Population Dynamics

Lower Elementary (K-2)

Activities

» Population Circle
A simulation of the history of world population growth

Upper Elementary (3-5)

Activities

» The Stork and the Grim Reaper
The carrying capacity of a finite planet is demonstrated by two students, who use dippers to simulate the birth rate and death rate.

» Timber!
A cooperative-learning simulation where students track the fate of a forest that is being used by a rapidly growing village.

Intermediate (6-8)

Activities

» Pop Quiz
A pre-test/post-test quiz designed to give teachers and students an overview of world and national population trends. 

Secondary (9-12)

Activities

» Power of the Pyramids
Students construct and interpret "population pyramid" graphs for several countries.

» Stage Stepping
A simulation where students model population growth over time, but change the average family size.

» The Pop Ecology Files
Students use population graphs to identify a group of mystery species, and compare the growth curves of these species to humans.

» World Population DVD
This seven minute film depicts the history of human population growth and distribution from 1 AD through the present, then projects future growth to the year 2030.

Eight frames of the film are presented here: the opening in 1 AD; then skipping ahead to 1800, when the population reached the first billion, followed by the years in which the population reached each successive billion; and the closing frame at 2030, showing the 8.2 billion people expected to inhabit the Earth by then if current growth rates continue.