Population A geographic “BIG IDEA” with many consequences in China Population density helps us understand many other geographic features in China, including patterns of crop production, dynasties, inventions, large building projects, highways, factories, trade, pollution, disease, and human rights.

Population A geographic “BIG IDEA” with many consequences in China Note to Teachers: This lesson plan and PowerPoint is one way to adapt the Big Ideas Population in China unit to a specific focus on the geography and population of China. Please refer to the unit on our website (cst.cmich.edu/mga/) to find all the Big Ideas units and much more material than is contained in this lesson.

Population A geographic “BIG IDEA” with many consequences in China OBJECTIVES for students: Students will: Compare China and the United States in size, latitude, geography and population Explain climatic reasons for patterns of population List and explain some consequences of large, dense populations

Population National Standards Michigan Content Expectations Standard 4. The physical and human characteristics of places. Standard 9.  The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface. Michigan Content Expectations Middle School: 6 – G1.2.3 Use data to create thematic maps and graphs showing patterns of population, physical terrain, rainfall, and vegetation, analyze the patterns and then propose two generalizations about the location and density of the population. High School: Population CGI: Explain the causes and consequences of population changes over the past 50 years by analyzing the distributions of population

“Using Big Ideas to teach Population in China” Pretest “Using Big Ideas to teach Population in China” 1. China has ___ times as many people as the US 2 times 4 times 6 times 10 times 5. The land area of China extends Farther south than the US Farther south and west than the US Farther south, west, and north than the US 2. Land area of China compared to the US is: Much less About the same Much more 6. One positive consequence of a large population:   7. One negative consequence of a large population: 3. Manchuria, China’s northlands, is _____________ than Michigan or Ontario Wetter and colder Wetter and warmer Drier and colder Drier and warmer 4. The capital cities (Washington DC and Beijing) have climates that are Very similar Very different

China has about the same area as the United States, but it has more than four times as many people. Both countries cover roughly the same latitude and general position on the east coast of their continents. As a result, many of the environments in China are similar to places in the United States.

The Idea of Analogous Climates An analogy is a statement of relationships: e.g., Ford is to the U.S. as Toyota is to Japan. Analogies are a powerful way to organize knowledge about the world. A climatic analog is a distant place that has a situation similar to one you know, and therefore is likely to have weather conditions that are also similar.

The Idea of Analogous Climates By "similar situation" we mean: roughly the same distance away from the Equator (therefore both places get roughly the same amount of solar energy in both winter and summer.) 2) roughly the same elevation above sea level (therefore both places are about the same amount cooler than expected at that latitude.) 3) roughly the same distance and direction from the ocean (therefore both places have about the same general pattern of precipitation (rain and snow).

For example, Hong Kong and Miami are both - on the east coast, - near the same latitude, and - close to warm ocean. Not surprisingly, both cities have mild winters, hot summers, and occasional hurricanes in the fall.

in China is analogous to: Which city in China is analogous to: Washington DC Pittsburgh Reno Savannah

Pittsburgh Reno Washington, DC Savannah Miami

Shanghai and Savannah, GA, have almost identical climates.

The capital cities, Beijing and Washington, also have very similar weather.

have even more similarities – both were centers for steelmaking, Shenyang and Pittsburgh are two more cities with similar climates. These two cities have even more similarities – both were centers for steelmaking, . and both became hi-tech centers when the steel industry faded.

The old Silk Road city of Kashgar and Reno, Nevada: But Kashgar (also called Kashi) is a much older city and has ten times as many people as Reno. The old Silk Road city of Kashgar and Reno, Nevada: Both are located about 4300 feet above sea level, in small irrigated oases on major transcontinental routes, between high mountains to the west and desert to the east. Reno Kashgar

What are two significant geographic differences between US and China? Question for you: What are two significant geographic differences between US and China?

China does not have a west coast China does not have a west coast. Therefore, it has no places like California, Oregon, Washington, or Alaska. Differences And remember, California is by far the number one food-producing state in the United States.

Another huge difference: China does not have anything like the Great Lakes.

Another huge difference: China does not have anything like Manchuria Mongolia Another huge difference: China does not have anything like the Great Lakes. As a result, China’s “northlands” (Mongolia and Manchuria) are much colder and drier than Wisconsin, Michigan, or Ontario, Canada.

