A teachable moment: The 2020 Census

Every day, students and teachers in my school walk by a large map of the United States filled with data from the U.S. Census Bureau. This map was created by the Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) program, which brings census data to life in the classroom to help students understand its impact. Posted beside the map are questions that students can answer by studying the data points. Students can then drop their answers into a raffle box for the chance to win a prize. I love seeing the interest and excitement stemming from this activity.

SIS materials provide creative ways to expand my census-related lessons and drive home the significance of participating in the nationwide count that happens every 10 years. The program offers online activities, videos, maps and other resources to help preK through 12th-grade educators show students why statistics matter. This school year, the SIS program collaborated with teachers across the country to create 67 new 2020 Census activities, including a song, interactive videos, wall maps, and more. The resources are available free on the SIS website. The program also provides take-home activities for students to help spread the message to their families about the importance of responding to the census.

Both in and out of school, I’m an ambassador for the SIS program. Becoming an ambassador was an easy decision because I truly can’t think of a better real-world lesson for students than the 2020 Census. As a middle school social studies teacher for 15 years, I’m accustomed to sharing my passion for current events with my students. The 2020 Census is a perfect example of a current event with long-lasting impact and a teachable moment for my students — and one that is critical for our schools and communities.