Activity

Factors Affecting Population Size

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

How do we predict future population growth? Young researchers investigate various factors affecting the size of our population. As they calculate and interpret graphs to determine factors that could potentially affect increases and decreases in various populations, high schoolers learn the difference between an open and closed population, as well as how to calculate the time it requires for a human population to double in size.   

263 Views 251 Downloads NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Provide the class with the most recent census data from your state, and have them predict the population in 10, 20, 50, and 100 years based on this data
  • Instruct high schoolers to research legal and illegal immigration, and then discuss how the influx of individuals will affect our environment if proactive measures are not taken
Classroom Considerations
  • Assist the class with performing calculations and provide visual aids to help with rates of growth, death, and birth
Pros
  • Relates historical population events to present situations and predicts future events based on data
  • Multiple questions and activities within the content demonstrate topics not taking place in your class's immediate environment
Cons
  • Document permissions do not allow for printing