What Is a Community?

What Is a Community?

Community

A community is a group of people who live and work in the same place.

People live in communities all over the world. One reason they live in communities is that they like to be with others. In a community, people feel that they belong.

The people who live in a community are called citizens. Citizens are part of a community.

Multiple Choice

What are citizens?

• a group of people

• a group of people who make laws

• people who live and work in a community

• a place where people can get things they need

Open Ended

Why do families choose this area (Waterville) to live?

Multiple Select

What types of communities do you visit on vacation?

• large cities

• farming areas

• cities near water (coastal)

• areas just like ours

Culture

The citizens of a community may belong to different groups. They may have different cultures. A culture is a way of life shared by members of a group. What people eat, how they speak and dress, and what they believe in are parts of their culture.

Open Ended

What are some examples of culture groups represented by businesses in our community? We mostly think of these as food businesses.

Businesses

People depend on stores and other businesses in a community. In a business, workers make or sell things or do work for others.

Businesses help people in communities meet their wants. A want is something that people would like to have, such as a television. Some wants are needs. Food, clothing, and a place to live are all needs.

Businesses also provide jobs for people in the community. The money people earn from working can help them pay for their wants. In turn, businesses depend on people in a community to buy what the businesses sell.

Open Ended

What is one business you can think of in our community?

Government

Most communities have a government to make laws and see that they are followed. A government is a group of people that makes laws for a community, a state, or a country. In many communities, citizens choose the members of government. Government members meet to talk about and solve problems.

Discuss:

Why do we have laws?

Who makes the laws in a community?

Coming Together

Most communities have places where people can come together. Schools are places where people come together to learn or hold meetings. People can also learn by using books and other materials at a library.

Communities also have places where people can spend their free time. These may include parks, community centers, and playgrounds.

Some communities have interesting places to visit. Theaters may offer movies, plays, and concerts. A community might also have museums.

Open Ended

What might people see at a museum?