Controls of Population Growth NGSS Lesson Planning Template

Grade/ Grade Band: 10 Topic: Controls of Population Growth

Brief Lesson Description: This lesson tackles several learning targets all centered around growth and equilibrium of organism populations
and distributions. They will also learn about the different things that affect population growth and can affect the reproduction and
persistence of a species.
Performance Expectation(s):
 LS 2-1: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting
biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales
 LS 2-2: Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting
biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales

Specific Learning Outcomes:

 Differentiate between density-independent and density-dependent factors (LS2-1, LS2-2)
 Define exponential and logistic growth. (LS2-1, LS2-2)
 Define carrying capacity and explain what factors limit the population from increasing past this point. (LS2-1)
 Model patterns in population growth (LS2-1)

Narrative / Background Information

Prior Student Knowledge:

Students will be completing a POGIL during this lesson, which they have done on numerous occasions before. They are used to the different
jobs members must assume and are familiar with the format. Many of the students are taking AP Human Geography and are used to seeing
population graphs to track the growth of a nation or community. Based on the previous unit, they are familiar with vocabulary and that
having a large number of species and individuals within the population is important.
Science & Engineering Practices: Disciplinary Core Ideas: Crosscutting Concepts:
 Constructing Explanations LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in  Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
 Data Analysis and Interpretation Ecosystems  Cause and Effect
 Mathematical and Computational  Ecosystems have carrying
Thinking capacities, which are limits to the
numbers of organisms and
populations they can support.
These limits result from such
factors as the availability of living
and nonliving resources and from
such challenges such as predation,
competition, and disease.
Organisms would have the
capacity to produce populations of
great size were it not for the fact
that environments and resources
are finite. This fundamental
tension affects the abundance
(number of individuals) of species
in any given ecosystem.

LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning,

and Resilience
 A complex set of interactions
within an ecosystem can keep its
numbers and types of organisms
relatively constant over long
periods of time under stable
conditions. If a modest biological
or physical disturbance to an
ecosystem occurs, it may return to
its more or less original status (i.e.,
the ecosystem is resilient), as
opposed to becoming a very
different ecosystem. Extreme
fluctuations in conditions or the
size of any population, however,
 can challenge the functioning of
ecosystems in terms of resources
and habitat availability.

Possible Preconceptions/Misconceptions:
Students are most likely unaware of the different factors that go into regulating population numbers. However, many of them may be able
to quickly assume the factors that limit population growth since many are intuitive and students can logically make assertions as to the
effects of these factors.

LESSON PLAN – 5-E Model

ENGAGE: Opening Activity – Access Prior Learning / Stimulate Interest / Generate Questions:
To ignite student interest and make connections, teacher will ask students to sketch a graph showing how the human population has grown
over the last 2000 years. Students can collaborate with group members and share out one graph sketch per group. Many students will
probably be aware of the recent steep growth curve, while others may also remember that the population actually decreased in growth
during the Black Plague.
EXPLORE: Lesson Description – Materials Needed / Probing or Clarifying Questions:
Students will complete the Population Growth POGIL to begin to explore the different types of growth and the consequences of such
growth.

Probing Questions:
 Why might rodents, insects, and humans exhibit such different survivorship curves?
 Which growth curve is more realistic? Why?
 Why would there be a plateau in population numbers?
 Logistic and exponential growth is often used to describe population numbers of wild animals. Do humans adhere to these
patterns?
 What is the carrying capacity of the human population? Will we ever reach it? When will this happen?
EXPLAIN: Concepts Explained and Vocabulary Defined:
Teacher will show “Limits to Population Growth” PowerPoint

Vocabulary:
Logistic growth
Exponential growth
Density-dependent factors
Density-independent factors
Carrying capacity
ELABORATE: Applications and Extensions:
Students will complete the Population and Limiting Factors lab and the African Lion Population Simulator.

EVALUATE:

Formative Monitoring (Questioning / Discussion):

Monitoring
Classroom discussion

Summative Assessment (Quiz / Project / Report):

Population and Limiting Factors Lab Follow Up Questions
 Teacher can grade one or more of these questions using the Cause and Effect competency rubric.

Elaborate Further / Reflect: Enrichment:

 Materials Required for This Lesson/Activity
Quantity Description Potential Supplier (item #) Estimated Price