How does your province stack up?

Overview

Intermediate students retrieve data from E-STAT to create a population pyramid based on census data.

Objectives

• Construct a graphic representation of age and sex population data from the census
• Understand and interpret population pyramids
• Appreciate the advantages of using population pyramids to represent data

Suggested grade levels and subject areas

Intermediate
Mathematics, Geography, Family Studies

Outcomes

Students will:

• produce a table of data on population by age and sex for a specific region
• draw a population pyramid for a specific region in Canada
• analyse and discuss the population pyramid

Materials

• Access to E-STAT, or if access to computers is limited, teacher-generated tables
• Handout: Instructions for Accessing E-STAT
• Student worksheet

Resources

The Daily, July 17, 2007 Age and sex, 2006 Census

The Daily, July 16, 2002 Age and sex, 2001 Census

The Population Pyramid — what it is and how it works from the 2001 Census results teacher's kit

Population Pyramids (2006 Census)

Classroom instructions

1. This activity may focus on one region or it may be completed as a jigsaw activity with student teams completing the worksheets for each region.
2. Using overheads or a projection unit, review the procedures to retrieve census data from E-STAT.
3. Distribute copies of the Student worksheet and have students complete Part A. The instructions to retrieve data from E-STAT are included on the Instructions for Accessing E-STAT. If computer access is limited, the instructions may be used to generate tables that can be copied and distributed to the class. Make sure the students are converting the number of people in each age group to the percentage of total population otherwise it is difficult to compare provinces. A marking guide can be prepared by generating a table for all the regions; print the results on 11x17 paper.
4. Using the data generated in Part A, have students draw a population pyramid for their assigned region. The Population Pyramid - what it is and how it works (Census Results Teacher's Kit, Handout 1) may be used to review the construction of population pyramids. It uses data from the 1961 Census as an example.
5. Have the groups draw two pyramids if you are doing a jigsaw. One copy from each group can be posted on a bulletin board.
6. Discuss the population pyramids as a class.
7. Have students answer the questions in Part C using the table and population pyramid completed in Parts A and B.

Please see User guide for the Search Censuses module for more help.

Enrichment

Have students research the topic of population aging in Canada and how it will affect them. Have students complete Handout 4 from the 2001 Census results teacher's kit.

See Animated population pyramids along with lessons.

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