Population challenges: overpopulation and underpopulation
I can describe overpopulation and underpopulation and responses different countries take to these challenges.
Population challenges: overpopulation and underpopulation
I can describe overpopulation and underpopulation and responses different countries take to these challenges.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Overpopulation is where there are not enough resources to meet the needs of the population.
- China's population grew rapdily in the twentieth century, resulting in the One Child Policy.
- Underpopulation is where there are not enough people for the resources available.
- The Australian government felt the country was underpopulated after WWII and encouraged people to live there.
Keywords
Population distribution - describes how the people in that population are spread out across the area
Resource - anything that can be used for a human need
Migration - moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there
Common misconception
Overpopulation and underpopulation are only about the number of people in a country.
It’s not just about numbers—it’s about how well a country’s resources match the needs of its population.
To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Population challenges: overpopulation and underpopulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Population challenges: overpopulation and underpopulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Population: where do people live? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
4 Questions
not enough people to utilise the resources available in an area
not enough resources, to meet the needs of the population
moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there