LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE

Your Name: Jailyn Jenkins

Title of Lesson: SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC Exponential Growth & Decay
Grade: 8th

STANDARDS
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSF.LE.A.1.C: Recognize situations in which a quantity grows or decays by a
constant percent rate per unit interval relative to another.
NGSS Science: MS-ESS3-4.: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human
population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.8.6: Acquire and use accurately gradeappropriate general academic and domain
specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to
comprehension or expression

LESSON SUMMARY/OVERVIEW
During this lesson, the students have the opportunity to apply all they have learned about exponential growth and
decay and its representative equation to the world around them. Through the compilation of data and inferences,
the students will be able to assess which continent has the highest population growth rate, while also reflecting on
how a population that is growing or declining at an exponential may affect the accessibility to and supply of
resources. Sustainability encompasses the conservation, preservation, and consumption moderation of resources,
and areas that experience an exponential growth or decline in population directly affect the resource supply. That
being said, by exposing the students to this concept, the significance of this lesson is increased, due to in-depth
discussions and real-world application. This lesson is sequenced to progress from the initial question, to
cooperative learning as the students explore and explain their understanding of the concept, and ending with
reflective class discussions.

OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to apply exponential growth formulas to various population scenarios by using a table to
predict and record population data.
Students will be able to analyze how factors like exponential population growth affects certain resources like
food and water by completing a table that measures a continents overall population growth rate and by
engaging in a class discussion on the possible consequences that the continents people may face as a result.
Students will be able to appropriately use newly acquired academic vocabulary terms by engaging in class
discussions and group presentations

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION
Data Tables reflecting application and calculation of various countries populations
Group presentations on continents population growth rate
Appropriately used vocabulary during group discussions about populations and resources

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
Exponential growth/decay equation
Not everything lasts forever, thus meaning that resources (i.e. food, water, energy, fossil fuels, etc.) do not
have endless supplies
MATERIALS

1. Calculators
2. Writing Utensils
3. SCN 400: Population video
4. Continent population growth rate charts
5. Population Changes in the World data tables

VOCABULARY/KEY WORDS
1. Resources: a supply of goods or assets that is useful and beneficial for survival or success
2. Exponential Growth: something that grows at a rapid rate
3. Exponential Decay: something that declines or decreases at a fast rate
4. Sustainability: maintaining, moderating, and conserving the current resources so that future generations do not
have to sacrifice their way of living
TEACHING PROCEDURES
Opening
Say So weve been learning about exponential growth and decay. Aside from bacteria, what can grow
or decay exponentially? (Discuss possible answers: money, population, disease)
Today we are going to focus on population and whether or not we are living sustainably as a human
race. Does anyone know what sustainability is? Give me an educated guess. (Allow students to share,
then present the actual definition)
Sustainability: maintaining, moderating, and conserving the current resources so that future generations
do not have to sacrifice their way of living (compare to predictions)
Define resources as a supply of goods or assets that is useful for survival or success.
Turn on Population video from SCN 400 (first 5 minutes) then discuss any questions and comments.
Ask Why is it important for there to be both predators and prey in animal populations? How might the
populations be affected if there were no predators or prey? (Allow discussion and address the
importance of checks and balances so overpopulation or extinction does not occur)
Instructional Input: I Do
Teacher Will:
Students Will:
Say: After this activity, you should be able to
Work together in their groups to calculate
the various time lengths it takes for six
conclude which continent has the highest population
random countries populations to double
growth rate and infer or explain why. Since there are
(based on a 10-year growth rate).
six teams and six continents with population statistics
Find the average population growth rate
(Antarctica is not included), each team will be given
for their groups continent.
a World in Balance table with their continent, its
Calculate how long it will take for the
countries, and their growth rates. You will be
continents population to double in size.
expected to calculate at least one country by yourself
and then collaborate with your team to record the rest
of your data. Once you have calculated how long it
will take for each countrys population size to
double, find the mean of the countries and use that
number to represent the continents overall
population growth rate. Use the 50 as the initial
population for all of your countries. Once you have
calculated the overall population growth rate, work
with that to calculate how long it will take for the
continents population to double in size.
Model expectations by working as a class to
hypothesize and calculate the United States
population doubling time on the Doc Camera.
Say: Now apply what we just did to the countries on
your continent and be ready to present your
information and findings.

