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Learning about the helpful actions people do for others in exchange for money.
Have you ever wondered how your mail gets to your house or how your hair gets cut? It isn't magic—it is the work of helpful people in your community!
A service is something helpful that a person does for someone else. Unlike a toy or an apple, you usually cannot hold a service in your hand. Instead, you pay for someone's time, skills, or hard work. For example, when a bus driver takes you to school, they are providing a service. They are using their skill of driving to help you get where you need to go! We use services every single day to make our lives easier and safer.
Quick Check
If you pay someone to wash your car, are you buying a physical object or a service?
Answer
A service, because you are paying for the action of cleaning.
Our community is full of service workers. These are people whose jobs are to help others. A teacher provides the service of helping you learn new things. A doctor provides the service of checking your health to keep you strong. Even a mail carrier provides a service by bringing letters right to your door. We pay for these services because these workers have special skills that we might not have ourselves.
1. You go to the barber shop because your hair is too long. 2. The barber uses their skills and scissors to cut your hair. 3. You pay the barber money for their hard work. 4. You leave with a haircut! You didn't buy a box to take home; you paid for the action of cutting.
Quick Check
Name one person at your school who provides a service.
Answer
A teacher, librarian, janitor, or principal.
It is important to know the difference between a good and a service. A good is a physical object you can touch and keep, like a book or a pizza. A service is an action someone performs. Sometimes you get both at the same time! At a restaurant, the pizza is the good, but the waiter bringing it to your table and the chef cooking it are providing services.
1. Your dog is feeling sick, so you visit the Veterinarian. 2. The Vet examines your dog and gives them a check-up. This is a service. 3. The Vet also gives you a bottle of dog vitamins to take home. This is a good. 4. You pay for both the doctor's help and the physical vitamins.
1. You go to the library to find a book about space. 2. The librarian helps you search the computer. This is a service. 3. You borrow a book. The book is a good, but since you don't keep it forever, the library is actually providing a service by letting you use it for free!
Which of these is an example of a service?
Who is a service worker in your community?
A teacher provides a service by helping students learn.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to name three people you saw during the day who were performing a service.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of a service worker you saw today and write one sentence about how they help people.