Population Density Lesson Plan – Lesson Description

Grade Level

This lesson fits very well with the geography and social studies curriculum for Grades 9 to 12 in many provinces and territories. It could also be modified to suit students from Grades 7 to 8.

Time Required

• Two class periods of approximately 45 minutes each are recommended to complete the exercise.
• Part 1 and 2 could be completed in the first session, Part 3 in the second session. Part 3 requires student access to the Internet.
• Part 4, the extension and evaluation ideas are not accounted for in this timeline.

Materials Required

Part 1

• Promotional poster-map – Canada's Population Density
• “Pop Quiz” – Canada's Population Density

Part 2

• Promotional poster-map – Canada's Population Density
• Fact-finder Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density

Part 3

• Analysis Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density
• Access to the Internet

Main Objective

Students will successfully extract geographic information from print and non-print sources to describe and explain population density patterns in Canada.

Lesson Sequence

• Part 1: Introduction
  Students will be introduced to the concept of population density, prior to completing a “Pop Quiz” to assess their current knowledge of population patterns in Canada.
• Part 2: Canada's Population Density Poster-map
  Using the poster-map, students will search for the correct answers to the "Pop Quiz” from Part 1. Second describe population density patterns based on information from the poster-map.
• Part 3: Population Density Interactive Map
  Students will use the Population Density, 2001 interactive map from the Atlas of Canada Web site, to collect data and compare the population densities of various Canadian cities and examine the advantages and disadvantages of living in a community with high and low population densities.
• Part 4: Extension and Evaluation Ideas
  This section includes a research assignment that builds on the themes of this lesson.

Introduction

For this lesson, we recommend introducing the topic of population and population density to students before they begin working with the maps. Once students are familiar with the concept of population and population density they can attempt the “Pop Quiz” to assess their current knowledge of population patterns in Canada.

To familiarize students with three primary means of describing population (total population, population density and population distribution):

• Brainstorm with students their understanding of the terms total population, population density and population distribution.
• Have the students record definitions for these terms in an organizer or in their notes.

Materials

• Promotional poster-map – Canada's Population Density
• “Pop Quiz” – Canada's Population Density

“Pop Quiz” Teacher Instruction

• Ask students to clear their desks or close their books. Tell them that they are about to take a “Pop Quiz” to see how much they already know about various characteristics of Canada's population. Decide if you want them to work individually or in pairs. This could work well as a Think, Pair, Share activity.
• Distribute the quiz and allow approximately 5 minutes for completion. Ask students to try their best and guess if they are unsure of an answer. There are no marks allocated to the quiz.
• Discuss with students their responses to the various questions of the quiz. Avoid correcting or providing answers to the questions as students will find the answers to the quiz in Part 2 of the lesson.

Introduction

First, students will use the Canada's Population Density poster-map to determine the correct facts about population in Canada. Second, they will observe and analyze the data mapped on the poster to describe population density patterns.

Materials

• Promotional poster-map – Canada's Population Density
• Fact-finder Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density
• Print atlases to use as a reference tool

Steps

• Decide if you want students to work individually, in pairs or in small groups.
• Distribute Canada's Population Density poster-map and the Fact-finder Activity Sheet to students.
• Ask students to use the poster-map to find the correct facts about Canada's population based on the 2001 Census. They should record the information in Part A of their Fact-finder Activity Sheet.
• Part B of the Fact-finder Activity Sheet asks students to describe population density patterns relative to several locations. They may need help with this section of the activity. Monitor students carefully as they work through the exercise and provide guidance where necessary.

Introduction

Students use the interactive Population Density, 2001 Map from the Atlas of Canada Web site to understand the relationship between population and area. They will find and compare the population densities of several Canadian cities and begin to explain why some areas are more densely populated than others. Students will also examine the advantages and disadvantages of living in an area with a high population density and a low population density.

Materials

• Internet access to the Atlas of Canada Web site
• Analysis Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density

Teacher Instruction:

• Distribute the Analysis Activity Sheet to students before they access the Internet for this section of the lesson.
• Review the instructions with students so that expectations are clear.

• Collect and evaluate the Fact-finder and Analysis activity sheets for completeness and accuracy.
• Use the other 2001 population maps from the Atlas of Canada Web site to research population distribution and change for a specific region of Canada. Research questions: Is the population growing or declining in your region? Why? (Students can investigate various factors which effect regional changes in population growth and decline, such as the economy, urbanization and natural resource depletion.)

Part 1

• “Pop Quiz” – Canada's Population Density

Part 2

• Fact-finder Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density

Part 3

• Analysis Activity Sheet – Canada's Population Density

• Microsoft Word document version
• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)