Age Structure Studies Introduction. The population of the world is nearly 6 billion and is growing at an ever-increasing pace. Changes are taking place not only in the number of individuals but in the ages of the individuals who make up our population. Students will collect data from Internet sources to compare age distributions in their city, county or state with that of other places in the United States or of other countries. They will construct and interpret age-structure population pyramids and research reasons for the differences in these graphs among different countries. Audience. This lesson is designed for an introductory Biology course. It could also be adapted for use in a History, Social Studies, Government, Health or Mathematics class. Previous Knowledge Needed. Basic Internet skills. Basic graphing skills. Ability to compute percents. Materials. Internet access. "Age-Structure Population Pyramids" overhead. "Age- Structure Pyramids" Worksheet. Calculators may be used. Objectives. To access local and world population data on the Internet. To learn how to read and construct age-structure population pyramids. To describe characteristics of a population after examining the age- structure pyramid for a particular country. To make and test some conjectures about countries with similar age- structure pyramids.
Transcript
Age Structure Studies
Introduction.
The population of the world is nearly 6 billion and is growing at an ever-increasing pace. Changes are taking place not only in the number of individuals but in the ages of the individuals who make up our population. Students will collect data from Internet sources to compare age distributions in their city, county or state with that of other places in the United States or of other countries. They will construct and interpret age-structure population pyramids and research reasons for the differences in these graphs among different countries.
Audience.
This lesson is designed for an introductory Biology course. It could also be adapted for use in a History, Social Studies, Government, Health or Mathematics class.
Previous Knowledge Needed.
Basic Internet skills. Basic graphing skills. Ability to compute percents.
Materials.
Internet access. "Age-Structure Population Pyramids" overhead. "Age-Structure Pyramids" Worksheet. Calculators may be used.
Objectives.
To access local and world population data on the Internet.
To learn how to read and construct age-structure population pyramids.
To describe characteristics of a population after examining the age-structure pyramid for a particular country.
To make and test some conjectures about countries with similar age-structure pyramids.
Procedure.
Introduce the idea of the changing age characteristics of the United States population by discussing the problem of funding social security into the 21st century. Ask students what they have heard about this problem and what is causing it.
Show the age-structure overhead on "The Aging in Michigan". Explain how to read this pyramid. Each horizontal bar represents a 5-year age span. Each vertical line represents 100,000 people. For example, in 1930 there were about 200,000 20-to-25 year old men and about 200,000 20-to-25 year old women.
In 2030, it is projected that there will be about 350,000 men and 350,000 women in the 20-25 year old category.
The age-structure pyramid shows that the Michigan population has increased a great deal from 1900. (Students may estimate the total population in 1900 and 2020 by adding up the numbers in each age group. In 1900 a rough estimate is 2,400,000; in 2020 a rough estimate is 10,000,000.)
The shape of the pyramid is also very important. Discuss why it is easier to fund social security for a population pyramid with a shape as in 1900 or 1930 than a pyramid with the 2020 shape. (The 20-65 year olds must support those over 65. In 1930, there would be about 2,700,000 people supporting about 250,000; or 250000/2700000 = 0.0926 = 9.25% retired people would have to be supported. In 2020, approximately 1,750,000 retirees will need to be supported by 5,400,000 people; 1750000/5400000 = .324 = 32.4%.)
Ask students for suggestions why the shape of the pyramid has altered from 1900 to 2020. (Better medical services, nutrition, fewer children in families, better retirement benefits.)
The 1960 shape is also unusual. What historical circumstances could account for the large base and small "waist" in the 20-30 age group? (During World War II, 1940-45, fewer children were born because men were at war. Hence 20 years later, in 1960, there would be fewer 20-25 year olds. But after the war, 1950-1960, couples were able to start families creating the "baby boom".)
After students understand how age-structure pyramids are constructed, they can access population data on the Internet, create their own pyramid and complete the Age-Structure Worksheet. Age-Structure Pyramids created by the class may be shared either as a whole class or in small groups. Students should discuss similarities and differences among their pyramids for the different places they had chosen in order to complete #7 on the Worksheet.
Evaluation.
See points on the Age-Structure Worksheet.
Teacher Notes.
!!!! Warning !!!! The Web sites given in this lesson may have changed! Before using this lesson with your students, be sure to check if the sites are still working or if you must find another site. Sometimes the sites still have the relevant data but you may need to change the directions to access the data.
