Age / Sex Structures
(AKA Population Pyramids)
(AKA Population Pyramids)
Objective: To be able to effectively read and interpret population pyramids.
Use this sheet to annotate how to read a population pyramid using shape and then what shape indicates.
See this example from 2017.
Worksheet is above for all of the following activities.
Starter: Click here to be taken to a population pyramid of France this year. Study it carefully and then describe why the French President needs to raise the retirement age by two years for French workers.
Task 1 - Watch the video and explain the features of the Age Sex Structure for France. What does the term ‘spinning top’ refer to?
Task 2 - Have a play with this population pyramid site - check out your own country.
Screen shot the pyramid for when you were born, for when you will be 50 and for when you will be 100 (maybe!)
Then write a few sentences to explain what future population growth / decline is going to be like there.
Country with a high level of economic development - France ** Tasks can be completed on worksheet**
i. Choose France and the year 1950. Explain the indentations 25-39 years old and 5-19 years old.
ii. What was the population of France in 1950?
iii. What is the population of France now?
iv. Describe the structure of the pyramid for France this year and include a screen shot under your explanation.
v. What are the key population issues facing France today?
vi. What percentage of the population will be over the age of 60 years old in the year 2050?
vii. Is France becoming a country with a youthful or ageing population? Explain your answer.
Country with a lower level of economic development - Gambia ** Tasks can be completed on worksheet**
i. Using the same tool, choose Gambia and the year 1950. Note the total population in 1950.
ii. What is the population of Gambia now?
iii. Approximately, how many times more is the population than in 1950?
iv. Describe the structure of the pyramid for Gambia this year and include a screen shot under your explanation.
v. What are the key population issues facing Gambia today?
vi. How is the population structure of Gambia going to change by the year 2050?
vii. Is Gambia becoming a country with a youthful or ageing population? Explain your answer.
Task 3 - Age Sex Structure - Your go...!
You are going to complete a data task to construct your own age / sex structure for France in 2016.
You will need a printed out copy of this worksheet and this data set from http://www.insee.fr
Note, it will be better if you work in groups to work out the total number of males and females in each age range. Each age category found on the Word Document is differentiated on the Excel sheet by a different colour. Round up or down to the nearest 100,000.
Task 4 - Complete the worksheet below using your knowledge and understanding of what you have learnt about Population Pyramids so far.
Use this sheet to annotate how to read a population pyramid using shape and then what shape indicates.
See this example from 2017.
Worksheet is above for all of the following activities.
Starter: Click here to be taken to a population pyramid of France this year. Study it carefully and then describe why the French President needs to raise the retirement age by two years for French workers.
Task 1 - Watch the video and explain the features of the Age Sex Structure for France. What does the term ‘spinning top’ refer to?
Task 2 - Have a play with this population pyramid site - check out your own country.
Screen shot the pyramid for when you were born, for when you will be 50 and for when you will be 100 (maybe!)
Then write a few sentences to explain what future population growth / decline is going to be like there.
Country with a high level of economic development - France ** Tasks can be completed on worksheet**
i. Choose France and the year 1950. Explain the indentations 25-39 years old and 5-19 years old.
ii. What was the population of France in 1950?
iii. What is the population of France now?
iv. Describe the structure of the pyramid for France this year and include a screen shot under your explanation.
v. What are the key population issues facing France today?
vi. What percentage of the population will be over the age of 60 years old in the year 2050?
vii. Is France becoming a country with a youthful or ageing population? Explain your answer.
Country with a lower level of economic development - Gambia ** Tasks can be completed on worksheet**
i. Using the same tool, choose Gambia and the year 1950. Note the total population in 1950.
ii. What is the population of Gambia now?
iii. Approximately, how many times more is the population than in 1950?
iv. Describe the structure of the pyramid for Gambia this year and include a screen shot under your explanation.
v. What are the key population issues facing Gambia today?
vi. How is the population structure of Gambia going to change by the year 2050?
vii. Is Gambia becoming a country with a youthful or ageing population? Explain your answer.
Task 3 - Age Sex Structure - Your go...!
You are going to complete a data task to construct your own age / sex structure for France in 2016.
You will need a printed out copy of this worksheet and this data set from http://www.insee.fr
Note, it will be better if you work in groups to work out the total number of males and females in each age range. Each age category found on the Word Document is differentiated on the Excel sheet by a different colour. Round up or down to the nearest 100,000.
