Ask: What are possible drawbacks to living near a coast? Explain to students that coastal communities are often negatively affected by severe storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis, and they are prone to coastal flooding. Brainstorm and discuss the cons of coastal living.Īsk students to independently brainstorm reasons it might be challenging to live near the coast in the Cons column of the worksheet. Point out large cities such as Shanghai, Mumbai, and Los Angeles to show how most of the world’s largest cities are on a coast.ģ. Emphasize the relationship between coasts and large cities by referring back to the MapMaker Interactive.
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Today the area from Boston to Washington, D.C. Two of the biggest cities in the United States, New York City and Boston, developed around ports. People chose to move to coastal cities for these reasons. Throughout history, cities were built around ports because ports provided opportunities for trade, jobs, and transportation. Tell students that many of the world’s largest cities are located on the coast. Ask: Why do so many people settle near coasts? Students' responses will vary, but may include that people like living near the water. Brainstorm and discuss the pros of coastal living.ĭistribute a copy of the worksheet Pros and Cons of Coastal Living to each student and have students work independently to list the benefits of living near the ocean in the Pros column. Scientists at Columbia University’s Earth Institute estimate that, worldwide, the number of people living within 60 miles of a coast will rise 35 percent by the year 2025 compared to 1995 levels.Ģ. Tell students that this doesn’t happen just in the United States. Census Bureau, nearly one-third of the population in the United States lives in a coastline city or county. The map shows that the most densely populated areas are along coastlines. A square mile is a space that is one mile long and one mile wide.
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Explain to students that darker areas indicate greater population density, which measures how many people live in a square mile. Make connections between population density and coasts.Īsk: Where do most of the world’s people live-along coasts or farther inland? After students answer, display the MapMaker Interactive: World-Population Density map.