Tool

9-12

World Population Map poster

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SUBJECTS: Social Studies

TOPICS: Population Density, World Population Trends/History

The World Population Map is a cartogram poster providing students a unique view of the Earth – the size of each country is shown in proportion to its population, rather than its land mass. 7,241 colorful squares are arranged to represent the 2013 global population of 7.2 billion people. The map is a powerful teaching tool for student exploration of how population data can be visually interpreted and how different map types can alter the perspective of how one sees the world.

These lessons in the Map Activity Guide have been designed primarily for the high school social studies classroom but all are interdisciplinary, relying on and applying knowledge and skills from mathematics, English language arts, and science.

Cartogram map of global population

Features of This Resource

  • 35″ x 50″ human population cartogram poster
  • Map Activity Guide includes a background reading and six classroom lesson plans
  • Opportunity for elementary learners to work with geographic representations
  • Students practice geo-literacy and quantitative literacy

Accompanying Lesson Plans

The following are included with the downloadable Activity Guide

Lesson Plans

Population Squared

- Using the methods of a demographer, students will analyze, interpret, and evaluate conclusions on population data from the World Population... Read more »

Land Use Squared

- Students compare the World Population Map with an equal area map to calculate statistics related to arable land, megacities, and... Read more »

Development in Motion

- Using the ‘trendalyzer’ program from www.gapminder.org, students construct and interpret dynamic graphs and discuss differences in life expectancy, fertility rates,... Read more »


How Do I Get This Poster?

The poster is available for purchase in our store.

Purchase Now

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

Earth Matters is an online lesson plan library for high school environmental science and geography teachers
Earth Matters: Studies For Our Global Future

High school lessons cover global interdependence in ways students find meaningful and relatable.

World Population History website

Interactive map of world population growth with annotated population "dots," data overlays, and thematic timelines.