Task 4 - Complete the worksheet below using your knowledge and understanding of what you have learnt about Population Pyramids so far.
A country with a high dependent population
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Objective: To find out what causes a youthful population structure to occur and to discover what happens when a country has a high dependent population (in this case - too many young people).
Dependent people can be classed as those on a population pyramid who are either under the age of 15 (young dependents) or over the age of 65 (old dependents). This is because people in these age categories generally don't work and are supported by people in the economically active sector aged 16-64.
This is quite a general assumption and there are many factors that might mean that children may actually work before 16 or that elderly people still work into their 70's. Study the population pyramid for The Gambia above. The wide base shows a high fertility rate and a high youthful population (high young dependents).
Starter - Click on this link to the GapMinder site that plots median age against fertility rare. Comment on the extent and spread of those countries with the youngest populations. Don't forget to name at least five countries.
Task 1 - Listen to the first Podcast below by Mr Gamesby.
i. What are the positives and negatives of a youthful population?
ii. How could quality of life in countries with youthful populations be improved?
Task 2 - Now download this fact sheet on the Gambia and read the content carefully. Now complete the following 7 mark Paper 1 question:
For a named country you have studied, describe the problems caused by a high dependent population.
Extension Task - How many children will you likely have in your lifetime? (Geographyalltheway worksheet baby_o_matic.docx here)
Dependent people can be classed as those on a population pyramid who are either under the age of 15 (young dependents) or over the age of 65 (old dependents). This is because people in these age categories generally don't work and are supported by people in the economically active sector aged 16-64.
This is quite a general assumption and there are many factors that might mean that children may actually work before 16 or that elderly people still work into their 70's. Study the population pyramid for The Gambia above. The wide base shows a high fertility rate and a high youthful population (high young dependents).
Starter - Click on this link to the GapMinder site that plots median age against fertility rare. Comment on the extent and spread of those countries with the youngest populations. Don't forget to name at least five countries.
Task 1 - Listen to the first Podcast below by Mr Gamesby.
i. What are the positives and negatives of a youthful population?
ii. How could quality of life in countries with youthful populations be improved?
Task 2 - Now download this fact sheet on the Gambia and read the content carefully. Now complete the following 7 mark Paper 1 question:
For a named country you have studied, describe the problems caused by a high dependent population.
Extension Task - How many children will you likely have in your lifetime? (Geographyalltheway worksheet baby_o_matic.docx here)
Impacts of social, economic and other factors (including government policies, HIV/AIDS) on birth and death rates
impacts on birth ratesObjective: To find out how government policies have impacted upon birth rates in different countries around the world.
Starter - Why do governments want to control the birth rate and how do they communicate this to their people? You have five minutes to create your own slogan and poster to encourage (pro natalist) or discourage (anti natalist) the fertility rate of a population. BE CAREFUL! Click here to be taken to a website that has some of the most famous policies and how they were 'advertised'. i. Choose three posters and copy them into this worksheet ii. Annotate around each poster the message and how the government is trying to persuade their people to conform. Don't forget to explain what they are suggesting. What is a population policy? (3) 1 CHILD POLICY (1979 - 2016) - ChinaAn anti-natalist policy is concerned with limiting population growth by encouraging the population to have less children. The most famous example of this is in China and a policy called 'The One Child Policy'. Make a note of this.
Task 1 a. Watch the video to the right and take rough notes on the previous worksheet: * When was the OCP introduced and why? * How was it enforced? * Were there any benefits? * Were there any drawbacks? b. Conduct further research to find out: * What is the 4-2-1 problem? * What is the Little Emperor Syndrome? * What is the 'Spare Branches' problem? 
More examples of Anti-Natalist population policy propaganda in China. Can you determine what they are showing?
Task 2 - Create a revision poster that shows the main features of the OCP in China (1979 - 2016) and why they switched to two. To do this, you will need a copy of Geofile issue 717 from Oxford University Press. Use the framework & planning sheet to the right to help you with your research and final content of the revision poster.
Check out this example from Amelie in 2017: Stunning! There is also a selection of short videos below to watch.
Mark Scheme: 10 Marks for Content 10 Marks for Presentation - Total 20. A*- 19/20
A - 17/18 B - 15-16 C -13-14 D - 11-12 |
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The Two Child Policy - Will it avoid a demographic timebomb?
