Lesson on US census

1. The U.S. Census Unit - 4th Grade Lisa Paisley Technology Integration Plan

2. Phase I: Relative Advantage I would like my students to discover the significance of the United States census. They will understand why the United States census was created and how the information gained from the census is used to help local communities. To fully understand the reasoning for the census students will learn about the U.S. constitution.

3. Phase II: Objectives and Assessment Students will: Learn about the U.S. constitution and it’s role in the creation of the census. Why the census is conducted every 10 years and how to analyze the data that is collected and how local communities benefit from the data. Understand how to design a survey to gain information about communities. During this lesson students will: Read and understand grade level materials about the U.S. census. Create a census and conduct a census for their school. Use online resources to research and gain information.

4. Phase III: Integration Strategies Instructional Method: Constructivist-project based learning Lesson Development: This lesson includes a series of activities to create a knowledge base and understanding about the U.S. census. First the students will learn about the U.S. constitution, next the students will conduct research on why, when and by whom the U.S. census was created. students learn what the results of the census are used for. Students will also analyze data about the state they live in. After finishing this phase of the lesson, students will create a census for their school. The activities will be designed as a group or individual projects.

5. Activity #1: Research the origins of the U.S. Census Students will visit Internet sites to learn about the U.S. constitution and discover the origins of the census. Students will write a paragraph about it. http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html View videos about the census in the constitution http://video.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wv Research further on the history of the census http://www.census.gov/history/

6. Activity #2: U.S. Census Students will understand who is counted on a census and how the census is taken, through a readers’ theater activity. http://www.census.gov/schools/pdf/materials/cis_lesson_k4US.pdf Students will answer worksheet questions on the census and do journal writing. http://www.census.gov/schools/pdf/materials/cis_lesson_k4US.pdf

7. Activity #3: Picture your state Students will Collect, organize, analyze, graph, and map data about the state where they live. Compare their data with other states. Increase their ability to represent and work with numbers through millions. Inform students of the fact that the Census Bureau collects data about children and businesses in which students would have an interest. Students will work as a group to complete the student worksheet, “Collect Data About Your State.” State Worksheets.docx Access the Web site: http://www.census.gov/schools/facts/

8. Activity #3: Picture your state Students will research the origin of their state’s name. Locate their state on the United States map and discuss the state’s history, geographic features, and important locations. They will focus on the capital, largest city, and second largest city. Indicate any interesting information regarding these cities —the name, location on a major waterway, etc.). Distribute the “Mapping Your State” worksheet to the class and assign students to work in groups or individually to complete the worksheet. State Worksheets.docx Students will need a state outline map to complete this task. State outline map. Download from: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/stco_02.htm

9. Activity #3: Picture our state Students will take note of neighboring states and look for any interesting comparisons that can be drawn between their state and neighboring states Students will use the “Graph Your State” worksheet to make graphs containing information about their states and compare it with other states. State Worksheets.docx Students will work in groups or individually to complete the worksheet.

10. Activity #3: Picture your state Assessment Assign students to use the information they have learned to create a poster about their state to send to a student in another state. Students collect images from the “Fun Facts” information to create a poster on glogster.com. They will decorate the poster and use statistical information in their brief message on the poster telling other students why he/she should visit or live in the student’s state. http://www.glogster.com/

11. Activity #3: Decoding Census Data Students will conduct online research with a partner. Find out what census data can tell us about the past. http://www.census.gov/schools/pdf/materials/cis_lesson_k4US.pdf http://www.census.gov/schools/facts

12. Activity #4: Classroom Census Students will: Recognize that data represent specific pieces of information about real-world activities. Understand how to design a survey to gain information about communities. Students will create survey questions for their classroom census and create a survey using Microsoft Word. Students will analyze data and create a graph using Microsoft Excel Students will brainstorm about what changes they could make in their classroom based on the results of the census.

13. Assessments Each activity has it’s own assessment.

14. Instructional Environment Students will need the following: Computer with internet connections and printer Online activity sheets with Internet Sites Journal, pencil Time to complete unit – 3 weeks

15. Phase V: Evaluate Integration Strategies The integration strategies will be evaluated by how the students are able to independently use the Internet sites and follow directions for each activity, as well as by their ability to complete each activity. The total unit will be evaluated by the outcome of each activity and particularly by the outcome of the classroom census. As well as by the overall knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. census.