Read more »

Panthers are at the top of their food chain and their numbers are limited by available resources, like food, in their habitat
Grades ,
Panther Hunt

Students act as panthers hunting for food in a model habitat to learn about carrying capacity and explore changes that... Read more »