Lesson Plan for Activity #4
Population Growth Rates


Lesson # 5

Overview:

Students determine the average annual rate of change (growth rate) of U.S. national population for each decade of historical census data.

Objectives: 

  • Determine the growth rate of U.S. population using historical data
  • Compare calculated growth rates to those estimated by U.S. Census Bureau
  • Identify factors that contribute to growth rate
  • Determine current and future growth patterns of U.S. population
Notes to Teacher: 

Students will continue to use the spreadsheets or data files they assembled in Activity #3. They will add average annual percent change for each decade to their files. They can do this by dividing the Average Rate of Change determined for each decade by the Population at the beginning of the decade. Then convert this to a percentage by multiplying by 100. An example of how to do this is shown in the Population of the Southern Region of the U.S. Example Excel Spreadsheet File and also the Web Page Example.