Links
website
1. Introduce the activity.
Ask: What do you think the population of the United States is? Have students check their predictions against the U.S. Census Bureau Population Clock. Then ask students to predict which states are most and least populated. Tell them they can confirm their predictions later in this activity. Explain that students will calculate the population density for each individual state and then the United States as a whole. Write the formula for figuring out population density on the board:
number of people ÷ the area they occupy = population density
2. Have students complete the worksheet.
Provide each student with a copy of the worksheet United States Population Density and a calculator. Have students use QuickFacts on the U.S. Census Bureau website to get current land area and estimated population data. Then ask students to use the population density formula and a calculator to calculate the population density for each state. Next, have students rank the states from highest population density to lowest using numbers 1–50. Finally, to calculate the average for the entire United States, have students first total the land area for each state, then the estimated population for each state, and then use the same formula to calculate population density.
3. Discuss the results as a class.
As a class, identify the states with the highest and lowest population densities. Discuss possible reasons a state might have a high population density, such as:
- a large total population
- a small land area
- a fairly large population, but a significantly smaller land area
Ask: What is the ranking of our state with the current data?
Informal Assessment
Make informal observations as students calculate the density populations for the states. You can also assess students’ understandings of population density by asking: What does the population density of a country or state tell you?
Extending the Learning
Encourage students to use this same technique to calculate the population density for cities within their own state or for particular countries of interest.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- calculate the population density for each state and the United States as a whole
- identify multiple reasons for high population densities
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Information organization
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
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Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Remembering
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Council for Social Studies Curriculum Standards
- Theme 3: People, Places, and Environments
National Geography Standards
- Standard 9: The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Calculators
- Paper
- Pencils
- Pens
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per learner
Physical Space
- Computer lab
Grouping
- Small-group instruction
Background Information
Population density describes the number of individuals occupying an area in relation to the size of the area they occupy. It’s helpful to analyze the population density of the United States at different scales in order to find patterns.
Prior Knowledge
- population density
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
total number of people or organisms in a particular area.
Articles & Profiles
Audio & Video
Websites
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Limiting Factors
A limiting factor is anything that constrains a population's size and slows or stops it from growing. Some examples of limiting factors are biotic, like food, mates, and competition with other organisms for resources. Others are abiotic, like space, temperature, altitude, and amount of sunlight available in an environment. Limiting factors are usually expressed as a lack of a particular resource. For example, if there are not enough prey animals in a forest to feed a large population of predators, then food becomes a limiting factor. Likewise, if there is not enough space in a pond for a large number of fish, then space becomes a limiting factor. There can be many different limiting factors at work in a single habitat, and the same limiting factors can affect the populations of both plant and animal species. Ultimately, limiting factors determine a habitat's carrying capacity, which is the maximum size of the population it can support. Teach your students about limiting factors with this curated collection of resources.
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Census
Every few years, governments count the people living in their territories, a process called a census. These counts help decide how best to allocate resources and determine political representation. Learn about the surprisingly ancient origins of the census and why this counting process is important to this day.
-
United States Immigration
Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. The process of immigrating to the United States can be complicated and is often driven by a few key principles including uniting families, boosting the economy with skilled professionals, promoting diversity, and helping refugees. Learn more about U.S. immigration with this curated resource collection.
-
Human Population
As of 2018, there were an estimated 7.5 billion people on the planet and the population continues to grow. How many people can Earth support? Some scientists suggest that the maximum carrying capacity is nine to ten billion people, but this estimate depends on many factors including population distribution and the consumption rate of necessary resources like food, water, and energy. Help your students understand human population with these classroom resources.
-
Population Characteristics
Demography is the study of a population, the total number of people or organisms in a given area. Understanding how population characteristics such as size, spatial distribution, age structure, or the birth and death rates change over time can help scientists or governments make decisions. For example, knowing how lion populations have increased or decreased over a period of time can help conservationists understand if their protection efforts are effective while knowing how many seniors or children live in a particular neighborhood can shape the type of activities scheduled at the local recreation center. Select from these resources to teach your students about population characteristics.
-
Introduction to Population Density
Students learn a formula for calculating population density. Then they explore U.S. Census data.
-
Population Density in the United States
Students compare several maps to explore relationships between high and low population density, transportation corridors, climate, and land cover in the United States.
-
MapMaker: Population Density
What are the most densely populated places in the world? Find out with MapMaker, National Geographic's classroom interactive mapping tool.
-
Limiting Factors
A limiting factor is anything that constrains a population's size and slows or stops it from growing. Some examples of limiting factors are biotic, like food, mates, and competition with other organisms for resources. Others are abiotic, like space, temperature, altitude, and amount of sunlight available in an environment. Limiting factors are usually expressed as a lack of a particular resource. For example, if there are not enough prey animals in a forest to feed a large population of predators, then food becomes a limiting factor. Likewise, if there is not enough space in a pond for a large number of fish, then space becomes a limiting factor. There can be many different limiting factors at work in a single habitat, and the same limiting factors can affect the populations of both plant and animal species. Ultimately, limiting factors determine a habitat's carrying capacity, which is the maximum size of the population it can support. Teach your students about limiting factors with this curated collection of resources.
-
Census
Every few years, governments count the people living in their territories, a process called a census. These counts help decide how best to allocate resources and determine political representation. Learn about the surprisingly ancient origins of the census and why this counting process is important to this day.
-
United States Immigration
Immigration is the process of moving to a new country or region with the intention of staying and living there. People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family. The process of immigrating to the United States can be complicated and is often driven by a few key principles including uniting families, boosting the economy with skilled professionals, promoting diversity, and helping refugees. Learn more about U.S. immigration with this curated resource collection.
-
Human Population
As of 2018, there were an estimated 7.5 billion people on the planet and the population continues to grow. How many people can Earth support? Some scientists suggest that the maximum carrying capacity is nine to ten billion people, but this estimate depends on many factors including population distribution and the consumption rate of necessary resources like food, water, and energy. Help your students understand human population with these classroom resources.
-
Population Characteristics
Demography is the study of a population, the total number of people or organisms in a given area. Understanding how population characteristics such as size, spatial distribution, age structure, or the birth and death rates change over time can help scientists or governments make decisions. For example, knowing how lion populations have increased or decreased over a period of time can help conservationists understand if their protection efforts are effective while knowing how many seniors or children live in a particular neighborhood can shape the type of activities scheduled at the local recreation center. Select from these resources to teach your students about population characteristics.
-
Introduction to Population Density
Students learn a formula for calculating population density. Then they explore U.S. Census data.
-
Population Density in the United States
Students compare several maps to explore relationships between high and low population density, transportation corridors, climate, and land cover in the United States.
-
MapMaker: Population Density
What are the most densely populated places in the world? Find out with MapMaker, National Geographic's classroom interactive mapping tool.