Understanding NYC Ethnic Communities Census Data & Map Skills Lesson

I use this ready-to-go lesson as a larger part of a middle or high school social studies lesson on diversity. Using data compiled by the 2010 & 2020 United States Censuses and The New York Times, you and your students can look more closely at the neighborhoods of New York City to see how they’re changing. Which neighborhood is the most diverse? Which neighborhood is the least diverse? Which areas have the highest concentration of ethnic minorities? How have ethnic communities in the city, including Dominican, Puerto Rican, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, and others, grown or declined?

This resource includes the following features:

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 1 Vocabulary in Context Question
• 7 map-based Comprehension questions
• 1 Answer key for easy assessment
• 1 persistent Link to the New York Times Article “Then as Now — New York’s Shifting Ethnic Mosaic.”
• Bonus Extension Pack: Use Census 2020 data and compare with the 2010 report.

Suggested Classroom Use:

• Middle or High School Social Studies Unit on Diversity
• Unit on New York City History
• Demography and Statistics Course
• Current Events Course
• U.S. History Course

For other resources using maps and geography, check out my popular resource on 

☆ Geography Awareness Using a Blank World Map

☆ Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

☆ Daphne and Apollo: 3-Day Lesso

Extra: Navigate your web browser to my website to follow me on my journey.

Note on copyrighted materials referenced in this resource: This resource does not contain any copyrighted material from the New York Times. However, URLs from the Times is hyperlinked in this resource. This resource does not reflect the opinions of the New York Times or the U.S. Census, nor is it meant to be an official analysis of census data. This resource is purely intended for educational purposes only.

© 2019-2025 stonesoferasmus.com