European Population Growth

Abstract

In this workshop, students examine the components of population change in Europe, namely natural increase of population, net overseas migration for Europe and their country, and total population growth. The change of population for the period 2009-2011 is examined, graphed and mapped using computer software. Students study the graphs and discuss about interesting aspects of the graphs such as possible reasons for the higher rate of natural increase in these countries, identify the countries that have a net loss of migrants, explain why these countries may be experiencing a net loss of countries migrants, etc. Students discuss variations over the area of the European map for the total Population Growth of European countries, identify and reason about the dominant factors (eg. Social, historical, environmental, economic and political factors) that influence the growth of population in their countries. Students coming from the same country work in small groups to brainstorm the nature of the cause of the dominant factors and produce appropriate statistical graphs. At the end, students coming from the same country share the group responses with the class.