1. Comparing Communities
Communities Thematic Unit, Lesson 3
Susan Ferdon, author
Boise State University / DPS109
Lesson Overview:
The purpose of this lesson is to further student’s understanding of community, their
own place in it, and the diversity that exists among various types of communities. The
focus is on comparing students’ own community to other types (urban, suburban,
rural), to neighboring towns (Deerfield and Highland Park), and a community that is
farther away (ePals). Students will find same, similar, and different characteristics and
use a variety of communication media to learn and collaborate.
All lesson information and online resources for this lesson can be found on the
Communities Web Site: http://kiplingkids.weebly.com/comparing-communities.html
Curriculum Subject(s) and subject Estimated duration: Grade
areas/topics: Level:
Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Art  1st day - 90 minutes
 30-45 minutes, once Kindergarten
a week, for
Blogging/Skype
Curriculum Goal(s):
Illinois Learning Standards:
Language Arts
3B: Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
3.B.EC Dictate stories and experiences.
3C: Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
3.C.EC Use drawing and writing skills to convey meaning and information.
4A: Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4.A.EC Listen with understanding and respond to directions and conversations.
4B: Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
4.B.EC Communicate needs, ideas and thoughts.
5C: Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
5.C.EC Communicate information with others.
Mathematics
8A: Describe numerical relationships using variables and patterns.
8.A.EC Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
9A: Demonstrate and apply geometric concepts involving points, lines, planes and space.
9.A.EC Recognize geometric shapes and structures in the environment.
Science

2. 11A: Know and apply the concepts, principals and processes of scientific inquiry.
11.A.ECb Collect, describe and record information.
11B: Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of technological design.
11.B.ECb Become familiar with the use of devices incorporating technology.
13B: Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology and
society.
13.B.ECa Express wonder and ask questions about their world.
13.B.ECb Begin to be aware of technology and how it affects their lives.
Fine Arts
26A: Understand processes, traditional tools and modern technologies used in the arts.
26.A.ECd Visual Arts: Participate in the visual arts.
26B: Apply skills and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more of the arts.
26.B.EC Use creative arts as an avenue for self-expression.
Foreign Language
28: Use target language to communicate within and beyond the classroom setting.
28.A.EC Maintain the native language for use in a variety of purposes.
30: Use the target language to make connections and reinforce knowledge and skills across
academic, vocational and technical disciplines.
30.A.EC Use and maintain the native language in order to build upon and develop
transferable language and literacy skills.
Social/Emotional Development
31: Develop an awareness of personal identity and positive self-concept
31.A.ECb Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
31.A.ECc Exhibit persistence and creativity in seeking solutions to problems.
31.A.ECd Show some initiative and independence in actions.
31.A.ECe Use appropriate communication skills when expressing needs, wants and
feelings.
32A: Perform effectively as an individual
32.A.ECb Manage transitions and begin to adapt to change in routines.
32.A.ECd Use the classroom environment purposefully and respectfully.
32B: Perform effectively as a member of a group
32.B.ECb Begin to share materials and experiences and take turns.
32.B.ECc Respect the rights of self and others.
32.B.ECd Develop relationships with children and adults.
Deerfield Curriculum:
Language Arts
 Reading and Literature
o Identify characters, setting and main idea of a story
o Understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction
o Use prior knowledge to comprehend material
 Oral and Written Communication
o Represent ideas in a variety of ways

3. o Speak in front of a group
Science
 Inquiry and Technological Design
o Inquiry
 Ask questions
 Make observations
 Conduct investigations
 Describe patterns
o Technological Design
 Use the design process to construct something
Social Studies
Learning about oneself and the relationship to others is the core of the kindergarten
social studies curriculum.
 Develop concept of self, family, school and community.
Art
The program will promote an appreciation and enjoyment of art to help students develop
self-expression, explore and experiment with different mediums and strengthen fine
motor skills.
Lesson Objective(s):
Objectives:
 Use prior knowledge to comprehend material
 Oral and written communication – represent ideas in a variety of ways
 Speak in front of a group
 Ask questions and make observations
National Educational Technology Standards for Students:
 Communicate information and ideas to multiple audiences using a variety of media
and formats
 Interact, collaborate and publish with peers
 Practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
 Exhibit a positive attitude toward technology that supports collaboration, learning
and productivity
Lesson Procedure:
Motivational – Preparatory Activities:
View YouTube video: Deerfield

4. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omoWuBOj6bI
SafeShareTV: http://www.safeshare.tv/v/omoWuBOj6bI
Synopsis:
A video camera in the front seat of a car takes us on a drive through Deerfield, Illinois.
Traveling the main east-west and north-south roads, we stop along the way to see
points of interesting including the train station, the house where our tour guide, Jeff,
grew up, plus several schools, stores and restaurants. A fast motion effect is used to
speed the viewer through the entire community in just over three minutes.
Information presentation and information processing (analysis/synthesis) activities:
Information Presentation Activity: Read-Aloud and Discussion
1. Discussion Prompt: We’ve already learned a lot about communities like ours,
which is a suburb. Do you know of any other kinds of communities?
2. Read-aloud: Read a book that about a community and/or kids from a community
type that contrasts with our own (select from below, or others).
3. Discussion: How does our community compare with the books’? What is the
same/different? Did anything surprise you?
City (Neighborhood Walk) Small Town (Neighborhood Walk)
by Peggy Pancella by Peggy Pancella
Farm Community (Neighborhood Walk) The City Kid and the Suburban Kid
by Peggy Pancella By Deb Pilutti
Information Processing Activity: Making Comparisons

5. 1. Introduce/Review what a Venn diagram is.
2. Create a Venn diagram. Use or make your own (chart paper, chalkboard or
Interactive White Board - IWB) or adapt/use this one from Promethean Planet:
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/Resources/Item/53738/venn-diagrams-for-grade-1/
(Click the image or link above to visit the download page.)
3. Sort familiar items. There are several pages to choose from on the resource
above, or you can choose your own. Make each list item a separate text box or
image. If using chart paper/chalk board, write each item on a Post-It note.
4. Drag-and-Drop list items to appropriate space, discussing same and different.
5. Repeat the above process for characteristics of Deerfield/Highland Park and a
contrasting type of community. Re-read or review the book or video from the
previous activities, to help in the generation of list items.
6. If using IWB, save the page and post it to the Communities Wiki or Blog.
Information Processing Activity: Sharing and Comparing with Skype
Make arrangements with another kindergarten teacher to collaborate and communicate
throughout this unit. Ideally, partner classrooms will be completing the same types of
activities, which will allow for a common frame of reference. Share and compare
information based on the activities completed that week. As students learn more about
their own community, they can ask how their partner classroom’s community compares.
Note: Assure that only those students with publication permission for image are visible
during the Skype call (even if you don’t record it, the partner classroom might).
1. Skype: https://login.skype.com/account/login-
form?return_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.skype.com%2Faccount%2Flogin
Username: kiplingkids / Password: cougars700k

6. 2. Skype activities may alternate weeks with blogging, if desired.
3. Start by Skyping the other kindergarten class here at Kipling. For fun, you can
tell the class that they will be talking to students in another classroom, but don’t
tell them that it is their friends across the hall. This will give students and
teachers an opportunity to get used to using Skype and students will feel more
at ease since they are communicating with people they know. Setting up a
permanent day/time (Fridays at 10 a.m./2 p.m. for example) may make
scheduling easier and sharing at the end of the week means that students will
have a week’s worth of new information to share as well as sufficient time to
generate questions.
Skype a kindergarten class in a community that is of contrasting type and/or
geographic area. Some possibilities:
 Deerfield, NH: http://www.sau53.org/net4/
 Deerfield, WI: http://www.deerfield.k12.wi.us/
 South Deerfield, MA: http://www.city-data.com/school/deerfield-elem-ma.html
 Deerfield, MI: http://www.deerfieldpublicschools.org/
o See link below for an online listing of teachers looking for Skype partner
classrooms and/or add your own info. Doing this several week/months
in advance will improve the likelihood of finding a partner classroom
with sufficient planning time. Providing structure for the interview/call
will be very beneficial, particularly at the beginning. For instance,
gather student’s questions in advance and make a list. With teacher
prompting, students can come up to the camera and ask questions
during the Skype call.
4. Use Skype’s built-in recording feature to rebroadcast the conversation later
(great for sharing with families and administrators). For more information about
ways to use Skype in the classroom, visit the following Web sites:
50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom
Tips for Using Skype in the Classroom
The EduSkypers Phone Book
Skype for Teachers Introduction in 3 Minutes (video)
Application Activities:
Application Activity: A Community Takes Shape
Use shapes to create a skyline. Choose one: Can you make an urban skyline? How about suburban? Can
you make your skyline look like our community? Explain where your shape creation fits into the
Compare/Contrast Venn Diagram.
Skyline Project – Online Resource
1. Cut: Teacher model first - hold paper in one hand and scissors in the other.
Scissors point away from you, turn paper (not the scissors) for curves and
corners. For students who have difficulty cutting straight lines, dotted lines could
be copied (run construction paper through Tray 5 on heavyweight 2 setting) onto
the paper to provide a model to follow. Pre-cut smaller shapers for windows and
doors. Too much time spent cutting, will mean less time available to layout the

