CURRICULUM MAP: 10490.map

Environmental Science (GEN) 563
Human Population

TIME FRAME: 3 Weeks
GRADE: 11-12
CONTACT:

         MAP LEVEL: 4


1. How do linear and exponential growth differ? How does this relate to human population? Is history repeating itself?
2. What are the factors underlying the population explosion?
3. How do developed and developing countries compare in terms of demographics? Why?
4. What role does culture play?
5. What are the reasons for immigration and emmigration and what are the impacts?
6. Can we sustain the current global population growth rate?
7. How does population growth impact disease emergence and spread?



* biotic potential and environmental resistance
* exponential and linear growth
* carrying capacity
* ancient civilizations and population crashes...Easter Island, Ancient Egypt, etc
* demograhics- comparison between developed and developing nations
* local demographics
* demographic transition
* large scale and small scale projects and their impacts on development
* effects of culture on family size
* women and population
* effects of immigration on developed and developing nations
* feeding a growing population
* the green revolution
* consumption and the developed world
* calculating you ecological footprint
* the role of politics and the media in population issues



* Analysis of population growth curves
* Use of mobile lab for research
* Recognition of bias in the media
* Debate techniques




All students will:
* Calculate the difference between linear and exponential growth patterns
* Learn to read and analyze population profiles
* Recognize trends in past civilizations and their connection to present civilizations
* Compare and contrast a given developed and developing nation in terms of specific demographic data, using internet sources
*Calculate their personal "ecological footprint"




*objective, subjective testing 30%/70%
*internet demographic comparison activity
*critical analysis of media ads on population
*class discussion



There are many excellent videos on different aspects of population. I use several as we move through this unit. Each deals with a different subtopic and gives varying viewpoints. Most focus on countries considered to be critical in regards to various aspects of global population. For some, I use just a segment.
*Ancient civilizations (20 minutes)
*Megacities
*World in the Balance: The People Paradox(Nova)
*Race to Save the Planet: The Price of Progress




*videos
*class text
*VCR