Five E Lesson Plan

Population Growth- Ecology

Type of Lesson:
Inquiry and Challenged Activity
Learning Goal:
The students will be able to identify the density independent
factors and the density dependent factors that control changes in
the growth of populations.
Key Question:
Are the different factors that affect ecology important to
population growth?
Target TEKS:
112.34-12F: The student knows that interdependence and
interactions occur within an environmental system. The student
is expected to: (F) describe how environmental change can
impact ecosystem stability.
Related TEKS:
112.37-7D: The student knows the relationship between carrying
capacity and changes in populations and ecosystems. The
student is expected to: (D) analyze and make predictions about
the impact on populations of geographic locales due to diseases,
birth and death rates, urbanization, and natural events such as
migration and seasonal changes.
Teacher Notes:
Materials Needed:
o Power Point
o Fill in the Blank Handouts
o Ecology Problem Handout
o Populations Homework
Resources:

If students need additional help regarding the information about the

change in populations of an ecosystems there is a video available
online- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0OtFAt2Iss

ENGAGE
As soon as the students come into the classroom and sit at their desks
(after the bell has rung), the instructor will begin by talking about
exponential growth and how it has effected the human population. For
example, the instructor will mention that there used to be only six
billion people in the world and now there are more than seven billion
people that make up the human population. Why do you think there
has been such an increase in the human population in such a small
amount of time? One of the main reasons is that there are more births
than deaths so instead of the population remaining stable it keeps
growing. Also the technology we have today in medicine and medical
procedures is amazing. This is where the instructor will bring up a
personal near death experience to relate to the students that if it were
not for our advancements in these particular fields then they may have
a different instructor. Another example, the instructor might use to
directly relate the material to the students is the deer population in
their neighborhoods. There are so many deer because people feed
them and there are laws against killing them so they just keep
reproducing, which causes an over population of deer in residential
areas.

EXPLORE
In order to explore the new terms and concepts of the lesson the
instructor will present two different scenarios. The students will then
turn and talk to their partners in order to come up with what is
happening in those environments. Also the students will have to attach
the given vocabulary terms to the scenario before the instructor
explains what the definition of each term is or before any examples are
given. This is administered in order to put these terms into
perspective. Therefore, making the students think outside the box and
by having them use their critical thinking skills before any further
information is presented to them.

EXPLAIN
The instructor will then put up a power point, which she will then
explore the different terms with her students over the population

growths in an ecosystem. The first major term is density dependent

limiting factors such as competition within species or with different
species, predation between species, paratism, and disease. All of these
are examples of factors that are dependent on the populations size.
The second major term is density independent limiting factors, which
are caused by the change in weather, the occurrence of natural
disasters, and human activities. All of these are examples of factors
that affect all populations regardless of the size of the population. After
this term is explained to the students the instructor will then present a
short video so that the students can see the relation to the real world
and how these factors affect all populations including animals and
humans. The third major term is exponential growth that was
previously mentioned in the engage section of the lesson. This
happens under ideal conditions with unlimited amounts of resources
where you see a population grow exponentially such as the human
population. The last major term is logistic growth, which is when a
populations growth pattern slows or stops following a period of
exponential growth. This occurrence is mainly seen when the resources
are less available therefore the birthdate goes down and the death rate
goes up or both happen simultaneously.

ELABORATE
During the power point presentation there will be a section of the
lesson where the instructor is explaining in detail how to determine the
population growth rate. This is administered by the giving students
with a series of real world problems and having them figure out
different solutions to each problem presented. The equation the
students will use is G=rN. G, stands for the total population growth
rate. r, stands for the rate of intrinsic growth, which is the total
birthrates minus the total death rates in a particular population. N,
stands for the overall number of organisms present in the population.
Also during the power point the instructor will ask the students a series
of questions to ensure the students understand all the different terms
and concepts that are presented throughout the lesson.

EVALUATE
The students will be continuously self-assessed for over all
understanding by the instructor asking them open-ended questions
throughout the lesson regarding previous and new knowledge. The
instructor will also observe the students behaviors as they explore the
new material. The students will also show their complete

understanding after they complete the homework assignment. This

assignment will insure the instructor that the students did understand
the over all terms and concepts of the lesson because it will be
completed individually.