Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 18/01/2026
Subject: Geography
Lesson Topic: 1.3 Population structure: Interpret population pyramids.
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the components of a population pyramid and what they represent.
  • Analyse different pyramid shapes to determine a country's stage of demographic transition.
  • Calculate and interpret the dependency ratio using age‑group data.
  • Identify demographic indicators such as gender imbalance, population momentum, and impacts of historical events from a pyramid.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Laptop with presentation slides
  • Printed population‑pyramid worksheets (sample pyramids)
  • Calculator or spreadsheet software
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Exit‑ticket cards
 Introduction:
Begin with a striking image of a population pyramid projected on the screen and ask students what they notice about its shape. Recall previous learning about birth and death rates and how they affect population growth. Explain that today they will learn to read pyramids to infer a country's demographic stage and related social implications.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students examine a blank pyramid template and note what information could be displayed.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Teacher defines population pyramids, axes, and key features using slides.
  3. Guided analysis (12') – Whole class interprets a sample pyramid (Country X), identifying shape, gender balance, and dependency ratio.
  4. Pair activity (10') – Groups receive different pyramid handouts (expansive, stationary, constrictive) and determine the likely demographic transition stage and two social implications.
  5. Calculation practice (8') – Students calculate the dependency ratio for Country X using the provided data.
  6. Quick check (5') – Exit ticket: one sentence summarising how pyramid shape reflects population momentum.
Conclusion:
Summarise how the shape of a population pyramid reveals birth rates, mortality, and stage of development, and remind students that the dependency ratio quantifies pressures on the working‑age population. For the exit ticket, they wrote a concise interpretation of a pyramid shape. Homework: complete a worksheet analysing a new country's pyramid and calculate its dependency ratio.