Lesson Packet

Grades 9-12

Population Dynamics unit

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SUBJECTS: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies

TOPICS: Counting Populations, Demographic Transition Model, Carrying Capacity, Family Size Decisions, Fertility/Mortality, Ecological Footprints, Migration, Population Density, World Population Trends/History, United Nations, Women's Issues, Sustainability: Sharing Common Resources

Resource Overview

Thematic unit for the high school classroom covers the basics of population growth and demographics with real-world examples.

Included teaching materials explore real-world migration, the history of global population growth and future population projections, and demographic concepts including birth/death rate, rate of natural increase, doubling time and age-sex diagrams (population pyramids).


Features of This Resource

  • Unit includes 8 lesson plans, 2 case study readings, and 1 background reading.
  • Student skills include developing questions, interpreting graphs and charts, synthesizing research, and more.
  • Great materials for AP Human Geography’s unit 2 on population and migration.

Unit Lesson Plans & Readings

The following are included with the purchase of the unit:

Lesson Plans

Power of the Pyramids


Students use real-world data to construct and interpret population pyramids for several different countries, including the U.S.

Peopling of Our Planet


Students watch the video “World Population” and participate in guided exploration of an online timeline to explore how improvements in...

Double Trouble


Students observe and collect data on the exponential growth of yeast cultures in both a lab experiment and under a...

Demographic Facts of Life


Students calculate the rate of natural increase and corresponding doubling time or half-life for several countries and explore factors that...

Power of the Pyramids: Canada


Students use real-world data to construct and interpret population pyramids and discuss differences in population growth rates among several different...

Migration Stories


In small groups, students take on the role of real-world migrants and take turns in the “hot seat” to answer...

Where Do We Grow From Here?


In this global studies lesson, students analyze UN population projections to see how small changes in fertility rates impact future...

Demographically Divided World


In small groups, students explore changes in regional fertility rates and life expectancy trends over time and discuss how factors...

Readings

The People Connection


Population dynamics background reading: An overview of world population history, current demographic trends, migration, and the concept of carrying capacity.

Crossing Borders: Migration to the EU


Population Dynamics case study reading: Explore migration to the European Union: the push factors forcing people from their homes, their...

South Korea and Mauritius: Countries with Low Fertility Rates


Population Dynamics case study reading: Examine two countries with sub-replacement fertility rates, their path to this status, and their unique...

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