Elementary Lesson Plan for Teaching Types of Communities
In order to teach the different types of communities to elementary school students, they first need to understand what the word "community" means. To some, a community might mean a neighborhood, and to others, a group of people. A community also can mean the parts of a state, town or country based on its agriculture, population, housing and economic status. These communities are broken down into rural, urban and suburban. Making a "Community Quilt" is a great way of showcasing each type of community.
Introduction to Communities
Have the class read the poem, "If I Could Build a Town" by Betsy Franco. Ask the class who/what they saw on their way to school. Did they see a bus driver, a policeman, a farmer or a crossing guard? Did they see tall buildings, houses, farms or stores? This activity will give them an idea what a community is and prepare them for the lesson.
Materials Needed
Quilts are normally made from fabric or material, but this community quilt is made from construction paper. Each student will need a piece of paper, scissors, crayons, markers, stickers and glue or tape.
Group Students
Separate the class into groups of four and give each student a sheet of construction paper. Each group will be given a different country to research. Once the group has its country, each member of the group will decide on a task. The first person will draw and write facts about the country he received, for example: vegetation, agriculture, culture, population, climate, housing, or other facts. The second person will draw and write facts about the rural population, the third urban, and the fourth suburban. When they have completed their task and have labeled their squares: country, rural areas, urban areas, suburban areas, they will join their four pieces of construction paper to form one large square.
Unite the Class
Once the groups are finished and they have completed the large square, they will join their squares together to make one large community quilt. Have the students discuss their findings. How are the countries the same and how are they different? Have the students pay particular attention to similarities between the United States and other countries. This lesson will not only teach the students about their community but other countries as well, but it is a great introduction to world cultures.
Tags: construction paper, write facts about, construction paper Each, draw write, draw write facts, Elementary Lesson, Elementary Lesson Plan