Suggested Assessments:
Ask students to create the mural that includes thoughtful placement of houses, stores, schools, places of worship, etc. There should be accurate depictions of these parts of the community in which the students live, and each student should explain why he/she created their picture and how it benefits or shapes their life. (Formative assessment; Facet 1-Explanation and Facet 2-Interpretation)
Ask individual students to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting needs and wants they have in common with other citizens in their country, and which needs and wants are distinctive. Students should then be able to explain their reasons for creating these Venn diagrams verbally through a sharing session and in writing through a reflection journal, based on the two essential questions posed for this sample lesson: (1) Why do people live in communities?; and (2) How do members of communities help one another? (Summative assessment; Facet 2-Interpretation and Facet 4-Perspective)
Assessment Extension: Ask students to reflect on guest speaker presentations, with community members coming in to the classroom to share how they are helpers and contributors to society. These should be community members from different aspects of the community. Students might prepare questions to ask these speakers ahead of time with the teacher, focusing on questions of: “How do members of a community help one another?” and “What roles do each member play in the community and how do I (the student) benefit?” (Summative assessment; Fact 2-Interpretation and Facet 4-Perspective).
Summary Questions:
How do people benefit from being in communities?
How do needs or wants differ among communities?
Connecting across the Curriculum: This lesson can be connected to History and Social Studies by examining changing roles of citizens in different places at different points in history.