Community Unit

Community Unit

Target Grade Level: 4/5

Throughout the Community Unit, the students will be exploring what a community entails, how their community functions, and how communities in different places function. The students will experience a more hands-on approach to this subject by be active in learning about the locations and elements of their community. The students will build research, reflect, and present much of the information they have learned throughout the unit. The students will have the opportunity to begin thinking about their community in another manner and understanding why particular elements of the community exist. They will also have the opportunity to further understand the types of people that are in the community based on the places that may be used by diverse groups. Much exploration is involved throughout this unit that requires the students to participate in an active manner throughout the lessons.

Essential Questions:

• What is a community?
• Why are communities formed?
• What is in our community?
• How do other communities function?
• What elements of the community are important to you?
• What elements of the community are important to particular groups of people?

The Community Unit is formed as a basis in which the students will begin being proactive in their community. The next steps after this unit would be to show the students how they impact their community. They would begin further understanding the positive and negative aspects of where they live, and start thinking about ways they can either sustain their environment around them or better aspects of their community. The following unit would give them the opportunity to make a change that matters to them in their community.

 UW Standards the Community Unit Addresses:

• STANDARD 6: CONNECTS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY
  Teachers use the knowledge and abilities necessary for collaboration with individuals, groups and agencies within the school and community. They base instruction of students on an understanding of curricular goals, subject matter and the community, and help the students make connections between community-based knowledge and school knowledge.
• STANDARD 7: UNDERSTANDS AND ADAPTS TO MULTIPLE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
  Teachers understand and adapt to students’ multiple forms of expressing and receiving experiences, ideas and feelings.
• STANDARD 8: EMPLOYS VARIED ASSESSMENT PROCESSES
  Teachers understand and thoughtfully use formal and informal evaluation strategies to assess students’ achievements, strengths, challenges and learning styles for continuous development.
• STANDARD 10: EMPLOYS VARIED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
  Teachers understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to enhance students’ learning.
• STANDARD 11: USES TECHNOLOGIES
  Teachers appropriately incorporate new and proven technologies into instructional practice. They understand the major social, cultural, and economic issues surrounding their implementation.
• STANDARD 14: RELATES WELL WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES
  Teachers relate to students, families, and community members in a fair, respectful and sensitive manner. They show an appreciation for the cultural diversity of our society.