Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: America's Population Reaches 300 Million, 10/18/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/300million_10-18.html

Initiating Questions:

1. How many people live in the United States? Take a guess.

2. In what ways does the number of people in a country impact it?

3. Which countries are the most populous?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

America's population reached 300 million on Oct. 17, a cause for celebration but also a moment to pause and reflect on how such growth impacts the country's environment, economy and society.

It took America 52 years to grow from 100 million in 1915 to 200 million in 1967, but only 39 years to reach 300 million.

2. How many countries have more people than the United States? Which are they?

Only two other countries have bigger populations: China and India.

3. What factors are contributing to the growth of the United States?

Aging and immigration have pushed America's population, unlike those of every other industrialized nation, to grow. Quickly. One American is born every seven seconds, while one dies every 13 seconds; basically, people are staying healthier and living longer.

Boosting those numbers is the Census Bureau's estimate that America absorbs close to 1 million immigrants a year.

4. How does Americans' use of natural resources now compare to the past?

Americans use 20 percent more land (for homes, roads, schools, etc.) than they did 20 years ago, as well as three times more water than the international average, according to the Center for Environment and Population.

5. How does a growing population impact government programs?

Consequently, government programs such as Social Security and Medicare spend more money to support the expanding number of seniors.

The younger population must support the baby boomers as they reach retirement. The result could be an increase in taxes -- up to 50 percent, according to the Newsweek Population Project.

6. Hispanics will make up what percentage of U.S. population by 2050?

The Census Bureau predicts that by 2050, Hispanics will make up 25 percent of America's population.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. According to the article, a growing population brings new challenges as well as benefits. How would you define each? What good things come from more people? What challenges of a growing population will need solutions?

2. The only two nations with more people are China and India. Compare the United States to both of these nations. How are they similar or different? Are the challenges that American's face with a growing population the same as these countries? What advantages and disadvantages does each country have in terms of growth?

3. According to projections, the U.S. population will be 400 million by 2042. How old will you be then? How do you imagine this surge in growth will impact your life? What should communities like yours do to prepare for this growth? Give concrete suggestions.

Send your completed essay to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.