Grade Level

Grades 9 to 12

Time Required

80 to 100 minutes

Curriculum Connection

New Brunswick, Canadian Geography 120

Link to Canadian National Geography Standards

Essential Element #4 – Human Systems

• demographic transition

Geographic Skill #4 – Analyzing Geographic Information

• make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic representations

Atlas of Canada Resources

Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site found at: atlas.gc.ca The following parts of the Web site will be accessed by students during the lesson:

• Explore Our Maps

Health » Rural Health » Old Age Dependency Ratios, 2000 Map

Map Archives » 3rd Edition, 1957, Atlas of Canada » People and Society » Population » Age and Sex Ratios [1951] Map

Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment

• computer lab with Internet access
• Statistics Canada Web site found at www.stats can.ca
• other Web sites on aging population issues such as:

Health Canada: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/fed_paper/toc_e.htm

Mount Allison University:
www.mta.ca/faculty/arts-letters/canadian_studies/english/about/aging/

• print atlases available in your school

Main Objective

The main objective of the lesson is for students to be able to draw conclusions about the impact of the aging population with regards to health care, social programs, pension plans and labour.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson the students will be able to:

• use the Atlas of Canada Web site
• draw a population pyramid
• understand why the Canadian population is aging
• assess the rate of aging in different parts of Canada
• speculate on the impact of the aging population

Introduction

Teacher Activity

• Introduce students to the Atlas of Canada.
• Review the concept of the baby boom and the declining birth rate.

Student Activity

• Students can access the Atlas of Canada at: atlas.gc.ca

Lesson Development

Teacher Activity

• Introduce the population pyramid and related terms such as dependency load.
• Have students draw a population pyramid for Canada with 2001 statistical figures using Appendix A.
• Discuss Appendix B with students to look at the change in dependency ratios over the years.
• Discuss with students the impact of an aging population with regards to various issues such as health care, social programs, pension plans, workforce, taxation, etcetera.
• Ask the students to write a report on the impact of an aging population in Canada.

Student Activity (using the student worksheet)

• Students can view examples of population pyramids by province (1951) by accessing the Atlas of Canada.
• Students can compare old age dependency ratios by regions by going to the Atlas of Canada Web site.

Conclusion

Teacher Activity

• Review the findings on the impact of the aging Canadian population.

Student Activity

• Ask students what impact they believe will be most significant.

The student worksheet is printed separately for distribution to students.

• Student Worksheet – The Aging Population of Canada

Compare the life expectancy of men and women in Canada and discuss what effect this discrepancy has on the elderly. The evolution of life expectancy can be viewed at: www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/health26.htm

• Evaluate the students’ population pyramids.

[D]
Click for more information, 4 KB
2001 Population by Sex and Age Group

• Evaluate the student’s assigned report.

[D]
Click for more information, 3 KB
Old Age Dependency Ratio

• PDF version (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)