The STF1A option in the census site does not separate age data by gender. However, the STF3A option will give age data separated by gender and race. Hence if you need exact figures for age data with regard to gender, you can check all boxes P14A through P14 J and P15A and P15 B under the STF3A option. You will get 12 tables (for 6 different race categories and 2 different gender categories). You will need to add corresponding values in each race category to get total numbers for men and women.
In you are familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel, you could cut and paste these 12 tables into a Microsoft Word document. Then highlight just the numerical data by holding down the Alt key while highlighting the "column" that the numbers are in. You will also need to highlight some periods from this data. Cut and paste this column of numbers in another Word document. Then use Find under the Edit button on the top bar to find the periods and replace them with a space (choose Replace All). Next you can cut this new column of numbers into Excel and use Excel to total the appropriate cells.
If you wish, you could have students access the STF3A site and, instead of making an age-structure pyramid for the entire population, make age-structure pyramids for two or three different races, then compare the shapes of these pyramids.
If you need more background about the statistical concepts involved in the lesson, some good sites to check are:
In order to print out just a copy of the student worksheet, highlight this section, then copy and paste it into your word processor. You may then revise the worksheet if you wish.
Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards Addressed
Science:
A12.3. Give examples that show how partial systems, models, and explanations are used to give quick and reasonable solutions that are accurate enough for basic needs.
A12.4. Construct arguments that show how conflicting models and explanations of events can start with similar evidence.
A12.5. Show how the ideas and themes of science can be used to make real-life decisions about careers, work places, life-styles, and use of resources.
B12.3. Relate the major themes of science to human progress in understanding science and the world.
C12.1. When studying science content, ask questions suggested by current social issues, scientific literature, and observations of phenomena; build hypotheses that might answer some of these questions; design possible investigations; and describe results that might emerge from such investigations.
C12.2. Identify issues from an area of science study, write questions that could be investigated, review previous research on these questions, and design and conduct responsible and safe investigations to help answer the questions.
C12.3. Evaluate data collected during an investigation, critique the data-collection procedures and results, and suggest ways to make any needed improvements.
C12.4. During investigations, choose the best data-collection procedures and materials available, use them competently and calculate the degree of precision of the resulting data.
G12.4. Show how a major scientific or technological change has had an impact on work, leisure, or the home.
H12.6. Evaluate data and sources of information when using scientific information to make decisions.
Mathematics:
D12.3. Determine measurements indirectly, using estimation, proportional reasoning, techniques of algebra, geometry and trigonometry, formulas, geometric relationships or conversion constants.
E12.1 Work with data in the context of real-world situations by formulating hypotheses that lead to collection and analysis of one- and two-variable data, using technology to generate displays, summary statistics and presentations.
E12.2. Organize and display data from statistical investigations using frequency distributions, percentiles, quartiles, deciles, line of best fit or matrices.
E12.3. Interpret and analyze information from organized and displayed data when given measures of dispersion, reliability or correlation.
Social Studies:
A12.1. Use various types of atlases and appropriate vocabulary to describe the physical attributes of a place or region, employing such concepts as climate, plate tectonics, volcanism, and landforms, and to describe the human attributes, employing such concepts as demographics, birth and death rates, doubling time, emigration, and immigration.
A12.2. Analyze information generated from a computer about a place, including statistical sources, aerial and satellite images, and three-dimensional models.
A12.4. Analyze the short-term and long-term effects that major changes in population in various parts of the world have had or might have on the environment.
B12.9. Select significant changes caused by technology, industrialization, urbanization, and population growth, and analyze the effects of these changes in the United States and the world.
E12.14. Use the research procedures and skills of the behavioral sciences (such as gathering, organizing, and interpreting data from several sources) to develop an informed position on an issue.
Activity Sheets.
The Aging in Michigan
Figure 2. Percent Distribution of Population by Age and Sex: Michigan, 1900-2020
Age-Structure Pyramids Worksheet Name ________________________
1. (5 points) Access the site http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer Type in a city, county, state or zip code to search for, then click Search. You may get a list of several areas with that name; decide which area is the one you are interested in. Under Lookup 1990 Census under that area, click on
STF1A tables. Click P1 persons, P5 Sex and P11 Age. Click the HTML format, go to the top of the page, and then click Submit.