October 2015 saw the news that China will be relaxing its famous One Child Policy.
Task 1- Why has the OCP been relaxed?
You are to work independently to find out the reasons why the OCP has been relaxed from 2016 onwards. The video above is a great staring point.
Retrospective - China Two Child Policy - One Year On (January 2017)
Link 1 - From 'Business Insider'
Link 2 - From the 'South China Morning Post'
Link 3 - From the 'South China Morning Post'
Why has it been relaxed? - Look for information on the negative social and economic impacts since 1979.
Will a two child policy make things better? - What do people say? Can you find two conflicting points of view?
Write your notes up in your book or on a Word document under the title above.
Task 1- Why has the OCP been relaxed?
You are to work independently to find out the reasons why the OCP has been relaxed from 2016 onwards. The video above is a great staring point.
Retrospective - China Two Child Policy - One Year On (January 2017)
Link 1 - From 'Business Insider'
Link 2 - From the 'South China Morning Post'
Link 3 - From the 'South China Morning Post'
Why has it been relaxed? - Look for information on the negative social and economic impacts since 1979.
Will a two child policy make things better? - What do people say? Can you find two conflicting points of view?
Write your notes up in your book or on a Word document under the title above.
"Three days after giving birth to the second child, mothers should be sterilized." This was taken in Heping county, Heyuan, Guangdong province.
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On a wall of a street in Fujian from August 27, 2009. The slogan reads: "Fewer and better births, good for the nation and people."
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impacts on death rates - HIV & AIDS
Objective: To understand the basics of HIV & AIDS, how it effects the body and how it is transmitted from person to person.
Task 1 - Watch the 'What is HIV' video underneath.
i. What does HIV and AIDS stand for? b. How does the HIV virus affect the body? c. When does HIV become AIDS? d. Do people die from AIDS? (think carefully about this)
Task 2 - Watch the 'How is HIV Transmitted' video beneath.
i. Outline the ways in which HIV can be transmitted. b. In what ways cannot it be transmitted?
Task 1 - Watch the 'What is HIV' video underneath.
i. What does HIV and AIDS stand for? b. How does the HIV virus affect the body? c. When does HIV become AIDS? d. Do people die from AIDS? (think carefully about this)
Task 2 - Watch the 'How is HIV Transmitted' video beneath.
i. Outline the ways in which HIV can be transmitted. b. In what ways cannot it be transmitted?
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Part 2 - THE Impact of HIV / AIDS on World Populations
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Objective: To discover how AIDS can impact on populations around the world.
Task 3 - Watch the YouTube video to the right hand side. i. Why do people react to the man like this? ii. How does this relate to AIDS? iii. Do you think that the villagers have seen the videos above? Task 4 - Study the graphic underneath carefully. Complete the following activities: a. Comment on the distribution of the 15 most affected countries on earth. What pattern emerges? Make a note of the top 5. b. Comment on the distribution of affected countries in the continent of Africa. c. Comment on the situation in Europe and North America making reference to % figures living with HIV/AIDS. d. What is the % figure for your home country? e. Comment on the overall pattern of AIDS deaths from 1990 to 2010 as set out in the bar chart. Make reference to numbers and peak dates in your description. f. List the factors that contribute to a rapid spread in the top 15 countries in Africa. Help needed? Click here. |
Higher Level Video - A-C grade students should spend 10 mintues watching the video below.
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Task 5 - Click on both images above to enlarge and study the contents of each map.
Is it fair to say that HIV infection rate is on the decrease worldwide and that the news is only bad in Africa?
Is it fair to say that HIV infection rate is on the decrease worldwide and that the news is only bad in Africa?
Focus on Southern AfricaSo how does all of this affect population structures?
We are going to be using Botswana as our focus for how AIDS can affect a population structure. Spend 2 minutes exploring Botswana on the Google Map. Make some notes about its human and physical geographies. Click here to be taken to some familiar population pyramids structures for Botswana. Task 5 - Take a copy of the population pyramid and bar chart before using them to respond to the following IGCSE Population exam question: Explain, using examples, how incidences of disease can affect the population structure of a country. (7) This should take you approximately 14 minutes to respond to. Structure:
Homework Video: Watch The AIDS Highway - Africa to the right hand side. Make notes on how the AIDS virus has been spread along the so called 'AIDS Highway' in southern Africa. What are the causes and effects? |
Homework Video
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