The Great Lakes are a big benefit for food production in the United States. China does not have any large region of prime farmland like the Corn Belt in the Midwest.

What China does have is four giant river systems. The Amur on the border with Russia. The Huang He - “He” means muddy river. The Yangtze Jiang – “Jiang” means clear blue river. The Zhu Jiang (also known by an English name, the Pearl River).

Topography of China Does China have more or less land over a mile high than US? Describe the topography of China from west to east.

Precipitation in China How does this compare to the US pattern of precipitation? How can you explain the pattern of precipitation in southwest China?

First, let’s review some population vocabulary Let’s combine what we know about the physical geography of China to see how it affects population distribution. First, let’s review some population vocabulary

Total _______ of _______in an _____ POPULATION Total _______ of _______in an _____ number people area Examples: United States has a population of 321,267,425 Nebraska has a population of 1,881,503 Lincoln, Nebraska has a population of 268,738

The _______ of people per _____ __ _____ within a _______ _____ POPULATION DENSITY The _______ of people per _____ __ _____ within a _______ _____ number unit certain area of space Number of people: population Square miles Per Unit of space: Square kilometers Square yards In a certain area: Country State Classroom

The number of people per unit of space within a certain area POPULATION DENSITY The number of people per unit of space within a certain area This is determined by dividing the number of people by the land area

The number of people per unit of space within a certain area POPULATION DENSITY The number of people per unit of space within a certain area Example: The land area of the United States is 3,536,290 square miles. The United States has a density of 91 people per square mile. 321.267.425 divided by 3,536,290 = 91

The number of people per unit of space within a certain area POPULATION DENSITY The number of people per unit of space within a certain area Example: The land area of Nebraska is 76,878 square miles. Nebraska has a density of ____people per square mile. 24 1,881,503 divided by 76,878

The number of people per unit of space within a certain area POPULATION DENSITY The number of people per unit of space within a certain area Example: If an area of land is 500 square miles, and the population of the area is 4000, what is the population density? 4000 divided by 500 = 8

The number of people per unit of space within a certain area POPULATION DENSITY The number of people per unit of space within a certain area Example: The state senate districts are determined by population. Each district has a population of between 250,000 and 350,000, but is not the same size. Therefore, the density of districts vary from 22 persons per square mile to 1538.

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION How ___________is spread out or ___________over an area population arranged Example: While Nebraska’s population density is only 24, Lancaster County, Nebraska has a density of 298 people per square mile. What might be located here?

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION How population is spread out or arranged over an area Example: Lincoln has a density of 2974 people per square mile. Is the population distribution equal in Lancaster County?

POPULATION POPULATION POPULATION DENSITY POPULATION DISTRIBUTION Total number of people in an area The number of people per unit of space within a certain area How population is spread out or arranged over an area LIMITS AND ATTRACTIONS Why do people live in some areas and not others?

Where do you think China’s population is and why?

Shade your map to show population density and distribution Describe the density and distribution and give geographic reasons for the patterns

The floodplains of three rivers have had large populations throughout Chinese history. The old capitals of Luoyang and Xi’an are on the Huang He. Four great cities are spaced along the Yangtze. Guangzhou (Canton) and Hong Kong are near the mouth of the Pearl.

Today, six of these cities are the urban cores of areas of especially large population. Beijing Nanjing, Shanghai Chongqing Guangzhou, Hong Kong

Today, six of these cities are the urban cores of areas of especially large population. Remember, Beijing’s climate is like Washington or New York City. and Chongqing is like Dallas (with rainier summers and drier winters) Shanghai is like Savannah Hong Kong is like Miami

Describe the population distribution of China

Write some consequences of a large, dense population What are some advantages? Disadvantages?

of a large, dense population Consequences of a large, dense population Advantage Disadvantage

of a large, dense population Consequences of a large, dense population Advantage Disadvantage More people can produce more products More chance of developing and spreading disease More people can defend their territory from attack Less personal freedom Many smart people to invent things More stress on resources and environment More people to trade with More pollution

Extensions What are some limits on population? Political Natural Disasters Disease How has China dealt with the large dense populations? One-child policy Relocation