Diversity & Demographics (USA)

Theme

Knowledge Goals

Attitude Goals

Steps in Learning Strategy

Testing Your Knowledge

Continuation Activities

Putting Your Knowledge to Work in the Classroom

Sharing Your Materials

Theme

What we each carry around in our heads as "the way it is"—as TV newsman Walter Cronkite used to put it—can be pretty askew from what actually exists. There may be dramatic disparity.  

This lesson will touch on areas in which a classroom teacher typically needs to make some mental adjustments to be more accurate, and more comfortable, and more just. It looks particularly at how teachers portray America's religious diversity.

Knowledge Goals

Attitude Goals

* Note: This straightforward attitude (neutral across holders of varied worldviews) is not the same as taking on a moral/ethical position regarding the essence of their beliefs

Steps in Learning Strategy    

1. Try picturing the religious makeup of the U.S. (activity)
2. Read a summary discussion of demographic information 
   (U.S. "Religion Stew" )
3. Revise your understanding if need be. (activity)
4. Examine two ways of stating the idea of religious diversity (Describing Religious Diversity)

Go to Learning Guide

Testing Your Knowledge

1. Go to the Test Review and look at the statements that guide your review.  Each statement is identified by relevant steps in the learning strategy.

2. Are you comfortable you can demonstrate your understanding?  If not, restudy as necessary until you are confident.

3. Go to the Test to take Test 3, then print out your answers.

4. Go to the Self-Check page and check your test results.

GLOSSARY TERMS:  heterogeneity  \\  empathic  \\  empathy  \\  openness  \\  demography  \\  moral  \\  morality  \\  ethical  \\  ethics 

Continuation Activities

For your consideration

1. Web Activity: Self-Identification Exercise.
   Explore the most recent (post-2000 census) "snapshot" of the nation's religious diversity and see where you would place yourself.  Go to the "Key Findings" and "TABLE 1" (pages 10-12) of the "American Religious Identification Survey" [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/CUNY_GC/media/CUNY-Graduate-Center/PDF/ARIS/ARIS-PDF-version.pdf] Locate yourself with its listing both for 1990 and for 2001.  Would you be listed in the same row of the table for both dates?  Why?  (Or, why not?)

Putting Your Knowledge to Work in the Classroom

1. Web: Map Exploration Religious Beliefs in the U.S. (Grades 6-12)
   Activity Idea:  Have students access the map and diagrams of the USA.
   Let them explore the information freely to gain familiarity and satisfy their curiosity about each item.  Then ask students to (1) use the map data to estimate the proportion of each of the three large worldview groupings within their own state, and (2) determine from the charts whether the adherents of each group are increasing or decreasing in numbers 
2. Web: Chart Exploration Demographic Round-up(Grades 9-12)
   Activity Idea:  Students use the charts located at the web address:
   www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html
   to inquire into demographics of religion in their own state. Note: The task is simple, since very little information at this site is presented on states, but the search provides good exposure to the diverse ways demographics regarding worldviews are presented.

Sharing Your Materials

Have you prepared any lesson plans, activities, bulletin board materials, handouts, etc. that would match one or more of the goals of this lesson?  Please share them with others.  Your name will be attached to the materials unless you prefer to remain anonymous.

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