Mapping the changes in Canada's population

Overview

This activity explores Census data stored on E-STAT, demonstrates E-STAT's mapping function, and stimulates discussion on the factors influencing population movements.

Contributor: Trudy Hawthorne, Head, Family Studies, Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, Ontario.

Objectives

• To introduce students to retrieving and mapping Census data from E-STAT
• To examine the change in population between 1996 and 2006
• To explore the variety of data available from the Census of Population

Suggested grade level and subject area

Secondary
Family Studies

Vocabulary

Census division — a general term for counties, regions or regional districts. These geographic areas are combined to form provinces.
Census subdivision — a general term for municipalities, Indian reserves or settlements, and unorganized territories. Subdivisions are combined to form Census divisions.
Census of Population — a survey of all Canadians conducted every five years.
Characteristics — variables measured by the questions on the Census.
Percentage change — the change from one period of time to another as a proportion of 100.

Materials

• Access to E-STAT, or if access to computers is limited, teacher-generated maps or tables.
• Student worksheet

Classroom instructions

1. Have the students work in small groups. Time should be allowed for exploration and repetition of the activity for different levels of geography and for different variables.
2. Review the result of the activity using the table. The discussion might include the following: problems encountered; how aggregating statistics using different geographical levels affects the results; how changes in scale affect the level of detail that can be presented on a map; estimation procedures and factors that influence the mobility of individuals.

Please see How-To - User guide for the Search Census module for more help.

Enrichment

Have students select an area with an extreme change in population from 1996 to the most recent census date. Using E-STAT, students can develop a detailed demographic profile of the area for analysis.

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.