Statistics in Schools and 

the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands

This is your chance to shape the future of your 

students, school, and community.

Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands
Table of Contents

Introduction for Education Leaders 1

SIS Program Overview 2

Frequently Asked Questions 4

Resources for Every Grade 6

Get Your School Involved 8

Important Next Steps 10

Printable Flyer for Teachers 12

Student Take-Home Flyer 13
1

Shape the future of schools.

Start here.

This is your opportunity.

Once every 10 years, you get an opportunity to shape 

the future of your islands, school, and community. 

By adding your voice to the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as an 

education leader, you can help ensure that funding is 

allocated where it’s needed most.

While the counting of the entire U.S. population begins 

in spring 2020, there are ways you can start making 

a difference today. The U.S. Census Bureau created a 

free educational program, Statistics in Schools (SIS), 

for use in every classroom from pre-K through 

12th grade. This kit will introduce you to the program 

and its importance as well as detail ways you can 

promote SIS and the counting of every child in the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 

2020 Census.

There’s a story behind 

every number.

Statistics in Schools uses Census Bureau data to 

create activities, materials, and resources to enhance 

learning across a variety of subjects. This program 

was created by teachers all across the United States, 

including teachers from the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. Educators across the 

United States have been using the program for years, 

integrating its resources into their lesson plans during 

decennial and nondecennial years.

New SIS activities for the 2019-2020 school year 

will educate students and those they live with 

about the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands and the importance of 

making sure everyone is counted, especially children. 

The new resources and this administrator kit include 

materials for adults who have children in their home 

to encourage them to complete the 2020 Census of 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

questionnaire.

Make sure your school counts.

An accurate count is critical: Responses to the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands help your community plan for 

hospitals and schools, support local programs, 

improve emergency services, construct roads, inform 

businesses looking to add jobs, and more.

By encouraging your teachers to use SIS materials in 

their classrooms, you will be helping every student 

in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands and the adults in their home understand the 

importance of the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands and its role in shaping 

the future. Use this kit to get started.

1
SIS Program Overview

What is Statistics in Schools?

Statistics in Schools is a U.S. Census Bureau program 

that uses census statistics to create classroom 

materials for grades pre-K through 12. Teachers and 

subject matter experts nationwide helped develop each 

SIS activity to make sure it is valuable and engaging. 

The SIS program includes more than 200 activities 

and resources that enhance learning in a variety 

of subjects, including various resources designed 

specifically for students in the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. 

What’s new for 2020?

SIS has crafted materials specifically for the 

2020 Census, including:

• 67 new activities for grades pre-K through 12 

that have students use data in interactive ways 

to build skills in subjects such as history, math, 

geography, and English. All activities are tailored 

for specific grade levels and geographic locations, 

including several for the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. 

• Large, colorful maps with fun, census-based 

facts about the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands. 

• A storybook with activities and a music video

for children in preschool and early grades.

• Resources for English language learners and 

adult English as a second language students.

2020 CENSUS 

TEACHER’S

GUIDE Places Within the 

Community: Population 

Change in the Island Areas

Topic(s):

Data collection, decennial 

census, population change

Grade Level:

5-6

Approx. Time Required:

45 minutes

Learning Objectives: 

Students will be able to: 

• Draw conclusions based on class discussions. 

• Analyze data and calculate percentages related to the four Island Areas.

• Understand the importance of census data and population change. 

Introduction

The 2020 Census Statistics in Schools (SIS) program is designed to educate students about the decennial 

census and to teach them educational concepts and skills, such as data literacy, through the use of census 

data in the classroom. Responses to the 2020 Census affect plans for hospitals and schools, support 

for local programs, improvements in emergency services, and construction of roads. They also inform 

businesses that are looking to add jobs. By educating students about the 2020 Census, you can help 

encourage a complete count.

The 2020 Census SIS program can be used with educational standards across the United States. You 

can use the topics and learning objectives above to determine which subject and unit plan or theme this 

activity will best fit into.

About the 2020 Census

In addition to the information that is built into instructions for this activity, the following points provide an 

easy, grade-appropriate way to explain the census to your students.

• The decennial census is a count of every person living in the United States and its territories that 

occurs every 10 years.

• It is important that every person be counted to make sure the government can provide money to 

each community for things like roads, schools, and hospitals.