Guided Practice: We Do
Explain that each group is expected to present
their continent, the six countries they selected
and their growth rates, the hypotheses, the county
population doubling time, and the average
continent population growth rate.
Randomly select groups to present
Call on group members to present information
(popcorn style)
Say: Based on what we learned about the
different continents, how can a high population
growth rate affect the citizens access to different
resources like land, water, and food?
Independent Practice: You Do
Allot 3 minutes for the students to finalize the
information on their Population Changes in the
World data tables.

Present their findings about their continent

(how many decades it will take for their
continents population to double)
Note: every student will present some
piece of relevant information
Brainstorm how large population growth
rates may affect their access to resources.
Discuss the different effects.

Add which continent has the highest

population growth rate and how long it will
take for the continents population to
double to their data tables.
Pass in their data tables

Collect all data tables

Closing
After hearing each continents population growth rate, which continent has the highest growth rate?
(Students answer: Africa) Why do you think (Africa) has the highest population growth rate?
Possible answers: The continent is so large; they do not have as much access to contraceptive
options; large families may be a key part of their culture
How might that affect their access to resources, which are goods or assets that are important for
survival and/or success?
Possible answer: There may be too many people and not enough food, water, teachers, or doctors
Possible answer: Since there is a lot of space, a high population rate might help them become more
advanced and developed to expand their education, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, etc. so
their access to resources may increase
What if Australia had the same population growth rate?
Anticipated answer: There would not be enough space or food to support all of the people and they
would eventually have to relocate in order to survive
Which one would be experience worse effects? Why?
Anticipated answer: Australia, because if there is not enough space or crops to support such a large
population, people would end up dying faster from malnutrition, survival of the fittest, etc.
The goal of this activity was for you all to be able to apply the exponential growth and decay equations
to the world around you, specifically with population scenarios. In addition, you should also be able to
analyze the different effects of exponential population growth rates. Showing me with your thumbs up,
thumbs to the side, or thumbs down, were you able to accomplish these?
Students self-assess and explain if needed, then teacher will collect the data tables
RESOURCES

Hartwell, L. (Director) (2015, January 18). Population. Sustainability Science for Teachers. Lecture
conducted from Arizona State University, .
World in the Balance. (2004, April 20). Retrieved February 20, 2015, from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/programs/3108_worldbal.html
WAYS OF THINKING CONNECTION

Using Futures Thinking, the students should be able to observe, collect data, and compare both the benefits and
drawbacks of a population experiencing growth or decay at an exponential rate. Through their development and
practice of scientific argumentation, the students will be able to establish a standpoint on whether population
growth is beneficial or not and present valid and relevant evidence to support their claim, thus strengthening their
overall rationale. By advocating for both perspectives, the students should be able to see that the population of an
area directly affects the resources and conversely, the population is directly affected by the amount of available
resources. This lesson should encourage the students to look beyond the present and think about how the supply
of and accessibility to resources may be affected by the population growth or decay rates of different areas. In
addition to recognizing the importance of balanced populations and their growth rates, the students should also be
able to recognize the importance of moderation and conservation of resources, by prioritizing and evaluating the
difference between wants and needs. By differentiating between wants and needs, we as a human race can have
enough resources to sustain mankind through population growth or decline, due to planning ahead and utilizing
Futures Thinking. During the closing of the lesson, have a class discussion and highlight the importance of
making positive decisions today, because not only does that affect how we live tomorrow, but it also affects the
quality of life of the future generations.

Population Changes in the World

Directions
1. Pick 6 countries from your Continent Population Table to calculate their future populations.
2. Once you have your 6 countries chosen, make a prediction of how many decades it will take for each countrys
population to double in size.
3. Use an initial population of 50 individuals for each country. Calculate how large each countrys population
will be after 10 years and record the data on a separate sheet of paper. REMEMBER: A=P(1r)t
4. Repeat step 3 until each countrys population size has doubled. Fill in the number decades it took to double
in size onto the chart.
5. Compare your prediction to the actual results and record your comparison on your table.
6. Calculate your continents population growth rate. To do this, find the mean growth rate by using the 6
countries your group chose.
7. BE READY TO PRESENT. Each member of the team needs to be prepared to present the groups
information.

Continent:
Country Name

Team Members:
Growth Rate

Prediction
(How many decades do you
think it will it take for the
population to double?)

# of decades it takes
to double population
size

Prediction
Comparison
(Was it close?)

1.

Yes / No

2.

Yes / No

3.

Yes / No

4.

Yes / No

5.

Yes / No

6.

Yes / No

Continent Population Growth Rate:

africa

Asia

Australia & Oceania

Europe

North & Central America and the Caribbean

South America