Money, Materialism, Monopolies, and Millionaires : A Focus Workshop
April 24, 2010

Web Resources
  Website: Description:  

U.S. Census Bureau

http://www.census.gov

 This is the official site of the Census Bureau. This home page provides the main links to data, publications, and products.

Census in Schools

http://www.census.gov/schools

 This is the official site of the Census Bureau's K-12 program.

U.S. Census Bureau: American Fact Finder

http://www.census.gov
(Click on "American Fact Finder")

This site is the Census Bureau's primary vehicle for distributing data. It includes facts and news on population origins, language, and race and ethnicity.

State Facts for Students

http://www.census.gov/schools/facts

Find population, geographic and business data, historical highlights of population, and unusual information about each state. A downloadable teacher lesson plan, "Picture Your State" is available to teachers on this site.

Facts for Features and Special Editions

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/

 

 This site provides collections of statistics to mark observances and to provide background information for topics in the news (i.e. feature stories). There are also interesting, timely facts related to specific holidays and celebrations. For example, using the search function of the Edit menu (not the online Google box), enter "Grandparents" to read about that topic as presented on Grandparents Day, July 13, 2009.

Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses 1790-2000

http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/ma.html

 

 

Here you will find both the census questionnaires and instructions from 1790 to 2000. The explanations of the questionnaire and instructions provide detailed information that will provide insight into the historical era and interesting background for the study of U.S. history.

U.S. Census Bureau: Publications

http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/gen-ref.html

 A link to Census Bureau publications. Includes sutch titles as "The U.S. Census Bureau: At Work for You", "The U.S. Census Bureau Respects Your Privacy and Keeps Your Personal Information Confidential", and the newsletter, "Census and You"

Census Bureau: History

http://www.census.gov/history/index.html

On the left hand side, you'll find "Fast Facts" for decades back to 1900. The navigation bar at the top includes links to census innovations, the census through the decades, and many teaching resources. (And as April contains "National Library Week", enjoy the Cookie Monster in the Library video at the bottom of this page.)

Census Bureau YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/uscensusbureau

Find a variety of videos and playlists connecting the user to Census Bureau information. Testimonials from 2010 Census Partners provide messages from various racial and ethnic groups and community leaders about the importance of the involvement of every person and group in the census. Playlist titles of these PSAs include Census in the Constitution, Protecting Your Data, Real People & Real Questions, and the Door-to-Door Phase.

Broadcast and Photo Services

http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/news/index.html

This Census Bureau newsroom site has news releases by subject and by year for the last decade, tip sheets, minority links, current and past radio, video and television features, and telephone downloads of historical information. Photo services include downloadable stock and feature photos listed by topic in low and high resolution.

2010 Census

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

How the census works, why it's important, and all sorts of information about 2010 participation rates.

CNN - Census 2010 can count on controversy

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/04/singer.census2010.challenges.controversy/index.html

Filling out a census form is mandatory by law; however, the 2010 Census is considered burdensome or intrusive by some. This article gives some background information on the controversy surrounding the 2010 Census.

Scholastic - 2010 Census for Kids

http://www.scholastic.com/census/global/for-kids.htm

Scholastic's Census page includes a map puzzle challenge, a history challenge, printable puzzles, and storybooks. Click on links to the right to find resources for teachers and students.

Local Employment Dynamics

http://lehd.did.census.gov/led/led/led.html

The LED partnership between state labor market information agencies and the Census Bureau is the cornerstone of a program designed to develop new information about local labor market conditions. Educators will find this site personally valuable because it offers quarterly workforce information on the rapidly changing economy at the state, county, and sub-county levels.
 

Stand Up and Be Counted

http://teachinghistory.org/nhec-blog/23920

Stand Up and Be Counted: Teaching with the Census offers teaching resources, historic photos, and addresses the controversial issues surrounding the census.  
 

National Endowment for the Humanities - Edsitement Lesson Plan

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=430

 This lesson, a complement to one you received on April 17 (Robber Barons and Captains of Industry), discusses the unfair conditions faced by workers as the U.S. assumed its position as the most highly industrialized nation in the world. Utilizes many good websites and primary documents.  
 

Annenberg Media's Learner.org

http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/prog14/index.html

In this section called, "industrial supremacy", find key events related to the industrial growth of the U.S. following the Civil War. Includes maps, an interactive timeline, and video.  
 

Teachers First.com - Inventors of the Industrial Revolution

http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/inventor2/

 An online unit that introduces inventions and the impact of the Industrial Revolution. Designed for middle and high school students, but could be adapted for the upper elementary grades.  
 

Library of Congress

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/papr/west/westhome.html

The Westinghouse Works Collection contains films showing various views of Westinghouse companies. (Caution: Even choosing the Quicktime version of these movies means a long download time!)