Community & Civic Education
Check-In with everyone
Hello! Todays theme is INDEPENDENCE! Today we'll be talking about your role as a neighbor where you live.
Learning about my neighborhood
Share with us about your neighborhood.
- What kind of street do you live on? Does it have a sidewalk?
- How many neighbors live near you?
- Are your properties right next to each other? Or farther apart?
- Does anyone live across the street from you?
- Do you know your neighbors? If you do, what can you tell us about them?
- Has anyone moved in or moved out of your neighborhood recently?
- How long have you lived there?
The Urban Forest
Look at this flyer about trees in cities and suburbs. Trees are very important everywhere on Earth. They are especially helpful in cities and places where people live very close together or have a lot of traffic and activity. All the trees and plants in cities and suburbs are often called the "Urban Forest."
PRESENTERS: Page 2 of the flyer has specific things that trees do for all of us. Focus on the things that mean the most to your group. Learn some new ways trees matter that you may not have thought about it.
Look at this survey you can take of your block. See how much urban forest there is on your block.
Do an inventory of the trees and plants on your block. If you got an activity packet this week, check and see if you got a copy of the survey...
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Make it Count!
Show and Share
Yesterday we asked everyone to find a leaf or picture of a plant from their neighborhood to share. Show us your plant souvenier and tell us about it.
- Where did you get it?
- Was it in your back yard, front yard, or the public part of the neighborhood?
- Is it a tree, bush, food plant or flowering plant?
- Are there a lot of them where you live, or is it unique?
The Arbor Day Foundation has a cool web page that can help you identify a tree by its leaf. Use one of the leaves someone brought to share and see if you can answer the questions on the web page until you find out what tree it came from. OR, if you don't have a sample leave, use this picture.
For tomorrow's Show and Share be ready to show us your favorite exercise, stretch, or sport. You can demonstrate it for us or share a picture.
Neighborhoods in Other Countries
Look at these places people share with their neighbors. People live differently in different countries.
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Property and Fences
There is a saying from a poem by Robert Frost that many people like to repeat: "Good fences make good neighbors."
- What do you think that means?
- Do you think it's true?
- Are you separated from your neighbors by fences?
- Do you like it, or not?
- If you have a fence around your house, what are the good things about it? Any bad things?
A person who owns a piece of land often calls it their "property." The US Constitution protects certain rights for property owners. For example, if an owner doesn't want people they didn't invite to come onto their property they can put up signs and get help from law enforcement to keep people off their land.
The word for being on land without permission is
T______________ing?
A lot of people are renters. They don't own the land or the buildings they live in. Renters have certain rights too, which landlords have to respect. For example, a landlord can't just go into a renter's house or apartment without any notice any time they want.
The name of the contract between a landlord and a renter is called a rental agreement or a L_______.
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Neighborly Privacy Dilemma
Joshua loves his neighborhood. Every morning he goes for an early jog to get his day started right. A few weeks ago his neighbor Manny had his dad move in with him. Joshua likes Manny and thought it would be fun to have another person to play cards with but now there is a problem. Every morning when Joshua comes back from his run, Manny's Dad is standing in the front yard in his underwear, reading the paper as he slowly walks back into the house. Joshual feels uncomfortable seeing the older man in what should be private clothing. Manny's Dad doesn't seem to mind though. He even waved at Joshua a few times. What can Joshua do? Shoule he even tell Manny? Or is it Josh's problem?
Being a good neighbor
Name 3 ways to show respect to your neighbors.
Look at the list of neighborly and un-neighborly behavior. Which is which? (Check your activity pack for your own copy)
What did we learn today?