7. design and glue the pieces down.
2. Layout: With background page and cutouts under the document camera, teacher
demonstrates laying out the picture. Experiment with different placements. What
do you like about it? Stress that the first idea will often lead to an even better
one, so play around with the pieces for awhile before you start gluing.
3. Glue: Demonstrate keeping big pieces down and lifting one piece at a time,
keeping layout intact as much as possible, and gluing from the bottom up and/or
largest pieces first.
Application Activity: Sharing and Comparing on the Blog
District 109 teachers will use their district blogs for this activity. On alternate weeks
during the Communities Unit, kindergarten students and their 3rd grade buddies will
blog with partner classrooms. Students will communicate with the other kindergarten
class at Kipling first, then move on to comment/post on partner classroom‘s blog.
Optional family/home activity: Students comment on their teacher’s posts and/or
partner classroom posts.
For more information about blogs visit TeacherFirst Blog Basics:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogbasics.cfm
Closure/review activities:
View and Discuss Video: Highland Park
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP1GGK4cAAk
SafeShareTV: http://www.safeshare.tv/v/jP1GGK4cAAk
Synopsis:
This FantasticPlanetTV video gives you on a bird’s-eye view of Highland Park, Illinois.
Beginning from high above the ground, the viewer sees the location of the town in
relation to Lake Michigan and zooms in close enough to be able to identify major
landmarks.
1. View video

8. 2. Discuss connections between video and previous lesson activities.
Assessment/Evaluation:
(Please provide a clear description of the methods and/or techniques that will be used in order
to accurately determine whether or not students have mastered lesson objectives.)
Participation Checklist
Tally student responses and input during video, book and Skype discussions. Goal – Contribute
to class discussions one or more times per day (half-day kindergarten).
Blog Posts - Rubric
Since kindergarteners will be dictating responses to their third grade buddies, blog posts will be
graded on content only. Students will earn up to three points per post. One point for each:
 On topic / answers question
 Two or more sentences
 Beginning, middle and end
Community Shapes - Rubric
Task completion rubric:
 Student completes task independently
 Student completes task with support
 Student does not complete task
Accommodations:
 Students with Cognitive Difficulties:
Provide students with personal schedule, using iPod Touch App MyLists
(http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-lists/id284945109?mt=8), with breaks
planned in as needed. My Lists will allow students with cognitive difficulties to
see the structure of their day and order of activities, enabling them to make
effective transitions and allowing them to be mentally prepared for tasks.
 Students with Physical Difficulties:
Students with motor fine motor difficulties will have trouble cutting and gluing.
The number or complexity (straight vs. curved) of shapes to be cut may be
adjusted with pre-cut shapes made available as needed. Practicing fine motors
skills should be maintained as part of activity tasks, if possible. Students not able
to manipulate materials may complete the task using TuxPaint
(http://www.tuxpaint.org/). TuxPaint is a free, open source drawing program
designed for children ages 3-12.
 Students with Sensory Difficulties:
Students with vision impairments can use textured paper (various grades of
sandpaper, plastic transparencies, paper) for their shapes creation. Also, use
screen reader when working on the blog: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-

9. US/firefox/addon/57295/ or http://read2me.mozdev.org/
 At-Risk Students:
Download and install Firefox Addon, ImTranslator
(http://www.imtranslator.net/ff-plugin.asp), to translate online text (blog) into
ELLs native language. Ideally, ELL students will be able to communicate, via
Skype, to others in their native language.
 Gifted and Talented Students:
Learners with advanced reading abilities may read related books (listed above or
on Additional Activities page of the Communities Web site. Students may read
book aloud to classmates and/or use additional information learned when
contributing to class discussions. Blog grading rubric adjusted to appropriate
challenge level (length, organization, details).
Materials, Resources and Equipment:
(Pease indicate in bulleted list format all the materials, resources and equipment that have been
used or will be used for the implementation of the lesson plan.)
Materials:
 Book - City, by Peggy Pancella
 Book – Small Town, by Peggy Pancella
 Book – Farm Community, by Peggy Pancella
 Book – The City Kid and the Suburban Kid
 Colored construction paper
 Scissors
 Glue
 Classlist/Checklist (participation tallies)
Resources:
 Deerfield, IL YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omoWuBOj6bI
SafeShareTV: http://www.safeshare.tv/v/omoWuBOj6bI
 Promethean Planet – Venn Diagram Resource Kit:
http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/Resources/Item/53738/venn-
diagrams-for-grade-1/
 Skyline Project: http://deepspacesparkle.blogspot.com/2009/01/city-at-night-
paper-and-scissor-lesson.html
 Skype Account: https://login.skype.com/account/login-
form?return_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.skype.com%2Faccount%2Flogin
 Blog (Deerfield teachers have district blogs)
 Highland Park, IL YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP1GGK4cAAk
SafeShareTV: http://www.safeshare.tv/v/jP1GGK4cAAk
 TuxPaint (download): http://www.tuxpaint.org/
 Screen Reader Add-on (download): http://read2me.mozdev.org
 Translator: http://www.imtranslator.net/ff-plugin.asp

10. Equipment:
 Computer with Projector and screen (IWB preferred)
 Netbooks (each time blogging activity is done)
 Computer for student use (as needed) for accommodations
Lesson Plan Template retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/30570732/Template-for-Technology-
Enhanced-Lesson-Plans (PDF has been converted to a word document)