A Country S Shape Is More Than Its Borders: Population Pyramids

A Country’s Shape Is More than Its Borders: Population Pyramids Students learn to read and interpret population pyramids. Author Dennis Rees Grade Level 6-8 Duration 1-2 class periods

National Geography Arizona Geography Arizona Language Arts Standards Standards Standards ELEMENT ONE: THE ESSENTIALS 3SS-E6 READING STANDARDS: ESSENTIALS WORLD IN SPATIAL Describe the economic, R-E5 Evaluate an instructional manual such as TERMS political, cultural, and social assembly directions or user’s guide for clarity and 1. How to use maps processes that interact to completeness. and other geographic shape patterns of human PO 1 Identify the components. representations, populations, tools, and interdependence, and PO 2 Incorporate information from the illustrations. technologies to cooperation and conflict, acquire, process, and with emphasis on: report information WRITING STANDARDS: ESSENTIALS from a spatial PO 1 the demographic W-E1 Use correct spelling, punctuation, perspective. structure of a population and capitalization, grammar and usage, along with reasons for variation varied sentence structure and paragraph 4. The physical and between places, including organization, to complete effectively a variety of human characteristics developing and developed writing tasks. of places. nations. PO 1 Spell correctly. ELMENT SIX: THE PO 2 Punctuate correctly. USES OF GEOGRAPHY PO 3 Apply rules of capitalization. 17. How to apply geography to interpret PO 4 Apply standard grammar and usage. the past. W-E7 Write a response to a literary selection by 18. How to apply supporting their ideas with references to the text, geography to interpret other works, or experiences. the present and plan PO 1 State clearly a position that is interpretive, for the future. analytic, evaluative or reflective. PO 3 Relate own ideas to supporting details in a clear and logical manner.

Overview Demographics is the study of population characteristics. Population pyramids examine the age and gender characteristics of a country’s population. Understanding how to read and interpret A Country's Shape is More than Its Borders: Population Pyramids a population pyramid will give students the opportunity to examine a country’s past, present, and implications for the future through its population. Purpose Assessment

In this lesson, students will learn how to read and See Population Pyramid Assessment. This is a interpret population pyramids as an example of multiple-choice test which can be graded with the functional print. As a result, they will write a key. Eight out of ten will be considered mastery of paragraph explaining the implications a population the geography content. The paragraph can be pyramid presents. scored using the scoring guide provided (16 out of 20 would be mastery) or use the 6 Trait Rubric for Writing for measuring Ideas/Content (4 out of 6 Materials would be mastery). . . Copies of A Country’s Shape is More Than Its Borders reading Extensions

. Practice Sheet for A Country’s Shape is More Students could make population pyramids using the Than Its Borders reading website http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html.

. Copies of the Population Pyramid Assessment They could also make population pyramids of their (multiple choice quiz) school.

. Population Pyramid Assessment Key for multiple Sources choice quiz National Geographic Society 1998 Geography . Writing Prompt for Paragraph Awareness Week packet

. Population Pyramids for Australia, Bulgaria, and Geography: Focus on Economics India National Council on Economic Education Objectives http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html The student will be able to:

- read population pyramids.

- analyze and interpret population pyramids, including writing a paragraph using this information. Procedures

1. As a class, read and discuss the Population Pyramid Information Sheet.

2. As a class, fill out the Practice Sheetof the Population Pyramid Information Sheet.

3. Have students work individually to complete the Population Pyramid Assessment which includes writing a paragraph using the writing prompt included. A Country's Shape is More than Its Borders: Population Pyramids