Lesson video

Hello, I'm Mrs. Barry, and I'm going to be your citizenship teacher today.

Today we're looking at a lesson about communities, and this learning might be new to you, but that's okay because we're here to look at it together.

And by the end of the lesson, we'll have achieved our outcome.

So let's make a start.

Today's lesson comes from the unit How are community identities changing? This lesson is called What is our community and how are we part of it? Our outcome for today's lesson is to explain what a community is, and identify different ways in which we can be involved within it.

We're going to use a range of keywords in today's lesson, and we're going to have a look at those together now.

So the first one is identity, who a person is or the qualities of a person or group that makes them different from others.

We're also going to look at community in two types, so starting with community, a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

And then local community, which is a group of people living in the same geographical area.

Our lesson has three parts today, and we're going to be starting with what is identity.

After that, we're going to look at what is a community, and how can we be involved in our communities.

So let's have a look at this first part, which is, what is identity? So identity refers to the unique combination of characteristics, beliefs, experiences, and traits that define who a person is.

There are a range of different aspects which make up your identity.

Can you think of any? Here we have Alex asking that same question.

"What do you think are the different aspects that make up your identity, Jun?" And Jun replies with, "When I think of identity, I think of my personality, interests, beliefs and background.

The relationships I have with others play a key role in shaping my identity." I wonder if those are the ones you'd thought of.

So there are a wide range of factors that make up our identity, and that includes your personality, which is the way an individual naturally thinks, feels, and behaves.

Interests and passions, which your activities, hobbies, and subjects that you enjoy and value.

Beliefs and values, which are personal principles and ideas about what is right, wrong, or important in life.

Cultural and social background, which includes ethnicity, traditions, language and societal influences.

And then relationships and community, which includes the impact of family, friends, and social groups on personal development.

So I wonder if you remember many of those, and we're going to have a look now at this checkpoint.

So, can you match the word with its description? So we've got four words here for you to look at.

So personality, beliefs and values, background and interests, and they're to be matched with those numbered descriptions.

The first one says principles and ideas about what is right, wrong, or important in life.

The second one says ethnicity, traditions, language, and societal influences.

Thirdly, the way an individual naturally thinks, feels and behaves.

And the fourth option there is activities, hobbies, and subjects that a person enjoys and values.

So I'll give you a moment now just to have a think about those, and if you need to, pause the video, give it a go and then come back to me and we can look at whether you got them right.

Well done for giving that a go.

The first one, personality goes to number three, the way an individual naturally thinks, feels and behaves.

The second one, B, beliefs and values.

Well, that's number one over on the right there.

So principles and ideas about what is right, wrong, or important in life.

Thirdly, C, background, that goes to number two, so ethnicity, traditions, language and societal influences.

Which leads the fourth one, D, interest to go to number four, activities, hobbies, and subjects that a person enjoys and values.

So well done if you've got those all correct.

So what is our identity? Our identities change over time and are affected by our experiences.

Your identity is not something you were just born with, it changes as you grow, learn and experience new things.

Our identities are shaped by various factors.

Some aspects of our identity come from our own thoughts and ideas, while others are influenced by external factors, like our parents, media, and school.

These influences can be divided into two categories, nature and nurture.

So nature refers to the traits that we inherit through genes, like eye colour, skin tone, or height.

The people in our lives, like family, friends, teachers, and our community all shape who we are too, the way we grow up, the things we learn, and the experiences all play a part.

This refers to nurture as the world around us influences how we think, act, and what we believe, helping us to shape our identity over time.

So let's see if you can answer this question.

Which of the following is a true statement about nature? Is it A, it is about how our experiences shape who we are, B, it cannot be changed or influenced easily, C, it includes the way we were raised, or D, it helps to shape our identity over time? Okay, so the answer to this is B, nature cannot be changed or influenced easily.

We have many different types of identity, for example, personal, professional, social, cultural, ethnic, religious or national identity.

We can also have multiple identities that can change depending on the situation.

For example, you might support a local rugby team adopting a group identity, but during the Six Nations, you might support your national team, adopting a national identity.

So which type of identity is Aisha describing here? "Sometimes I act one way around my family, like really silly, but when I'm with my friends, I might be more outgoing or sometimes quieter.

