Comments on the importance of the census to the constitutional process. Stresses the census' origin and the importance of the 1990 Census. Remarks on the involvement of the National Council for the Social Studies' (NCSS) efforts to increase educators awareness of the 1990 Census. (LS)

Discusses ways in which children can be harmed by information collected and analyzed by schools and identifies ways in which the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act has enabled parents to participate in the education of their children. (Author/DB)

Discusses data collection ability of modern technological societies and evaluates the extent to which this ability constitutes an invasion of privacy and freedom. Maintains that social studies teachers have a special responsibility to help students understand pressing social problems such as invasions of indivudual freedom. (Author/DB)

Reviews how census data are used every day to make decisions in businesses, government agencies, and community organizations. Identifies key tools used in demographic analysis, suggesting applications of demographic data at a local level. Concludes with ideas for student activities, including guidelines for creating a community profile. (LS)

Teachers at the elementary, secondary, or college level can use postage stamps to help students develop skills in language arts, data gathering, and critical analysis. The era of the American Revolution is used to illustrate this teaching technique. (Author/RM)

Provides ideas for enhancing classroom learning about the 1990 Census through involving students in community activities. Suggests outreach activities intended to help teachers generate an awareness of the 1990 Census and its importance to the community. Includes information about special census events and about educational activities of the…

Outlines background information on census taking in North America, including the constitutional mandate for the U.S. census and the first census in 1790. Delineates the way that the data for the 1990 Census will be collected. Includes text of a letter written by George Washington concerning an undercount in the 1790 census. Concludes with a…

Surveys changes in the content of the U.S. census from 1790 to 1990. Focuses on how the information collected changed with the growth and development of the country. Lists principal topics covered in the population census since 1790, and in the housing census since 1940. Includes facsimiles of 1910 and 1990 census forms. (LS)

Lists sources for instructional materials and products for teaching about the census, the demographic and socioeconomic composition of the country, immigration, congressional reapportionment, collecting and analyzing demographic data, and related concepts. Organized by type of media, and by vendor. (LS)

Shows how census data illustrated in pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs, and a map can be used in teaching students to read and interpret large amounts of information about the community, state, and country. Provides examples from "An Advance Look at the 1990 Census" (World Eagle) and suggests activities and discussion questions. (LS)

Uses microfilm copies of the 1880 and 1900 census records which tallied information about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family to teach about using census data. Suggests activities that develop vocabulary skills, teach document analysis, utilize map skills, and require research and synthesis skills. (LS)