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Activities
Bring your classroom to life with real world data. Select an activity that supplements what you are currently teaching in subjects including English, Math, Geography and History.
Resources
Increase the data literacy of your students with resources that display data in fun ways. Choose from monthly Fun Facts, 5-Minute Challenge warm-up activities, maps, videos and more.
Standards
Statistics in Schools activities are based on relevant education standards and guidelines that outline the foundational knowledge and skills students should have at certain levels.
About
Statistics in Schools is a free Census Bureau program that uses the data to create resources for K-12 students in a variety of subjects.

History Worksheets

History Worksheets

Census data can give students a deeper understanding of historic events like the Missouri Compromise and social studies topics like women in the workforce. Use the grade-range tabs below to explore all the options. Corresponding teachers' guides are available for each activity.

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  • All Grades
  • Grades K-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 9-12
All Grades
"I Have a Dream" – Learning About Martin Luther King Jr.
Analyze census data and graphs that demonstrate how lives of African-Americans were changed by Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
19th Century Immigration - Causes & Effects
Students will examine and interpret a population chart published in 1898 as well as an 1893 political cartoon about immigration.
Adopting an Entrepreneurial Mindset - Using Census Data for Business
Students will use the Census Business Builder data access tool to gather and analyze information that entrepreneurs may consider when opening a business.
America Then and Now - Interpreting Changes in Demographic Data
Students will review a series of infographics to learn how America’s demographics have changed between 1940 and 2010.
Antebellum Economy - Understanding Employment in 1850
Students will examine a table of 1850 Census data on employment to understand the professions of free men across the United States at the time.
Authorizing the First Census - The Significance of Population Data
Students will analyze excerpts from the 1790 legislation that allowed for the administration of the first decennial census.
Examining Changes in Data
Students will analyze and compare census data on the education levels of African-Americans in 1850 and in 1880.
Exploring 19th Century Population Growth through Interactive Maps
Students will use two data visualization tools to explore U.S. population growth between 1790 and 1890.
Exploring 19th-Century Child Labor Laws in the United States
Examine historical photographs and a data table related to 19th-century industrialization and child labor.
Exploring Federal Policy About Native Americans in the Late 1800s
Students will examine three primary sources to understand the lives of young Native Americans during this time in history.
Exploring the Great Migration – 1910-1970
Consider the causes and effects of waves of migration and compare the historical data with more recent data on migration overall.
Geographic Mobility in the United States - 1920-1950
Students will examine maps to explore changes in population density in the United States during three decades.
Learning Through Maps
Students will examine an interactive map of inbound and outbound migration patterns in U.S. counties to understand how migration affects domestic policy.
Maps and Graphs - Exploring the U.S. Island Territories
Students will examine data from the 1990–2010 censuses on population changes in the U.S. island territories.
Median Income Patterns in the United States
Students will examine, and make comparisons using, a data visualization of median household incomes by U.S. county.
Missouri Compromise – Free vs. Slave States
Introduces students to the Missouri Compromise and the issues associated with the expansion of slavery.
Native American Dwellings
Look at historical images to learn about three types of Native American dwellings.
Population Expansion and Distribution in the United States: 1790-2010
Students will use a data visualization tool to understand shifts in the U.S. population distribution from 1790 to 2010.
Population Profile of Our New Nation
Refer to the 1790 and 1800 Censuses to compare the total population with the population of enslaved people, drawing conclusions from the data.
Post-Civil War: Regional Shifts in U.S. Population by Age and Sex
Students will examine population pyramids of 1850–1870 census data for different races/ethnicities and for the states and territories.
Post-World War II Globalization - U.S. Citizens Living Overseas
Students will analyze the 1950 Census form for Americans living overseas and 1910–1990.
Slavery, Geography, and Politics
Students will analyze multiple resources to learn how President Abraham Lincoln and Union forces used a 19th century population density map.
The Art of Persuasion: Using Census Data to Influence Others
Students will incorporate information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts data access tool into an advertisement for a city of their choice.
The Great Depression - Using Census Data to Address an Economic Crisis
Students will identify the connection between government statistics and government programs by examining the problems from the Great Depression.
The Highway System - Its Development and Impact on the United States
Students will examine a data visualization that displays 2010 Census data on population density along Interstate 90.
The History of the Telephone
Students will learn about Alexander Graham Bell and his invention of the telephone, its impact on the U.S. population and how phones have changed over time.
The Impact of the Louisiana Purchase
Students will examine population density maps of the United States during the 1800s.
The Missouri Compromise - A Primary Source Analysis
Students will examine tables of data from the 1820 Census to understand the implications of the Missouri Compromise, specifically in Maine and Missouri.
The Progressives and the 1920 Census
Interpret and analyze a political cartoon about the 1920 Census.
Trends in Congressional Apportionment
High school students will examine a 2010 Census brief to understand the apportionment process.
Using Interactive Maps to Interpret U.S. Territorial Expansion
Students will explore an interactive data visualization of state-by-state population growth as measured by the decennial censuses of 1790 through 2010.
Using the Decennial Census to Draw Conclusions About American Life
Students will examine questions from 1940, 1960, and 2010 census questionnaires to analyze socioeconomic changes in the U.S. population.
Voting Trends in America, 1964-2020
Students will analyze bar and line graphs showing the percentages of people who voted in elections between 1964 and 2020.
Westward Bound – Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Ohio
Learn about population movement, migration trends, and the westward expansion of the early 1800s.
Where Should I Live? Using U.S. Census Bureau Data to Make Decisions
Students will use the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts data access tool to examine information about three cities.
Women in the Workforce 1940-2010
Students will examine graphs on education, earnings, and workforce participation for men and women between 1940 and 2010.
Page Last Revised - July 8, 2022
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