The Next Billion
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A lesson plan for grade 6 Mathematics
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In this lesson, from Illuminations, students predict when the world’s population will reach 7 billion. To do so, they use an on-line counter that simulates the changing world population. They time the counter to find how long it takes for the population to increase by 50 or 100 people. They use that measurement to predict how long it would take for the population to increase by 1 billion. Students discuss the reliability of their predictions, compare them to past trends, and discuss social factors that can affect population growth.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Mathematics (2004)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will understand and compute with rational numbers.
- Objective 1.04: Develop fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of non-negative rational numbers.
- Analyze computational strategies.
- Describe the effect of operations on size.
- Estimate the results of computations.
- Judge the reasonableness of solutions.
- Objective 1.06: Use exponential, scientific, and calculator notation to write very large and very small numbers.
- Objective 1.04: Develop fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of non-negative rational numbers.
