The Baby Boom:  A Study

Two population cycles have dramatically affected Canadian society:

The Baby Boom  

The Echo   

We will look at how these population cycles have affected society and how these population cycles came about. 

Aim to complete two assignments per day.

Assignment One

Read pages 142 to 147 ("Introduction" and "Demographic Groups in Canada")

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 1, 3, and 4 on page 147.

Assignment Two

Read "Causes of the Baby Boom" from pages 147 to 150.

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 4 and 5 on page 151.

Assignment Three

Read  "Nurturing the Baby Boom" from pages 151 to 155.

Watch "In the Suburbs"

1.  The "documentary" above was produced by Redbook Magazine.  Explore their website here and explain why they would produce this film.

2.  What do you learn about suburban life?

3.  What arguments did the film make in favour of suburban life?  What reasons do you think persuaded people to move to the suburbs after World War Two?

Watch James Howard Kuntsler speak on "The Tragedy of Suburbia"

Note:  There is some strong language used that could be found offensive.  In its context, it reflects the passion of the speaker and his belief in what he is speaking about, and is used for emphasis.  It has therefore been left as it is and not censored out.

What is Kunstler's opinion of suburban development?  What social, psychological, and cultural impact does he see that the move to the suburbs caused? 

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 1, 2, and 4 on page 155.

Assignment Four

Read pages 156 to 160 ("Baby Boomers Transform Society")

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 3, and 4 on page 160.

Assignment Five

Read pages 160 to 163 and 166 to 168 ("The Echo Boom")

View the documentary Boom, Bust, and Echo  here. 

Questions about the documentary:

1.  What impact has the baby boom had on the Canadian economy?

2.  What role does Dr. Foot see the Echo generation playing?

3.  After watching the effect that the baby boomers had on the economy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, what role do you see the baby boomers having in the economy (and the current crisis) of today?

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 2 and 4 on page 168.

Assignment Six

Read pages 159 to 172 ("Impact of the AgingBoomers")

Answer Pause and Reflect questions 1 to 3, page 172.

Final Assignment

How has the baby boom affected Canadian society socially, psychologically, and anthropologically?  Choose one example which has had a big impact on Canada in each of the three areas.

Which generation do you think has had - or will have -  the greatest impact?

Write a brief news article (150 to 200 words) describing the impact your generation will have on society twenty years from now.

HSB4M1 Unit 3