Handling Data and the Northern Ireland Census
Foundation Stage
The census happens only once every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in Northern Ireland. The last census was in 2011 and counted 1,810,900 people living here. The next Northern Ireland census begins in March 2021 with Census Day on Sunday 21st March 2021.
These four lessons, developed by CCEA in partnership with Census 2021 and supported by NISRA:
- are packed with stimulating 10 to 20-minute activities using census data, stories, videos, audio clips and animations;
- encourage the youngest learners to count, sort and match accurately;
- focus on understanding why we all matter and the importance of helping each other; and
- explore four key themes (Population, Settlements, Transport and Occupations).
Lesson 1: We All Count (Population)
Learners find out that the census is similar to the counting, sorting and matching they do in class and how to use data to make better decisions.
Interactive Game: Comparing Sets of Ice Creams
Lesson 2: Town or Country? (Settlements)
Learners watch Aesop’s fable The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse, begin to understand the difference between town and country life and how we can like different things and still be friends.
Lesson 3: Getting to School (Transport)
Learners explore how children in Northern Ireland travel to school, conduct a mini census to compare how they travel themselves, and discover some of the surprising ways children in other countries get to school.
Lesson 4: Working Together (Occupations)
Learners talk about lockdown and key workers, explore the colours of rainbows (and moonbows), and watch the story of The Little Red Hen to understand why we must all help each other.
