With some schools temporarily shuttered or on a staggered schedule because of the ongoing pandemic, many kids are learning from teachers conducting lessons remotely or through a mix of in-class and remote schooling.

With that in mind, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) program created several new online resources for teachers, parents and caregivers to keep children engaged while distance learning.

Among them: the Home and Distance Learning Activities page, which provides easy-to-use materials — videos, fun facts, warmup activities and more — for different grade levels.

SIS resources help bring census statistics to life and teach students about their community, state and country. These free materials will help parents and caregivers ensure that their children are engaged, learning, and having fun at the same time.

Some resources now available at the SIS website:

• Videos for Every Age. Each video explains the value of census data and why it's important for everyone to be counted, featuring engaging and interactive content designed to raise students’ awareness about the 2020 Census.
• “Everyone Counts” Story and Activity Book. This playful activity-filled book is designed to keep preschoolers engaged while explaining the 2020 Census and the importance of counting everyone. (Available in English and Spanish.)
• Response Rates — Who Answered the Census? Students and their families can join in from home by using the response rate map to explore how many people responded to the 2020 Census in their community.
• Fun Facts. Student-friendly handouts tie Census Bureau statistics to holidays, anniversaries and other observances. They span different grade levels and subjects.

The new SIS page includes four parent/caregiver toolkits that provide instructions and tips on how to adapt SIS activities and resources for at-home use.

Each toolkit contains everything parents and guardians may need to get started, including a teaching guide, student worksheet, list of materials, and estimate of how long each lesson takes (typically between five and 20 minutes).

For example, one resource links to a VeggieTales video promoting the 2020 Census. This video features the VeggieTales characters talking and singing about the importance of the 2020 Census — a fun way to engage children in the importance of counting everyone.

Four grade-level specific toolkits are available:

• Pre-K Toolkit
• Elementary School Toolkit
• Middle School Toolkit
• High School Toolkit

In addition to providing educational opportunities, these materials also show families the importance of a complete and accurate census count of everyone – including children – living in the United States.

Adam Grundy is a supervisory statistician in the Economic Management Division at the Census Bureau.