Who Doesn’t Count?

Grade
6-9
9-12
Lesson Duration

By The American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education

This lesson explores who is counted by the U.S. Census, and why an accurate count is important for ensuring representation in government. A background reading on census-taking in U.S. history, along with discussion questions, may be found here.

Objectives

■ allow students to study and analyze
the census form;
■ identify for students individuals and
communities that are not accurately
represented by the census;
■ consider different ways that individuals
and communities might be undercounted
or excluded by the census;
■ engage students in reading news
articles and conducting independent
research;
■ ask students to summarize research
findings in presentations; and
■ explore the effects of not having a
fully accurate census count in the
United States.

Who Doesn’t Count?

Source

The American Bar Association's Division for Public Education promotes public understanding of law and its role in society.