It's kind of like I have different sides, and they all make up who I am." Is that A, a multiple identity, B, personal identity, or C, national identity that Aisha's describing? So it's A, multiple identity.

Now we're gonna bring that all together now, and I'd like you to try and give this task a go.

So we're going to read through this statement and highlight the different identities that Zayn Malik has, and then I'd like you to identify which type of identity these show.

So let's read this together.

"Zayn Malik was born Zain Javadd Malik on 12th of January, 1993.

He was born in Bradford, a city located in West Yorkshire in the North of England.

He is of English and Pakistani descent.

The family belongs to the Muslim faith.

Zayn took part in The X Factor and became part of One Direction.

He has been seen wearing a jacket supporting Bradford City Football Club." So go through that and highlight the different identities that Zayn Malik has, and then identify which type of identity they show.

Once you've given that a go, come back and we can have a look at what you might have put.

So we read through the statement, and hopefully you've highlighted the different identities Zayn Malik has, and these are the things that you could have highlighted.

So you could have highlighted his full name, Zain Javadd Malik, and then you could have highlighted that he was born in Bradford, and that this is located in England.

You could have also highlighted English and Pakistani descent.

And then the fact that we've got him as a Muslim, or that his family belongs to the Muslim faith at least.

And then lastly, we've got this idea that he's been seen wearing a jacket supporting Bradford City Football Club.

So those are the things that you could have highlighted, as they indicate different types of identities that he has.

And then I asked you to think about what type of identity they showed.

So Zayn has a personal identity, his name.

He has an ethnic identity being English and Pakistani.

He has a religious identity, because his family is of the Muslim faith.

He has a local identity, being born in Bradford.

And he has a national identity, because that's in the nation of England.

He has a group identity, because he's been seen wearing that football shirt from Bradford City Football Club.

So there's a range of identities that that information showed us.

Well done if you spotted all of those.

So we're on to part two of our lesson now and we're going to look at what is a community.

So a community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

For example, communities can be neighbourhoods, social groups like friends, family groups and other organisations, or things you take part in.

What examples of community can you think of? So there are lots of different communities and you might have thought of quite a few of them, or even all of them, but here are some examples.

So your neighbourhood, the people who live near you.

Your school, students, teachers and staff who are part of your education.

Sports teams or clubs, a group of people who share the same interests.

Online communities, people who connect through social media, gaming or shared hobbies.

Cultural or religious groups, people who share traditions, beliefs or values.

There are lots of different types of communities, and each community will have a key focus which brings people together as they have a shared interest.

It might be that they all live in the same place, which is a neighbourhood community.

Your family home is a small community, your family community.

We also belong to a global community, which involves the whole world.

Your friendship group that you have in school or at home is a social community.

A local community refers to a group of people living in the same geographic area, such as a neighbourhood, town or village who interact with one another and share common interests, goals, or values.

It can also refer to a group of people who are connected by a shared activity or interest, even if they do not live in the same area.

The members of a local community often work together, support each other and contribute to the wellbeing of their environment.

So, can we get this question right? You can only be part of a community if you live in it.

Is that true or false? So that was false, and let's look at why.

So communities extend beyond where you live.

Your neighbourhood is a community you're part of, but for example, you might go to a school that is outside your neighbourhood, and you'll belong to that community as well as your neighbourhood community.

Communities serve different roles, and these might include giving people a sense of belonging and helping them feel connected, offering support during tough times, making people feel safer because they look out for each other, sharing helpful resources like advice and knowledge, bringing people together for fun activities, hobbies and events, or standing up for important causes.

An example of a local community group is Neighbourhood Watch.

A Neighbourhood Watch group is made of local residents who work together to keep their areas safe.

They report suspicious activity, share safety tips, and sometimes work with the police to prevent crime.

Can you think of any other local community groups? So youth clubs and food banks are also examples of local community groups, so you might have thought of those.

Which of the following then is not a community? Is it A, a neighbourhood where people live and interact regularly, B, a school subject, like mathematics, or C, a group of people with shared interest in a specific hobby, like gaming? Okay, so the answer here is B, a school subject, like mathematics.

You might have a mathematics club, and that might be considered to be a community, but the subject itself isn't a community.

