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3rd grade · Social Studies · Unit 2 of 7

Communities Around the World

How land, climate, resources and culture shape daily life in communities far and near.

What your child practices

Practices daily life in communities around the world: homes, food, work and technology that suit the land and weather, cultural expression, respectful language about differences and how media can show only part of a place.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 3.3b; 3.9a · how world communities use natural resources and adapt their homes and food to their environment

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Homes, food and work in a community suit its land and weather.
  2. Culture is the songs, stories, food and celebrations people share.
  3. Use respectful words about differences: “different,” not “weird.”

Example: Which sentence is respectful: “Their food is weird” or “Their food is different from mine”? Respectful words don’t make others feel bad. “Different” describes without judging. Answer: Their food is different from mine.

Communities Around the World in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 2 of 7 in 3rd grade Social Studies, after Needs Around the World and before Globes & World Maps.

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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

    Culture includes people's…

    • language, food, music and ways of life
    • only their address
    • only their age

  2. Question 2

    Which is a technology that helps farmers?

    • A tractor
    • A birthday card
    • A paper plate

  3. Question 3

    Which is a difference between a city and a small village?

    • A village has more tall buildings
    • A city usually has more people
    • A city has fewer roads

  4. Question 4

    Which is a natural resource?

    • Water
    • A phone
    • A plastic toy

  5. Question 5

    Housing in a very hot, dry place is often built to…

    • stay cool
    • float on snow
    • hold in the heat

  6. Question 6

    People in one community use a tool to carry water because…

    • water is never needed
    • tools are never needed
    • it is a need in their way of life

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