Lesson Plan for Activity #2
Factors in Population Growth


Lesson # 3

Overview:

Students look at both historical and recent estimates of world population.

Objectives: 

  • Compare weekly increases in world population to population estimates of  local area
  • Determine if  historical events had any influence on world population
  • Identify regions of the world that have had significant population growth in the last decade and speculate on reasons for this
Notes to Teacher: 

This lesson serves as an introduction to population growth. Students will look at the U.S. Census Bureau's World Population Clock which gives real time estimates of the world's current population. It is important to point out to students that this is not the actual population (because there is no way of knowing exactly what the population is at any given instant in time) but rather represents the estimated population of the world based on current mathematical models. 

Students will determine by how many people the population grows each second, minute and week and compare the weekly increase in population to their county population. The purpose of the comparison is for students to get a better perspective on how large these numbers may be.  This type of comparison will better help students visualize the number of people this increase in population represents.

Students will also look at representations of historical population growth and examine historical events that may have influenced population growth. Students can optionally construct their own graphs of world population growth using the data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Lastly, students will examine a chart that shows areas of the world that have had rapid population growth in the last decade. Students will identify the regions that have had the most rapid growth and speculate on reasons for this. The chart that they will use for this part is based on data from 1993. Although the data is not current, it will serve as in introduction to population growth rates which will be covered in more detail using more current estimates in subsequent activities.