Silly Scenarios – population statistics
The silly scenarios introduce ways in which population statistics can be classified (eg age or sex), and
the possible impact if there are changes to the population’s composition.
A) In small groups, discuss each scenario, complete the table, and share your thoughts with the
class.
B) Alternatively, split the class into five groups. Each group works on one scenario for five
minutes and completes the table on a large sheet of paper. After the five minutes, the
paper is passed to a second group, which adds any ideas for two minutes. This process is
repeated until all groups have seen each scenario.
C) As a class, identify the different ways population has been classified in this activity. Discuss
why it is important to study population.
Silly Scenario example
Scenario
A law has been passed stating
there must be at least six
people living in any one house.
Short-term effects
People get upset trying to find
enough people to live in one
house.
Or, people get upset because
they have to split up.
Lots of people are moving.
Long-term effects
Empty houses are to be used
for other purposes, or torn
down.
Building projects start in
houses, to make them big
enough to house six people.
People move away because of
the law.
Silly Scenarios
Scenario
1. New Zealand has struck
gold! All the young adult
men have gone to work
in a new gold mine to
make their fortune.
2. Go the Aussies! All
students have been
offered free university
study and
accommodation in
Australia.
3. Disaster strikes! A rare
disease has wiped out all
our 11–15-year-olds.
4. A huge volcano has been
discovered in the middle
of Europe and is going to
blow any second! People
are being evacuated
urgently. New Zealand
has offered to take in
one million people.
5. A tsunami has wiped out
the entire adult population
of a local island. Luckily all
the children were away on
another island, at a camp.
New Zealand has offered
to take in 500,000
children.
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
Silly Scenario one
Scenario
New Zealand has struck gold!
All the young adult men have
gone to work in a new gold
mine to make their fortune.
What type of population
statistic are you looking at
here?
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
Silly Scenario two
Scenario
Go the Aussies! All students
have been offered free
university study and
accommodation in Australia.
What type of population
statistic are you looking at
here?
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
Silly Scenario three
Scenario
Disaster strikes! A rare
disease has wiped out all our
11–15-year-olds.
What type of population
statistic are you looking at
here?
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
Silly Scenario four
Scenario
A huge volcano has been
discovered in the middle of
Europe and is going to blow
any second! People are
being evacuated urgently.
New Zealand has offered to
take in one million people.
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
What type of population
statistic are you looking at
here?
Silly Scenario five
Scenario
Short-term effects
Long-term effects
A tsunami has wiped out the
entire adult population of a
local island. Luckily all the
children were away on another
island, at a camp. New Zealand
has offered to take in 500,000
children.
What type of population
statistic are you looking at
here?