Summary
In this lesson, students learn about the effects of high population density and explore what it would be like to live in one of the world's most densely populated areas—Tokyo, Japan—and its suburbs. Students will analyze pictures, population density maps, and a short article to grow their understanding of Japan's population and population density. Students will also watch an interview with an Oklahoma City planner to learn about what city planners do and their career paths.
Essential Question(s)
Can too many people live in one area? How does city planning help accommodate large numbers of people living in one area?
Snapshot
Engage
Students consider a personal experience in which they were in a densely populated area and discuss what precautions were taken to accommodate that high population density.
Explore
Students analyze pictures and maps of Tokyo Prefecture, then deduce what those pictures and maps mean in terms of the area's high population density.
Explain
Students read a short article about measures taken by Tokyo Prefecture to accommodate its dense population. Students then discuss their thoughts with an Elbow Partner.
Extend
Students watch an interview with a real city planner from Oklahoma and take notes using the Window Notes strategy.
Evaluate
Students apply their learning from the lesson by comparing the city planning of Tokyo with city planning in less populated areas.
Materials
Lesson Slides (attached)
City Planning in Tokyo reading (attached; one per student)
Window Notes graphic organizer (attached; one per student)
Engage
10 Minute(s)
Use the attached Lesson Slides to guide the lesson. Display slides 3–4 and introduce the essential questions. Ask students to consider what kind of issues they have experienced when a small area or event is suddenly packed with people. Move to slide 5, which features an image of a large crowd of people. Ask students to think about a time when they went to a place with large numbers of people (for example, the county fair, the mall on Black Friday, a concert, an amusement park, a sporting event, etc.) and if they noticed any problems that resulted from many people being in one place.
Allow students approximately two minutes to consider the above scenario, then have them share their experiences with an Elbow Partner. Have partners discuss their responses for approximately two or three minutes, then invite pairs to share their answers with the class in a Collective Brain Dump. As students share, create a list of problems that might occur when there are large groups of people in a small area.
Transition to the next activity by telling students that this lesson examines how these problems are addressed in the most populated city in the world, Tokyo. Tell students that Japan and Tokyo manage high population density through city planning.
Explore
15 Minute(s)
Display slide 6. Ask students to examine the map of Japan and read the population facts about the population of both Japan and Tokyo. Ask students to share out any observations. If students do not address the topic, address how small the island nation of Japan is. Draw students’ attention to the dark green area on the map and tell students that it represents the Greater Tokyo Area around Tokyo Bay, which includes the city of Tokyo and its surrounding suburbs.
Pass out one copy of the attached Window Notes graphic organizer to each student. Tell students to keep this handout with them throughout the lesson and tell them to take Window Notes when prompted.
Display slide 7, which links out to three different pictures. Show each picture individually and have students record what they noticed about each image and what is happening in each photo in the upper-left box of their Window Notes graphic organizer.
Have students discuss their observations with their Elbow Partner and add any observations to their notes. Invite a few pairs to share out some of their observations. Transition to the next activity by notifying students that the maps on the following slides offer more information about Tokyo’s population density.
Show slide 8 and have students examine the population density map of Tokyo Prefecture. Have students record their observations about the map in the upper-right box of their Window Notes graphic organizers. Repeat the process with slides 9–10 which contain a map of Tokyo subway routes and a map that highlights countries with smaller populations than Tokyo Prefecture.
Have students share and discuss their observations with their Elbow Partners once more. Ask them to once again add any information to their graphic organizers that they gained from their discussion. Invite pairs to share out what they observed.
Display slide 11 and invite students to draw conclusions about what they observed in the pictures and graphics with their partner. Tell them that their conclusions should address the two questions present on the slide, “What do you know about Tokyo’s dense population?” and “How do Tokyo officials deal with population issues?” Have them record their responses in the lower-left box of their Window Notes.
Transition to the next activity by notifying students that they will read about Tokyo to learn more about population density.
Explain
15 Minute(s)
Display slide 12 and pass out one copy of the attached City Planning in Tokyo reading to each student. The short reading on population density in Tokyo explores how the prefecture accommodates a large population.
Before students begin reading, have them read the following question in the lower-right box of their Window Notes: “According to the reading, how does Tokyo plan and prepare for population-related issues?” Ask them to consider a response to that question as they read and jot down a response in that box of the Window Notes.
After students read the article, have them share their answers with a partner. Invite a few pairs to share out their responses with the class. Fill in any gaps in knowledge as students share their responses.
Transition to the next phase of the lesson by telling students that many of these decisions were made by Tokyo officials who understand city planning.
Extend
10 Minute(s)
Display slide 13. Before showing the city planner interview, ask students to listen for responses to the following questions present on the slide:
What does a city planner do? What does their daily work look like?
How does city planning help manage large populations?
What other factors contribute to city planning?
Have them record their responses in the left column of the second page of their Window Notes as they watch the video. Encourage them to take notes over any other information they learn.
Display slide 14 and play the video ICAP - People Here, People There, People Everywhere on the slide.
Evaluate
10 Minute(s)
Have students consider how the city planning discussed in the video relates to what they know about city planning in Tokyo. Invite them to share their thoughts with an Elbow Partner.
Display slide 15 and have students consider the following questions present on the slide, “Can too many people live in one area?” and “If so, how can people in an area work and live together comfortably?”
Ask them to respond to the two questions in the right column of the second page of their Window Notes graphic organizer. Have students share their responses with their Elbow Partner. Invite students to share out their responses to the city planner interview. Students to not need to share responses to the questions on slide 15.
Resources
Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). The world factbook. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
K20 Center. (n.d.). Collective brain dump. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/111
K20 Center. (n.d.). Elbow partners. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/116
K20 Center. (n.d.) Window notes. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/189
K20 Center. (2020, May 26). ICAP – People here, people there, people everywhere [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neRA3yz7bwQ