Population Pyramid

Thanks to those of you who have sent through the essays – I have not had the chance to work out who has not sent them yet – but I will get round to that some time tomorrow!   

I just wanted to clarify a bit more about what I want you to be doing in my absence at the minute.  This is the definitive version of everything!   I have also been working on a document that is the Learning checklist for 1b Population Structure  - this document will help guide your through the main things that you need to know and be aware of in this part of the population unit – make sure that you know the definitions in particular!   

In the main booklet – 1b Age/Sex Structure you should continue to work through Pages 2,3 and 4.  Ignore the essay on Page 4.  Do not worry about this essay title.

When you get to page 5 in the booklet – start to read and look at the final booklet ‘What is a population pyramid?’ and answer the questions on the front in as much detail as you can. 

Back to page 6 in the booklet – take the notes as indicated from the Essential Geography book and then move onto the notes on page 8 of the booklet. 

Homework:  It is highly unlikely that I will be in school tomorrow – so the next time that I see you all will be on Tuesday 7^th Oct.  Aim to have as much of this done as possible but at the very least get up to Page 5 AND the questions on population pyramids attempted. 

NI Population Pyramid from census 2001

The age and sex structure of the population

One of the best ways to take a look at the composition of the population in a place/ country is to look at its ‘population pyramid’.  This is  special graph that allows us to take a look at the numbers or percentage of the population that is in a particular age group.   This graph is vital to the geographer as any changes in the pyramids can inidicate changes and fluctuations to birth rate, death rate and life expectancy.  As a result, you are expected to be able to understand and use these mechanisms to compare population structures and in some ways, the actual development of a country. 

There are 3 booklets that you should use initially to start thinking about this. 

1. Start to work your way through the main booklet 1b Age/Sex structure and take the noted as indicated through the booklet
2. When you get to the Demographic Transition Model  - there is a booklet that you should use and read.
3. When you get to page 5 in the main booklet – start to read and look at the final booklet ‘What is a population pyramid?’ and answer the questions on the front in as much detail as you can.

In class later in the week we will start to look at these population pyramids and what they mean in a lot more detail.  

In the meantime, make sure that you email me your update to the State of the NI population from 2002 to the present.  The best one to use is probably tmanson@thinkgeography.org.uk  

I am not going to be in class on Tuesday and this is what I want you to be working at 

You need to leave your Reports on the State of the NI population on my desk. 

Using the information that I gave to you on Friday now I want you to write up a very brief report where you should use the same bullet points for the State of the NI population activity to be more up to date about what has been happening in the NI population from 2002 – 2006.  Are there any big changes/ differences between what you had for 2002 to what is seen as the main issues in 2006 in the NI population?  

Also, finish this with a brief paragraph that explains  . . . ‘what are the main differences and similarities between the census and the vital registration sources?’

I want you to email this to me at tmanson@thinkgeography.org.uk by next Mon 29^th as I am not going to be in for a few days that week.  

In class today we were talking about the way that a register is kept of the numbers of births and deaths so that a dynamic list of the population can actually be kept.  

There are a few documents that we will be looking at as we work our way through this to get a picture of how these are used. 

births_2006

Deaths in 2006

Quarter totals for 2007

Riddor 2007   (this is my personal favourite – see if you can work out why!)

Finally I came across a very interesting set of slide notes from a presentation about the census that I thought you might be interested in seeing  . . . .

Try here  . . .

Notes and slides on the Census

Post a comment on the site to discuss what you have found and what you think about these!

Mr Manson

Is the census really that important?  Could we do without it?  In a world of information and stat overload – could we actually get the information from other sources – from all those databases crammed with information that the Government holds on us? 

I remember watching the X files a few years ago and the idea was that the government held minute pieces of detail on every one of us – right down to our DNA  . . . in old filing cabinets in big caves . . . is this possible?  Maybe, but then remember that the government has also spent the last year apologising for loosing all this data and information.  

Here’s an exercise I would like you to do . . .  you have a copy of the English 2001 census – take a look at this copy of the NI census – what are the exact differences?  What do you think they are there and why would we need to ask these questions anyway?    

ni-census-2001

A Level Geography changes this year.  For the last few years we have taught the CCEA A Level specification and this year from Sept 2008 it is going through some changes.   A lot of the content for the previous course is already available on my web site at thinkgeography.org.uk .   However the idea with this is very simple.  This blog site will be used by you and by me to list some of the new resources and some of the old ones that you will need.  I will also set homeworks and keep deadlines up to date on this site.  So – you need to get into the habit of checking out this site on a very regular – if not weekly – basis!  

This is your place to keep up to date with your course in Geography this year.    Let me know what you think!