One person, one voice ... right? Using a simulation where uneven groups are given the same voice, scholars discover why fair apportionment based on an accurate census is important. Once finished, they use actual data to consider what impact growth or contraction may have on their own states' representation. 

Concepts

censuses, the census, the house of representatives, the constitution, representative democracy, american democracy, democracy

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the simulation to describe how apportionment works
• Have learners pair up to compare the growth or shrinkage of state populations

Classroom Considerations

• Resource is part of a series developed for the 2020 Census

Pros

• Resource includes opportunity for interdisciplinary instruction
• Video describing apportionment is adaptable to other lessons

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.6-8.1 RH.6-8.3 RH.6-8.7 RH.6-8.9 RH.6-8.10