Curated OER
When Were Houses in our Locality Built?
Take a look at the types of houses to determine when they may have been built. This UK-based slide-show shows houses common to Great Britain such as, Tudor, Victorian, 1930's, and Modern styles. This could be used as a compare and...
Curated OER
Real-Life History: Looking at Our Community
Spend several days with your class exploring local history. Learners brainstorm and categorize sources of historical information as primary or secondary; collect and present artifacts from family/community; construct a definition of...
Curated OER
Going Green Collaboratively
Students create displays on what their local community is doing to help global warming and pollution. In this going green lesson plan, students create displays that will be at the local Community Center for observers to see.
Curated OER
Natural Features of Our Community
Second graders read about and discuss natural features of communities. They listen to a guest speaker, such as a park ranger to expand their knowledge of natural features. They go on a field trip, if possible, to a local zoo or...
Curated OER
Alike and Different
Second graders listen to a book about how farms feed the world. They discuss elements of rural life. They listen to a story about the suburbs and discuss elements specific to a suburban community. They listen to a story about city...
Curated OER
Bus Stop Mosaic
Young scholars explore teamwork and communication. For this art lesson, learners work together to create a mosaic at a bus stop.
Curated OER
My Town
Students research the history of their local community. They focus on interviewing skills and primary source analysis. They present the research information using a variety of creative techniques.
Curated OER
Local Leaders and Why They Are Successful
Students research local leaders and create a web page showcasing the leader.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Charleston Community History
Excellent example of a Community History. Includes the origin of the community, the plan for settlement, early settlers, religions, important buildings, history through the years, events, and plans for the future.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Community Garden
Orville Edwards describes how community gardens help improve the quality of life in the city in this video segment from WILD TV.
United Nations
United Nations Cyberschoolbus: Cities of Today, Cities of Tomorrow
The six teaching units of this site provide an overview of urbanization, its history, its potential, its problems. The site has lots of activities, and a game.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Ridgely Learning Community: A Century of Pride
Ten different lesson plans around the concept of community aimed toward early elementary students can be found here. Each lesson plan contains an introductory activity, contains an assessment rubric and correlates state standards and...
Other
Habitat for Humanity International
This site is the home page for Habitat for Humanity International. You can follow links for more information on this wonderful social program. Link topics include: "Get Involved," "Where We Build," "How it Works," and "True Stories."...
Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy: Community: This Is My Town
Learn about all the things a small town has to offer to people who live or visit there. Includes audio narration in 20 additional languages with text in English.
Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy: Community: The City Park
Learn about all the things one can do at the city park. Includes audio narration in 9 additional languages with text in English.
Library of Congress
Loc: Twentieth Century Entertainment: When Work Is Done
Through a photograph investigation, young scholars examine leisure activities of the twentieth century and answer a list of questions.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Exploring Community Through Local History
Guidelines for exploring local history and culture through examining a collection of written and spoken stories, landmarks, and traditions, such as food, festivals, and events. Students will research a variety of primary resources and...
Other
Planning.org: Kids and Community
Use this site to explore how you create communities, how you live in them, and how you change them. This site also has information on the career of city planning, and activities on city planning.
Read Works
Read Works: A Community of People
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text explaining the meaning of the word "community." A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Art Wonders: Neighborhood Notes [Pdf]
In this lesson, students observe their neighborhood, record details about it, and collaborate in producing a neighborhood mural.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Businesses in Your Neighborhood
Lesson to help students understand how a local grocery store works and why it is important to the local community. Students categorize grocery items, practice terms related to grocery stores, and then role-play a trip to the store.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Service in Our Community Bingo
Lesson in which students play a community-themed bingo game to help them understand roles people play in the local community.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Members of a Community
Lesson helps students learn about members of a community. Students list people who help in the community and create representations of community members out of paper.
A to Z Teacher Stuff
A to Z Teacher Stuff: Lego Block Center (Activity)
This lesson assists in developing teamwork in kindergarten age children and encourages them to take a look at their local community and its institutions.