• Make sure an adult in your home counts you in the 2020 Census.

D-WS-TE-EN-185

Name

2020 CENSUS 

STUDENT 

ACTIVITY

Places Within the 

Community: Population 

Change in the Island Areas

1. Complete the table below using U.S. Census Bureau data, found online at Recent Population Trends 

for the U.S. Island Areas: 2000 to 2010 (https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/

publications/2015/demo/p23-213.pdf).

Island Area 1990 population 2000 population 2010 population

American Samoa

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands

Guam

U.S. Virgin Islands

2. Based on the data, what do you think accounts for the change in population within your assigned island 

area from 2000 to 2010?

3. Based on the bar graph called “Change in Population for U.S. Island Areas: 1990 to 2020,” which shows 

the predicted percentage change in population, make a prediction of the population for your assigned 

island in 2020. Explain your answer.

D-WS-ST-EN-302

Everyone counts --all your 

neighbors and friends.

The census keeps counting 

till the counting ends.

Count how many people are 

on these two pages. 

17 16

2
How does the use of SIS impact 

school funding?

By using new SIS materials, you can educate 

students and adults in their home on the importance 

of counting everyone in the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

especially children.

Responses to the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands will drive decisions 

about funding for hospitals and schools, local 

programs, emergency services, and road construction, 

and they will inform businesses looking to add jobs.

Why should you get involved?

By using and promoting the SIS program, you can:

• Help your local lawmakers make informed 

decisions about your community.

• Influence student readiness for learning.

• Enhance student learning across subjects.

• Boost students’ statistical literacy and 

data-finding skills.

• Prepare students for a data-driven world.

• Empower teachers to easily bolster their 

existing lesson plans.

• Motivate households to complete the 2020 

Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands questionnaire.

3
Frequently Asked Questions

As an administrator, you may find that teachers come to you or your staff with 

questions about SIS. Here are some of the more common questions we hear from 

teachers and answers to help you respond. 

Who develops the SIS materials?

SIS materials are created by teachers, for teachers. 

Teachers and subject matter experts across the 

country—including teachers from the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands—work with Census 

Bureau experts to create each SIS activity. That helps 

ensure the value, relevance, relatability, and usability of 

the activities and makes them engaging for students.

How does SIS benefit my students?

By using SIS materials, you will enhance students’ 

learning, boost their statistical literacy and datafinding skills, and prepare them for a data-driven 

world. The new materials for the 2019-2020 school 

year will provide even more value by highlighting the 

importance of counting everyone in the 2020 Census 

of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

especially children. The count affects the amount of 

federal funding your islands, school, and community 

receive for programs and services that can make a real 

difference in the education and lives of your students.

Do I need special expertise 

to use SIS?

No. These activities are easy to follow and can be 

used by all teachers to supplement their instruction. 

You don’t need any special understanding of statistics, 

and every activity comes with a teacher guide. 

Each activity includes a list of materials, a student 

worksheet, and easy-to-follow teacher directions.

Why is the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands so important for 

my school?

Responses to the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands will drive decisions on 

the allocation of federal funds to the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands each year for the next 

10 years. That includes money for school programs and 

services such as special education, free and reducedprice lunches, class size reduction, technology purchases, 

teacher training, and after-school activities. Responses to 

the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands help your community plan for hospitals 

and schools, support local programs, improve emergency 

services, construct roads, inform businesses looking to 

add jobs, and more. 4
For what subjects and grade 

levels can I use SIS?

SIS activities are provided for pre-K through 

12th grade. They can be used for math, English, 

history, geography, sociology, and more.

How do I access SIS materials 

and resources?

It’s easy and free, and it doesn’t require any registration. 

Just go to census.gov/schools/CNMI, select the 

activities and resources you want—including those 

specifically designed for the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands—and access or download 

them on the spot.

Are these activities compatible 

with the education standards 

I use in my classroom?

Yes. All of the activities include recommendations 

on how to align them with any standards 

used across the United States, including in the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

making it easy to adapt the activities for use in 

any classroom.

5
Resources for Every Grade

Check out all of the resources the SIS program has to offer at census.gov/schools! 

SIS offers more than 200 activities, videos, and other resources for students 

at all grade levels. 

