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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 3 of 10

Communities Compared

City, village, rural and urban

What your child practices

Comparing communities around the world: what they share (basic needs, school, play) and how they differ (size, climate, jobs, travel).

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.2.2.19.1; SS.2.1.16.1 · how different communities use their environments, and how weather and land shape lives

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Urban communities are cities: many people, buildings and busy streets.
  2. Rural communities have more open space and fewer people.
  3. All communities need food, water, shelter and clothing.

Example: Which place is likely quieter and has more open space? Cities are busy and crowded. The countryside has fields and fewer people. Answer: a rural area

Communities Compared in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 3 of 10 in 2nd grade Social Studies, after Then & Now and before Our Community Changes.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    In a rural community, you might see…

    • a skyscraper in every block
    • farms and open land
    • a subway under every house

  2. Question 2

    In an urban community, you might see…

    • many people, buildings and busy streets
    • only farm fields
    • only forest

  3. Question 3

    Which is likely different between a city and a small town?

    • how many people live there
    • that people need food
    • that people need water

  4. Question 4

    A fishing village is by the sea. A farming town is in the plains. What is different?

    • the main jobs
    • the number of Suns
    • the color of the sky only

  5. Question 5

    A bridge, a school and a library are all…

    • kinds of weather
    • things people build for the community
    • natural features

  6. Question 6

    What do all communities need?

    • food, water, shelter and clothing
    • snow
    • TV and toys only

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