2. (5 points each). Since this data is not separated according to gender, estimate that about half of the population will be men and half women. What percent of your population are men? women?
a. Total Population __________
Total Men ___________ Percent Men ___________
Total Women ___________ Percent Women ___________
b. Is it a reasonable assumption to estimate that about half of your population are men and half are women? Explain why.
c. We will also estimate that about half of the population in each age group are men and half are women. Is this a reasonable assumption? If not, for which age groups would this assumption probably not be true? Explain why.
3. (15 points) Add up the number of individuals in the table you obtain for each age group:
Age (years) Total Number of Persons ½ Total Number of Persons
0-4 _______________ _______________
5-9 _______________ _______________
10-14 _______________ _______________
15-19 _______________ _______________
20-24 _______________ _______________
25-29 _______________ _______________
30-34 _______________ _______________
35-39 _______________ _______________
40-44 _______________ _______________
45-49 _______________ _______________
50-54 _______________ _______________
55-59 _______________ _______________
60-64 _______________ _______________
65-69 _______________ _______________
70-74 _______________ _______________
75-79 _______________ _______________
80-84 _______________ _______________
85+ _______________ _______________
4. (25 points) Make an age-structure pyramid with your data on the attached graph paper.
5. (15 points) Access the site http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/ipc/www/idbpyr.html Find three countries in different parts of the world and print out their age-structure pyramids.
6. (15 points) Compare and contrast these three countries using their age-structure pyramids. You may want to find out some other information about these countries to give good explanations why these age-structure pyramids differ.
7. (10 points) Compare the age-structure pyramid you created with those of other students in the class. Do they have about the same shape? If not, what could account for the differences in their shapes?
1. (5 points) Access the site http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer Type in a city, county, state or zip code to search for, then click Search. You may get a list of several areas with that name; decide which area is the one you are interested in. Under Lookup 1990 Census under that area, click on STF1A tables. Click P1 persons, P5 Sex and P11 Age. Click the HTML format, go to the top of the page, and then click Submit.
Madison, WI was chosen
2. (5 points each). Since this data is not separated according to gender, estimate that about half of the population will be men and half women. What percent of your population are men? women?
a. Total Population _191262_ Total Men _93179_ Percent Men _48.7%_
b. Is it a reasonable assumption to estimate that about half of your population are men and half are women? Explain why.
Yes, since 48.7% and 51.3% are very close.
c. We will also estimate that about half of the population in each age group are men and half are women. Is this a reasonable assumption? If not, for which age groups would this assumption probably not be true? Explain why.
No, because in the other pyramids we looked at, there were a lot more older women than men in the age groups over 60.
3. (15 points) Add up the number of individuals in the table you obtain for each age group:
Age (years) Total Number of Persons
½ Total Number of Persons
0-4 11,863 5,931
5-9 10,387 5,193
10-14 8,527 4,263
15-19 16,297 8,148
20-24 30,670 15,335
25-29 20,777 10,388
30-34 18,220 9,110
35-39 16,257 8,128
40-44 13,124 6,562
45-49 8,864 4,432
50-54 6,605 3,302
55-59 5,917 2,958
60-64 5,923 2,961
65-69 5,458 2,729
70-74 4,354 2,177
75-79 3,309 1,699
80-84 2,408 1,204
85+ 2,211 1,105
4. (25 points) Make an age-structure pyramid with your data on the attached graph paper.
5. (15 points) Access the site http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/ipc/www/idbpyr.html Find three countries in different parts of the world and print out their age-structure pyramids.
6. (15 points) Compare and contrast these three countries using their age-structure pyramids. You may want to find out some other information about these countries to give good explanations why these age-structure pyramids differ.
Access the international census site http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbsum.html and obtain more population data about these three countries.
Afghanistan Iceland Japan
1998 2010 1998 2010 1998 2010
Births per 1,000 people 42 37 15 12 10 9
Deaths per 1,000 people 17 13 7 8 8 10
Rate of natural increase (percent)
2.5 2.4 0.8 0.5 0.2 -0.1
Annual rate of growth (percent)
4.2 2.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 -0.1
Life expectancy at birth (years)
46.8 53.1 78.8 80.1 80.0 81.1
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births
144 107 5 5 4 4
Totality fertility rate (per woman)
6.0 5.1 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.5
Japan's pyramid is smaller on the bottom because it's annual rate of growth is very small and is projected to be negative in 2010. Afghanistan's pyramid is very large on the bottom because its annual rate of growth is large; also the death rate is much larger and life expectancy much smaller.
