Population Distribution

• READY TO TEACH (LESSON 1/11 - URBANISATION: POPULATION DISTRIBUTION).

In reference to the new KS3 AQA textbook (although not necessarily needed, as all information required for the lesson is included within the resources).

Ask pupils to guess how many people they think live in the world today (show the class the worldometer website). Show pupils how the world’s population has increased exponentially since the turn of the twentieth century, refer to the table and line graph on slide 3 (show clip from The Economist summarising the world’s population growth).

Pupils make a note of the two key definitions linked to the learning objectives. Explain the difference between the two key terms: population distribution and population density by referring to examples (slide 6). Recap with pupils their understanding of the terms: sparsely and densely populated. Pupils complete a quick quiz, identifying whether the locations presented on the board are sparsely or densely populated (slides 7-16). Show pupils where the majority of the world’s population live on a world map (slide 17).

With reference to an atlas (or the use of slide 18), pupils identify sparsely and densely populated places in the world, with justification for why. Reference may be made to physical factors e.g. climate, terrain, inaccessibility as reasons for sparse populations. In contrast, mild climates, flat land and fertile soils may be given as reasons for why some places are densely populated (examples are often on slide 18)

The extension task on slide 19, requires pupils to place the factors under the correct column for why a place may be sparsely or densely populated.

A quick quiz as a plenary, identifying the most populated countries of the world.