Elementary 

School

• An engaging video explains to students why the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is important and why 

everyone needs to be counted accurately.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically 

designed for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

include easy-to-relay facts about census enumeration and participation. 

There is a take-home portion that students can use to engage members of 

their home in conversations about the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

• A map of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands provides 

a colorful classroom tool that highlights census data appropriate for 

elementary students.

• A fun trivia video presents questions related to census statistics and 

challenges students to think about why the data the Census Bureau 

collects is essential to our democracy.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically designed 

for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, include easy-torelay facts about census enumeration and participation. There is a 

take-home portion that students can use to engage members of their 

home in conversations about the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of 

the Northern Mariana Islands.

• A map of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands provides a 

colorful classroom tool that highlights census data appropriate for middle 

school students.

Middle

School

High

School

• An engaging video teaches students how to use Census Bureau 

data to inform personal decisions, such as choosing a field to study 

or deciding where to live after high school.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides, specifically 

designed for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

spark discussion in the classroom about diversity, changes in 

demographics across the U.S. over time, and more. Each activity 

includes a take-home portion that students can use to engage 

members of their home in conversations about the 2020 Census of 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

• A map of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

provides a colorful classroom tool that highlights census data 

appropriate for high school students.

6
Pre-K

The 2020 SIS program offers pre-K materials to engage children under 

age 5 and the adults who care for them.

• A storybook with activities uses an interactive narrative to teach 

children what the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands is and why it is important that everyone be counted, 

especially children.

• A three-part video series brings concepts about the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to life and guides children 

through counting everyone in their home, their community, and the country. 

• A singalong video introduces preschoolers to the concept of the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

with an engaging singalong that is fun for the classroom and at home.

• Interactive activities with accompanying teacher guides

cover topics such as counting, colors, and animals.

The SIS program offers adapted K-12 activities to be used with ELLs in the 

classroom. Because these activities are adapted from those developed 

for all K-12 students, teachers have the materials they need to instruct all 

students in their classroom. 

• An educator guide provides guidance on how teachers can use the 

SIS materials and provides overviews on how to adapt each activity to 

target the needs of ELLs.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides include easy-to-relay 

facts about census participation. There is a take-home portion students 

can use to engage members of their home in conversations about the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

English

Language 

Learners

(ELLs) 

SIS adult ESL materials provide information on the census that teachers 

can use with students to help them learn about the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and how it can benefit 

their communities. 

• An educator guide provides guidance on how teachers can use the 

SIS materials with their adult students.

• Activities with accompanying teacher guides are designed to 

enhance adult students’ understanding of the English language and the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

They include a take-home portion that encourages adults to share what 

they’ve learned in class with their friends and family.

Adult 

English as 

a Second 

Language 

(ESL)

7
Get Your School Involved

In addition to the many resources already available on the Statistics in Schools 

website, the program will release exciting new activities and resources 

throughout the 2019-2020 school year. For the most up-to-date information, 

you can sign up for our newsletter at census.gov/schools. The roadmap below 

gives you a sneak peek into all that will be happening throughout the year.

Start Now!

New materials for the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands Statistics in Schools program as 

well as traditional SIS resources in math, 

sociology, history, and more are live at 

census.gov/schools. Teachers can simply go 

to the website and start using the resources.

Join Our Kickoff Event!

The national kickoff event is taking place in 

Memphis, Tennessee. Visit census.gov/schools to 

learn more and find out how to join in virtually.

Oct

2019

Dec 

2019

Video Delight! 

Check out the cool new videos and 

webisodes that help children understand 

what the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands is and why 

it’s important for everyone to be counted.

8
Take Part in SIS Week!

This national movement is a great opportunity 

to get your school involved with SIS. Educators 

across the nation can join forces to use the SIS 

program in their classrooms and partake in 

fun events that can be done in any school. 

This week is also a great opportunity for schools 

to earn media recognition for the ways they 

are teaching students about the importance of 

the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands.

Mar 2-6

2020

Census Day! 

Educators can help their communities by 

sending the flyer in this packet home with 

students. This flyer will help remind an 

adult in their home to participate in the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. Census results 

will drive decisions on the amount of federal 

funding provided to your schools and 

community. 

Apr 1

2020

To respond to the 

2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth 

of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, visit 

2020census.gov.