7. (10 points) Compare the age-structure pyramid you created with those of other students in the class. Do they have about the same shape? If not, what could account for the differences in their shapes?
Because of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, which enrolls a large number of both undergraduate and graduate students, the 18-35 year old age groups will have a much greater proportion of individuals than other cities. UWM students account for the wide spread in these age groups.
1 and 2 years............................................................50433 and 4 years............................................................46305 years..................................................................22476 years..................................................................21417 to 9 years.............................................................599910 and 11 years..........................................................359312 and 13 years..........................................................334314 years.................................................................159115 years.................................................................163216 years.................................................................154417 years.................................................................170218 years.................................................................402519 years.................................................................739420 years.................................................................765321 years.................................................................726722 to 24 years..........................................................1575025 to 29 years..........................................................2077730 to 34 years..........................................................1822035 to 39 years..........................................................1625740 to 44 years..........................................................1312445 to 49 years...........................................................886450 to 54 years...........................................................660555 to 59 years...........................................................591760 and 61 years..........................................................233562 to 64 years...........................................................358865 to 69 years...........................................................545970 to 74 years...........................................................435475 to 79 years...........................................................339980 to 84 years...........................................................240885 years and over........................................................2211
1990 US Census DataDatabase: C90STF3A
Summary Level: State--Place
Madison city: FIPS.STATE=55, FIPS.PLACE90=48000
RACE BY SEX BY AGEUniverse: White malesUnder 1 year..............................................................8731 and 2 years............................................................21723 and 4 years............................................................18685 years...................................................................9686 years..................................................................10337 to 9 years.............................................................269910 and 11 years..........................................................158612 and 13 years..........................................................136314 years..................................................................71315 years..................................................................61916 years..................................................................69117 years..................................................................80918 years.................................................................176719 years.................................................................322920 years.................................................................352321 years.................................................................359022 to 24 years...........................................................738525 to 29 years...........................................................941930 to 34 years...........................................................786635 to 39 years...........................................................732240 to 44 years...........................................................595045 to 49 years...........................................................406350 to 54 years...........................................................293055 to 59 years...........................................................269860 and 61 years..........................................................100462 to 64 years...........................................................168865 to 69 years...........................................................223870 to 74 years...........................................................183275 to 79 years...........................................................121680 to 84 years............................................................73485 years and over.........................................................471RACE BY SEX BY AGEUniverse: White femalesUnder 1 year..............................................................8401 and 2 years............................................................21073 and 4 years............................................................19575 years...................................................................8556 years...................................................................8867 to 9 years.............................................................244510 and 11 years..........................................................141712 and 13 years..........................................................134214 years..................................................................67915 years..................................................................62916 years..................................................................58617 years..................................................................74718 years.................................................................182819 years.................................................................3537
20 years.................................................................343721 years.................................................................357322 to 24 years...........................................................684725 to 29 years...........................................................891730 to 34 years...........................................................826135 to 39 years...........................................................767540 to 44 years...........................................................599545 to 49 years...........................................................464050 to 54 years...........................................................324555 to 59 years...........................................................304060 and 61 years..........................................................122162 to 64 years...........................................................194765 to 69 years...........................................................254470 to 74 years...........................................................275375 to 79 years...........................................................219480 to 84 years...........................................................171785 years and over........................................................1510RACE BY SEX BY AGEUniverse: Black malesUnder 1 year..............................................................1231 and 2 years.............................................................2893 and 4 years.............................................................2495 years...................................................................1066 years...................................................................1007 to 9 years..............................................................26510 and 11 years...........................................................15012 and 13 years...........................................................15614 years...................................................................8115 years...................................................................8016 years...................................................................4317 years...................................................................4018 years...................................................................7119 years..................................................................14420 years...................................................................5021 years...................................................................6122 to 24 years............................................................18125 to 29 years............................................................51930 to 34 years............................................................44835 to 39 years............................................................41740 to 44 years............................................................33045 to 49 years............................................................17150 to 54 years.............................................................8855 to 59 years............................................................13060 and 61 years.............................................................662 to 64 years.............................................................2365 to 69 years.............................................................5470 to 74 years.............................................................2175 to 79 years.............................................................1180 to 84 years..............................................................085 years and over...........................................................0
