I love talking about current events with my students. At the beginning of the school year, all the Social Studies teachers received some wonderful maps from the folks at Weekly Reader. It was a large 2 sided maps that showed the information gathered from the 2000 Census. It also used kid friendly examples of why answering the Census was important. One example used was knowing how many children are in a city, so a city knows if they should build a swimming pool.??
I originally was going to participate in a online activity sponsored by Jen Wagner back in February. It was called Everyone Counts and was a classroom census. She hosts wonderful projects, but the month got away from me. We did start it and I had my first chance to talk about the Census to my students.??
We anxiously awaited the Census form in our mailboxes and 2 weeks ago, we got the letter that said, "It's coming!" I brought that letter into class and asked if anyone saw this letter. Several hands quickly were raised.??
Then, finally, the Census came this week! I again brought in what I received in my mailbox and many of my students have been watching the mailbox for theirs. Theirs arrived too!
I shared with my students the excitement of finding my grandma Sophie and Walter while researching family history at my local library. They were listed in the 1910 Census. What was also interesting is seeing their name listed the Polish way. It was Sophia and Waldemar. I also reminisced filling out the 1990 Census while I was pregnant with my second son. He was born April 25th, after I mailed in the form. So, he was not listed.??
What really has made the Census meaningful for my students are their parents. They have shared the form with their child and have asked them their information or even let them carefully fill it out. I know they used their best manuscript! What a great way to involve their child in the great Census of 2010.??
I didn’t know about the polish spelling. How interesting! Not only are you teaching your students but also your sister too!