Geographic Alliance of Iowa

Making Maps with Population Data
By: Tami Huegel, Forest City High School

Grade Level:
Middle School/High School

Timeline:
1-2 weeks (depends on how many types of maps you want students to create)

Inquiry Question:
What is population like in India?

Goal:
To create choropleth maps to show population density, growth rates, and sex ratios.
To create dot maps to show major population centers.
To get students thinking critically about the population problem in India.

Objectives:
TSW create choropleth maps using the 3 methods of equal frequency, equal interval, and natural breaks.
TSW compare the 3 maps for accuracy and bias.
TSW analyze the maps and develop hypotheses about population to plan for the future.

Materials:
State maps of India
Colored pencils
GIS Mapping program like ArcView (for upper levels only)
2001 Census Data (Included)
Calculator
Scratch paper
India stencils

Geography Standards:
1 - Use of Maps
2 - Mental Maps
3 - Spatial Organization
9 - Population Geography
14 - Human Influences on the Environment
17 & 18 - Using Geography to Interpret the Past & Future

Activities:
Explain the different types of maps, and how to create them.
Have students create different types of maps.
Some examples include: cartograms, dot maps showing population in urban centers, choropleth maps comparing populations, growth rates, or sex ratios in various states.
At the end of the map unit, compare the maps and explain the purpose and bias of each type of map.
You could also have a group discussion to talk about the population issues in India - what the problems are now, and what the future looks like for the country.

Assessment:
The assessment of this lesson is the maps the students will create. As the teacher, you will need to look at their data sets to see they created the map correctly. The choropleth maps should use graduated color to make them easier to read.

Additional Notes:
*For advanced students, try using a computer program like ArcView to create the different kinds of maps. This is a great way to incorporate technology into this lesson.
*The census data included in this lesson came from the National Institute of Urban Affairs, Delhi, India. Additional census information can be found on the India Census web site at http://www.censusindia.net