CENSUS AND THE CURRICULUM

JIM BONDRAAPRIL 15, 2015

WHY USE THE CENSUS IN YOUR CLASSROOM?

Teach Quantitative Literacy Improve Critical

Thinking/Analytical Reasoning Skills

Develop Data Analysis & Complex Problem Solving

CENSUS HOME PAGE

Census.gov Every 10 years for Housing and Population More frequently for other datasets

Not just about people. Businesses/Industry Trade Economy Health

Let’s explore for a few minutes with our partner.

DIFFERENT WAYS OF PRESENTING DATA

Data Tools and Apps

Includes Census Explorer, American Factfinder, Quick Facts, etc.

Library

Formats include audio, video, mobile apps, images, and publications.

Data Visualization Gallery

Tables, graphs, charts, downloads, embeddable URL’s

AMERICAN FACTFINDER

Data>Data Tools & Apps> American Factfinder

Guided (you are asked a series of questions) Advanced Search

Options – explore thesePeopleHousingBusiness & IndustryProduct TypeProgram Type

POLITICS

Examine the following about Congressional Apportionment.

http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-08.pdf

Go to Figure 1.

What does this tell us? Does this effect your home state? Did your state, gain, lose or remain the same?

MARKETINGYou have developed a product aimed at ages 12-17. You want to test market it in one of three counties in New York State. Gather information on the following counties to support your choice.

1. Dutchess

2. Saratoga

3. Rockland

MARKETING CONT.

Go to American Factfinder.

Choose People.

Age Group, Children then Refine by Searching Under 18, Choose B09001- Population under 18 years of Age. Choose 2013 ACS-1 year estimates Choose Geographies, All Geographic Types, County,

Select State, New York, then choose the individual counties.

Select View (upper left) to Display

SOCIOLOGY

What is the % of people living in poverty in each state? Rank them from highest to lowest.

American Community Survey, Product type-Ranking Tables, All States within United States and Puerto Rico.

People, Poverty, Search for: Percent of people below poverty level

R1701-PERCENT OF PEOPLE BELOW POVERTY LEVEL IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (FOR WHOM POVERTY STATUS IS DETERMINED) - United States -- States; and Puerto RicoUniverse: Population for whom poverty status is determined. 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

HEALTH

Do educational attainment and poverty levels have an impact on health status?

Go to Data Tools and Apps,

CPS –(Current Population Survey) - Table Creator.

Run a crosstab on the following: Poverty (page variable) Educational attainment (column), health status (rows)

Step by Step Instructions and Results Table in the Census and the Curriculum Guide. (in the sidebar)

http://ithacalibrary.com/sp/subjects/census

COMPARISON OF POVERTY & HEALTH STATUS