Environmental Science:
Unit 5 Human Population
Dynamics
By Mrs. Shaw
Day 1: Opening Assignment
 Before
you start the questions below, please check your
schedule to be sure you are supposed to be in this class. Also
make sure you have 7 classes with a course code. (Senior
Seminar and Career are not classes)
 What are 3 things that are necessary for a population to
increase in size?
 What
are 2 things that help to balance growth within a
population? (things that happen that decrease the size at the
same time that it is increasing)
 Remember
that a POPULATION is the number of the same type
of species within a specific area.
Day 1: Opening Assignment ANSWERS

What are 3 things that are necessary for a population to
increase in size? Space, a reproductive strategy and
capability, food (energy) source, access to water.

What are 2 things that help to balance growth within a
population? (things that happen that decrease the size
at the same time that it is increasing) death and
emigration (moving out of an area)

Remember that a POPULATION is the number of the
same type of species within a specific area.
The Habitable Planet

Unit 5: Human Population Dynamics

http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text
.php?unit=5&secNum=1
Human Population Dynamics Video Review
Copy the questions and answer
1. What survey is used to calculate the population
in a specific area in the U.S.?
2. How is this information used and why is it
important?
3. What are some limitations to this survey?
4. Why did the algae in Cape Cod increase and
become a problem?
Day 2: Opening Assignment
If I wanted to create a graph to show how the
human population has changed over time, how
would I set it up?
What
goes on the x-axis? ________________
What
goes on the y- axis? _______________
What
type of graph would I use . . .bar or line?
Day 1 Activity
Human
This
Population Growth Activity
assignment is due at the end of
class today  You can work together
BUT each person needs to submit a
separate activity sheet

Population Clock

http://www.census.gov/popclock/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8dkWQVFAoA
Day 3 Opening Assignment
1.
In the Human Population Growth graphing
activity we did yesterday what did you notice
about the time span for doubling time as the
population increased?
2.
In Mexico the growth rate is much higher than in
the U.S. What factors do you think contribute to
this?
Day 3 & 4 Activity
 Read
Chapter 13 and answer the questions
using the questions on your own notebook
paper using complete sentences.
Day 4 Opening Assignment
1.
How has the agricultural and industrial revolution influenced
human population growth?
2.
Which is the highest population density of grasshoppers?
A. 35 grasshoppers / 10 square meters
B. 40 grasshoppers / 20 square meters
C. 1 grasshopper / 1 square meter
D. 50 grasshoppers / 30 square meters
Overpopulation: The Future of Planet
Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn5sEipg5tc
Day 5 Opening Assignment
 What
is the germ theory and how did it
affect human population growth?
Unit 5: Human Population Dynamics
Student Learning Goals
Students will be able to
Describe
the factors that influence human
population growth trends
Explain
how population growth or decline impacts
the environment
Describe
how demographers use statistics to make
predictions of human population change and its
subsequent environmental impact.
Lesson 13.1 – History of the Human Population

In 1798. British economist Thomas Malthus argued that
population growth was not always desirable.

Malthus believed that if the human population outgrew its
resources it would lead to such conditions as famine, war,
and other human suffering. (1)

To try to solve this problem he proposed that people should
marry later in life and have smaller families. (2)
Increases in Growth Rate

Scientists estimate that humans evolved on Earth approximately
100,000 years ago.

The first humans were thought to be hunter – gatherers. During this
time human population grew slowly for many reasons. Some of them
were that it took more energy to get food so starvation, predation, and
disease were common and the infant mortality rate was high due to
lack of medical knowledge. (3)
Increases in Growth Rate

The population size started to increase mainly due to
better food storage practices. Food storage reduced the
starvation and death rate leading to a population
increase. (4)
Agriculture

The agricultural revolution was a shift from harvesting wild
food sources to producing food through techniques of
farming and herding is known as the agriculture revolution.
(5)

Farming and the establishment of a social structure helped
increase the Earth’s human population. Farming provided an
increased and steady food supply which led to increase in
populations. Social structure caused a rise in the standard
of living which also help with population growth. (6)
Industry

The Industrial Revolution which has happened
over the past 300 years, influenced population
growth in many ways. Technological advances
have led to improved food production and
distribution, reduced the length of the work
day, and provided people with a safer work
environment. (7)
Health Care

The germ theory is the theory (evidence based) that
disease identified bacteria and other microorganisms were
the agents responsible for many diseases.

It’s development has led to improved hygiene, sterile
surgical practices, better methods of waste disposal and
water treatment. (8)
Decline in Growth Rate
Three factors that have played a role in population declines
over the past 800 years have been diseases like the plague,
famine and war. These have all led to decline in growth
rates over the past 800 years.
Lesson 13.2: Growth and Changing Needs
Measuring Growth Rate

Growth rate is calculated by the following equation: Birth rate –
death rate = growth rate (1)

Doubling time is the time it takes a population to double in size.
(that is wild! ) (2)

As the human population has increased, the doubling time has
decreased because there are more people available to reproduce.
(3)
Measuring Growth Rate

Other than birth and death rates, other factors need to be
considered when measuring growth rate for a specific
area. Emmigration (people moving out of an area) and
Immigration (people moving into an area) both need to be
factored in to measure growth rate for a specific area.
(4)
Demography

Demography is the science and study of
the changing vital statistics in a human
population. (5)

Look at the charts that compare the
percentages of populations in each age
group in 3 different countries. Make 2
quantitative observations about these
charts. In Mexico (Kenya) the average
lifespan is much shorter. More people
in Sweden live longer than in the US.
(6)

7. Why do you think the U.S. has a
slower growth rate than Mexico?
Mexico is a poorer country and
therefore has less money for medical
care and education on health and
reproduction. That has also led to the
shorter life span in Mexico. (7)
Changing Needs

The least developed nations of the world are expected to
experience the greatest growth in the coming decades due to less
money, medical care, and education. (8)
Lesson 13.3: Challenges of Overpopulation
List 4 negative effects of overpopulation. Diseases spread
faster, carbon emissions are greater in more populated areas so
there is an increase in pollution, diseases related to
malnutrition, poor hygiene, and lack of medical care are
increased.
2. What is being done in under-developed countries to help
control the birth rate? Increasing medical care to provide
effective birth control and also education on reproduction.
3. What are 2 ways new technology is working to solve these
sustainability problems? New technology is giving us new
sources of renewable energy, new strains of crops that are
developed through genetic engineering, and other scientific
breakthroughs are being discovered to solve some of the space
and resource issues that come with overpopulation.
1.
How Many People Can Live on Our Planet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN06tLRE4WE
Day 6 Opening Assignment

Copy the chart on your paper and fill in
Infectious diseases
Definition
Examples
Noninfectious diseases
Infectious vs. Noninfectious
Place the following diseases in the correct column – infectious or noninfectious.
Chicken pox
migraines
cancer
influenza
Hepatitis
appendicitis
diabetes
Strep throat
STD’s
heart disease
measles
plague
Disease Transmission Lab

Remember: Even I don’t know who has the
disease! 

You can only mix “bodily fluids” with 3 people and
you must document who they are.

FOLLOW the DIRECTIONS! Don’t forget to mix
thoroughly 
Day 7 Activity
Overpopulation is NOT the Problem Article Review
Title a blank piece of paper “Overpopulation in NOT the Problem
Article Review”. Then read the article and write a 2 paragraph
summary.

Be sure to explain these three points;

How does this view of the “problem” differ from what we have
been learning about when it comes to overpopulation.

Explain what “Anthropocene” is.

Explain where our focus should be and make predictions on how
job careers have to evolve into this new area.
Turn your paper in to be graded when you have finished 