Background Notes
We all live in a Community. It may be a large city centre or it may be a small village in the country, but it is the place that we spend most of our time.

Your school forms one of the large meeting places within the Community as it welcomes children from the surrounding areas. It is important that we work hard to keep our Community a pleasant place to live or be. We can do this at school by not throwing litter on the floor or by keeping areas like gardens free from destruction so that everyone can benefit from their surroundings.

History Project
Ask the children to think about the history within their Community and at school. How long has the school been in existence? Did any of the childrens' parents attend the school? Has the school changed much in the time it has been open?

The English Heritage website contains a wide range of education materials that can be used to examine the history of different Communities.

Class projects and activities
The Energy Chest website contains ideas and activities for improving your school environment.

Background Notes
As well as providing schools and transport, communities have other amenities that we can all use which help to benefit our lives. Some of these we just take for granted - but think about what really exists in your own local area. You may find you have some of the following:

Local Park
Communal Gardens
Playgrounds
Swimming Pools
Tennis Courts
Youth Clubs
Skate board ramp
Cycle Park
Water sports
Leisure Centres
Libraries
Museums
Art Galleries

All of these services provide a useful benefit to this community and we should all help to keep our services free from the likes of vandalism or litter.

Divide the class up and give them a facility each to investigate. Ask them to find out who runs the service, how much it costs and what services are available. Ask them to devise a questionnaire (and use it on their friends and families) to find out how much the service is used by local people and what they think of the service.

Ask the children to produce a poster showing the information that they have found out about the service and the results of their surveys.

Interactive Resource
The Red Box is an interactive resource to teach your pupils about tax and public spending. The website invites visitors to take on management of 'The Square' and through playing games and answering questions students must raise enough money to maintain, or preferably improve, the services offered.

Travel to school survey
The Young TransNet website allows young people to have their say on transport and they can also carry out a travel to school survey on line.

Background Information
The face of shopping has changed over the years and most communities have witnessed these changes. Many independent shops both in villages and towns have closed down due to having lost their struggle to compete with new superstores. Many small villages have also now lost their banks and some are also being threatened with the loss of their Post Offices.

Below is a list of some of the advantages and disadvantages of both independent local shops and larger chain stores.

Research Work
Ask the children to think about the different types of shops in the area that they live.

What are the opening hours of these shops?

What facilities do they have to make them easier or more attractive to customers, such as parking, access for the disabled, toilet facilities?

The class could ask parents or relatives the following questions:

• What do they like/dislike about local shopping facilities?
  
• How often do they use their different local facilities?
  
• What influences them to choose a particular shop?

The students could use their results to draw up a summary and provide feedback to the class on shops and shopping in their areas.

Background Information
It is important for children to understand that shoppers are not just limited to going into shops to make their purchases. There are a variety of different ways in which we can buy what we need:

• Street Markets - buying from stall holders in the street
  
• Doorstep Selling - buying from a trader who knocks at your door
  
• Telephone Selling - buying from someone who phones you at home

At present, mail order, seems to be the way that more and more shoppers are buying the goods that they need:

Catalogues
Lots of people use catalogues to buy their shopping. These catalogues allow you to see a picture of the item that you are going to buy and they also give you a description. You simply pick out the item you would like, phone the Company to order and they deliver it straight to your home.

On the internet/through your television
It is now possible to order goods from your armchair in both of these ways. You can now buy items through your computer, your television and even your mobile phone.

Discussion Activity
Start talking to the children about the internet. How many of them use the internet regularly? Ask the children to think about the advantages and disadvantages of buying goods over the internet

Extension Work
Safe Internet Use
One of the major problems that exists with the internet is the fact that it allows children to access unsuitable materials, unless they are correctly supervised.

Childnet offers advice for both children and adults about the safe use of the internet. This website also contains a wide range of projects which are also designed to help teach children about being safe whilst using the internet.

The DFES website contains details on E-Safety and is designed for schools and parents.