Lesson Title: Global Population Growth & Ecological Footprint
Outline
Time Required:
120 minutes
Author:
Karyn Booy & Jared Clarke
Grade Level:
Grade 11
Curriculum Area(s):
Biology 20
Author Contact:
booy200k@uregina.ca
Topic(s):
Human population growth & ecological footprint
Safety:
No safety issues exist.
Outcomes:
- Analyze population changes
o 5.4 Discuss the carrying capacity of planet Earth for the human population
Materials:
- Paper & pencil
- Computer with internet access
- Smart-board
- Student review and assignment (1 per student)
Groupings:
- No Groupings
Lesson Outline (Sequence)
Set/Introduction: (10 minutes)
- Poll Everywhere
o Graph of human population growth – which graph represents human population growth?
 The exponential growth curve (J curve)
o Which of the following relationships accurately describes the human population growth
trend?
 Birth rate > death rate
o Has the human population reached its carrying capacity?
 No, as shown by the graphs.
- Answers for each question will be addressed after all polls have come in so students are aware of
the correct answers.
Development 1: Review (15 minutes)
- Review sheet (see handout: “Review of Population Growth”)
o Students will complete the review from the previous day’s lesson using Canada Goose data
that runs from 1984-2013.
o Based on the previous day’s information, students will answer questions regarding:
 population growth/change over time
 factors that affect population growth
 carrying capacity
 graph interpretation
 density dependent/independent factors
- Correct answers to these questions can be found in the “review of population growth Answer
Key”
Development 2: Video (5 minutes)
- Introduce the video:
o Discusses how the human population is growing and density-dependent limiting factors
that influence the species’ ability to survive on planet earth. Using the analogy of bacteria
in a test tube, David Suzuki acknowledges the issues with exponential growth.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x98KFcMJeo
Development 3: Interactive presentation of information (25 min)
Before addressing the information in the film, some questions will be asked to get students thinking about
the issue of over population.
Questions & Some expected answers
- How many people live on earth?
o Students will make guesses, the majority of which will hover around 7 billion.
- How long do you think before we hit 8 billion?
o Show live human population counter
o http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
- Looking at the information on the world population counter, what do we notice about the birth and
death rates?
o Way more births than deaths (Births > deaths)
- What was the equation we came up with yesterday for population growth?
o Births – Deaths = Population growth
- Currently, is our population going to be increasing or decreasing?
o Increasing because the number of births is significantly greater than the number of deaths.
- What are density dependent factors that influence human population growth?
o Food & water
o Predators (warfare)
o Disease
o Space – We no longer just take up space on the ground, we take up space vertically also
(tall buildings)
- What are density independent factors that influence human population growth?
o Natural disasters – flood, fire, famine, earthquake, etc.
- What do you think of David Suzuki’s statement that we are already past the “59th minute”? Do
you agree?
o Hear various student opinions. Use the Kiwi to get responses.
- Do you believe that the human population is growing beyond it’s carrying capacity?
o Hear various student opinions and ask them to justify their answer.
- Show graph of human population over time (in powerpoint)
o What factors have influenced our ability to grow at such an alarming rate?
 Medicine
 Availability of food and water
 Technology/medical innovations and advances
- What graph does this resemble from yesterday?
o Fruit fly graph
- What growth pattern is this displaying?
o Exponential
- What do we know about J curves for growth patterns?
o They eventually level out into an S curve when the population reaches it’s carrying
capacity
- Compare human population growth chart to reindeer population growth chart from reindeer island.
Are the two similar? Might humans undergo the same drastic reduction due to overpopulation?
Development 4: Ecological Footprint (20 minutes) likely after the 5 minute break.
- Pose the question:
o How does the increase in human population change our impact on the environment?
- Using the Smartboard, the class will collectively complete the ecological footprint survey found
on the following website:
o http://www.myfootprint.org/
- Collectively we will fill in the survey information and find what the ecological footprint is for the
average student in our class. Students will be encouraged to try the survey again at home with
their families to determine their specific ecological footprint.
Development 5: Ecological Footprint Assignment (20 minutes)
- Students will complete the assignment (see attachment: “Activity 2: Lowering your ecological
footprint”) on ecological footprint. Using a guided instruction sheet students will answer questions
to develop an action plan to reduce their ecological footprint.
- This assignment will be completed individually, but help will be provided as instructors move
about the room.
- If necessary (based on discretion), the assignment can be completed by each individual, but doneso by working through it as a class.
- 20 minutes is allotted for this assignment, however, 20 minutes of class time was not accounted
for as experience has shown that these assignments often take longer than anticipated.
Assessment:
- Pre-assessment: Review & Poll Everywhere
- Formative assessment: Student participation during question periods
- Evaluation: Completion of assignment
Goal for Professional Development:
- To complete the lesson within the allotted time period of 2 hours.
o Demonstrated by: Completing the 5 development plans outlined above within the time
periods specific. The main goal, however, is to have students successfully complete the
assigned work within the 2 hour time frame.