Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States states:
“The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.”
These are the words that empower the Census Bureau every 10 years to collect a census of the population of the United States. The founders considered the census “a tool of political empowerment for the governed over their government.”
This is the year of the 2020 Census and it is our 24th in the United States. Census Day 2020 falls on April 1. However, March 2–6 is “Take Part in Statistics In Schools Week!”
Statistics in Schools has provided numerous classroom resources as well as activities that can be done in the community. Invite students to explain, evaluate, infer, and compare data from the US Census Bureau. Check out not only activities for this year but also from previous census years.
The Library of Congress has a treasure trove of additional resources on past censuses:
- The Census Bureau is the United States government agency collecting and publishing some of the largest business-oriented data. In addition, it also partners with and disseminates data from other agencies. Learn more about some of the components of the census.
- Check out the “2019 Fast Facts.”
- Visit historical newspapers like this one to compare and contrast previous census years to this one.
- Examine images from census-taking using this analysis tool.
How will you take part in the census is your classroom and community?