Explore South Asia Using Demographic Data

South Asia is a diverse world region of majestic landforms, ancient cultures, and rapidly expanding population,  Traditionally, students are asked to describe a country using physical features, but this lesson focuses on the use of demographic data to write inferences about a country.  Students will have a brief overview of the the seven countries of South Asia.  Then they will use the CIA World Factbook online to sort data by topic and country.  After they complete a data chart for each country, they will make inferences about the country or contrast two countries using the same topic.  Students will also learn a key economic term--Gross Domestic Product (GDP)--and relate it to other aspects of the country. 

Duration
3-4 hours
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson

Lesson Created By: Ramsey Hardin

Essential Question

How can we use statistics to describe the countries of South Asia?

Grade(s):

  • 9

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

Chromebook or other computer access for each student or pairs of students
Whiteboard or other presentation system for instructor use
Google Classroom so that each student can access the class presentation and Google Docs online; or appropriate copies of handouts for the class assignments
Globes, maps, atlases for student use
 

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Google Slides Presentation with speaker notes for each slide
Google docs Data Chart, Inference compostition instructions, and assessment rubric

Lesson Progression

The complete lesson is on a Google Slides presentation.  The parts of the lesson should take approximately one hour for each part.
Part 1:  Present the overview of South Asia Google Slides 1-7, surveying students about their prior knowledge of the region. Use physical maps, atlases, globes, or Google Earth for the exploration of the landforms found in South Asia.  Slide 28 is a short quiz dealing only with location of the seven countries of the region.
Part 2:  Beginning with Slide 8, present the essential question:  How can we use statistics (demographic data) to describe a country.  Make a contrast between a physical description and a demographic description.  After defining the demographic description, the students will work individually or in pairs to explore the CIA World Fact Book  (Slides 10-14).    Students will also learn about Gross Domestic Product; they should make special note of this data for each country in South Asia.  
Part 3:  Slides 15-22 refer to the Google Docs data chart (also attached).  Students will use data from the Factbook to complete the chart.  They will add one addtional category that they find interesting such as literacy or life expectancy.
Part 4:  Slides 23-27 introduce inference statements.  Students may be familiar with these as the hypothesis for an essay or in a science experiment.  The slides demonstrate a step by step method of composing the inference using the demographic data from the Factbook. Slide 26 is guided practice.  After the students complete the data chart and compose five inference statements, they should check their work using the grading rubric that is provided on Slide 27.
Optional:  Slide 28 is a short review of the locations of each South Asian country.  Students may take this quiz if they complete work early.

Teacher Notes

Teacherr notes are provided on each slide in the speaker's notes section.

Google Slides Presentation: Exploring South Asia Using Demographic Data

The presentation contains all graphics and links as well as speaker notes for each of the 28 slides.The presentation is also provided as a Powerpoint presentation.

The link to the presentation is
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IfijqojDDZfrbqA0Kw5WP4A_3bDAXMsTWqF9wKhRcNc/edit?usp=sharing

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Student Google Doc of Data Chart and Inference Composition Space

This two page handout may be printed for each student or attached to Google Classroom for completion.

The link to the Google document is the following:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11nZtaT0yp79wb-X0aPo-uH_Q7iF4IJvsz6ngIw3E_uM/edit?usp=sharing

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CIA World Factbook

The CIA World Factbook is an online searchable data base of maps, flags, photographs, and demographic data on the nations of the world.

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South Asia Geography Video

A 15 minute journey through the countries of South Asia.

View Resource

Assessments

The data chart and five inference statements will serve as the assessment.  The grading rubric is provided both on the Google Slide #27 and on the Student Handout.