The Opportunity Atlas

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The Opportunity Atlas

Activity Description

How does your ZIP code affect social mobility? This activity guides students through a demographic analysis of factors that affect social mobility, including race, median income, and sex. Students will use The Opportunity Atlas to explore a data set of important statistics. Data sets will be compared by neighborhood and region.

Suggested Grade Level

9-12

Approximate Time Required

45 minutes

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Analyze, compare, and interpret key demographic data in a specific U.S. ZIP code to determine social outcomes for adults in the corresponding census tract.
Identify what factors impact social mobility in specific neighborhoods and regions.
Evaluate data to support a position.
Explore and understand how to use data access tools—such as The Opportunity Atlas—to gather information.

Materials Required

Printed student worksheets
The board at the front of the room
Internet and computer access for all students to view The Opportunity Atlas
- If technology is unavailable to students, you may do this activity as a class with a projector or computer or an interactive whiteboard, selecting specific cities that apply to your students.
- Teachers could also print out the relevant maps, tables, and graphs for students to view in class.