This lesson plan explores population density through three activities. Students will learn about population, population density, and how physical geography influences where populations settle. In the first activity, students will label a map and learn how geography affects population density. The second activity uses dried beans to demonstrate the relationship between population size and area. Students scatter different numbers of beans in areas labeled Community A and B, then answer questions about which area has more people and appears more crowded. In the closing discussion, the teacher reviews key concepts and asks students where they would prefer to live, with more or fewer people.

1. Population Density
Lesson Plan
Geography is used and found in the classroom everyday. In this lesson plan we
will be exploring population. For years civilizations have migrated and established
populations in specific regions of the world. There is no better way to explain how this is
tied into geography because it is geography. Hopefully by the end of the lesson plan, the
students will have a better understanding for what a piece of geography is like.
Population Density
Grade Level: 5 or Higher
Number of Sessions: 1
Length of Session: 60 minutes
Number of Leaders: 1
Learning Objectives:
Students need to understand how population and area affect population density
The ratio between populations and the land the inhabit
Students will also understand how physical geography is the reason why these
Populations are so dense in certain areas.
Know the top five countries with the highest population density
Materials:
World Map
(If possible a world map with population statistics)
Communities A and B worksheets
120 Dried Beans (any kind will do)
A copy of a world map for each student
Anticipatory Set:
I would do this lesson plan first thing in the morning, prior to students arriving.
Professor would place the world map on the board. Place the desks into groups. Each
group table will have 120 dried out beans in a jar, activity A and B worksheets and blank
world maps.
Class Discussion Prior to Activity
What is population?
What is population density?
Why do you think people go and live in specific places?
Activity 1
Show a power-point explaining population and population density. It should also
contain physical geography. It should emphasize that these populations live in
large numbers in specific regions because of the resources that surround them. Ex.
Rivers, fertile soil, animals, climate, oceans etc… On the blank world map have

2. the students label continents and major oceans. Explain that the geography that
surrounds these continents has to do with population density.
Activity 2
Pull out Communities A and B worksheet
1. Take dried beans out of jar
2. Make a pile of 40 beans and a pile of 80 beans
3. Scatter the pile of 40 beans on community A
4. Scatter the pile of 80 beans on community B
Questions
o Does community A or B have more people? Answer- B
o Which community looks to be more crowded? Answer- A
Explain
o Some students wont understand, so explain further.
o Have students place the dried beans out evenly within each community in
order to better understand the relation between population and area of
land.
Ask the same questions again for the students who didn’t understand
Closing
The teacher will ask the students the following questions and discuss their answers.
1. What is population?

3. 2. What is population density
3. Why do people all move to certain areas
4. Where would you want to live? (With more or less people)
a. In a populated area?
b. Or a less populated area?
Colleen Bannon, Brenda Arauz, Carmie Kua, Brooke Hammer