So what I'd like you to do is to think about what we've learned so far and write a paragraph which outlines three key features of a community.

I'm going to suggest a structure you might like to use.

So you might structure your paragraph like this.

Firstly, give your key point, explain the term community.

Secondly, provide an example of a community.

And then lastly, explain how your example of community shows three key features of a community.

So use that checklist, pause the video, give it a go, and when you've tried, come back and we can have a look at what you might have put.

Okay, well done for giving that a go.

And I asked you to write a paragraph which outlines three key features of a community.

So you might have said something like this: "A community is a group of people living in the same place or who have a particular characteristic in common.

An example of a community is Neighbourhood Watch.

Communities might help people feel connected, which you would do if you are all part of a Neighbourhood Watch.

They make people feel safer, which is a central aim of Neighbourhood Watch.

They also bring people together for events, which Neighbourhood Watch would do to discuss local issues about crime." So well done for giving that a go.

The last part of our lesson today asks, how can we be involved in our communities? So being involved in your community means actively participating in events, activities, or groups that help improve the community and support the people around you.

Community involvement not only makes your environment better, but it also creates strong connections, builds friendships, and helps you grow as a person.

So we've got Sofia here asking Jacob a question, and she says, "Jacob, why should we be involved in our communities?" Jacob says, "By being involved, we can help others feel more connected to others, create better environments, and even develop our own skills." There are lots of different ways in which we can be involved in our communities.

We can be involved in an active, where we're actually doing something, or an inactive, just by being present, manner.

And Lucas asks, "If I want to get involved in my community, how can I do this?" So some active ways to be involved are volunteering, attending community events, participating in local decision making, organising events, and joining community groups.

The local community group Neighbourhood Watch is just one example where people become involved in their communities.

People get involved with this group as they have an interest in protecting their community, building stronger relationships, and they want to reduce crime through raising awareness and being proactive to stop crime in their area.

How do you think you get involved in groups like this? So to get involved in groups like that, you simply need to seek them out and make contact with them.

So let's have a think about what we've learned.

So which of these describe what a Neighbourhood Watch community can do? Is it A, make people feel safer because they look out for each other, B, stand up for important causes, or C, share helpful resources, like advice and knowledge? Okay, so with this one, there's two possible answers.

Firstly, Neighbourhood Watch can make people feel safer because they look out for each other, but it also helps them to share helpful resources, like advice and knowledge.

Is this true or false? Getting involved in your community requires attending large events or meetings.

So that one's false.

And why? Because getting involved in your community can also include small actions, like helping neighbours, supporting local businesses, or volunteering for local causes.

Now, this is my last task for you this lesson.

I want you to consider how you are part of your local community, and there's three steps to this task.

So firstly, identify different local community groups you were involved with, and then secondly, identify the different ways you were involved in your community.

And then lastly, number three, add ways you could further be involved in your community.

You could choose to do this as a mind map using different colours for each part of the task.

So pause the video, give it a go, and when you've given it a go, you can come back and we can have a look at what that might have looked like.

Well done for giving that a go.

And I asked you to do three separate things, so it was quite a challenge.

So firstly, it was to identify different local community groups you're involved with, and then secondly, identify the different ways you were involved in your community.

And then lastly, add ways you could further be involved in your community.

So this is just one example, and it might look similar or very different to your own, but let's have a look at it.

So we started off with the central idea there, my local communities, and we have over to the left school, and you might be involved in the pupil council.

And then towards the bottom there, we've got family as a community group, and you've got there that you were born in a certain year, so that's when you joined it.

And then lastly, on the right there, you've got your neighbourhood, and it's your local community, you live there, and you might already help your neighbours, but somewhere you could be further involved if you don't already, for example, might be helping neighbours feed pets when they're on holiday.

Of course, you might have lots of different ideas.

So well done for giving that all a go.

So our lesson today was What is our local community and how am I part of it? So here's our summary to wrap everything up.

We all have different identities.

They make up who we are and are made up by different things, partly as a result of nature and partly as a result of nurture.

We are all part of different communities.

Our identities can influence the communities we belong to.

Communities serve a range of different roles.

We can choose how involved we are within our communities and we might be actively or passively involved in our local communities.