AP Env. Science A Course Resources
Module 4: Population Dynamics
Instructor Information
Email: Emily.Kroutil@gavirtualschool.org
Phone: 470-238-8663 (voicemail)
Populations Study Guide
ASSIGNMENT RESOURCES AND TIPS
Assignment: Demographics Lab
- The data table and activity for this assignment is on page 6 of the module.
- The LINK to the lab (with the questions you need to answer) can be found on page 6 of the module.
- The data table with instructions and questions already added can be found here.
- Open the online lab by clicking the link. Read the overview, download the data table from the sidebar, and then begin the lessons. The first lesson is The Demographic Transition. As you complete Step 1 follow the instructions, record your data, and answer the questions. As you run the simulator, you will begin to understand how populations grow and impact the environment. Be sure to work through the entire lesson including Demographic Transition, Population Momentum, and Social Impacts. Submit your completed assignment when finished.
- Be sure to work through the entire lesson including Demographic Transition, Population Momentum, and Social Impacts.
- Check out this Lab Walkthrough for help.
LAB: Population Growth
- The handout for this lab can be found on page 6 of the module.
- Make sure to include ALL parts (Title, Introduction, Materials/Procedure, Data Collection, Analysis/Discussion, Conclusion) in your lab report for full credit.
- The Introduction and Conclusion sections should be written in paragraph form (NO BULLETED LISTS)
- This site (https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx) is a great resource for creating a graph. Excel is also a popular choice. This VIDEO shows you how to create a graph with Excel.
- This document is your lab handout as an editable word document (the one I used in the lab walkthrough video below)
- Q: Is it okay for us to work with another student in the class? If so, would you like for us to each submit a different lab report, each submit the same lab report, or for just one of us to submit the report on behalf of both of us?
- A: While you can work together to perform a lab experiment, EACH of you must submit your own original lab report. All work should be original. The following is from page 15 of the Student Handbook: Working on a lab report with one or more students, sharing documents related to a lab report, or submitting the same lab report which was submitted by another student you worked with to perform the lab experiments in your school or home. NOTE: While it is acceptable for students to work together in small groups while performing lab experiments and collecting data, the final lab report that is submitted for graded credit should be each student’s independent work.
- Q: I can't get the population size to calculate correctly. What should I do?
- A: Try this formula:
Average # Tagged = Total # Tagged
Average # Captured Total Population Size
Q: How do I calculate doubling time from my graph?
A: If you have your population size on your graph, you can find the doubling time based on when the population size doubles. So, for example, if the population size is 100, double would be 200, so you could use your graph to see how many years until the population reaches 200. Or, use these formulas (explained in the video below):
Growth Rate:
(current population size – original population size)/(original population size)
Rule of 70:
Dt = 70/growth rate (NOTE: put growth rate in as a whole number)
Q: How do I put the "mean number of sample percentages" into the formula?
A: If your percentage is 10%, you'll need to put 0.10 in the formula OR multiply the answer you get in the formula by 100.
ASSIGNMENT: Generating Heat
The handout, instructions, and simulation for Breathing Earth can be found on page 8 of the module.
Part I: Breathing Earth
Procedure:
- Click on the link Breathing Earth in the resource bar to watch the online simulation
- Plan to observe the simulation for 3-5 minutes or longer if possible. The "?" button at the top left of the screen will orient you to what you are seeing. Complete the worksheet called Breathing Earth available in the sidebar.
- The handout and instructions for Part II can be found on page 8 of the module.
- Part II: The Growth of Carbon Emitters
Procedure:
- In this activity, students will graph the growth in world population and carbon dioxide emissions over time.
- Complete the questions from the worksheet The Growth of Carbon Emitters for the graphing segment of the activity (available in the sidebar), you may either use graph paper or copy the data into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, in order to create the graph on the computer.
- Steps for creating a chart in Excel 2003 and Excel 2007 are provided on the Student Worksheet. This site (https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx) is a great resource for creating a graph. Excel is also a popular choice. This VIDEO shows you how to create a graph with Excel.
In this video, I walk you through this lab and how to create the graph for the lab.
Project: Public Service Announcement
The handout and instructions for this project can be found on page 10 of the module.
In this activity, you will create a video public service announcement (PSA) to educate viewers about one aspect of global population growth. This PSA will be a persuasive message where you will write, film, and edit a video PSA on one impact of world population reaching seven billion.
Select from one of the following topics:
- Food Security
- Global Status of Women/Girls
- Wildlife Habitat
- You may work either independently or with a partner. Select one topic from above to create a 30-45 second PSA. Before filming, you will need to outline the content and, perhaps, create a storyboard. Storyboards are rough drawings that can serve as an outline of what you want your video to look like. Then you may begin filming and editing your work.
The rubric will judge the PSA on the on relevance of the content, effectiveness of their message, originality, and video quality.
Projects are worth the same as a test grade. Projects are a great chance to improve your grade.
Q: Can I be in the video?
A: Yes, you may. I am the only one who will view the video.
Q: Do we have to film or footage or can we find it online?
A: You can use footage from online, but if it is not your personal footage, you should upload a document with citations or put your citations at the end of the video so you are not pirating someone else’s work.
- Q: Is this video really being submitted for a contest?
- A: No, I am the only one that will view your video.
- Q: My video is too large to fit in the dropbox folder. What should I do?
- A: If you know how to create a .zip file, you can submit your video that way. Or, you can upload it to YouTube and provide a YouTube link (we can accept links for projects like this because YouTube videos cannot be edited after they are uploaded). If you don't want your video to be public, you can choose the option that says that only people with the link can view the video when you are uploading the video.
FRQ: 2000 Population Pyramids
- To receive full credit for the free response question, you will need to show all steps necessary to explain how the answer was found.
- The College Board used to offer 11 possible points for each FRQ, but a student can never earn more than 10 points on an FRQ. So your FRQs will be graded out of 10 points.
- Watch these videos for help answering FRQs: FRQ Tips and Tricks Part 1, FRQ Tips and Tricks Part 2
- FRQs may NOT be resubmitted for a higher grade.
TEST: Population Dynamics
- Do not begin your test until you have completed all self-assessments, assignments, and the review items and feel confident in your understanding of this material.
- This test covers the following topics (not an exhaustive list):
- Populations
- Population distribution
- Population pyramids (know how to read and create one; typical shapes and what they mean)
- Demographics (including Demographic Transition - very important - see graphic below)
- Developing vs. Developed Countries
- Population sustainability