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An introduction to what makes a community and the different types of places where people live, work, and play.
Imagine you woke up all alone on a deserted island with no stores, no schools, and no friends. What would be the very first thing you would miss about the place where you live?
A community is a group of people who live, work, and play in the same area. Think of it like a giant team! In a community, people help each other and share things like roads, parks, and schools. We are all part of different communities, such as our neighborhood, our school, or even a sports team. Because we rely on others for things we can't do alone, we call this interdependence. This means we work together to make life better for everyone.
Quick Check
In your own words, what are the two main things people do together in a community?
Answer
People live, work, or play together in a shared area.
Communities are important because they help us meet our basic needs. A basic need is something you must have to stay alive and healthy. Communities provide: 1. Food: Grocery stores and farmers markets. 2. Shelter: Houses and apartments. 3. Safety: Police officers and firefighters. 4. Belonging: Friends, family, and fun activities. When we live together, we can share these resources so that person doesn't have to do everything by themselves!
Imagine you are hungry for an apple. 1. A farmer grows the apple in a rural community. 2. A truck driver moves the apple to your town. 3. A grocery store worker puts it on a shelf. 4. You buy the apple to eat. This shows how or more people in a community worked together to help you eat!
Quick Check
Which basic need is met when a firefighter puts out a fire?
Answer
The need for safety.
Not all communities look the same! There are three main types: - Urban: These are big cities. They have tall buildings called skyscrapers, lots of people, and many buses or trains. - Suburban: These are neighborhoods near a city. They usually have houses with yards, more trees, and schools nearby. - Rural: This is the countryside. There is a lot of open space, fewer people, and many farms. In a rural area, houses might be very far apart.
Let's match the person to their community type: 1. Maya lives in an apartment on the floor and walks to a museum. She is in an urban community. 2. Sam lives in a house with a swing set in the backyard and drives minutes to the city for work. He is in a suburban community. 3. Leo lives on a large piece of land where he can see cows from his window. He is in a rural community.
If a new hospital needs to be built to serve people who live very close together in tall buildings, which community type is the best fit? 1. Identify the clue: 'Tall buildings' and 'people close together'. 2. Match the clue: Urban areas have the most people in small spaces. 3. Conclusion: An urban community is the best place for a large city hospital.
Which type of community has the most open space and the fewest people?
What is a 'basic need' that a community provides?
True or False: Suburban communities are usually located far away from any cities.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look out your window or on your way to school. Try to name three things that prove you live in an urban, suburban, or rural community.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of your own community. Include one place where people work, one place where they play, and one place where they live!