Names: ______________________________________________ Subject: Math HSPA
Teacher: Dr. DePaolo
Date: _________________
U. S. Population Webquest
Introduction
Have you ever looked around you and wondered just how many people live in the United States?
How many of them live in your state? Are there more males or females? How ethnically diverse
is our nation? Well, put on your researching gear, because we are about to jump into a sea of data
in search of the answers to these and other related questions. You will look at our nation's
population, past and present, and make some predictions about its future. So prepare to learn
more about your neighbors and your nation than you ever thought possible.
The Task:
Below is a brief description of each challenge you will encounter in this WebQuest. The Process
section has a detailed description of each activity. Also, the Guidance section has some helpful
hints, and the Resource section has useful websites for you to use.
Population Challenge 1:
First, gather data about the number of males and females in the United States in 2000. Also, find
data about the ethnicity of those living in the United States at that time. Then create two graphs
that appropriately represent the data.
Population Challenge 2:
Next, find the population of each state in the United States in 2000. Find measures of central
tendency for this data. Use this data to estimate the population of the United States. Find the
actual population of the United States and compare to your estimate. Then predict the population
of the United States in 2015.
Population Challenge 3:
Last, create a presentation that includes your data and graphs from Challenges 1 and 2.
The Process:
Below is a detailed description of each challenge.
Population Challenge 1:
Find data on the number of males and females in the United States, as well as the ethnicity of the
population of the United States in 2000. Print out Worksheet 1 and record your findings.
a. Using your knowledge of the various types of graphs, create an appropriate graph for
each set of data.
b. Explain your choice of graph type in at least two sentences for each set of data.
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Worksheet 1
Name:_____________________________________
Date:_________________
Fill in each chart with the appropriate information.
Ethnicity and U.S. Population in 2000
Number
Ethnicity
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific
Islander
Other
Ethnicity and Gender in 2000
Ethnicity
Number
of Females
Number
of Males
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific
Islander
Other
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Population Challenge 2:
a. Find and record the population of each state in the United States using Worksheet 2.
b. Use your findings to estimate the total population of the United States. Record your
estimate on Worksheet 2.
c. Find the actual population of the United States and compare this number with your
estimate. Record the difference between your estimate and the actual population on
Worksheet 2.
d. Find the mean, median, and mode of the state population data. Determine which measure
best describes the central tendency of the data and explain your reasoning. Record your
answers on Worksheet 2.
e. Research the change in the U.S. population since 1950. Then create a graph that
represents this data. Use your graph to predict the population of the United States in
2015. Explain how you arrived at your prediction in 2-4 sentences.
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Worksheet 2
Name:_____________________________________
Date:_________________
1. Fill in the chart with the appropriate information.
State
Total Population
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
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Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
2. Estimate the total population of the United States using the above data.
3. Research to find the actual population of the U.S. What is the difference between your
estimation and the actual population?
4. Find the mean, median, and mode of the state population data. Which measure best
describes the central tendency of the data? Explain your reasoning.
5. Now that you have researched the history of the population of the U.S., create your graph
below or on graph paper. What is your prediction for 2015? Explain your prediction in 24 sentences.
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Population Challenge 3:
Create a presentation that includes the following:


Worksheet 1 and both of your graphs on gender and ethnicity in the United States; and
Worksheet 2 and your graph of the U.S. population since 1950.
Choose one state, research its gender and ethnic make-up in the year 2000. Create two graphs
similar to those done in Population Challenge 1 and write a few sentences comparing the gender
and ethnic make-up of that state to the gender and ethnic make-up of the United States as a
whole.
Guidance
If you are having difficulties with a particular challenge, take a look at some of the helpful hints
below.
Population Challenge 1:
a. Remember to label and title your graphs.
b. The following are the different types of graphs you can choose from: frequency tables,
bar graphs, line graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, and circle graphs. Your text has descriptions
of each type of graph.
c. Since the numbers you are graphing are large, rounding the numbers to the nearest
thousand or hundred thousand might be helpful.
d. Remember, your second graph has three components: ethnicity, female, and male. All
three need to be on the same graph.
Population Challenge 2:
a. Remember to label and title your graphs.
b. Since the numbers you are graphing are large, rounding the numbers to the nearest
thousand or hundred thousand might be helpful.
c. To review calculating the mean, median, and mode of a set of data, refer to Lesson 2-8 in
your text.
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Population Challenge 3:
Some of the presentations that you could create are:



a booklet,
a poster, or
a newspaper/magazine article.
Resources:
Listed below are two websites that you will find very useful in this webquest.
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Historical Census Data Browser
Conclusion:
Congratulations! Only a sophisticated and intelligent student could complete such a challenging
task! You have successfully completed your job as a Data Analyzer, Researcher, and Sociologist.
As you can see, it is important for everyone to be able to analyze and properly display
information. You have proven your ability to graph data, find and interpret measures of central
tendency, and research real-life problems. We hope you have enjoyed learning about the people
that make up our nation.
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Your final project will be evaluated on the rubric below and will count for 2 test grades for the
fourth marking period
Evaluation Rubric:
Beginning
2
Developing
5
Accomplished
8
Exemplary
10
Challenge 1
Data is almost
Data is complete Data is complete Data is accurate and graphs
complete and
and some graphs and most graphs are accurate.
graphs not present present
are accurate
Challenge 2
Data is almost
complete and
calculations not
shown
Data is complete
and some
calculations
shown
Challenge 3
Some attempt
made to graph
data
Partial graphs are Most graphs are All graphs are shown and
shown
shown
are accurate
Score
Data is complete Data is accurate and all
and most
calculations are shown and
calculations are correct
shown
Group
No teamwork and Some teamwork, Most team
All team members work
Collaboration bad use of time
but not all team members
collaboratively and
members put forthcontribute to the efficiently and are highly
the same effort group task and aremotivated
motivated
Creative
Project
No signs of a
unique
presentation
Group
Not all team
Presentation to members
the Class
participate in
presentation
Some unique
elements but
limited original
work
Presentation
shows original
thought
Presentation stands out in
its use of original thinking
and visual creativity
Presentation is Entire team
Team works as a solid unit
given by the team,participates in an to make the presentation,
but presentation isorganized and
using body language and
not organized or clear presentation good voice projection to
clear
address the class
Highest points: 60
Lowest points: 12
12/60 = 20%, 30/60 = 50%, 40/60=67%, 50/60=83%, 55/60=92%, 60/60=100%
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In addition to the final project grade, you will be graded for each day’s work you complete in
class starting with day 1. These grades will be class work grades. All work must be submitted in
writing and be placed in your group’s folder. If you do not complete each day’s work you must
complete it before the next class and your class work grade will be reduced by 10 points.
Daily Tasks and Deliverables:
Monday: Read the entire webquest. Decide on your two partners. Divide up the tasks. Start
researching. List all websites accessed to obtain your information. Each group will be assigned a
different year (1990, 2000, 2005, 2010...) in which to research the U.S. population.
Tuesday: Each group member must gather information for their respective task. List all websites
accessed to obtain your information. List all websites accessed to obtain your information.
Wednesday: Each group member must perform calculations and decide on the type of graph
appropriate for your data.
Thursday: Each group must neatly record all calculations and all graphs.
Friday: Group must decide on presentation and prepare a presentation of your research. Your
teacher will schedule the date you present it to the class.
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