How Do U.S. Populations Stack Up? Reading, Analyzing, and Creating Population Pyramids

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How Do U.S. Populations Stack Up? Reading, Analyzing, and Creating Population Pyramids

Activity Description

Students will use U.S. Census Bureau data to learn how population pyramids describe population structures and to calculate age range population percentages for a selected state that will help them create a population pyramid.

Suggested Grade Level

Approximate Time Required

90 Minutes

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to compare the population structures of various U.S. cities based on economic and socioeconomic information.
Students will be able to calculate the age range population percentages for a selected U.S. state.
Students will be able to create a population pyramid based on age and gender percentages.
Students will be able to predict possible outcomes of changing age-dependency ratios and how these changes might impact government policy.

Materials Required

The student version of this activity, 25 pages; it contains images that should be printed in color.
Colored pencils
Graph paper

Activity Items

The following items are part of this activity.

U.S. Population Pyramid, 1980
U.S. Population Pyramid, 2015
U.S. Projected Population Pyramid, 2040
Population Pyramid of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Provo-Orem, Utah, 2010
Population Pyramid of the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, Louisiana, Metro Area, 2000 and 2010
Data Sheets for Age and Gender Population Structures by State