9
Important Next Steps

As an education leader, you are in the best position to promote the use of SIS in your community’s 

schools. As a trusted voice in your community, you can explain the urgency of responding to the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. You can be an influencer for programs 

and services that benefit schools and communities.

• Make a difference for student learning and school-related funding on your islands. 

Promote the SIS program among the educators you work with by distributing the teacher 

flyer on Page 12.

• Increase excitement in your schools about the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands. Give teachers the grade- and location-specific maps included with this kit 

to display in their classrooms. 

• Help make sure every child in your community is counted, which will help your 

community receive the funding it needs. Send home with students the letter on 

Page 13 to educate the adults in their home about the importance of participating in the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

• Lead the way for your schools and teachers. Sign up for the Statistics in Schools newsletter 

at census.gov/schools to stay up to date on all the key events and new materials that will be released 

during the 2019-2020 school year. Then let everyone else know what is new and available. 

Visit census.gov/schools to get started.

10
Take the 

first step.

Please copy and distribute 

the following two pages to 

teachers and students.

Digital copies are also available at

census.gov/schools/CNMI.

11
Make a Difference for 

Your Students With 

Statistics in Schools

Statistics in Schools (SIS) is a U.S. Census Bureau program that 

uses census data to create activities, materials, and other 

resources you can use in your classroom. Use SIS to:

• Bolster your existing lesson plans.

• Enhance student learning across subjects.

• Boost students’ statistical literacy and data-finding skills.

• Prepare students for a data-driven world.

• Impact the amount of federal funding your school receives.

These free resources—created by teachers, for teachers—are engaging for students, aligned with standards, 

and designed for use with existing lesson plans. SIS provides activities for preschool through grade 12 

to support learning in nearly every subject. The SIS website has more than 200 activities and resources. 

Teachers across the United States have been using SIS in their daily instruction.

SIS and School Funding

For this school year, teachers created 67 activities to highlight the 2020 Census. These activities educate 

students and people in their home about the importance of the once-a-decade count of the U.S. population, 

with a special focus on counting all children. This is critical because responses to the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will help your community plan for hospitals and schools, 

support local programs, improve emergency services, construct roads, inform businesses looking to 

add jobs, and more.

Beyond 2020

SIS is not a one-and-done program. Many of the materials are designed to 

be used year after year to enhance student learning. 

Easy to Access and Use

Act now—the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands begins next spring. Get started by visiting 

the SIS website and sign up for the Statistics in Schools newsletter 

to stay up to date on all of the key events and new materials that will 

be released during the 2019-2020 school year. 

Find out more at CENSUS.GOV/SCHOOLS/CNMI.

Printable 

Flyer for 

Teachers

“The best part about 

these free SIS resources is 

that they use statistics from 

the Northern Mariana Islands, 

which allows our students to 

become more knowledgeable 

about our islands.”

—Riya Nathrani, 

K-8 teacher, Commonwealth 

of the Northern 

Mariana Islands

Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands
Shape Our Future. Start Here.

We all want to create a better future for children. 

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools program offers 

free materials and resources to schools that help students learn. 

To explore these resources, visit census.gov/schools/CNMI.

Right now, students are learning about the 2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, which will take place in spring 2020. It will count everyone who lives in the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Participating in the 2020 Census of the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is very important. Responses are used to 

determine how federal funds are distributed to communities each year. The money is used 

for things that help children. This includes schools, health programs for mothers and children, 

housing, parks, and food assistance.

The law requires the Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and use your 

responses only to produce statistics. The Census Bureau cannot publicly release your 

responses in any way that could identify you.

Use this checklist to make sure every child in your home is counted: 

Count children who live with you, even if their parents do not.

Count children who are living in your home on April 1, 2020, 

even if they are only staying with you temporarily.

Count every child who lives and sleeps in your home 

at least half of the time.

If a child’s time is evenly divided between two homes, 

count where the child is on Census Day—April 1, 2020.

Count newborn babies, even if they are still in the 

hospital on April 1, 2020.

Make sure every child in your home is counted. Completing the 

2020 Census of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

questionnaire is an easy way to improve the future for all children 

in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Find out more at 2020CENSUS.GOV.

Student 

Take-Home

Flyer











Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands
CENSUS.GOV/SCHOOLS/CNMI

Commonwealth of the 

Northern Mariana Islands